Staff WriterGolf’s global family just got a little closer. In Vietnam, a new alliance has been struck between the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA) and England Golf — a partnership designed to shape the sport’s future from both sides of the world.
The agreement, signed at Laguna Lăng Cô Golf & Resort during the Vietnam Golf Course Owners Summit, could mark a turning point in how the game develops across Asia.
The deal — a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) — goes beyond polite handshakes. It sets out shared plans to grow participation, strengthen governance, and exchange expertise.
For Vietnam, it’s another confident step in building a golf scene that not only thrives at home but stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.
The initiative was helped into being by 54 Vietnam, who have already been working with the VGA on national training and course rating projects. The new MoU broadens that cooperation to include support for the Vietnam Golf Development Strategy 2025–2030, plus the pilot rollout of England Golf’s Respect in Golf programme — a cultural push to make the sport more inclusive and community-driven.
“Vietnam represents one of the most dynamic emerging golf markets in the world,” said Jeremy Tomlinson, Chief Executive of England Golf. “This partnership allows both our organisations to learn from one another — combining Vietnam’s rapid growth and enthusiasm for the sport with England Golf’s decades of experience in structured governance, participation programmes and talent development.
“The growth of the game in emerging markets supports golf’s health globally. Encouraging participation in Vietnam doesn’t just strengthen the sport locally, it creates a virtuous circle, inspiring golfers to travel, connect, and potentially one day seek out the wealth of world-class destinations England has to offer.”
For the VGA, this isn’t just about fairways and handicaps. It’s part of a wider moment in Vietnam-UK relations, as the two nations deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
“The signing of this MoU with England Golf is an important step in Vietnam’s journey to build a sustainable and globally connected golf ecosystem,” said Vũ Nguyên, Secretary General of the VGA. “The exchange of knowledge, expertise, and cultural understanding will support the VGA’s efforts to make golf more accessible, inclusive, and professionally governed.
“In the context of Vietnam and the United Kingdom elevating their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the signing of this MoU between the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA) and England Golf marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening bilateral cooperation through sports and cultural exchange.
“England Golf is one of the, if not the, most respected national governing body in the sport, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from each other.”
The Vietnam Golf Course Owners Summit — organised by 54 Vietnam — gathered an impressive cast from across the sport: the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Golf Course Association Europe, Sentosa Golf Club, LIV Golf, and the Asian Tour. The event’s tone was clear — the country is no longer emerging; it’s accelerating.
With its lush landscapes, coastline courses, and growing tourism links, Vietnam is becoming the envy of the region. This partnership with England Golf should help refine that rise, combining British structure with Vietnamese drive.
If golf’s old world and new world ever needed a bridge, it now runs straight through Vietnam.
