Sir Nick Faldo

Home

I live in Orlando, that's my base, but England is still home. I pop back there every month or six weeks, especially since my Dad isn't so well. I was born and brought up in Welwyn Garden City, and that's where my parents are. My kids are old enough to fly to me now which is fun. That makes life a little easier.

Money

I pay taxes everywhere. I was advised not to get a green card, but I don't think about it. Some people structure their whole lives around it, and I did for a while. I had a management group telling me I should go to Bermuda, do this and do that. I don't see the point. I don't think about money. I don't watch it. I haven't a clue about my net worth. If it fluctuates then I'm not too concerned.

Management

I went with IMG right from when I started and I did 20 years with them. If you're a golfer that's great because you just go play golf and they do your tax bills and everything else. When you want to then build your own identity a bit and you want to understand the business side then you tend to get involved more on that side of things.

To be honest I would really advise young golfers to get someone they trust. Trust them on day one, don't ask questions until your golf career is over. If you find after 30 years something is wrong at least you've had peace of mind for 30 years. You may have been stupid for 30 years, but you didn't know. Seriously, that's the best. When you know there's a better way of doing business, or someone is abusing you for whatever reason, you're done. One it gets in your head you're done. But with common sense there are enough lawyers around to read the contracts for you. [laughs]

If your manager's selling you, keep him. If he can't sell you, dump him. To be fair, you also have to perform. There's a lot of kids today who think 'I want a manager' and you say, 'Well, what have you done?' And they say, 'Not a lot, but I want you to sell me.' But you have to be a performance athlete. You have to perform.

Of course, I'm now the opposite. I'm "selling" six majors, something that happened 20 years ago. You definitely need a different approach. I can't have them managing for a percentage of performance money, because that's what you get when you are a regular on tour. That's why my relationship with TaylorMade is so good. They know I'm a voice for them, I bring my six majors with me. I was with Nike for a while, and I said, 'I can't play like I used to play. Forget it!'

Semi-Retirement

I had my era, I had my time, and I was motivated pretty well. Then I geared up again to do it properly, and I looked pretty much the same and felt good but I’d changed physically. Physically you change and I physically can’t survive a day going at the pace I used to back in the day. I used to play and practice so damn hard every day – I can’t do that anymore.

It's more fun not playing golf. I play exhibitions but I don't want a scorecard in my hand. I'm playing zero tournaments this year for the first time in 40 years. I actually had a summer holiday with my kids, which was way more fun: fishing, sightseeing and all sorts of things.

I'm officially semi-retired. The next event I am going to play is the Open at Murifield in 2013, so I'm in dedicated training, serious practice, every day just for that! [laughs]. It's my goal – just to get to the first tee! [laughs]

On/Off Course Persona

Back in the day, I'd get my head down, go and play, try to focus and people ignored by good qualities and made a lot of assumptions about me and who I was as a person. I always like a good laugh with my friends, but they [the media] didn't see that. I know I have a dark sense of humour at times but if you know me you know that I can be a bit nutty.

Don't get me wrong. I know I've been very lucky. There are some stunningly gifted public speakers who freeze in front of a TV camera, and I've been shy all my life. That shyness perhaps led to my reputation and people forming an opinion of me.

Television Success

You have to be a natural, because you can't fake it. The key is to just think you are talking to yourself most of the time [as opposed to millions of viewers] and that's fine. Even when I turn to the camera I'm just talking to the camera. Still, sometimes it does get a little scary when you ask 'Where is this going?' and they say 'The world'.

You do get those silly old moments when you're talking away and you don't even know if anyone can hear you. I try not to think too hard about it [but] I'm enjoying what I'm doing. As for the opinions [I make], well, I've walked the walk to back it up. That's my mantra. No one has said I don't know what I'm talking about. I've been there and done that. I've played in these events at the same courses.

About Laguna Lang Co

Located between the cities of Hue and Danang on Vietnam's central coast, Laguna Lang Co will, upon completion, be the first fully and legitimately integrated resort in the country. It will also be the largest, with 2,000 hotel keys under the management of seven international branded hotels and resort operators, award-winning spas, resort residences, convention facilities and a town centre replete with retail and recreational facilities. The resort is the next generation of Laguna's extraordinarily successful development in Thailand, Laguna Phuket.

Faldo's course has been routed across stunningly diverse land. Starting on a coastal headland, the layout winds its way through mangroves and jungle and incorporates numerous rock formations and rice paddies. "Every hole is different – there's nothing worse than an unmemorable golf course – but this is going to be very good," said Faldo. "The course is shaping up nicely and already has some wonderful movement. The terrain allowed us to incorporate some very interesting and unusual features."

The course is one of three key components of Phase One of Laguna Lang Co., the other's being Angsana Properties' condominium-style resort, which like Faldo's layout is slated to open in mid 2012, while a sophisticated portfolio of high-quality Banyan Tree-branded villas will launch sales at the beginning of the year.