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GOLFING IN THAILAND
Golf is one of the most popular sports in
Thailand. The game arrived in the country
a century ago and was quickly taken up by
the elite and the fashionable. Among the
first sponsors of the game were the armed
forces and government institutions, which
built and continue to own some of the finest
courses in the country.
About 350,000 visitors are believed
to have played golf in Thailand
in 2002, generating an expenditure
of nearly 6.2 billion baht.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand
is planning to raise these figures
to one million golfers, generating
an estimated 18.45 billion baht
by 2007. In 2004 alone, the
plan is to attract 400,000 golfers.
Who will generate an estimated
7.1 billion baht, an increase
of 14.29% over 2002.
There
are over 200 high standard
golf courses nationwide, many
of them championship standards.
The worldös top designers have
made a significant contribution.
Jack Nicklaus, Roboert Trent
Jones Jr, Pete De Gar Player
and many others have perfected
modern layouts, using the best
grasses and latest techniques.
The
result is some of the most
attractive courses in Asia,
with excellent facilities,
memorable signature holes and
regular maintenance to keep
them in top-class condition.
Every course has its caddies;
it's mandatory to empoly one
caddie for your round. They
are Thailandös secret weapon
in making golf such good fun.
These brightly clad ladies,
in smart uniforms and straw
hats, know lots about the course,
smile almost all the time,
and very good at reading putts.
There
are at least a few courses in
or within easy reach of all
major cites. Most of the newer
courses offer accommodation
on site or nearby, plus recreational
facilities for the whole family.
For
the more adventurous, there
are older, natural courses in
remote areas around the courses
in remote areas around the country
owned by the Royal Irrigation
Department, the Electricity
Generation Authority of Thailand,
all offering good value. So
for golfers who not only appreciate
a challenging course, but an
exotically different one too,
there is an extraordinary choice.
The
best time to plan a golfing
trip is the cool season, from
November to March. From April
to October it is hot and wet,
but even in the rainy months
the downfall usually comes in
the afternoon, and for only
a few minutes. Most courses
have good drainage systems,
and the rains should not interrupt
your game for long. At some
facilities you may need to book
ahead, through your club or
your hotel, and advance booking
is recommended for weekends.
Greens fees continue to be very
reasonable, as are the fees
for caddies.
As
most of the golf courses are
located in the provinces, promoting
golf also furthers the TAT policy
of ensuring that throughout
the provinces.
There
are many championship standard
courses in Bangkok and around
the city perimeter, while the
neighbouring provinces of Pathom
Thani to the north, Nakhon
Pathom to the northwest, and
Chachaoengsao to the east, each
boast a number of world-class
facilities.
 Bangkok & the Central region
This region is
the major rice bowl of the county, and many
of the courses have been carved out
of rice paddies, compensating for the flat
terrain with beautiful layouts and lots
of water hazards. The older courses have
shadier fairways, with mature vegetation,
making it pleasant to play even in the
most torrid months.The provinces
on the Eastern Seaboard are major agricultural
and industrial producers. In the past decade,
recreational golf has grown in step with
the industrial estates, with new courses
springing up to serve the expatriates and
local enthusiasts. Some of the most famous
names in golf have created impressive layouts
with first-class facilities out of rocky
and sandy terrain. Some cater to serious
players, others fall somewhere in between
Golfing action
is centred around Chon Buri and Pattaya.
Just two hourös drive from the capital,
the area is ideal for day trips, though
most courses, if they donöt have their
own hotels, are within a short drive of
good accommodation.
Western region
Golf in the Westerm region is centerd in the
Hua hin and Cha-am area, and around the River
Kwai in Kanchanaburi. Hua Hin and Cha-am are
both resort tower on the Gulf of Thailand,
with excellent hotel accommodation. The Royal
Hua Hin Golf Course is the oldest course in
Thailand. The weather on the coastline here
is pleasant for most of the year, with cooling
breezes offering respite from the sun even
in the hottest months.Kanchanburi, which like
the two resort towns is around two hours by
road from Bangkok, is know primarily as the
site of the historic Bridge Over the River
Kwai. Now, however, it is becomingly known
as an attractive destination for recreational
golfers, with several world-class courses
in picturesque settings. The courses have
their own accommodation onsite or nearby the
river but few in the town itself, so reservations
are advisable.
Northern region
The North is ideal for a golf holiday, with
its long mountain ranges, wide valleys and
spectacular jungle scenery within easy reach
of culture rich cities, and pleasant weather
year-round. Because of the altitude it is
cooler than other regions, with temperature
in the single digits in the cool months of
December and January. The regional capital
of Chiang Mai, 700 kilometrwes from Bangkok,
has the biggest number of golf courses, most
with magnificent views of surrounding hills
and valleys. Chiang Rai, three hourös drive
further north, boasts a number of championship
courses in picturesque settings. Around the
region are game of courses owned and run by
the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand,
in areas surrounding its dams, with moderate
albeit comfortable accommodation nearby.
Northeastern region
Golf in the Northeast is centred
around the Khao Yai area in Nakhon Ratchasima,
gateway to the region, about three hoursö drive
from Bangkok. Khao Yai, the largest protected
area in the country, enjoys the status of
a National Pack. The area is at fairly high
altitude, so the weather is pleasant all
year round, with temperatures averaging 7-8
degrees Celsius lower than in Bangkok. It
is possible to drive to Khao Yai, enjoy a
round of golf and then ret urn
to Bangkok within the day, but there is first-rate
accommodation in the area if you choose to
stay for a few days.
Southern region
The
major resort towns on the southern peninsula,
know for their pristine beaches and first-class
facilities, are also home to some of the
best golf anywhere. The island of Phuket
off the western coast has some of the countryös
coat has some of the countryös best courses,
including the Blue Canyon, host to the
Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994 and again
in 1998.
Neighbouring Phang-nga, also on the coast
of the Andama, has one of only a handful
of links-type Samui has the country.
The island of Samui has the Samui Golf Club
& Driving Range, with professional
golf instructor. The southern courses have
been carved out of tin-mine workings and
coconut plantations, and are set against
spectacular backdrops of ocean, mountains
and wooded hills.
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