Playing Golf in Thailand

Playing Golf in Thailand: Expert Questions and Answers

Without doubt Thailand is becoming one of the fastest growing golf destinations for visiting tourists throughout the world. Only recently, the association of world golf travel agents voted Thailand the best up & coming destination, enhancing the excellent reputation it already has.

In order to assist you in planning your Thailand golf holiday, I have detailed below the most frequently asked questions.

When is the best time to visit?

Without doubt, the best time of year for golf is from November – February/March. This is the ‘cool’ season, although is also the peak season for visiting tourists. As such, be prepared for busy golf courses and try to plan your holiday well in advance.

What about the rest of the year?

You can play golf throughout the year in Thailand outside the cool season, and the weather is a mixture of very hot days, to very wet days. However, do not let this put you off as there are a number of great advantages. You can get some great deals on hotel prices and the courses are much quieter to play.

April is still a ‘dry’ month, with the rainy season not really starting until May. However, April & May are without doubt the hottest months of the year. June – August is not quite as hot, although you tend to get daily downpours. Again, do not let this put you off as they are normally short lived, and the courses dry out very quickly. September and October, the weather tends to be similar to that of the summer months although things tend to be drier and the weather becomes more predictable as the year wears on.

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Thailand – The Traveler’s Paradise

Tourism is a major economic factor in Thailand, which in fact started when US soldiers started arriving there for rest and recuperation in 1960s, during the Vietnam War period. At the same period international mass tourism also sharply increased due to many reasons. Rise in the standard of living, increase in leisure time, improvement in science and technology which made travel possible and cheaper etc are some of the reasons. This new trend was virtually capitalized by Thailand. The peak period of tourism is during Christmas and New Year holidays, when tourists from western countries travel abroad to escape from the terrible cold climate.

Mostly Thailand is visited by Asian tourists for Bangkok and the historical, natural and cultural sights in its vicinity. Western tourists visit the country not only for Bangkok, but also for the southern beaches and islands. If you are interested in adventure travel it is better to travel North, with its ethnic minority groups and forested mountains. Those who are interested in trekking can enjoy a lot here. The government  promotes tourism by setting up a separate tourism police with offices in the major tourist areas and its own emergency telephone number. It is to be noted that sex tourism is also prevalent in Thailand, though regulated by the government to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

In order to face the stiff competition offered by Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam; Thailand is targeting niche markets like golf holidays or holidays combined with medical treatment. Tourists from different countries reach here allured by these, though they are especially aimed at Japan and South Korea. ‘Amazing Thailand’ is the main marketing slogan for promoting Thailand internationally.

What ever a tourist desires for is available in Thailand. No wonder people throng there in large numbers. Diving sites, sandy beaches, tropical islands, varied night life, archaeological sites, museums, palaces, world heritage sites etc are the specialty of the country. The country is famous for various courses held for the tourists. Popular among them are classes in Thai cooking, Buddhism and Thai massage. People of Thailand are fun loving. Famous festivals are the ‘Elephant Round-up’ in Surin, the ‘Rocket Festival’, in Yasothon and the ‘Phi Ta Khon Festival’ in Dan Sai.

Thai cuisine is another attraction for the tourists. It is famous through out the world with its lavish use of fresh herbs and spices. Expensive as well as inexpensive foods are available in Thailand. Eating enthusiasts can taste Thai cuisine in the gourmet restaurants of Bangkok and others can opt for delicious Som tam at a simple street stall in the country side. Travelers cannot resist shopping in the renowned shopping malls of Bangkok. Central World, the biggest shopping mall in South-east Asia is in Bangkok, offering wide variety of international and local brands. The night markets in the Silom and on Khaosan Road are mainly tourist oriented. T-shirts, handicrafts, counterfeit watches and sun glasses are available here. The moderate climate of Thailand makes it really an amazing tourist destination.

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Leisure Golfing in Asia

Golf fever is very hot in Asia. The excellent golf courses are designed by world renowned golf experts to guarantee players a challenging time this side of the globe. Golf professionals and enthusiast will be swinging clubs and will be amazed with the scenic greens and beyond.

Top Thai Golf Courses

Putt it in in Phuket and enjoy the great greens and beaches. You can visit Laguna Phuket Golf Club, one of the top golf resorts in this land of curry. Golfers can choose from several hotels: Laguna Beach Resort, Banyan Tree Phuket, Dusit Laguna Resort, Sheraton Grande Laguna, and Allamanda Laguna. The golf course is by Max Wexler and David Abell with rising and falling greens at par 71.

Bangkok has Alpine Golf Course designed by Ronald Garl that is set in rural Thailand landscape 80 minutes from the city. It has been a venue of the Johnnie Walker Classic PGA tournament.

A short drive to the sea side town of Pattaya brings you to a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course. It offers two challenging courses, the Mountain 9 and the Valley 9 with a beautiful stream of water in between

Malaysian Options for Golfers

The prime golf course in Kuala Lumpur is the Mines Resort and Golf Club. Enjoy the holes while being mesmerized by the Palace of Golden Horses. This course which was once a tin mine was built by Robert Trent Jones.

The Saujana Golf and Country Club have hosted several Malaysian Opens. It boasts of courses designed by Ronald Fream-The Bunga Raya and the Palm Course.

Other prime golf courses in Malaysia are Cameron Highlands, Golf Club Datai Bay, and Bukit Jambui.

Swing It in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to several world class golf courses. The Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club is 34 Km south of the capital Manila. Jack Nicklaus designed the two courses- The Masters and The Legends- which have been witness to international golf tourneys.

Less than an hour from the Makati business district, Sta. Elena Golf Club can be enjoyed in the 120 hectares of gentle terrain. Challenges are spread out in its 27 holes.

There are other world renowned courses spread in the 7,107 islands of this tropical archipelago. Some of this are the Alta Vista Golf Club in Cebu, Apo Golf Club in Davao, Camp John Hay in Baguio, and Fairways and Bluewater Country Club in the paradise island of Boracay.

Fulfilling the Golf Mission in China

The vast Mission Hills Golf Club in China attracts golfers of the Asian Region and the rest of the world. It spans from Shenzhen and Dongguan provinces. This is club is recognized by Guinness as the biggest golf resort in the world at 25 sq kilometers still with provisions for development. Some of the courses are designed by legendary golfers like Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, and Vjay Singh.

The Spring City Golf and Lake Resort in Yunnan province boasts of a Jack Nicklaus golf course and overwhelming view of the mountains and pristine lakes.

Golfing in Asia has been attracting tourists from all over the Globe. Aside from the world class golf clubs mentioned above, golf lovers still has a lot of options to putt holes in Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Indonesia, India, and Afghanistan. m

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