Thailand Golf Holidays, Phuket Golf Packages, Hua Hin Golf Vacations

Golf Thailand History (Ancient Times)

Thailand golf history is very interesting and I am sure some aspects of it will surprise many of you. Take a look at this and then when playing on some of the mentioned links, you can appreciate not only the beauty and challenge, but also the full story of where you are playing.

On this first of 2 parts, I will cover Thailand's ancient golf history, from the 1906 to 1965.

Although Thailand is perceived by many as a very new golfing destination, history shows that golf was actually played here as early as 1906 at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club course. Whist not as old as other countries many people will be surprised by this statistic.

More detailed records show that His Majesty King Vajiravudh expressed an interest in this new sport and in 1923 granted permission for the construction of the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course in Hua Hin District.

Thailand Golf Packages: How to Compare and Select One? (Part 2 of 2)

Thailand golf vacations can be some the best the world consisting of great hotels, golf courses, and transportation. While yesterday's post focued on accomodation ooptions, today I will finish up by discussing about golf course selections and transportation options.

The selections of golf courses are  very important, especially for the first time visitor who has no experience of the courses. The standard, dfifficulty level, location and green fees can vary significantly. Once again, care should be taken when considering any package with regards to this as any qualified operator should be glad to work with you to customize your package to your needs.

Thailand Golf Packages: How to Compare and Select One? (Part 1 of 2)

The Thailand golf high season is fast approaching and many of you maybe looking to take the golf holiday of your dreams. Therefore, I thought it appropriate timing to write on this important topic over the next 2 days. Much of the information I will cover is applicable not only to Thailand, but other destinations as well and I hope you find it useful.

When arranging your golf holiday in Thailand, it is always wise and recommended to compare offerings from more than one tour operator.

Unless you are getting quoted an exactly similar package, where upon the choice would purely be down to price, then you must take care in evaluating and comparing the different products you are being offered.

Thailand Square Club (and Final Coup Story)

I promised to get back to posting about golf, but before starting today I wanted to make everyone aware of  this great article summarizing the series of events that took place in Bangkok last week and authored by one of my favorite writers. By the way, if you need any more information about the situation in Thailand, you can contact me anytime at my Thailand golf vacation company or just leave a comment.

Now on to to the main post of the day.

Have you ever been on course and hit one that flies directly left or right of the target line and thought to yourself that you should adjust your swing to improve accuracy? Well maybe your swing is not a problem at all and a simple alignment check and adjustment is all that is called for.

However simple and dumb as it may seem, so many of those errant shots are not caused by an imperfect swing, but rather by feet or a body that are not aligned to the target.

I tried this simple but effective tip on course last week and I must have improved my accuracy by 5-10%. No swing thoughts needed at all,  just align and shoot normally!

Thai Coup 9-22-06 Update

Here is the latest status in Bangkok, Thailand:

Today has been a totally normal day in the city, with business going on as usual. Banks, Stock Exchange and Government Offices were open. Some business news:

The opening of the stock exchange was successful. After a sharp fall minutes after opening, the market stabilized and closed just 1.42% lower, or 9.99 points.

The Thai Baht had weakened in the last days, however strengthened to 37.41 to the US$ dollar, back from US$ 37.76 to the US$ on Wednesday. Before the change of government, the Thai baht was at  37.39 to the US$.

Thai Military Coup Update

What would you do if you were to bump into these guys at the train station on your way to the office (I really did yesterday) ?

Here is my up-to-the-minute Thailand situation report as well as my assessment of how things will progress going forward and advise for travellers coming to Thailand.

The military coupe d’etat in Thailand has been reported worldwide in the last 24 hours and I trust you are aware of the main events. I am glad to report that the situation in Thailand is very calm and peaceful as of 8:44 AM Thursday morning.

In the last 24 hours the following has occurred;

Thailand Hotels: Accomodation Selection Factors (Part 2 of 2)

For beach resorts such as Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket, then there is a huge choice of accommodation available. In Phuket in particular, there are many stunning resorts located on the shore of the many beautiful beaches, which can be a totally idyllic and relaxing way to spend your holiday. Obviously, they are at the higher end of the price scale, and equivalent properties away from the beach will be less expensive.

Luxury beach resorts such as the Laguna Phuket shown at left with it's excellent and accompanying golf courses are available for as little as $125 US per night, while off beach 4 star accommodations can be found for as little as $75 US per night. Obviously, these prices will vary depending on the season, November to April being the most expensive high season, and  when advanced booking is required  to avoid the disappointment of your selected hotel being unavailable.

Thailand Hotels: Accomodation Selection Factors (Part 1 of 2)

  For those people considering a visit to Thailand then there is a wonderful and very expansive choice of hotel accommodation available.

From international 5-star hotels in the heart of Bangkok, to stunning resorts with private beaches and spa facilities, to more basic beach style bungalows and traditionally styled Thai hotels, incorporating the culture and architecture of this amazing country, you are certainly spoiled for choice!

Selecting a suitable hotel for you vacation is extremely important as it will form the base for your Thailand golf vacation as well as for the most part determine your overall holiday cost. A very important factor to consider is that 4 & 5 star standards of hotels in Thailand are more than likely to be superior to similar standards in your own country. This is due to a number of factors, including fierce competition, and quality of service on offer.

Thailand Golf Accessories: Who says shopping is a non-golfer's acitvity?

While the main objective in coming to Thailand is playing the many challenging and wonderful golf courses; you can also take advantage of some great deals whist shopping, especially at the many stores and side walk vendors selling golf equipment and accessories.

In addition to the wide choice of clubs available, Thailand offers tremendous value for golf accessories, including clothing, golf balls, shoes, head covers, eye wear, and training aids to name but a few.

Golf clothing provides a particularly wide choice for visitors, with all the leading brands and new “alternate” materials available. Particularly popular now are the ‘Dry Fit’ shirts that many manufacturers have introduced into their range. Unlike traditional cotton shirts, they do not hug your body when wet, and are extremely comfortable. Many of the leading brands are available ensuring you look the part on the course.

In addition to shirts, there are also specially designed gloves and hats with the same principle for playing golf in the hotter climates. All are very reasonably priced and available in both ladies and men’s sizes.

Thailand Divots and More Divots; What to Do When You Are in One?

Take a look at this amazing array of divots. It is an extreme example, but even at the top Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, you can still find such conditions.

There are 2 things you can do. The first one, practiced by many of my fellow Americans is to lift your ball, clean it and replace it in the fairway without penalty declaring a preferred lie. This of course is cheating and will get you thrown out of any tournament and really only penalizes yourself.

The second action, and the correct one, is to play the balls as it lies,