Amazing Tastes of Thailand Amazing Thailand Golf Paradise CONTENTS Bangkok 8 The Central Region 11 The Eastern Region 26 The North 33 The Northeast 36 The South 39 Siam Country Club Plantation Course Black Mountain Golf Club Introduction One of the world’s leading tourism destinations, Over the years, Thailand has greeted millions of Thailand is a land of secrets and surprises for tourists to experience the beautiful scenery as well everyone to discover and enjoy. Visitors who love as welcomed golfers around the world to tee-off challenging, adventurous outdoor activities will find and swing on the superb courses nationwide. For much to satisfy their desires here, and if golf is high the question “why Thailand?” Mark Siegel, Managing on your list, then it is definitely for you, because the Director of Golfasian, the premier golf tour operator Kingdom is renowned as Asia’s most popular golfing in Southeast Asia, offered his Top 10 reasons why destination. Golf has been played in Thailand for Thailand is a great place, maybe the greatest place, to almost a century with games recorded at the Royal visit and play golf: Bangkok Sports Club as early as 1905. 1. Value for Money - Thailand provides tremendous value in all the areas that really matter to visiting golfers. From the wide range of hotel accommodation and golf, to shopping in local markets or high-class department stores, to the breadth of dining options and nightlife, as well as travelling in Thailand is remarkably cheap for the quality provided. This sort of value, this saving, can often enable the upgrade from a short trip to a weeklong adventure - or maybe it’s the difference between going on a golf holiday and not going at all. 2. The Weather - In the cool season, from November to February, the Thai climate is without any peers. Light breezes, constant sunshine, great conditions for a golfing holiday - great conditions Santiburi Samui Country Club for pretty much any sort of outdoor activity (even non-activities, like lying on a tranquil beach reading 4 Golfing Alpine Chiang Mai a book). Even in the summer months, the “green” season, when it gets a bit warmer, the golfing conditions are perfectly acceptable. Here’s an insider’s tip for holiday-makers who want the best of both worlds, good weather and good prices: In the middle of the “green” season, during the months of June, July, and August, southwest winds from the Indian Ocean bring rain-laden clouds that produce heavy downpours almost like clockwork practically every afternoon. For the real golfing enthusiast, the Blue Canyon predictable afternoon rain is easily dealt with: Play in the morning, which is the preferred tee time will never forget the golf they have created here. Golf anyway. Moreover, not only is morning golf a development is taking place all over the Asia-Pacific certainty, the best bargains for green fees and region, but many “emerging destinations” have only accommodation are to be had this time of year. a handful of international standard courses. There are As a final bonus, there are hardly any other golfers more than 200 courses located throughout Thailand on the courses, or at the hotels, during this time with new ones opening every year ensuring an period, which insures 4-hour rounds and personalised embarrassment of riches for the visiting golfer. services at your selected hotel. 4. The Locations - Even a golf course architect will 3. The Courses - The golf itself is the main reason tell you that ultimately it’s the landscape that makes golf enthusiasts travel to a premier golf destination, a golf course attractive, challenging and memorable. and with layouts designed by Jack Nicklaus, Robert Thailand is a beautiful country that offers an amazing Trent Jones II, Nick Faldo, Pete Dye, and Greg Norman, spectrum of physical environments. It only follows you will not be disappointed in Thailand. In addition, that the courses are equally diverse and spectacular. there are dozens of top quality courses from Thai and From the bustling capital city of Bangkok, to the Japanese architects who might not boast household beautiful mountainous countryside of Chiang names across Europe and North America, but you Mai and Chiang Rai.... From the stunning beaches Golfing 5 golfer a top quality holiday. 6. The Caddies - A unique and truly memorable part of playing golf in Thailand. Predominantly female, Thai caddies provide a level service that will stun many first-time visitors - it must be the best value for money anywhere in the golfing world. Greeting you upon arrival at the clubhouse, Thai caddies take care of everything before you tee off. They will guide you around the course. They will give you distances to the green, mark your ball, rake your bunkers, read your putts and cool you down when the sun gets a bit hot. Through it all, smiles and good cheer. 7. The Accommodation - No matter where you are staying in Thailand, you can find accommodation to meet your budget. From stunning 5-star hotels to modest Thai-style bungalows, Thailand is truly set up to cater to the broadest possible tourist market. Every international hotel brand is represented here, but this option is complemented beautifully by hundreds of superb 4-star properties, individually owned boutique hotels, even the rustic beachfront hut, on stilts, that you’ve always pictured in your mind’s eye, where the sounds of gently lapping surf puts you to sleep each night. Riverdale 8. The People & Attractions - The Thai people are known to be some of the friendliest in the world, in Phuket and Ko Samui, to the bright lights and and I can personally vouch for this fact. Always with a amazing nightlife of Pattaya... From the quieter smile on their faces (it’s not called the ‘Land of Smiles’ seaside town of Hua Hin, to the waterfalls and for nothing), they are very welcoming toward visitors. stunning scenery of Khao Yai… Thailand has an And there is so much to do outside golf you will be amazing assortment of golf courses thanks to an spoilt for choice. From visiting amazing temples and extraordinary diversity of landscapes. shrines, to poking around local night markets and street stalls selling everything imaginable, Thailand is 5. The Infrastructure - Many first-time visitors at once magnificent and grand, offbeat and surprising. are surprised to find that Thailand has created for Stunning beaches, beautiful waterfalls and mountains, itself and its guests a thoroughly modern, first-world international calibre shopping malls, world-class travel infrastructure. Yes, the traffic in downtown spas, boat trips to idyllic islands, elephant trekking … Bangkok can get a little heavy at times, as it can in The list is endless, and the people make it all warm any major metropolis. But all the cities in Thailand, all and welcoming. the golf centres, are connected by modern highway systems that facilitate easy, efficient travel. Thailand - We’ve talked about value for money, is not a small country. It’s nearly 1,000 kilometres 9. The Food and that certainly holds when it comes to dining out from Chiang Mai in the north to Phuket in the south. in Thailand. But the cuisine is exquisite in and of itself, Accordingly, domestic flights are numerous and very a truly mesmerising fusion of Asian, Indian and affordable. What’s more, the tourism industry is fully Western influences. There are so many variations on supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). these themes, it’s sort of difficult to describe. Suffice This means there is excellent information and price to say, there is a huge variety in choice, style and spice regulation, both of which help assure the travelling 6 Golfing Banyan Golf Club when it comes to the local cuisine - and that varies of libations in their luxurious clubhouses), their own depending on where you might be in the country. on-course fashions and off-course cuisine. Just as Because the tourist infrastructure is so well established important, the Thai people are all too happy to share Thailand, a wide selection of international restaurants what they’ve created. Thais are genuinely happy are available for those who prefer a bit of something to see you on their top tracks. Good thing, visitors to remind them of home. shouldn’t be surprised to find a foursome of Thais playing in front of you. But don’t worry. Thai golfing 10. The Culture & Customs - Thailand has culture has another prominent trait: They play fast. developed a unique, wholly organic identity that is truly distinct from any other country in Asia, or the So there you have it. To sum things up, every country world for that matter. It’s a predominantly Buddhist has golf courses, so if it is just golf that you are after, country, but here again, Thailand has developed you have many choices. However, if you are looking its own particular brand of Buddhism, one you are for the world’s best golfing experience, then look no unlikely to find anywhere else. This extends to the farther. Great value, year-round warm weather, over golf culture. It’s been estimated that 900,000 Thais 200 courses, location diversity, country infrastructure, play the game; it’s another reason there are so many trained caddies, accommodation, Thai people and good courses here. Thais really love their golf. They attractions, terrific Thai food, and an exotic culture have their own golfing societies, their own golfing combine to make Thailand the world’s best golf heroes (an up-and-coming crop of young, talented holiday destination! touring pros), their own après golf habits (always a shower, a change of clothes and a relaxing round Happy golfing and see you in Amazing Golf Thailand.