Teeing off in Cambodia

Golf is taking off big-time in Cambodia and two new courses in the Siem Reap area are causing all the commotion. The capital, Phnom Penh already has two international courses - the Cambodian Golf & Country Club – the country’s first course, opened in 1996 and located 35 kilometres west of the city - and the Royal Cambodia Golf Club, 9 kilometres south of Phnom Penh and 7,075 yards in length. However, its the two courses near the famed temples of Angkor that are making all the headlines.
The new Phokeethra Country Club is managed by the Sofitel Phokeethra Royal Angkor Golf & Spa Resort, this is a world class golf course destined to put Angkor and Cambodia on the international golfing map, especially with the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open tournament slated for the end of November 2007. 130 of Asia's best golfers will descend on Siem Reap in the full glare of publicity as the first major international tournament takes place in Cambodia. Located 20 kilometres from Siem Reap, this par-72, 18-hole golf course includes the par-5 18th hole, an incredible challenge at 582 yards. The Phokeethra clubhouse affords picture-window vistas overlooking the entire landscape of the course and within the grounds, the magnificent ‘Roluh’ bridge, dating back to the Khmer Empire, allows the club’s slogan to boast; “Tee-off in the 11th century and finish your round back in the 21st century.”
The second course to put a real twinkle in the eye of any golfing enthusiast is the brand-new Angkor Golf Resort, which will tee-off its first game in December this year. Promoted as Cambodia’s first PGA standard championship golf course, it’s a lengthy 7,230-yard, par 72 course that has been designed by Nick Faldo, considered to be Europe’s greatest golfer and winner of 6 Majors in his illustrious career. Located within easy reach of the city centre, the ‘Faldo Course’ is a stunning addition to Cambodia’s developing golf facilities and will see the course designer, Nick Faldo, at its opening. Faldo explains that his firm had 19 golf courses at the drawing-board stage, 12 under construction and five that will open this year. "It fits in with my time schedule to get about half a dozen opening each year," he said and courses in China and Cambodia are on this year's list.

More on the Roluh Bridge at the Phokeethra Country Club golf course:

This elegantly designed stone bridge dates back to the 11th century, and it stands today as a symbol of the splendour of the ancient Khmer civilization. Recently declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, the bridge has since been beautifully restored. Located between the 9th green and 10th tee, the Roluh Bridge is the showpiece of the course, and it is no accident that its iconic image is a central feature of Phokeethra's logo.