Tag Archives: Hua Hin

Posted by - November 29, 2011

Hua Hin: The ‘Other’ Golf Courses

Just about all golfers in Hua Hin want to play the two area 5 star courses; Black Mountain and Banyan Golf Club. Next on the list and a notch below for most golfers are Springfield Royal and Palm Hills. Then there are the ‘Other’ courses. Some golfers skip them altogether, and if you are one who demands pristine country club conditions, luxurious clubhouses with lots of niceties and amenities and only modern designs, perhaps you should too.  For the rest of us though these courses all have...

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 - July 25, 2011

Thailand Golf in the Summer

Now we are well into the summer months, there are real advantages of playing golf in Thailand. The temperature is still bearable, and although there are rain storms, you can cope with a bit of planning. It amazes me how a major downpour back home in the UK can wash out a whole days play, as the British courses just were not built to handle a major storm. In Asia and especially here in Thailand, apart from creating some great courses, the designers spend as much time on the drainage. It obviousl...

Posted by - May 19, 2011

Why is Golf Different in Thailand?

Thailand’s leading golf course designer and builder, Pirapon Nimatra, is responsible for designing and renovating numerous courses in Thailand. Therefore who better to explain why playing golf here in Thailand different from the rest of the World? ‘First of all we have great weather and you can pretty much play golf all year around. Secondly the caddies do make the experience playing here just that much friendlier and fun,’ said Pirapon. ‘However from my perspective as a golf course designer, w...

Posted by - May 10, 2011

Matteo the World Golfer

Matteo Manassero’s been in Asia, the Middle East, off to the States, then to Europe and now back in Asia all since January. I caught up with him this week at the Maybank Malaysian Open where he had arrived on Monday to really taken in playing back on the slower greens. I first asked Matteo what were his recollections of playing in his first Royal Trophy? ‘It was amazing. Nobody expected us to win and we as a team were on a high and felt we could win. Everything went right from the beginning actu...

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 - January 6, 2011

Media Scrum at Royal Trophy Press Conference!

Interest in the Royal Trophy is already extremely high, with over 250 journalists from Europe and Asia keen to get their pictures and stories, at yesterday’s press conference. Although Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie OBE is here in Thailand, along with a host of top stars, the media’s attention was focused on super star Rio Ishikawa, the Japanese pin up boy. In 2010 Rio made a World record closing round of 12 under par 58 and is returning to represent Asia at the Royal Trophy for a third suc...

Posted by - December 24, 2010

Just Aim For The Coconut Tree!

How many of us love to leave our local club for change of location in a different setting for a few days golf with a few mates? If you live in a cold climate, then going to a warm climate makes for a great for a golf holiday. Or if you live in the middle of a city playing, then alongside the ocean is certainly an experience not to be missed. As Thongchai Jaidee, Asia’s No 1 golfer says, ‘What Thailand can offer is great courses, wonderful locations and endless smiles!!!’ Well Thailand with it s...

Posted by - January 5, 2010

Best Place For A ‘Quiet and Peaceful’ Thailand Golf and Beach Hol...

Hua Hin is the winner here, with Phuket’s north and west coasts posting an honorable challenge.  Until recently the golf in Hua Hin was mostly ‘so-so’ quality, though that has changed with some of newer venues which are up to world class standards. Banyan Golf Club won the “2009 Best New Golf Course in Asia” award, while Black Mountain Golf Club, only 2 years old, was voted as the second best Thailand golf course, just behind Thai Country Club. Both courses are located in the foothills ab...

Posted by - September 22, 2009

How I Avoided Three-Putting Golfing In Thailand?

Can you believe it? Over the past 2 weeks I played Thai Country Club twice, and Banyan Golf Club and Black Mountain Golf Club once each without a single three-putt. Here are the two steps how I did it. 1. Three years ago I took some lessons form an Australian golf professional in Bangkok. At that time he insisted that I go for every green every chance I had, as a lay-up shot would never get the ball in the hole. After following his advice ever since and thinking about it some more, I decide...