Author Archives: Thailand Golf Holiday

Posted by - March 7, 2013

Golf In Cambodia Versus Golf In Thailand

Here are my rankings on the golfing in these 2 countries on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being best. Quality (30%)Cambodia (6): Golf in Cambodia has been introduced only in the last 10 years and as such there are only 6 courses, 3 in Phnom Penh and 3 in Siem Reap. Although Phnom Penh is the capital the courses here are either private (Phnom Penh Grand) or in serious need of maintenance (Cambodia Country Club and Royal Cambodia). On the other hand the three Siem Reap golf courses welcome visitors and ...

Posted by - February 26, 2013

Golf In Bulgaria Versus Golf In Thailand

Here are my rankings on the golfing in these 2 countries on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being best. Quality (30%)Bulgaria (6): While a relatively new sport and hardly played by locals, Bulgaria golf courses range from best in the world to rather ordinary. The best Bulgarian golf courses by a long shot are Thracian Cliffs and BlackSeaRama, both of which are Gary Player Signature courses. If there were a few more courses in this category, then Bulgaria would score even higher. Thailand (7): There are ...

Posted by - February 19, 2013

Golf In Australia Versus Golf In Thailand

Here are my rankings on the golfing in these 2 countries on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being best. Quality (30%)Australia (10): Most courses are set up for serious Australian golfers, who comprise some 10% of the overall population. The average Australian golf course is by far better than most other countries top courses. The top Australian courses include Royal Melbourne, Barnbougle Dunes, and New South Wales, all of which have hosted major PGA events. Thailand (7): Thai golf courses vary from av...

Posted by - February 12, 2013

Golf In Thailand Versus Golf In The Rest Of The World

In the next 20 or so posts I will compare and contrast golfing in Thailand to golfing in other countries around the world. Using golf course quality, service, scenery, value for money, and overall experience as the five equally weighed factors I will rank each destination to see how it compares with golf in Thailand and to determine whether or not Thailand is really the best golf destination in the world. Let’s get golfing!

Thailand Golf Playing Tips
Posted by - February 1, 2013

Drain Putts In Thailand

If you can do only one thing to improve your enjoyment when golfing in Thailand, the making more putts would be what I suggest. Thailand golfers face more putts than any other shot. I have taken the time to master putting in Thailand and I was able to cut 3-4 stokes off my score in the process. Here is how I did it. 1. I think more about the speed than line on my putts. For example, when my caddie tells me inside right or inside left, I just putt to the center of the hole and make sure my speed ...

Posted by - January 22, 2013

Santiburi Samui Country Club Review

The course designers have done a wonderful job integrating Santiburi Samui Golf Club into the jungle and mountains that are synonymous with the region. The Samui golf course plays through an elevation change of over 100 meters – yes 100, which makes Santiburi Samui one of Thailand’s hilliest golf courses! As golf course it really tricked out and really a better creation of panoramic views than easy pars. There are many aspects to this course that will frustrate, as lost balls can be expected fo...

Thailand Golf Courses and Playing Conditions
Thailand Golf Playing Tips
Posted by - January 15, 2013

Tips On Playing Thai Country Club

Most of you know that my home course is Thai Country Club. Having played this excellent Bangkok golf course more-or-less one time per week for the past 3 years, my scores have ranged from a few over par to over 90. Looking back on my rounds I can see a few things in common that led to good scores. 1.    Stay out of the rough. Hitting fairways in regulation is the single biggest key to scoring well at Thai Country Club. The rough at Thai Country Club is formed by thick Zoysia grass that is next t...

Thailand Golf Courses and Playing Conditions
Thailand Golf Playing Tips
Posted by - January 8, 2013

Siam Country Club Playing Tips

I had the good fortune of playing at Siam Country Club Plantation Course in Pattaya this week. A usual the course was in excellent condition and in fact just two weeks prior Siam Country Club Plantation Course was awarded the best conditioned course in Asia by the readers of Asia’s largest golf publication. In order to get maximum enjoyment and a good score at Siam Country Club Plantation Course I realized 4 very important points. 1.    Use your B-game: Why this sounds counterintuitive I found t...

Posted by - December 25, 2012

The biggest hassle about golf in Thailand…and how to overcome it....

For many golfers, relaxing on the couch for a weekend of watching sports is one of life’s simple pleasures. Most gladly sit for hours, replenished with suitable liquids and sustenance (beer and chips), watching their favorite teams or players duel it out. Yet I bet when you tell your golfing buddies that you want to travel to golf in Thailand, one of the first questions you get is, “how long is the flying time”?   Irrespective on where you are coming, the answer is more than likely “...

Thailand Golf Playing Tips
Posted by - December 18, 2012

Straight Driving For Thailand Golfing

Lately I have been taking some golf lessons and I have gone from a controlled fade to a pull hook off the tee. I have begun pulling the ball off the tee. What I want is a straight ball flight so yesterday I went out to Thai Country Club and hit two bags of balls on the range with my driver. To stop pulling my drives I found that I must swing the club on an in-to-out swing path and/or change the clubface’s position at impact. I was able to do both by implementing one, all, or a combination ...

Posted by - December 11, 2012

Happy City Golf Resort Update

Happy City Golf Resort now provides Northern Thailand golfers 3 international standard Chiang Rai golf courses; the other two being Santiburi Chiang Rai and Waterford Valley. Happy City boasts a total of 29 holes, with 2 of those closed as ‘maintenance holes’ on any given day. Five sets of tees offer challenges for every level of golfer. I recommend picking your tees carefully and maybe moving up a set from where you normally play as the course is quite long. The master project includes 5 large ...

Interesting Thailand Golf Snippits
Thailand Golf Holidays and Vacations
Posted by - December 5, 2012

After Hours Thailand Golf

Here is a new story from Davy, previously the number one golf retailer in Southern California and now a converted Thai golf addict. When the phone rang it was a Thailand golf buddy all excited to tell me he had a game set up with some movers and shakers that were coming to town; and after a great lunch he had planned we would entertain them with a round of golf. Lunch was indeed great; authentic Thai delicacies rolled out by smiling courteous servers. Thailand hospitality may be the greatest in ...

Posted by - November 27, 2012

Airlines For A Thailand Golf Holiday

Not a day goes by where Thailand golf travelers ask me the best way to get to their Thailand golf destination. These days for international flights into and out of Thailand, I am partial to the carries from the Middle East for several reasons.  Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar all have convenient flight schedules from practically every major European, American, and Australian hub city. Luggage allowances are generally more than the Asian national carriers and golf bags may even be carried for...

Posted by - November 20, 2012

Jack Nicklaus In Thailand

As with everything Jack has done in golf, one name stands out among them all: the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, perhaps the greatest player of all time and now one of golf’s design gurus. Nicklaus’s 18 Major victories remains unchallenged, as does his name on more than 300 courses around the world that were designed personally by the Golden Bear or by his company, Nicklaus Design. Six of these courses are in Thailand and while they may be just a sprinkling of his work, Nicklaus and his fellow des...

Thailand Golf Playing Tips
Posted by - November 13, 2012

Make All 4 Footers When Golfing In Thailand

When you golf in Thailand you can complain about slow greens, grainy surfaces, poor caddies, and whatever you can think of to blame for poor putting. However, none of these are likely to be the cause for Thailand golf putting woes. Where you putt from is the key to how well you putt. The closer you are to the hole the better your putting – PERIOD! Average Thai golfers probably face 4 foot putts 10-15 times a round. Many golfers simply call these a Gimmie, but this is cheating (Gimmie’s are only ...

Posted by - November 6, 2012

Know Your Thailand Golf Tour Driver

Everyone knows that great golf, fantastic culture, and a comfortable resort are all key ingredients of a successful Thailand golf trip. However, the importance of a qualified driver who doubles as a friendly tour guide is often overlooked. I’ve had the opportunity to meet several godsends as well as some more goofy type drivers during my Thailand golf travels. On the positive side, golf tour operators who employ their own salaried drivers usually can make a Thailand golf holidaymaker’s trip very...

Posted by - October 30, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (10 of 10)

Here is the final one of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Thai Country Club, Bangkok Owned and operated by Peninsula Hotels and the only golf course in the Peninsula portfolio, Thai Country Club on Bangkok’s outskirts opened in 1996 and has hosted six Asian tour events including the Asian Honda Classic in 1997 (won by Tiger Woods), the Johnnie Walker Championship in 1998 (won by Vijay Singh) and four Volvo Masters Championships between 2005 and 2008. Tiger’s 1997 win was especially memorable as...

Posted by - October 23, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (9 of 10)

Here is the ninth (actually 2) of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Siam Country Club, Pattaya In 2007, Schmidt-Curley redesigned Siam Country Club’s Old Course that was designed by Isao Mazumi and originally laid out in 1970. It was the first privately owned course in Thailand was the first Thai course to ever host an LPGA event, the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand. The same event has since returned 4 times since and will take place once again in February 2013. The Old Course at Siam Country Club is s...

Posted by - October 16, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (8 of 10)

Here is the eighth of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Santiburi Chiang Rai Country Club, Chiang Rai One of the world’s great golf designers, Robert Trent Jones Jr, designed Santiburi Country Club, 7km from Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. One of five courses in his Thai portfolio, it is also his best. Established in 1992, Santiburi Chiang Rai presents a memorable golf experience. As Chiang Rai’s first golf course, it is the top course in the region known as The Golden Triangle. The cool morni...

Posted by - October 9, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (7 of 10)

Here is the seventh of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Red Mountain Golf Club, Phuket Red Mountain, near Phuket’s main tourist location of Patong, is one of the most dramatic courses in Thailand. Opened in 2008, the 6900-yard sister property to nearby Loch Palm Golf Club winds its way through a stunning former tin mine in the heart of Phuket's central highlands. It’s not difficult to see why this golf course was named Red Mountain. It is harder, however, to imagine how such a dramatically...

Posted by - October 2, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (6 of 10)

Here is the sixth of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Laem Chabang International Country Club, Pattaya Laem Chabang is the best of the six courses that golf legend Jack Nicklaus has designed in Thailand. This 27-hole complex offers three 9-hole courses (Lake, Valley and Mountain), each a close-to-nature experience that is visually appealing and, at times, quite challenging. The Pattaya golf course layout is a rewarding and challenging one with plenty of hazards, bunkers, sand traps and water haz...

Posted by - September 25, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (5 of 10)

Here is the fifth of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Blue Canyon Country Club, Phuket The island of Phuket, one of the world’s top tourism destinations, also has a worthy reputation for golf. For the past 20 years Blue Canyon has been a highly sought-after golf destination for visitors. Located near Phuket’s international airport, Blue Canyon Country Club’s Canyon Course was the original 18 hole layout and leaped to fame when it was selected as the venue for the 1994 Johnnie Walker Classic. ...

Posted by - September 18, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (4 of 10)

Here is the fourth of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort, Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort is one of Thailand’s golfing gems.  Built on a “power spot”, the hermitage of the revered Kuba Sivicha monk who founded the famous temple on Doi Suthep, the site is breathtaking in every direction and literally tingles with an energetic aliveness. Few courses anywhere in Asia have the scenic beauty, combined with challenging golf as this ...

Posted by - September 11, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (3 of 10)

Here is the third of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin Black Mountain, named as the best Thailand golf course and best championship layout in Asia Pacific in 2011 by Asian Golf Monthly, opened in 2007 and quickly picked up awards including best new course in Asia (2007) and second best course in Thailand (2008). In 2012 it the only Thailand golf course to make it to Golf Digest’s 100 Best Courses Outside the USA list. Playing a whopping 7550 yards of the champio...

Posted by - August 28, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (2 of 10)

Here is the second of my top 10 Thailand golf courses. Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin The seaside town of Hua Hin, on the western side of the Gulf of Thailand, 200 kilometers south of Bangkok, has become a popular destination for both Thai and international visitors. The preferred holiday destination of the Thai Royal family for more than a century, the region boasts eight excellent golf courses, of which Banyan Golf Club is one of the standouts. Opened in 2008, Banyan Golf Club leaped to fame when ...

Posted by - August 21, 2012

10 Best Thailand Golf Courses (1 of 10)

Foreign golf tourists who come to Thailand never fail to experience the unique package of attractions that make the Land of Smiles one of the top three golf tourism destinations in the world. There are many reasons why a golf holiday in Thailand is so enjoyable and why visitors come back again and again – including the quality of Thailand’s 260 courses, all but a few of which are open to visitors. As everywhere, the top courses stand out from the rest and rank among Asia’s great layouts.  ...

Thailand Golf Holidays and Vacations
Thailand Golf Playing Tips
Posted by - August 14, 2012

Which Golf Ball Is Right for YOU When Golfing In Thailand?

For the regular Thai golfer, the news on the modern golf ball is all good. The ball doesn’t slice or hook anywhere near as much as it did 15 years ago and it goes a lot further. But why hasn’t the average Thailand golf visitor’s handicap dropped? The answer is almost certainly in the golf ball they are teeing up when golfing in Thailand. Today a solidly hit golf ball doesn’t move. The manufacturer’s designers have worked the long night hours to make it so. But for most playing the Thai golf fair...

Posted by - July 31, 2012

Hua Hin Golf Gets Even Better and Offers Better Values Too!

Recently I have been spending more and more time golfing in Hua Hin. It seems that this seaside resort is living up to its billing as the “home of golf in Thailand” as the eight area courses put efforts to continually better themselves. Here is a case in point. Earlier this year Black Mountain was voted 98th best golf course outside the USA by Golf Digest. This was the first time any Thai golf course has made it to the list and you would think that Black Mountain would pause to celebrate and re...

Thai Culture and Thailand Country Information
Thailand Golf Courses and Playing Conditions
Posted by - July 24, 2012

Chiang Mai Golf Magic

I am used to the frenetic pace of golf in Bangkok or golf in Pattaya, so whenever I head north get a real treat when I golf in Chiang Mai. For the best Chiang Mai golf resort, I check into The Chedi Chiang Mai where I feel always welcome at Chiang Mai’s only five-star hotel located on the Mae Ping River.  Close by, I explore the temples and check out the night bazaar, a mere five minute walk away. For the best golf in Chiang Mai, I drive out of town past rice fields, buffaloes, and mountains to ...

Posted by - July 10, 2012

Cheap Thailand Golf

Thailand golf rivals the world’s greatest golf destinations with challenging layouts by ‘A’ list designers. If there is a difference in Thailand, it is the value. Thailand golfers enjoy championship golf at greens fees of around $100 – $150 USD which is typically less than you’d pay in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Scotland, South Africa, and other premium golf destinations around the world. But world-class aside, here is a novel idea for the adventurous. Thailand also has many off-the-beaten-pat...