Greenkeepers: New-born calf Luna joins family firm at Laguna Golf Lang Co

A family of water buffalo greenkeepers, famous for tending to the rice paddies on Vietnam’s Laguna Golf Lang Co, has welcomed a new member to the workforce: new-born baby Luna.

The bovine brood — father Tu Phat, mother Chi Chi and their eldest calf Bao — sprang to prominence last year as media around the world learned about their roles as ‘bio-mowers’ on the spectacular Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design track. The threesome have been vital in helping to maintain the elevated status of the layout, which winds its way through tropical jungle, ocean sand dunes and rice paddies.

“Luna has already been initiated by her family. She has taken to the job brilliantly and our guests love watching the family graze alongside the 3rd and 4th holes” said Adam Calver, director of golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co.

Since being domesticated over 5000 years ago, water buffalo have been a source of food and labour for the Vietnamese. They are sometimes referred to as the ‘tractors of the east’ and they play a huge part in preserving the classical Vietnamese landscapes and ancient culture that Central Vietnam is famous for.

The utilisation of water buffalo as greenkeepers is part of a wider push by the resort to be the most sustainable course in Vietnam. It has completely eradicated the use of single-use plastics in almost all aspects of its operations, scrapping items made of plastic such as on course garbage bags, locker room accessories, plastic cups and straws and replacing them with ones made from materials such as bamboo, paper, steel or natural grass.