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

Laem Chabang Golf Has New Grass

Last month I had the good fortune to play my favorite Pattaya golf course, Laem Chabang International Country Club. To my great surprise the Mountain Course, usually considered the best Laem Chabang golf course, and was closed for renovations, so we played the Lake Course and the Valley Course instead. About half way through the Lake nine I noticed something strange around the greens. The fringe areas seem to be brighter color than the fairways and greens. Upon closer inspection I realized that the fringes had new Paspalum sod on them.

Checking around some more the caddies confirmed this as well as went over the entire maintenance program of Laem Chabang International Country Club.

1.    Valley Course: All 9 holes completed with Paspalum grass fairways, tee, boxes, and fringe areas. New white golf sand in greenside bunkers.

2.    Lake Course: All 9 holes have new Paspalum tee-boxes. Hole 9 completed with new grass and sand. Other holes to follow, but schedule unknown.

3.    Mountain Course: Closed for 2-3 months for grassing of tee-boxes, and fringe areas. New concrete cart path being installed to eliminate high bank areas and tendency for carts to fall-over.

The Best Time Of Year For A Thailand Golf Holiday?

Actually ANY time is a good time for a Thailand golf holiday, as the courses stay green, the weather stays good, and the locals keep smiling all year round.

For most golf travelers however, travel dates are dictated by work schedules and family matters and preference is to get away to a warm sunny place when it is cold and dark back home. But if you are flexible read on…

You might be surprised that I often suggest the current season (August / September / October).  Here is why.

WEATHER
Travel guides will tell you this is the ‘rainy season’ and one look at weather averages will confirm that. What the rainfall statistics don’t tell you is that the rains are generally limited to brief passing storms in the late afternoon or early evening hours. Thus plan for morning tee times and you likely won’t have any problems.

Some days it can rain really hard … for 15 or 20 minutes.  Then a bit later the skies clear, the courses drain quickly, and golfers are back going about their business. As a result while brief delays are not uncommon, it is VERY rare that Thailand golfers get rained out completely. I have been golfing in Thailand for 15 years and only have been rained out twice.

And Thailand golf courses have on-course shelters with refreshments, tables and chairs, and restroom facilities every 3 holes. So if the rains arrive just head for the nearest one, order the beverage of your choice, and have a seat.  Chances are good by the time you finish the rains will be coming to an end.

Golfing In A Phuket Tin Mine

We all like to boast that we have found a real gem of a course to play!
Well if you decide to add a Phuket golf vacation to this year’s agenda, then I suggest you check out Red Mountain Golf Club. You will not be disappointed.

Launched without too much fanfare in late 2008, Red Mountain has become the new kid on the block. Once the core of Phuket‘s tin mining industry, this course nestles in the lush Kathu Valley and is a 20 minute drive from Patong Beach.

Red Mountain is owned by the same company that owns the nearby Loch Palm Golf Club and Riverdale Golf Club in Bangkok. The course designer Jon Morrow has been given a free hand to design a world class golf course that tests all golfers’ course management skills and shot shaping capabilities. Every hole has its own great theme, and there are mouth watering obstacles around each corner.

The 1st hole lets you tee off downhill through red rocks either side of the green. This hole gently gets you into the mood of what is ahead. The 2nd is a real test , a par-5 with an uphill drive over water,  then a long iron second shot dog leg right to get into view of the green.  Hole 8 is a par-4 off an elevated tee, with a lake to avoid on the right. Great if you can make it to the landing area, otherwise very wet.

Are You A Thai Golf Swinger Or Hitter?

Here is something to think about from Mike “Spike” Collier, Director of Golf at Three Generation Golf Academy (TGGA).

When golfing in Thailand what is the difference between being a swinger and a hitter? The number one difference is in the concept/mind-set and physical action between the two.That is to say, for a Thai golf swinger the club is pulled and thrown utilizing the feel of the weight of the swinging club head.

A Thai golf hitter pushes against the club stressing the shaft using the right arm, shoulder and back muscles. These are two very different Thai golf swing patterns that require different components to perform the action.

Far too often I see Thailand golfers struggling with their swings because their swing components are not compatible with each other. Most players will start out as a hitter because it feels natural to them. But 99.9% of the golf instruction out there is for swingers, so when these Thai golfers go for golf lessons they are told to do something that to them does not feel natural…confusion sets in and Thai handicaps go up.

Fun Bangkok Golf Course And Great Value Too

Many golf course designers forget that 90% of the players who will try to conquer their golf course are likely to be weekend or holiday amateurs, not golf professionals.

Jack Nicklaus for example is incensed when he sees owners trying to extend the tee boxes to make holes as long as possible. ‘Why go for 250 yard carries when your average Thai golfer probably only hits his drive 170-190 yards. It also adds to the maintenance costs and watering bill.’

It was therefore refreshing to meet and speak with one of Thailand’s leading course architects Pirapon Namatra, famed for creating Santiburi Samui, Banyan Golf Club and the subject of this post; Bangsai Country Club. Pirapon who designs, creates and builds golf courses said ‘I try to create a fun golf course, with a variety of holes, making it not too easy and not too difficult to play.’