TWO new golf courses designed by sports  legend Nick Faldo are set to be completed 15 kilometres from Phnom Penh in the next two to three years.

Sam Ang Vattanac, Executive Director of Vattanac Properties, said yesterday the two 18-hole courses would be located at Vattanac Golf Resort in Phnom Penh’s Kien Svay district.

“Right now we’re designing the golf courses. We have not yet started construction ... but we will start very soon,” he said yesterday.

The courses would take between two and a half, and three years to complete, he said.

Sam Ang Vattanac declined to release investment figures for the development project yesterday, but said an announcement would be made soon.

The Vattanac Golf Resort would sit on more than 500 hectares of land, and will benefit from the standards stemming from the Faldo design, he said.

“We strongly believe in the Faldo design – his projects are always successful and provoke interest from clients,” he said.

“Our project will bring local and international players here.”

The golf courses were the “first phase” of the project, while a luxury hotel and residential units comprised the second and third phases, according to Sam Ang Vattanac.

A number of sports, recreation and entertainment facilities will also be provided at the development.

Nick Faldo – who was knighted by the Queen of England in 2009 – was in the Kingdom of Cambodia recently to visit the Vattanac Golf Resort site in Phnom Penh, according to a press release.

The British golfer, who has won six majors, was welcomed by Prime Minister Hun Sen before heading to observe the site.

“This is a large site and offers real flexibility to create two completely contrasting golf courses,” he said in a press release following his meeting with the premier.

The new courses would raise golfing standards in the Kingdom and attract international visitors, he said.

The Vattanac Golf Resort is the latest addition to a portfolio that includes over 25 Faldo Design projects in operation in some 17 countries.  

It is the fifth new project to be undertaken by Faldo Design in Asia within the past 18 months.

A number of golfing venues have been announced in the area surrounding the capital recently.

Developers are constructing a US$1 million driving range on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich, according to project manager Touch Samnang. Grand Phnom Penh International City in Russei Keo district will see work on its 18-hole, 70-hectare golf course and driving range wrap up in February 2011, project sales manager Teng Rithy has said.

Meanwhile, Sam Ang Vattanac is also the Executive Director of US$100 million Vattanac Tower, which will stand next to Canadia Tower upon completion.

Construction on the 38-storey Vattanac Tower started in 2009 and is due for completion in 2011.

The tower is being built on 11,800 square metres of prime land in the Daun Penh district on Monivong Boulevard. It will house the head office of Vattanac Bank, a business centre and Vattanac Capital.

The tower was designed by TFP Farrells Ltd, architects with offices in London and Hong Kong.