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CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Thousands of volunteers recruited to help with the U.S. Open
Thousands of volunteers recruited to help with the U.S. Open Thousands of volunteers recruited to help with the U.S. Open Thousands of volunteers recruited to help with the U.S. Open The U.S. Open comes to the Oakmont Country Club next week. Practice rounds begin on Monday, and it takes thousands of volunteers to ensure everything runs seamlessly. With golf's rich history, volunteering at the event has become a tradition for some. Oakmont Country Club is viewed as one of the hallowed halls of golf. "We've always said about Oakmont, that great courses produce great champions," volunteer Tom Simmermon said. When the best in the world try their luck at the "Church Pews" bunker and intense rough, about 4,200 volunteers will be along for the ride, another 2,400 on standby. "That's the kind of support we've gotten from western Pennsylvania," Simmermon said. They'll handle everything from hospitality to crowd control, merchandise, scorecards, and fan services. Some volunteers are as much a staple as the clock by the first tee. Jonathan Spatz has done five Opens at Oakmont. "I've seen a lot of things. I've had some interesting times," the Indiana Township man said. Simmermon came out as a fan in 1973, then started volunteering in 1983. "This is my fifth U.S. Open," the Cranberry man said. Spatz is a walking scorer with the players. He's done it long enough that it started with pencil and paper. Now, it's done on a phone and posts right to the scoreboard and broadcasts. "If I do it right, yeah. If I make a mess, they give you a call on the phone and say, 'I think you got that wrong,'" Spatz said with a laugh. There's one golfer in particular that he scored who would be the envy of most fans. "The biggest one I did was in 2007 for this guy," Spatz said while holding up Tiger Woods' golf ball from the 2007 U.S. Open. Simmermon will co-chair the club members' service committee, essentially keeping members in the loop before, during, and after the event. One of his lasting memories was in 1994 when he worked as a marshal over the last few holes. It was Arnold Palmer's final hole at his last U.S. Open. "The fans that were surrounding that green gave him an ovation that I know touched him deeply and was very moving for anyone that was there," Simmermon recalled. In their decades around the game, Simmermon and Spatz have seen golf grow. "You could grab a seat on the ground next to the 18th green and watch the leaders come up. There were that few people coming," Simmermon said of the 1973 championship at the Oakmont Country Club. Now, there are grandstands to hold thousands of people. One thing that never changes is hoping for a great championship. "I'm just hoping it's a good, close competition and the crowd loves it. That's what I would like to see. I think it will be good," Spatz said with a smile.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Yani Tseng hopes to rediscover ‘passion' at US Open after overcoming the yips
Five-time major winner Yani Tseng will compete in her first US Open since 2016 this week after overcoming the dreaded 'yips' by putting left-handed. Tseng burst onto the scene in 2008 by winning the Women's PGA Championship and collected all five of her majors in a four-year spell which saw her reach the top of the world rankings in 2011 and 2012. Three wins in the space of five weeks at the start of 2012 were her last to date on the LPGA however – she did win in her native Taiwan in 2014 – and Tseng's slow decline saw her slump outside the world's top 100 in 2017. Tseng stepped away from the sport for almost two full years in 2019 due to a combination of a back injury and the Covid-19 pandemic, and when she worked hard to return felt that her putting woes meant she effectively needed to hole her approach shots to make up any ground on the competition. After missing the cut in all nine LPGA Tour starts in 2021 Tseng did not compete on the circuit in 2022 or 2023, but returned in April's Chevron Championship, where her switch from putting right-handed to left-handed became apparent. 'I was struggling with my short putts right-handed,' Tseng told the USGA website during a practice round at Erin Hills ahead of the 80th US Women's Open. 'I had the yips.' Tseng began putting left-handed around six months ago and, using that technique, shot 70-71 in a 36-hole US Open qualifier at Arizona Country Club before claiming the only place in this week's field from a five-woman play-off. 'The passion never went away,' the 36-year-old added. 'The past few years I've been disappointed with my performance, but I love golf, I love competition, I love the people. 'I want to prove to myself that I can still be a player at this level. I want to see how far I can go.' As a past champion of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the AIG Women's Open, Tseng is eligible for those majors and plans to play them this year, at Fields Ranch East in Texas and Royal Porthcawl respectively. She has been working with coach Kristine Reese from the Vision 54 programme run by Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, who can count Annika Sorenstam and former Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen among their pupils. 'What I need to focus is inside myself,' Tseng said. 'I need to focus on what I can control, like holding my finish. 'I need to believe in myself. Doubt is the most scary thing. The mechanical and the mental feed off each other. 'Just be yourself, be who you are. Keep looking into yourself and seeing the good things. I tried to be perfect all the time. That's not a way to live.'
Times of Oman
27-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Europcar Oman & Bahrain Partners with Royal Golf Club to Launch the 'RGC Monthly Stableford Series' powered by Europcar
Muscat: Europcar Oman & Bahrain is proud to announce a dynamic new partnership with the prestigious Royal Golf Club (RGC) to launch the 'RGC Monthly Stableford – Powered by Europcar' series. This landmark collaboration is set to energize Bahrain's golf community through a monthly tournament series, culminating in the highly anticipated Europcar Open on December 5, 2025, at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. Commencing this June, the RGC Monthly Stableford series invites golf enthusiasts of all levels to compete in an engaging and rewarding tournament held on select Saturdays each month. Backed by Europcar Oman & Bahrain, the series will feature two competitive divisions, monthly prizes, and a season-long performance leaderboard to determine the overall champion. The Grand Prize for the leaderboard champion includes: • A coveted spot to play in the Europcar Open at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat – one of the region's premier championship courses. • A return flight ticket from Bahrain to Muscat. • A luxurious 2-night stay at a 5-star hotel in Muscat, inclusive of breakfast. •A 2-day luxury SUV rental from Europcar Oman to explore the beauty of Muscat in style. Nitin Sapre, CEO of Europcar Oman & Bahrain, expressed his excitement: ' At Europcar, we believe every journey should be memorable — whether it's on the road or on the golf course. This partnership with the Royal Golf Club allows us to celebrate community, competition, and excellence. We're thrilled to support Bahrain's golfing community through this unique initiative that links two great golfing destinations: Bahrain and Oman. ' Juan Manuel Fuentes Pérez, CEO of the Royal Golf Club, added: ' This collaboration with Europcar is more than just a sponsorship — it's a shared vision for the future of golf in Bahrain. The RGC Monthly Stableford will not only motivate players to improve and connect, but also offer a life-changing reward for the series winner. We are proud to provide a platform where local talent can shine and be recognized across the region. ' This partnership marks a significant milestone in both organizations' efforts to support and grow the sport of golf in the Bahrain. With Europcar Oman & Bahrain's renowned service and RGC's exceptional facilities, the RGC Monthly Stableford Series– Powered by Europcar is poised to become a flagship event on the regional golfing calendar.
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Forbes
10 Top U.S. Golf Resorts With A National Pull
An aerial of the original course at Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast. The past three years have yielded record numbers of U.S. golf travelers, with eagerly itinerant golfers hitting the road for getaways to resorts and destination locations. Whether it's traveling with friends, family, a spouse, colleagues, clients, or solo, more than 12 million Americans have gone on an overnight trip that included at least one round of golf every year since 2022, according to the National Golf Foundation. This includes stay and play opportunities at more than 1,250 golf facilities nationwide with a resort component, as golf tourism and travel have an annual economic impact of over $40 billion, per NGF research. While most golf resorts have more of a regional pull, there are an increasing number of 'national brands' -- from those rooted in tradition and history that are embracing modern approaches to the relative newcomers within the golf destination scene. The lineup below does not include specific golf regions themselves, although a number are included by default, examples being geographies like Pinehurst, North Carolina, and California's Monterey Peninsula that include historic resorts. Other golf meccas like Myrtle Beach (S.C), Hilton Head (S.C.), Phoenix/Scottsdale, and Palm Springs (Calif.) are unquestionably national draws for traveling golfers with a wealth of golf courses across a range of facilities. But these 10 individual golf resorts might just be the biggest – on a national scale – in the U.S. when combining a depth of great destination golf and stay-and-play accommodations. While they're generally in parts of the country with year-round play, a number can be found well off the beaten path, a testament to the lengths today's golfers will go for memorable golf experiences. Sheep Ranch is one of the newest 18-hole additions at Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast. Perched dramatically on the rugged Oregon coast just outside the town of Bandon, this remote resort has redefined the notion of American destination golf since debuting in 1999. Owner Mike Keiser embraced a 'pure golf' experience, continually growing by bringing in a deep lineup of celebrated architects to create a variety of distinct links-style courses with unique coastal views inspired by Scotland, the game's birthplace. It's an immersive experience that attracts avid participants willing to journey long lengths to not only escape from everyday life but experience a truly authentic links atmosphere without crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The walking-only resort has a strong caddie program and features seven courses in total, with five 18-hole championship layouts -- Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald, and Sheep Ranch – in addition to two Par 3 short courses. It doesn't hurt that there's year-round playability along with continually expanding on-site accommodations and food and beverage offerings. The par 3, 17th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by David ...) Located along the aforementioned Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach for many represents the pinnacle of American golf destinations. The property includes the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links as well as Spyglass Hill, The Links at Spanish Bay, Del Monte, and a short course recently revitalized by Tiger Woods known as The Hay. Pebble Beach Golf Links, with its history and breathtaking oceanfront holes including the famous par-3 7th and coast-hugging par-5 18th, has hosted six U.S. Opens and sits near the top of every golfer's bucket list. The resort's national appeal stems from its perfect marriage of championship golf that's captured the imagination of TV viewers for decades, luxury accommodations at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, and unparalleled coastal beauty along 17-Mile Drive. The property's mystique is enhanced by its celebrity connections, major championships and PGA Tour events, and appearances in countless films and television shows. For generations of American golfers, playing Pebble Beach represents the ultimate golf pilgrimage, justifying premium playing (and travel) fees for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. An aerial view of the 16th and 17th holes at Pinehurst's No. 2 Course that hosted the 2024 U.S. Open ... More won by Bryson DeChambeau. (Photo by) Nestled in North Carolina's Sandhills region, Pinehurst Resort is widely recognized as the 'Home of American Golf,' with a history legacy dating back over 125 years. The resort currently boasts ten championship courses, with an 11th on the way, along with a trend-setting par 3 course called The Cradle, and its sprawling putting course: Thistle Dhu. The crown jewel is Pinehurst No. 2, designed by Donald Ross and host to three U.S. Opens, including the historic 2014 back-to-back men's and women's Opens. Other notable courses include Pinehurst No. 4, recently renovated by Gil Hanse and again temporarily under the knife for a fix of its greens, and the Tom Fazio-designed Pinehurst No. 8. The resort's national prominence stems from its rich tournament history, exceptional year-round playing conditions, ideal positioning in the heart of the Eastern seaboard that provides reasonable access from most major markets, and of course depth and diversity of golf offerings – with 189 holes of golf (and counting) in total. The Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Photo by) There are two distinct golf properties under the Kohler umbrella that have turned this small company town of the same name into a national destination: Whistling Straits (with its Straits and Irish courses) and Blackwolf Run (with its River and Meadow Valleys courses, in addition to the 10-hole Par 3 Baths short course). There's a very different look and feel between the two, with the common thread being challenging Pete Dye designs. Whistling Straits is known for its dramatic setting along the coast of Lake Michigan, with the Straits course having famously hosted three PGA Championships as well as the 2021 Ryder Cup. Blackwolf Run, meanwhile, offers more of a parkland-style experience along the Sheboygan River. Kohler's commitment to hospitality extends to the five-star accommodations at The American Club, the Kohler Waters Spa, and exceptional dining experiences, while the golf courses have garnered must-visit status by demonstrating an ability to straddle the line between major championship difficulty and quality and accessibility for recreational golfers. The sixth hole of Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley in Wisconsin. Sand Valley has rapidly emerged as one of America's most sought-after golf destinations since its 2017 opening in the remote Nekoosa area of central Wisconsin. Like Bandon Dunes, the resort is within the growing Dream Golf portfolio and features a variety of courses from big-name architects built in a remote location on sand-based terrain and firm, fast playing conditions reminiscent of the Scottish links golf experience. The obvious difference is the lack of a coastal element, as Sand Valley's courses are spread across 12,000 acres of prehistoric sand dunes. First was the eponymous Sand Valley course (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw), followed by Mammoth Dunes (David McLay Kidd), and The Lido and Sedge Valley (Tom Doak). There's also the 17-hole Sandbox Par 3 course at a property that appeals to golf 'purists,' with its walking-only layouts, rustic accommodations and minimalist clubhouse. Beyond its positioning as an immersive golf retreat, Sand Valley in some fashion is becoming a Midwest version of Pinehurst, with a housing component and a community center, and has shown how rural Wisconsin can be a national draw. The Northernmost property in this group has also embraced winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for guests during the golf offseason. The 18th hole of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. ... More (Photo by Gary Kellner/The PGA of America via Getty Images) Located on a barrier island of the same name just south of Charleston, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort features five public courses. The lineup is headlined by the Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course, which hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup (the 'War by the Shore') and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships. Other resort courses include Turtle Point (Jack Nicklaus), Osprey Point (Tom Fazio), Oak Point (Clyde Johnston), and Cougar Point (Gary Player). The Ocean Course, which will again host the PGA Championship in 2031, has an oceanfront routing and challenging wind conditions that have established it as one of America's most demanding, as well as scenic, golf experiences. The Kiawah Island Resort boasts luxury accommodations (hotel, villas, cottages and private homes), the southern charm of nearby Charleston and other coastline towns, the proximity to major Southeast markets, and weather that's conducive not only to year-round golf but other activities, for golfers and non-golfers alike. The wealth of amenities and things to do in a stunning Atlantic Ocean coastline setting have made Kiawah immensely appealing for families, corporate groups, and some of the most avid golf travelers from around the country. Payne's Valley at Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri. In the Ozark Mountains near Branson, Missouri, Big Cedar Lodge has evolved from a rustic nature retreat into a nationally recognized golf destination under the vision of Bass Pro Shops founder and renowned conservationist Johnny Morris. The property now features multiple championship courses including Payne's Valley (Tiger Woods' first public course design), Ozarks National (Coore & Crenshaw), Buffalo Ridge (Tom Fazio), the 14-hole Mountain short course from Gary Player, and the picturesque Par-3 Top of the Rock course. While the region is known for its abundance of outdoor adventure activities – most notably hunting and fishing – as well as its authentic Ozark hospitality, Big Cedar's national appeal from a golf standpoint stems from a unique mix of golf offerings in dramatic natural settings, among them the limestone cliffs and rock outcroppings that define several of the courses. With the opening of its new Cliffhangers Par 3 course, Big Cedar becomes the first U.S. golf resort with three short courses and has positioned itself as a uniquely American destination that embraces the outdoors – golf included. The 7th hole of Streamsong's Blue Course. Rising from former phosphate ore mine in central Florida, Streamsong Resort in many ways is the antithesis of 'Florida golf' and has emerged as one of the game's most remarkable transformation stories. The property features three championship courses: Red (Coore-Crenshaw), Blue (Tom Doak), and Black (Gil Hanse), along with a newer short course known as The Chain, which is a nod to the mining equipment discovered on site. Like some other national destination properties with links-style looks, Streamsong has embraced a walking-friendly approach, a commitment to architectural excellence, and an alluring off-the-beaten-path atmosphere that attracts serious golfers seeking an authentic playing experience reminiscent of links layouts generally found far from Florida and its typical approach with golf resorts, real estate and other developments. A fourth 18-hole course, color to-be-determined, is in the works, with McLay-Kidd designing the layout that will share a clubhouse with Black when it opens in 2026. An aerial of the Roost course at Cabot Citrus Farms. Cabot Citrus Farms might be the surprise newcomer to this group, as the ambitious U.S. debut for the internationally acclaimed Cabot golf brand. But Cabot has firmly established a global reputation with stunning destination properties in spectacular settings – among them Nova Scotia (Cabot Cape Breton), St. Lucia (Cabot Saint Lucia), and France (Cabot Bordeaux) -- with others on the horizon. As Cabot has become synonymous with luxury golf hospitality, attracting a growing following of national and international travelers, the latest addition in central Florida has further elevated expectations in golf tourism circles. Citrus Farms has four distinct golf offerings in a landscape that's unique in the Sunshine state, with two revitalized 18-hole courses (Karoo and Roost), a 10-hole short course (The Squeeze), and an 11-hole Par 3 (The Wedge). Cabot's sophisticated approach to golf resort development extends to real estate, luxury accommodation, extensive food & beverage offerings, and a Sporting Club, immediately vaulting Citrus Farms into consideration as a national destination in the most bountiful golf state in the country. An aerial from the Staple Course at PGA National in Florida. Located in golf-saturated South Florida, PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens has six courses, headlined by The Champion, which is home to the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic and infamous for its challenging "Bear Trap" stretch of holes toward the finish of a round. Other courses include The Palmer Course, The Fazio Course, The Estate (which is five miles from the resort), and the newest additions: The Match, a shorter, non-traditional design without set teeing areas geared toward match play, and The Staple, a 9-hole Par 3 course. While golf is also part of a bigger resort community, it is central to a luxury lifestyle resort getaway that attracts golfers from the Northeast and beyond to the Sunshine state for its tour quality courses as well as a destination wellness facility, spa services, and state-of-the-art sports and racquet club. These properties range from historic and more all-encompassing lifestyle resort properties that feature multiple well-known courses, some of which have hosted professional events, to newer destination properties in remote locations that are rapidly building a following beyond their surrounding states. Sea Pines Resort (South Carolina) – In addition to family-friendly resort amenities and Low Country charm, this resort on Hilton Head Island has golf offerings that are anchored by Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage and the distinctive red-and-white striped lighthouse on the 18th hole, and include the Ocean Course and Heron Point. Boyne Golf (Michigan) -- Northern Michigan itself is one of the nation's premier regions for recreational golf, with a bevy of increasingly popular getaways -- Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs, Grand Traverse Resort, and Treetops among them – and Boyne Resorts leads the way with a deep collection of 10 championship courses across three properties. An aerial view of the 17th hole at the Stadium Course at PGA West PGA West (California) – 'The Western Home of Golf in America' in the Coachella Valley features the famous Stadium Course, with its intimidating 'Alcatraz' island green 17th hole designed by Pete Dye, plus four other championship courses that are open to public play, including the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, as part of a broader resort community. Sea Island Resort (Georgia) – This private coastal resort island surrounded by five miles of beach on the Atlantic Ocean has three championship courses -- Seaside (host of the PGA Tour's RSM Classic), Plantation, and Ocean Forest – that provide uniquely different experiences at a property approaching its 100th anniversary. The Greenbrier (West Virginia) – The 11,000-acre property known as America's Resort, which is also a National Historic Landmark set among the scenic Allegheny Mountains, features three championship courses including The Old White (PGA Tour venue), The Greenbrier (designed by Jack Nicklaus), and The Meadows. The inn and the Horse Course at The Prairie Club in the Nebraska Sandhills. The Prairie Club (Nebraska) – In the Sandhills of western Nebraska, this pure golf escape provides a pilgrimage that includes two 18-hole, par-73 championship courses – the Dunes and the Pines – that alternate between public and private daily as well as a 10-hole 'Horse Course' that allows guests to pick their tee box for each of the Par 3 holes. Gamble Sands (Washington) – The top-rated golf resort in Washington now has three courses designed by McLay Kidd (the architect of the original course at Bandon Dunes), with the newest addition (Scarecrow) joining the original Sands course and a 14-hole par 3 course called Quicksands, not to mention what might be the best resort putting course in the game. Reynolds Lake Oconee (Georgia) – Midway between Atlanta and Augusta, this resort lifestyle community on 12,000 acres features a lakefront Ritz-Carlton as well as seven courses, five of which are open to guest and public play and designed by names like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, and Bob Cupp. The Loop at Forest Dunes in Northern Michigan. Forest Dunes (Michigan) – In the Huron National Forest of northern Michigan, Forest Dunes has three (or four) spectacular courses with the Tom Weiskopf original layout, the reversible Loop from Tom Doak (with its uniquely different Red and Black routings), and a 10-hole short course known as Bootlegger. The Broadmoor (Colorado) – In the Cheyenne mountain foothills of Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor through the years has welcomed presidents, politicians, celebrities, athletes and some of the biggest names in golf to stay at its mountain resort property and play its two courses designed by Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Japan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Why Vietnam ignored its own laws to fast-track a Trump family golf complex
When officials in the home province of Vietnam's top leader went door to door recently, pressing residents to sign letters agreeing to the Trump Organization's plans for a new golf community, Le Van Truong wanted to refuse. Planning documents promised a "new benchmark in luxury, recreation and business.' Truong, 54, pictured something else: the uprooting of a cemetery with five generations of his ancestors and the loss of rich farmland that has sustained local families for centuries. Yet, he signed anyway, because, as he put it, "there's nothing I can do.' "Trump says it's separate — the presidency and his business,' Truong said. "But he has the power to do whatever he wants.' This $1.5 billion golf complex outside the capital, Hanoi, as well as plans for a Trump skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City are the Trump family's first projects in Vietnam — part of a global moneymaking enterprise that no family of a sitting U.S. president has ever attempted on this scale. And as that blitz makes the Trumps richer, it is distorting how countries interact with the United States. To fast-track the Trump development, Vietnam has ignored its own laws, legal experts said, granting concessions more generous than what even the most connected locals receive. Vietnamese officials explicitly stated in a letter that the project required special support from the top ranks of the Vietnamese government because it was "receiving special attention from the Trump administration and President Donald Trump personally.' And Vietnamese officials have waved the development along in a moment of high-stakes diplomacy. They face intense pressure to strike a trade deal that would head off Trump's threat of steep tariffs, which would hit about 30% of Vietnam's exports. Eric Trump, the president's second son, stands at the center of the drama. He was in Vietnam to break ground for the golf project Wednesday, less than a year after meeting a local building partner, Dang Thanh Tam. Inside a tent with a gold facade, Eric Trump told guests, including the country's prime minister, that "the Trump family is going to make you very, very proud.' The White House said, in an emailed statement, "All of the president's trade discussions are totally unrelated to the Trump Organization.' It argued that there are no ethical issues as the president's family develops about 20 Trump-branded properties worldwide, because the president's sons run the businesses. The president's financial disclosure report, however, shows that he still personally benefits financially from most of these ventures. The entrance to a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Trump hotel and golf course | Linh Pham / The New York Times Eric Trump, who did not respond to interview requests, has insisted that he is just doing his job, developing properties. Vietnamese officials say that prioritizing Trump projects assists the country's economic rise. But as the deal-making accelerates and collides with U.S. threats to free trade, the line between Trump the president and Trump the tycoon is now seen by diplomats, trade officials and corporations worldwide as so obviously blurred that governments feel more compelled than ever to favor anything Trump-related. While other Trump deals are happening in Serbia, Indonesia and the Middle East, Vietnam has become a case study for how the Trump brand wields influence and gains advantage, challenging local norms and encouraging leaders to rush approvals, to please the Trump family. With trade negotiations intensifying, Vietnamese officials have allowed the Trump project to break ground without completing at least a half-dozen legally required steps, from securing all the land and financing to conducting environmental reviews. The process usually takes two to four years. But records show that initial planning documents were filed only three months before Wednesday's event, which was held on newly leveled land under an archway announcing "THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF TRUMP INTERNATIONAL, HUNG YEN.' Vietnam's Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about the legality of the project. Residents, who gathered outside the development site to watch the groundbreaking, were held at a distance by police. Many worry that their livelihoods and land will soon be taken. Fifty years after the end of a brutal war with the United States, they say they fear becoming collateral damage as the new fast-moving and rule-defying approach of Trumpism marches on. Taking land for villas In Vietnam's communist system, all land is owned by the people and managed or leased out by the state. Most of the property for the golf project is still controlled by families with long-term rights of use. In the Khoai Chau district of Hung Yen province — where the Trump project will take up nearly 4 square miles along the Red River — a sense of betrayal has been rumbling. At town-hall meetings in early April, officials told hundreds of residents that the best they could expect was about half of what their land would have sold for even before the golf project was announced in October. Le Van Truong next to graves that will be cleared to make way for the new Trump hotel and golf course | Linh Pham / The New York Times Amid a chorus of outrage at one meeting, nearly everyone stormed out. Word of the offered rate spread through streets and into the fields. Opposition has hardened as farmers fear losing investments in saplings that take years to mature, and the security that the land has provided for generations. "They're not listening to us,' Le Thi Thanh, 57, said on a recent fever-hot afternoon, squatting to graft young custard apple trees. "They just come here and impose their will.' Vietnam's construction approval process is supposed to begin with independent scrutiny in the public interest at the district and provincial level. In reality, as interviews and government documents show, little of that happened, and planning laws have been shoved aside. After the March 20 letter from provincial officials that said the project needed special treatment, the government cut short public comment and did not follow the usual rules on using public funds for preliminary research, documents show. Legal experts said the project was in conflict with the province's housing master plan. The entire complex, with Trump-designed villas and 36 holes of golf in one of four development zones, would add 35,000 residents, theme parks and an urban commercial district. On top of that, the project is planned in a riverfront area that flooded during a typhoon last year, and the province is dotted with unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War. A 200-pound bomb was discovered six months ago. Nonetheless, on May 15, just over three months after the first official filing, Vietnam's central government ended the planning process early, to allow for investment and a groundbreaking event that would — as the letter in March had requested — align with Eric Trump's availability and avoid "missing the window to capitalize on the support of the Donald Trump administration.' That same day, residents rushed to the site of the groundbreaking, only to find that some construction had already begun. A black Rolls-Royce Phantom (valued at about $500,000, belonging to the Trump partner, Tam) sat near excavators, photographs showed, 100 yards from Truong's family cemetery and families working the land. Residents line up to view a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Trump hotel and golf course | Linh Pham / The New York Times At the groundbreaking, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh seemed sensitive to the possibility of public backlash in a country where, despite the power of a one-party state, people are not afraid to protest over being forced from where they live and work. Raising his voice to a crowd of bankers, generals and Trump invitees in suits or shimmering stilettos, Chinh instructed the provincial authorities to ensure that those who sacrificed property would "have a new livelihood and new home better than their old ones.' He also said the project would "receive maximum support' to "further strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and the U.S.' He promised that it would be completed in 2027. Several lawyers and developers said that while Vietnam's bureaucracy can be slow, the Trump project's pace was unprecedented, illegal and unfair to other investors. Residents said their needs were being tossed aside to please the already rich. "They'll have hotels, golf courses and swimming pools,' Truong said. "We'll have nothing.' The American connection The first Trump project in Vietnam got its start with the previously undisclosed efforts of two former Marine Corps platoon commanders with postcombat idealism in mind. Billy Birdzell, 45, grew up in Larchmont, New York. David Lewis, 47, comes from an oil and gas family in Texas. The Iraq War welded them together forever after Aug. 5, 2004, when a rocket skipped off Lewis' helmet and then exploded during a brutal battle in Najaf. "He got very badly injured,' Birdzell said. "My guys, we evacuated him.' They stayed in touch, as veterans do, and each separately developed a connection to Vietnam. Birdzell visited in 2007, trekking to Khe Sanh and other Marine Corps landmarks before starting an investment banking firm, Horatius Group, and moving to California. In 2015, Lewis started Energy Capital Vietnam, which develops natural gas power projects. Farmland that will be developed into the new Trump hotel and golf course | Linh Pham / The New York Times In January 2024, they were at the Melia hotel in Hanoi, on a joint business trip, when Birdzell came down to breakfast and explained that he had been texting "a friend' who was interested in real estate in Vietnam. "That was Eric,' Birdzell said. In an interview, he would not say how they had met. They share a passion for guns and hunting. Birdzell is also married to a niece of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services. Lewis, with a decade of work and connections in Vietnam, said he saw in Eric Trump a chance to bring the United States and Vietnam closer together. So right after he heard of his interest, he reached out to Tam, the founder of the industrial construction firm Kinh Bac City, who embraced the idea immediately. Birdzell and Lewis said that if the new development succeeded, it might be a catalyst for fostering deals and updating American perceptions about Vietnam after the war. "It's to elevate the Vietnamese people,' Birdzell said, "and to elevate Vietnam.' Birdzell added that he had mainly been an intermediary, although he hoped for a role in raising capital. Lewis said he had stepped back and had no financial stake in the project. But they have watched it advance. They attended the first meeting at Trump Tower between Tam and Eric Trump in July. They were there again Sept. 24 to witness the signing of initial documents for the deal. That day, the Trump family's personal-political blend was on full display. Surrounded by Vietnamese business leaders and officials, Donald Trump took a break from his campaigning — just weeks before the U.S. presidential election — to play a leading role. In a promotional photo from that day, Eric Trump sits on one side, Tam on the other. The past and future president occupies the center, smiling in front of two American flags. Risks for a relationship Like those two former Marines, who saw the Trump golf course as a potential extension of America itself and this White House, Vietnam's government sees Donald Trump's administration and the Trump Organization as one. "When he wants to build a project in Vietnam, it's under his personal brand name, and Vietnam wants to show off that connection,' said Dang Hung Vo, a former deputy minister of natural resources and environment who helped write some of the country's land laws. Part of the draw is national pride: Only some countries have Trump developments, and Vietnam would like to join that club. Many Vietnamese also admire Trump for his riches and resistance to China. China is central to the U.S.-Vietnam relationship — and its current tensions. In late April and early May, according to U.S. officials, Washington warned Vietnam that its hopes for lower tariffs were at risk because of America's perception that too many Chinese companies have been setting up in Vietnam and using the country to avoid tariffs on China. Children play near a ferry dock that is expected to be cleared for the new Trump hotel and golf course. | Linh Pham / The New York Times Vietnamese officials say, in public and in private, that they hope the Trump golf project will serve as a goodwill token and further intertwine the U.S. and Vietnam. The groundbreaking occurred just a few days after the Trump administration's trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer, met with Vietnam's trade minister, Nguyen Hong Dien, in South Korea. It was their first in-person meeting since Trump imposed (then paused) 46% tariffs on Vietnam, which sends more of its exports to the United States than anywhere else. But, as economists note, big development projects driven by political favors or optics, rather than by traditional investment calculations, often lose focus. By elevating patronage over merit, they can erode public trust. The Trump project, initially announced as a golf community, now includes a lot more, and residents who had gathered near the groundbreaking demanded greater transparency about what it entails and how it will affect them. Many analysts say that providing special treatment for the Trump family business undermines the efforts of To Lam, Vietnam's top leader, to create a modern, evenhanded business environment with less corruption. "This pushes Vietnam in the direction of more personalistic business transactions, rather than those more invested in markets, transparency and uniformity,' said Ja-Ian Chong, a political science professor at the National University of Singapore who studies Southeast Asia. The faster things go, he added, the greater the risk of major problems. In Indonesia, authorities halted construction on another Trump golf project this year because of water mismanagement. Tam, the Trumps' local building partner in Vietnam, promised at the groundbreaking to continue working quickly before handing over the private golf project to the Trump Organization to operate. For the people wondering about their land, the pace of change makes trouble look inevitable and close at hand. "In just five days, they filled up all that farm's land and put up that tent for the ceremony,' said Do Thi Suat, 63, watching the groundbreaking from a row of saplings. "Why are they moving so fast? "They will take our land away,' she said. "Then what will we do with our lives?' This article originally appeared in The New York Times © 2025 The New York Times Company
