Category Archives: Golf News

Asia Golf
Bangkok Golf
Posted by - May 27, 2023

Have you got the Thai secret weapon?

With the amateur golf tournament season about to kick off in Thailand and Vietnam, over 1,000 male and female competitors will soon be heading for SE Asia. Their season kicks off with over 550 gofers competing at the Centara World Masters 2023 in Hua Hin, taking in three championship courses, Black Mountain, Banyan, and Springfield. Also, in June there is the Avani Pattaya 2 Ball. It does not stop there as in July there are events in Bangkok and on the island of Phuket, September sees two event...

Asia Golf
Golf Events
Posted by - May 23, 2023

There is hope for all of us to be the next Michael Block

Over the weekend PGA Club professional Michael Block has been an inspiration to all of us mere golfers that dreams can come true. Heading into his final round at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill on Sunday, it seemed like Michael Block’s week couldn’t get any better. That is until he hit his tee shot on the par-3 15th hole. Block, the 46-year-old PGA playing pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, took aim at the green and hit a beautiful shot that was right in ...

Asia Golf
Golf News
Posted by - May 1, 2023

How much to tip your caddie?

This week Taylor Gooch won his second LIV Golf event in the space of just two weeks winning a staggering US$ 12 million. Spare a thought for his lucky caddie Australian Mal Baker who would be getting around US$ 1.2 million if he was taking the usual 10%. Good work if you can get it, but for us mere mortals who take in a round of golf in Thailand often wonder how much to tip their beautiful female caddie. Mark Seigel CEO at https://www.golfasian.com/ recommends after your round-tipping them US$1...

Asia Golf
Bangkok Golf
Posted by - April 27, 2023

Great Success for Golfasian, Fenix XCell and Thailand in Marbella

The IAGTO European Convention (IEC) closed last night in Marbella on Andalucía’s Costa del Sol in southern Spain after three very busy days. The IEC replicated their successful Asia and North American conventions with meetings between buyers, suppliers, tourism organisations, and service providers. Over 250 companies and organisations from all over the World participated including Golfasian and Fenix XCell from Bangkok.   Pascal Orczech, Business Development Director for Golfasian said, “...

Asia Golf
Golf Events
Posted by - April 20, 2023

Focus turns to SE Asia for professional and amateur golf events

Next week, the LIV Golf tour stars will arrive in Singapore with their “loud” style golf at Sentosa’s top golf course. Starting from April 28th-30th the stars will be battling it out on this iconic course playing for a mere US$20 million. Around the corner in Thailand, from June onwards also starts a wave of mega Amateur Tournaments with over 500 competitors playing in the Centara World Masters in Hua Hin from 11th-17th. This event has been sold out for months but there are still a few places u...

Asia Golf
Golf Events
Posted by - April 17, 2023

Asian Golf Tournaments are booming

Over the next few months, many international golf vacationers are heading for SE Asia to experience a growing trend of competing in Amateur golf tournaments. 1,000 have already registered with leading tour operator Golfasian and to cope with demand they have just announced the DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Golf Invitational 2023 to be held on the Thai island from 18-22 July 2023 CEO at Golfasian Mark Siegel said, ‘ Many of our customers enjoy the camaraderie and experience with playing at our tou...

Asia Golf
Bangkok Golf
Posted by - March 20, 2023

Closest Golf Courses to Downtown Bangkok

Thailand, and especially Bangkok, have some excellent golf courses, and 60 courses are within 100 kilometers of Thailand’s capital city, all offering a variety of challenges. How does a golf visitor choose the best courses to play as dynamic Bangkok is spread out over a larger area? Frequent traffic jams can take time to reach the clubhouse. Last week with Google map navigator as his assistant, Golfasian’s https://www.golfasian.com/golf-courses/thailand-golf-courses/bangkok/  CEO visited 15 cou...

Asia Golf
Golf Events
Posted by - March 3, 2023

Asia Golf Records All-Time High Bookings

According to a recent study published by IPK International, one of the world’s leading tourism consultancies and tourism research agencies, in 2022 the travel industry experienced a significant recovery. Worldwide, outbound trips increased substantially year on year, but without regaining 2019 levels. IPK’s World Travel Monitor stated that worldwide, outbound travel in 2022 rose by 90 percent year on year, equivalent to a global volume of almost 700 million trips in 2022. Compared to outbo...

Asia Golf
Golf Events
Posted by - February 27, 2023

Record attendance at Honda LPGA Thailand

On a windy day at Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course, American Lilia Vu emerged victorious at the Honda LPGA Thailand, winning by one shot over 54-hole Thai leader Natthakritta Vongtaveelap. Thai 20-year-old rookie Vongtaveelap struggled to stay steady under pressure on day four in Chonburi, Thailand, while her close friend two-time LPGA Tour winner Atthaya Thitikul came in 3rd. Although Natthakritta as a sponsors invite did not gain any CME LPGA points, she still came away with a handy US$...

Asia Golf
Golf Events
Posted by - February 13, 2023

Thailand World Masters hosted at the 100-year-old historical hote

Golfers from around the world are in for a special week of competition when they tee off from three top Hua Hin golf courses in June. This year’s Centara World Masters Golf Championship takes place from 11-17th June and is being hosted by the historic Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, home of the original Railway Hotel Hua Hin. This is the hotel’s 100-year anniversary and throughout the year they will be marking this occasion with the “Centenary Celebration: 100 Years of Memories”...

Golf News
Posted by - January 26, 2023

Climate change is making playing golf more comfortable in Thailan

It seems that in parts of Thailand in January 2023, the lower temperatures and humidity are making playing golf even more enjoyable in several regions of the country. Using the historical data supplied by https://www.worldweatheronline.com/ it would appear that whereas other parts of the planet including Europe are experiencing a mini heat wave in January, here in Thailand the weather is actually cooler. Looking at the January figures in 2013 compared to today in 2023, temperatures are lower and...

Golf Events
Golf News
Posted by - September 4, 2017

2018 Centara World Masters – Entries Now Open!

Hua Hin, Thailand, 4 September 2017 — Registrations are officially open for Thailand’s Most Enjoyed Week of Golf! Even though the event was recently launched on 1st of September the event has seen a record number of entries in comparison to previous years. Golfers were quick to rate the fourth annual Centara World Masters Golf Championship hosted in Hua Hin as the best-organised event ever so it came as no surprise to tournament organisers the moment entries started sweeping in. R...

Golf Events
Golf News
Posted by - June 11, 2017

World Golfers Arrive in Thailand for 2017 Centara World Masters C

Hua Hin, Thailand, 11 June 2017 — Golfers from every continent have started arriving in Thailand for the fourth running of the Centara World Masters Golf Championship, Asia’s biggest and richest tournament for club golfers. Franking Thailand’s golf tourism appeal, more than 500 visitors from 21 countries will arrive this weekend in Hua Hin for the start of the Championship on 11 June. The tournament has attracted big numbers from Australia, New Zealand, India, Myanmar and UAE. ...

Golf News
Posted by - April 21, 2017

Thailand Golf Tour Operator Golfasian Teams Up With Golf Hideaway

Bangkok, Thailand & Hong Kong, China — Golfasian, Asia’s largest inbound golf tour operator has teamed up with Hong Kong’s most popular indoor golf lounge Golf Hideaway to provide exclusive golf holidays and prizes to Hong Kong golfers. “The aim of the partnership with Golf Hideaway is to expand Golfasian’s reach to the Hong Kong market while at the same time offering the golf lounge members with exclusive Asian golf holiday deals, Thailand golf tournament slots and prize sponsoring,” ...

Posted by - November 8, 2011

Does Phuket Need to Reconsider Its Golf Strategy?

Phuket Golf has always been a major attraction for tourists from all over the world who love to spend their time staying in first class resorts on this beautiful Thai island. The same can be said for golf, and even the likes of Tiger Woods and Greg Norman have played here at the islands only true Championship course the famous Blue Canyon. For such a small island, it is unusual to find such a wide variety of golf challenges, from seaside to mountain layouts, and all within a maximum of 45 minut...

Posted by - October 19, 2011

Young Thailand Golfers on Winning Trail

Golf in Thailand‘s youth policy especially in golf seems to be paying off. First a 15 year old Thai player wins in the USA, and Thai Juniors are confident of winning in Asia too next month. Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand won the 63rd U.S. Girls Junior championship recently, scoring a 2 and 1 victory over Dottie Ardina of the Philippines at Olympia Fields Country Club in the States. It was the first victory in a match-play tournament for the 15-year-old, who captured the AJGA Girls Junior ti...

Posted by - September 14, 2011

Caddie Championship in Thailand

Thailand is well known as a hot golfing destination with over 260 great golf courses and those ever smiling Thai Caddies. Come rain or shine they read the greens, give you the yardage, hold your umbrella and if you are lucky even give your shoulders a quick massage too. After putting up with us holiday hackers, you would have thought they would have had enough of the golf course, but a large number actually like to play a round themselves. Smart thinking General Managers encourage them to play ...

Posted by - September 6, 2011

Secret Thai Golfing Gem

Kanchanaburi is perhaps better known as the centre of Thailand’s gem industry, where mining has been going on for a number of years. Many tourists also head there to visit the River Kwai and the railway made famous in World War 2. However soon Kanchanaburi will add a new attraction, when the Blue Diamond Resort opens next March. The brainchild of Dr Prachin Eamlumnow, who has made his fortune organizing the Bangkok International Motor Show, Blue Diamond, is a huge 2,000 rai project, with a five...

Posted by - August 8, 2011

Young Guns in Thailand

On May 11th-13th 80 youngsters will line up at the Rose Garden Country Club near Bangkok to contest the 9th Mercedes Trophy Junior Golf Masters. These juniors aged between 12 and 18 years old have had to win through seven qualifying rounds held at various courses around Thailand, to get into this final and the winners will be then flown to Portugal for the Oceanico World Kids Golf Championship in July. Everyone keeps saying for golf to survive, we have to encourage youngsters into the game. Wel...

Posted by - May 9, 2011

Masteritist at Fever Pitch Here in Bangkok

Well I did try everything to kick this dreadful disease…..but in the end the power of seeing a certain 21 year old from Northern Ireland win a green jacket, meant I woke up at 1.45hrs this morning in Bangkok and turned on the TV to watch the 75th Masters. If you were a Hollywood script writer I don’t think you could come up with such a dream finish. At one stage there were seven players tied for the lead! Of course initially I was rooting for Rory McIlroy, but he seemed to disintegrate on...

Posted by - May 3, 2011

Major Winners in Asia

Sometimes everything just falls into place and as a journalist, all the travelling and waiting around just pays off. Being based here in Bangkok, the big names on the professional circuit tend to side step playing in our local tournaments, perhaps with the exception of the popular Royal Trophy. Therefore twice a year I need to stock up with pictures and stories by covering the bigger events here in Asia. On Tuesday I therefore flew to Kuala Lumpur. This week was very unusual, as the 50th running...

Posted by - April 25, 2011

Masteritist… a Very Serious Golfers Disease

I thought I was really suffering big time over the past five days, with what I thought might have been the dreaded Asian flu. Blame it on the changeable weather we have been having over here in Thailand, but I had the mother of all coughs, a cold and just lost all my energy. Swallowing all antibiotics under the sun, it just would not go away, and I was really getting concerned. One of the problems that goes with flu and a bad cough, is you really don't get into a deep sleeping pattern, so I ...

Posted by - April 9, 2011

It’s not all golf you know…..well almost

Golf for many of us is a very serious addiction. We have to have our regular fix! Come rain or shine, business meetings or trade exhibitions, we will make all the excuses needed to arrange that very crucial meeting which just happens to clash. That is our ‘speak’ for sod it I am going to play a round of golf anyway. Here in Thailand a lot of business is conducted on the golf course and in some companies, it is seen as an actual asset if you can play golf. There are corporate tournaments, amateu...

Posted by - March 21, 2011

Asian Golf Hits a New High

The conclusion of the 2011 Avantha Masters at the DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi was just the result everyone was hoping for, when India golfer SS P Chowrasia won his second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 74th European Tour event. This is a huge boost to sport in the region, where golf is now the fastest expanding sport in India, normally the home to Cricket. SS P made European Tour history with his first win at the 2008 EMAAR –MGF Indian Masters, by winning on his f...

Posted by - March 14, 2011

Westwood to join Jaidee in Asia

Asian golf legend and three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand will compete in the inaugural US$750,000 Indonesian Masters next month, joining world number two Lee Westwood of England in the elite field at Royale Jakarta Golf Club. Organisers announced today that PNTS, one of Indonesia’s fastest growing off shore bulk cargo handling companies, Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier, and Mercedes-Benz have also signed up as sponsors of Indonesia’s newest Asian Tour tour...

Posted by - March 8, 2011

Thai Golf Balls Launched

Well do you have a favourite golf ball, or do you just tee off with any old brand? Of course if you are lucky to be a professional on the PGA, European or Asian Tours, the manufactures are keen to give you loads of their balls for free. Maybe that's why they theatrically like to throw a brand new golf ball into the lake after a double bogie. However for us happy weekend hackers here in Thailand, golf balls can be a very personal purchase. Maybe you get sucked in by the manufactures marketin...

Posted by - February 10, 2011

Thailand Golf Attracts the Big Stars

Most countries are lucky if they can attract one major golf tournament a year. Thailand on the other hand seems to be able to host more than its fair share of major golf events. In November a certain Mr Tiger Woods made an emotional return to his mother country along with Casey and co. Then along came the Asian Tours Masters in December followed in early January by the Royal Trophy both hosted at Black Mountain in Hua Hin. Now the 2011 season is about to start with most of the top 50 woman in t...

Posted by - February 7, 2011

Where to next? Young Golfers in Thailand

In many countries around the world, golf is suffering from the global recession, and the industry will really begin to suffer unless it starts to focus on its future. You can play a game of football with your mates after school with a ball and a couple of posts for goals. Same for Cricket, you can play the game just with sticks for stumps. But for kids to play golf, they first need to persuade their parents to actually take them to the course, and then they need to rent or maybe buy a set of cl...

Posted by - January 11, 2011

Royal Trophy Cliffhanger Ending!

After the amazing scenes at the 2010 Ryder Cup with Greame MacDowell putting to win, I thought I'd seen it all! Obviously not!!! The Royal Trophy looked like a gimme for Asia, after Europe failed to win one of the four matches on day two at Thailand's Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin.  Asia were needing only two and half points from the eight single matches to clinch victory. Team captain Colin Montgomerie was shell shocked! Monty bravely put on a good front at that evenings pr...

Posted by - January 6, 2011

Back To The Sixties! – Titanium Club in Bangkok

I have to admit I do like to relax after a day on the golf course, perhaps with a cold beer listening to some great music. Once you have discussed all those great shots you thought you made around some of Bangkok’s many wonderful golf courses, had the massage, eaten, then it’s time to hit the town. Bangkok's night life has literally hundreds of bars, night clubs and discos to choose from, ranging from a roadside vans blasting out the hits, to the swanky hotel clubs. Personally I am not into ...