In reference to Bill Pakinkis' comment about the DaNang Golf Club, I'd like to confirm that the course is being constructed just a few clix south of Marble Mountain complex off the old beach highway on the way to Hoi An…I had a chance to play the first 18 holes of what will be a 36 hole course and resort, about a year and a half ago…But I have a preference for Montgomerie Links Golf Course, which is the other course just south of DGC, and is a better developed and more challenging golf course (see attached pix)…These are the only two courses in the DaNang are for the moment, but there is another one under construction out in the western mountains near BaNa (just north of the old Happy Valley)…BaNa was once a French mountain resort during the old French Indo-China days, and was part of one of my old unit's (2/3) TAOR (c. 65-66).
I spent several tours in-country between '65 and '70 from DaNang area, on up to Camp Carroll and Khe Sanh…I started out first with the 3rd Marine Regt., and then with Maint Bn – 1st FSR/FLC on my last tour…I also got to be part of the last group of Marines to leave SE Asia, when I was at the Rose Garden with Task Force Delta at Nam Phong, Thailand in 1972-73…So when I first returned to Vietnam five years ago, it was with a little hesitation, especially since we were landing at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi for our first stop…My friend had some business to take care of in Hanoi the first day, and then the next day we went out to King's Island GC, out about 35 clix west in Son Tay (does the Son Tay Raid ring any bells?) for some golf on a great 36 hole course…It's rumored that the golf resort is on the same site as the old POW camp…We played Chi Linh GC the following day, down near Ha Long Bay/Haiphong Harbor on our third day, and then flew down to DaNang for a couple more days before we returned to Bangkok via Saigon (or HCMC as it's called nowadays)…Now, after having just returned from my ninth visit to Vietnam in the last five years, I've found that I look forward to a chance to go back and visit again…The changes and the progress are amazing to see and experience.
S/F,
Jim Mackin
MGySgt USMC(Ret)
1964 – 1987