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

Buying a Home to Golf in Thailand

Last post covered how to play golf in Thailand everyday by retiring here. Today I will discuss how to buy property in Thailand to live out your golf dream. Thailand land ownership is limited to Thais; however there are 3 common ways foreigners can still “buy” property in Thailand.

1. The most common way to own your home is by being the largest shareholder of a Thai company who owns the property. Of course, this entails setting up a Thai company beforehand.

2. A second option is to engage in a 30 year lease with a Thai individual, including an automatic 30 year renewal. Technically, this is not ownership, but I guess 60 years should be enough for most of us.

3. The third and probably most preferred option for a foreigner wishing to buy a home is to select a condominium, where foreigners can own up to 49% of the units for sale.

In spite of what is reported by the main stream press, I know many people who have followed these proper procedures and don't have problems. I guess it pays to avoid any shady shortcuts or other methods involving Thai “girlfriends” or so called “wives”.

Retiring To Thailand To Play Golf

From time to time, clients of my Thailand golf travel company, after visiting Thailand for a golfing holiday, tell me that they so love the country, its culture and its people, and naturally the golf that they would like to retire to live permanently in Thailand. This is good news for me, as I take personal pride in knowing that others can enjoy the rest of their lives here, and the seed for this decision was initially planted or prompted by them having a memorable Thailand golf vacation.

In the next two postings, I will address some things to consider if you are considering a move to Thailand.

If you are going to retire in Thailand and if you are over 50 years of age you should obtain a Retirement Visa. It's that simple. If you don't then you will be doing a "visa run" every month like tens of thousands of other foreigners.

Thai Hospitality, It Makes Your Golf Day

I have been traveling to Thailand now for just over 15 years and, during this time, have made many friends both Thai and farang (foreigner). As a avid golf traveler, most of these friends are linked to the Thailand golf scene – or maybe a local bar, but that is another story. Also, as an owner of a golf travel agency I regularly get asked to play golf at many different courses throughout Thailand and in particular the Bangkok area.

A couple of weeks ago, I, and a visiting friend from Phuket, were asked to make up a foursome at Thai Country Club. My friend, Brian, is English, but we won’t hold that against him, and it was his first ever visit to this course. I, on the other hand, have played there on many occasions, recommend Thai Country Club to practically all of our golf visitors and am pretty well known by everyone there. They greet me by name at any rate. Well, this particular day, we were playing with a member, an American,  and a German expatriate friend of his. Before golf  we all met in the restaurant where they serve some of the best food in Bangkok. If fact for lunch there is a buffet fit for royalty and if you have followed my fascination and particularity with Thai food, then you know that is saying something!

Newest Thailand Golf Blog

Have you ever wanted a place to share your Thailand and Asian golf stories or just read about the antics of an expatriate Thailand golfer who knows more about golf in Thailand than anyone in the world?

Well look no further. The word is out; Thailand’s newest golf blog can be read at where else than http://www.thailandgolfblog.com, what an appropriate name indeed!

The Thailand Golf Blog author has lived, worked and played golf for over 30 years all around the Far East, with spells in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and, of course, Thailand. He first visited Thailand in 1977 and eventually relocated to the Land of Smiles in 1991, setting up and running one of the first inbound Thailand golf tour agencies, with offices for golf in Bangkok and golf in Phuket. He now spends most of his time in his native United Kingdom, living with his Thai wife, and is a frequent visitor to Thailand, where he intends to finally retire.

He has made regular contributions to this blog and since then I have invited him to author Thailand Golf Blog in his own inimitable style. You are welcome to post and comment on the new Thailand Golf Blog, preferably in the same light hearted way as the author. Or you can email him at nifteenev@golfasian.com.

Enjoy the reading and let me know what you think!

Father's Day Thailand Golf Gifts

Father’s Day, June 17 is just 2 days away and finding the perfect gift is no small feat, especially if your dad is a golfer. Even if you just want to drop a heavy hint to your kids for a great present, here are two inexpensive ideas for Thailand golf fathers:

1. All golfers in Thailand know how frustrating it is trying to keep track of the three items used on every hole -- a ball marker, golf glove and Thai baht. The new G-Clip Compact Golf Tool provides a convenient solution to the problem of a lost ball marker,  misplaced glove or crumpled Thai Baht by combining a specially made grip on a simple frame, that also has a sturdy spring clip for your Thai baht needed at the rest stops found every 3 holes on most Thailand golf courses.

Ball markers are available in multiple colors and designs and include a re-mark indicator on the reverse side. Simply fasten the G-Clip to your belt, waistband, or pocket and never have to again fumble finding a ball marker, discover your glove was left lying back on the tee, or worse your Thai Baht blown away somewhere on the golf course!

"Z" Thailand Golf Tip

Z is for looking like Ms. Zeta-Jones. What does Catherine have to do with Thailand golf tips? I not quite sure, but if you want to hit well and feel well when golfing in Thailand, why not also decide to look the part. Catherine Zeta-Jones always looks good on the golf course. 

If you’re golfing in Thailand, even at the cooler Chiang Mai golf courses like Highlands and Santiburi golf clubs you will most likely want to wear shorts. Many golfers follow the Zeta-Jones look and go with the tan shorts, light colored collared shirt, peds and golf shoes.

Nike has a wide range of golfing apparel for both ladies and men and collections can be found at major department stores like the Emporium and Siam Paragon. There are a also number of other fashionable brands that have come out with what are traditionally non-golf designs, Puma and J. Lindeberg being the most recognizable. US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy wears Puma, and European golfers Jesper Parnevik and Ian Poulter are most famous for their wacky golf fashions, both having a liking for pink pants. Both Puma and J. Lindeberg are sold in Thailand at the Siam Paragon in Bangkok.

"Y" Thailand Golf Tip

Y is for avoiding the Yips. Everyone gets them at one time or another when playing golf in Thailand. Whether on your first holiday round at an easy course like Lakewood Golf Club in Bangkok or one of the more challenging Pattaya golf courses, the yips can damage a golfer’s holiday confidence and ability to golf in Thailand to their potential.

It’s almost as painful watching a golfer with the yips, and then it is to actually having the Yips. Just yesterday at Thai Country Club I cringed every time one of my playing partners hit a short putt as I know he lacked confidence to make anything that day.

What are the Yips? In general, the Yips are a golfer’s disease whereby the wrists breakdown involuntarily when putting, especially on short putts. In Thailand, it is very bad as golfers seem to gets worse and worse the more fear they get while standing over a short putt.  When on golf holiday an intense anxiety sets in whenever golfers are faced with a new course, new greens, and probably have not played for a while. On a short putt, sometimes it is difficult for the golfer to even take the putter back straight.

"X" Thailand Golf tip

X is for avoiding an X on your scorecard. What’s the shot that Thailand golfers most often hit before writing and X on their scorecard? The shank! So terrifying, some golfers in Thailand don’t even like to mention the word shank. The shank is the most frustrating shot when golfing in Thailand and no golfer is immune.

In fact,last month I played at Alpine Golf Club with two golfers here for the first time on a Thailand golf vacation, and both claimed to be single digit handicappers. Each one suffered once during their round, forcing them to pick up and record and X. One got so frustrated after hitting two tee shots into the water on the par 3, 3rd hole that he just walked to the green without ever making a legal tee shot. The other, while having a good if not great round, sliced one off to the right on his approach shot to the 18th green and  got so angry with himself that he wasted his next two shots and finally picked up when he missed his short final putt.

To be more specific about a shank, it is when the ball catches some part of the hosel, and veers right, usually at 45 degrees to the target. This almost always leads to the ball finding one of the many water hazards or out of bounds so abundant on Thailand golf courses. 

"W" Thailand Golf Tip

W is Worm Burner. I regularly play with holidaymakers just arriving for their Thailand golf vacation. As they are so excited to start their Thailand golf holiday on the right foot (no pun intended), it is saddening to see their frustration as they tee it up for the first time only to hit a worm burner, Sally Gunnell or thin topped shot

While this shot might be acceptable when playing on dry golf courses in the USA or Europe, it is a disaster at most Thailand golf courses. Take for example, Thai Country Club in Bangkok, if you hit a low flying tee shot it will almost always get caught in very thick rough in from of the first fairway cut. An airborne tee shot of at least 125 yards is required on most holes. In the same manner if you happen to be playing at any of the soggier Hua Hin golf courses, (e.g. Lake View or Royal Hua Hin in particular), a worm burner will hardly move more than 50 yards through the wet fairways, which is about as good as missing the ball completely.

Most golfers in Thailand think topped shots are caused by lifting your head up at impact. I gave up counting long ago how many times I have heard golfers mumble to themselves about keeping their head down, but this is only partially true.  The two more common causes are not maintaining a consistent spine angle and trying to help the ball up in the air by scooping it.  Next time you are out on the golf course in Thailand try these things.

"V" Thailand Golf Tip

V is for Vardon Grip. Harry Vardon never made to golf in Thailand, he was past his prime before Thailand golf was started, but the grip he developed is certainly used all over Thailand and is also the starting point to a consistent golf swing. Without the proper “V” grip, Thai golfers, me included, struggle keep the club face square and hit the ball solidly. Less than 5% of holiday golfers I meet can play well with an unorthodox golf club grip.

An American golfer friend of mine showed me this easy way to get the grip right last night when we were practicing at All-Star Sports Complex, off Ratchadapisek Road. Start with your left hand and let it hang naturally down by your left hip. Place the club into the hand and can check the correct position by holding the club out in front of you. You should be able to see two knuckles of your left hand and the “V” created by you left index finger and thumb should be pointing towards your right shoulder. Make sure it is not pointed down the middle of your torso, which is a sure sign of a weak grip that will promote a slice.