The Wave of Young Vietnamese Golf: When First Swings Shape the Future

At Long Bien golf course on a Saturday morning, with gentle sunlight, I stood at hole 9 waiting for a 14-year-old boy to make a putt. That was Nguyen Anh Minh, the youngest golfer to win a SEA Games gold medal, and I suddenly recalled the first time I saw a Vietnamese golfer step onto an international course. In 2026, when I was a reporter for The Independent, I followed a Vietnamese amateur golfer competing in an Asian championship – he lost by 10 strokes, but his eyes were full of desire. Today, that generation has changed. Vietnamese golf is at a turning point. Never have we had so many young golfers competing internationally: Anh Minh, Le Khanh Hung, Nguyen Nhat Long, and a host of new faces from private academies. But behind these victories lies a bigger problem: how to turn this boom into a sustainable foundation? I have followed elite sports for over 40 years, and I realize that the success of Vietnamese youth golf is not about the number of medals, but about how we build an ecosystem – from practice courses, coaches, to sponsorship and long-term strategy. Look at the numbers: According to the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA), the number of young golfers under 18 increased by 300% from 2026 to 2026. Golf courses in Vietnam grew from 78 to 112 in the same period, but most are concentrated in major urban areas. Meanwhile, the cost of an hour of practice with an international coach ranges from 50-100 USD, a major barrier for middle-class families. I once interviewed a coach in Hai Phong, who said: "We have talent, but we lack affordable 9-hole courses and systematic training programs." This is the bottleneck. But what makes me optimistic is how young Vietnamese golfers adapt to pressure. At the 2026 SEA Games, Anh Minh defeated Thai and Indonesian opponents on clay courts – something nearly impossible 10 years ago. His technique is not perfect, but his ability to read greens and manage emotions is impressive. I recall my conversation with Peter Bol in 2026, who said: "Running is about feeling the track." In golf, it is about feeling the green. Anh Minh has what no coach can teach: the calmness of someone who has overcome hardship. However, I worry about imbalance. We are focusing too much on the elite group while neglecting the foundation. According to data from VangBong.vn, only 12 public courses exist out of 112 in Vietnam, while in Thailand that number is 50%. If we do not address this, golf will remain a sport of the wealthy, and we will miss hundreds of potential talents from rural provinces. I witnessed this in Australia: when they invested in public courses, the number of young golfers doubled in just 5 years. The counterintuitive point here is: we should not chase international achievements immediately. Instead of pouring money into big tournaments, invest in scholarship systems and domestic coach training. A good golfer does not create a generation, but a good coach can train hundreds of golfers. I remember how Croatia built football after 2026: they did not buy stars, they built academies. Vietnamese golf needs that lesson. Look at South Korea's model. They have over 500 golf courses, but more importantly, a youth tournament system from school level. In Vietnam, we only have 3 national youth tournaments per year, and none for under-10. Meanwhile, countries like Japan have had a system since 2026. We cannot skip stages, but we can learn from those who came before. On the commercial side, I see a positive signal: domestic brands are starting to sponsor youth golf. Vinpearl, BRG, and some real estate conglomerates have invested in academies. But they often seek short-term advertising benefits, while a long-term strategy is needed. I suggest businesses sponsor on a 5-10 year roadmap, with a commitment to community development. This not only helps Vietnamese golf but also builds a sustainable brand image. Another issue is injury. I have seen too many young talents ruin their careers due to overtraining. Dense competition schedules, lack of medical oversight, and pressure from families. I once advised a 16-year-old golfer with spinal degeneration from practicing 500 swings a day. We need an injury management system, not just for professionals but also for children. This requires cooperation between VGA, academies, and the Ministry of Health. Finally, I want to talk about the role of media. We need stories, not just results. When I wrote about Peter Bol, I did not just talk about his 1:44.11 time, but about the journey of a refugee. Similarly, Vietnamese golf needs stories of overcoming adversity, of boys from poor villages rising up. That will inspire the next generation and attract public support. The stadium is empty, but the applause still echoes in my heart. I watch Anh Minh finish his final putt, and I see in him a generation growing up with opportunities his father never had. But opportunities do not come naturally. We need to build foundations, be patient, and invest in the right places. Vietnamese golf does not lack talent; it lacks an ecosystem. And that is our job – sports people, businesses, and government – to create it. Exhaustion is not a stop, but a crossroads where we choose the next path. Vietnamese youth golf is at that crossroads. We can choose the short-term path – chasing medals, or the sustainable path – building a foundation for the next 20 years. I believe in the second choice, because I have seen it work in many countries. And I believe that, one day soon, we will have a Vietnamese golfer standing on the podium at a Major, not by luck, but because we built it the right way.