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

Consistent Chipping in Thailand

In recent golf matches I have played in Thailand I've noticed that a great many of my opponents use their sand or pitching wedges exclusively to play all their shots from off the edge of the green. There are times, of course, when the must play shot is a lofted little pitch calculated to drop near the pin and expire there with as little run as you can manage.

But in Thailand golf there are many more times, particularly when the pin lies to the rear of the green and there is a lot of room between your ball and the flag stick, when the most efficient and reliable shot to play is the good old boring chip and run. While not as glamorous as the fashionable flop or lofted pitch played by the professionals, it certainly is easier to execute and will ward off those dreaded doubles or triples that are recorded from inconsistent short game play.

I just calculate how far I want to hit the ball in the air so that, after landing, it will have the legs to roll right up to the stick.

I used this chip shot predominately in my last round at Subhapruek Golf Club and I saved at least 3 shots by getting up and down in 2 and more importantly, never topping the ball over the green nor chunking one that would have left me in more or less the same position for a do over. You really can't go very wrong with this shot.

Alpine Golf Club, Bangkok Thailand

Here is a great write up from a Bangkok Thailand golf pro who has just played Alpine Golf and Sports Club for his first time.

Constructed in 1996 and probably the only one of Bangkok’s golf courses that can claim to be hilly, Alpine golf is one of only a handful of member’s only club’s in Thailand. Alpine golf  has already achieved international recognition by hosting the 2000 and 2004 Johnnie Walker Classics won by Tiger Woods and Miguel Angel Jiminez, respectively. The Par 72 layout ranges from 5140 yards (ladies) to 7,100 yards (championship) allowing every standard of golfer to enjoy this spectacularly beautiful course.

With contouring a feature of every hole, the gloriously maintained treed-lined fairways and well-defined lakes make you want to hit a ball from the tee. It is very rare to find a course where every hole presents itself clearly and fairly to the golfer, but this is very definitely the case at Alpine. Risks can be taken and, if pulled off, well rewarded. But, they can also land a golfer in a world of trouble. This makes for a great challenge.

Chiang Mai Thailand Golf Overview (Part 4 of 4)

Here is the final post in my Chiang Mai golf overview, otherwise known as the three ‘Gassans’:

Gassan Khutan Golf Club and Resort and Resort is located one hour south of Chiang Mai. Khuntan means “Devil Mountain’ and this 18-hole, 7,100 yard, par-72 course created in 2004 is devilishly difficult. When you stand on the tee of the par-3, 5th hole and face a mid-iron shot to a tiny island green, in the middle of a huge lake, into the teeth of swirling winds, you will know why this course is aptly named.

The extraordinary Gassan Lake City Golf and Resort, fifteen minutes south of Chiang Mai, is an 18-hole, 6,400 yard, par-72 beauty. Designed in 2005 by Gassan’s owner, noted Thai architect Pravit Reang-Po, it is a target golf and risk-reward layout. There are water hazards on every hole and whilst many of the par-4’s can be driven, danger lurks. The short approach shots to the greens demand precision and proper placement so Lake City rewards thoughtful play over pure power.

Chiang Mai Thailand Golf Overview (Part 3 of 4)

Here is the third post in my Chiang Mai golf overview. Today I will finish discussing  the most traditional northern Thailand golf courses and start mention more modern and recent additions to the Chiang Mai golf scene.

The older courses also include the Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort, designed by 5 times British Open winner Peter Thomson using elements from a British links style course. The Royal Chiang Mai also features bumpy gently rolling fairways, pot bunkers, and closely mowed areas around the greens. Also, there is the Chiang Mai Green Valley Country Club, a Dennis Griffiths designed course situated in the lowlands and only 20 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai. Green Valley’s 7,200 yards of lowland heat and humidity, tough water hazards on every hole, plenty of bunkers, and few trees, offers an unusually tough challenge.

Chiang Mai Thailand Golf Overview (Part 2 of 4)

Here is the continuation of my Chiang Mai golf overview. For the next 2 or 3 posts, starting with the most traditional northern Thailand golf courses and going all the way through to the most modern championship Chiang Mai golf courses, I will review each golf option and, hopefully, convey the range of available area golf choices.

Chiang Mai is also known as the ‘Land of a Million Rice Fields’, and that is certainly your first impression as you ride out from your hotel to the golf course. The two courses which reflect best the traditional Chiang Mai golfing terrain are Chiang Mai Lamphun Golf Club, a championship course (yes there reallywere several held there over the years) , designed by Dr. Sukhum Sukapanpotharam, situated in the heart of the beautiful valley 30 minutes east from Chiang Mai and Lanna Sports Club, located only 10 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai Thailand Golf Overview (Part 1 of 4)

The next several posts will focus on Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. In the past perhaps, this has not been the most obvious Thailand golf destination but, now, with the addition of some fine new courses, bringing the number from which to choose to ten, you should definitely consider it for your next Thailand golf tour.

The first thing to understand is that the north is distinctly different from anywhere else in the Kingdom. The region bordering Laos in the east and Myanmar in the west is home to Thailand's earliest civilization and there are still several ethnic hill tribe peoples with unique cultures, traditions, language and cuisine.

The northern people are kind-hearted and generous and very polite and the women are noted for their beauty, charm, and hospitality. Chiang Mai has grown from its origins as a small northern Lanna capital and is now easily accessible.

The region is blessed with abundant natural wonders, including renowned national parks and the most famous and highest mountain range in Thailand - Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai - along with other 'doi' including Doi Suthep. Because of this, Chiang Mai is one of the locations where we locals escape to when it gets rather hot in Bangkok and the south. For example, today a cold front blasting in from China has dropped overnight temperatures to nine degrees centigrade!

Subhapruek Golf Club Course Review

The Pete Dye designed Subhapruek Golf Club is one if Bangkok’s hidden gems and my favorite courses near town. While perhaps not in the top 3 or most famous courses (TCC, Alpine, and Navatanee), Subhapruek is just behind in terms of course quality and challenge. It is rarely included of golf packages or played by visitors due to the booking difficultly, only Thai language is spoken.

Subhapruek plays in the shadows of Assumption University, which make for an interesting back drop. The course opens with a long Par 5, prey rare in itself, which demands a good tee shot to kick off the round and avoid the large right side waste bunker on right and OB left. I guess this is where a first hole mulligan often comes into play!

The Par 3 second is the most difficult of the 4 Par 3’s. This 172 yard hole requires not only a long carry of water, but also a deep bunker fronting the green.  At least 90% of the tee shots and 100% of those with a slight fade end up wet, well short of the green. Take an extra club, or two, to be sure to carry the water.

Behind The Thailand Golf Ball: Anti-slicing Tip

When golfing in Thailand I find that staying behind the golf ball is one of the most difficult things for me to do. There are so many on courses distractions and my body has a tendency to move ahead of the ball when I swing. In doing so, I have developed an outside-in swing, which can be seen in the stop motion video swing analysis picture at left and causes such familiar troubles as slicing and topping. This is particularly true on the drive, which I also often try to hit with too much power.

Over the last year here in Thailand, I have focused and learned to stay behind the ball and would like to share with you exactly how I was able to achieve this feat.

A Thai golf professional showed me this simple but effective practice exercise in which the ball is teed somewhat higher than usual using extra-long tees, or the longest rubber tee given out at one of the Bangkok driving ranges. When the ball is teed up this high, I find that I must literally swing from the inside out in order to hit it at all solidly. In addressing a ball which is teed higher than usual, I also find that setting the club head about three inches behind the ball helps me hit through it squarely.

Bangkok, Thailand: How Much Golf Can One Play?

A little known fact:-

Within about an hour’s drive of Bangkok city center there are approximately 60 golf courses!

Most budding golf travelers assume that, like most cities in the world, Bangkok only has a few courses within ‘striking distance’ and that the best golfing locations in Thailand are at the seaside resorts of Pattaya, Phuket, or Hua Hin. Whilst these locations are very good for golf, Bangkok truly reigns supreme for choice of course.

Obviously, the actual standards of courses vary greatly, which means that every level of golfer has a huge choice of courses to pick from. There are ‘cheap and cheerful’ courses like Lam Luk Ka Country Club or Rose Garden Golf Club where anyone can have a weekday game for as little as US$25. There are also some truly spectacular world class courses that have played host to major PGA tournaments like the Thai Country Club (Honda Classic/Volvo Masters), Navatanee Golf Club  (The World Cup), and Alpine Golf and Sports Club (Johnnie Walker Classic) – a challenge to even the best golfer. There is even a course slap bang in the middle of Bangkok – The Royal Bangkok Sports Club – although you have to be invited by a member to play there!

Golf Carts In Thailand: Availability and Costs

I often get asked about golf buggies and Thailand golf course policies with respect to cart rentals so I thought to post my experiences today.

There has long been a debate amongst golfers whether to walk or ride. Even the staunchest of walkers may consider riding when playing golf in Thailand. It can provide shade and a pleasant breeze on a hot day and keep you relatively dry.  Most of the golf courses in Thailand have a one person per cart policy, the reason being to prevent too much wear on the golf course?? TIT!.

It is faster with this person per cart policy but rather unsociable.  Some courses it’s actually a one bag per cart rule, so you can ride with two, but one poor caddy has to walk behind.  Although this may not be ideal for many golfers, no matter of complaining is going to change it so just smile and have a good day. Again TIT!