A little known fact:-
Within about an hour’s drive of Bangkok city center there are approximately 60 golf courses!
Most budding golf travelers assume that, like most cities in the world, Bangkok only has a few courses within ‘striking distance’ and that the best golfing locations in Thailand are at the seaside resorts of Pattaya, Phuket, or Hua Hin. Whilst these locations are very good for golf, Bangkok truly reigns supreme for choice of course.
Obviously, the actual standards of courses vary greatly, which means that every level of golfer has a huge choice of courses to pick from. There are ‘cheap and cheerful’ courses like Lam Luk Ka Country Club or Rose Garden Golf Club where anyone can have a weekday game for as little as US$25. There are also some truly spectacular world class courses that have played host to major PGA tournaments like the Thai Country Club (Honda Classic/Volvo Masters), Navatanee Golf Club (The World Cup), and Alpine Golf and Sports Club (Johnnie Walker Classic) – a challenge to even the best golfer. There is even a course slap bang in the middle of Bangkok – The Royal Bangkok Sports Club – although you have to be invited by a member to play there!
Combine this with the well known facts of golfing life in the City of Angels – guaranteed warm weather (365 days a year), good caddies, excellent hotels, restaurants, shopping and nightlife – and, just think of it…………. you could play every day for 2 months and never play the same course twice.
That has to make Bangkok one of the world’s unique golf vacation spots and a must stopover for anyone visiting Thailand or having a few extra days for golf in Asia! If you have any Bangkok golf stories or need any additional information please post a comment here or contact me at my Thailand golf vacation company.
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7 Responses
Mark,
It would be interesting to expand on this idea and look at how much golf one could play in one day in Bangkok (given the heat, general slowness of play, and other conditions). We have managed 36 holes, but truly wiped out at the end of the day. One of my friends claims 54 (including the last 9 holes as night golf).
Sounds all fantastic for the ‘golfer’. But whatabout the ‘golfer to be’ ??? Where can one go to get a handycap in the first place ?????
I have not seen any offers yet for the real beginner !
Hi Gerlinde,
Please check out the programs at http://www.golfthink.com/golf-lessons-in-thailand.htm
There are several good programs for beginnners that can facilitate getting your handicap while vacationing in Thailand.
Mark
Loz,
How are things in Rio?
Anyway I have 2 friends who every Saturday tee off at 15 minutes before sunrise at Bangkok Golf Club. It is just getting light when they reach their drives in the first faiway. 18 holes are completed in around 2.5 hours and they stop for breakfast by 8:30AM. After this they play their second 18, this time at a more leisuely pace, finishing in time for lunch. On most days my friends go home to their families, but on occasion, they carry on with their third round of the day and finish up in the club house with some cold Heineken’s by 5PM, and in time to be home for dinner.
Their families do not really support this behavior, but it does serve to make a point, 54 holes in one day is possible!
Mark
Mark – may I offer the following golf quote: “Don’t play too much golf. Two rounds a day are plenty”. Harry Vardon (English golfer, 1870)
Niftee,
I will pass on the quote. Although you know some golfers can be real hard headed, especially the 2 Amercian expats I wrote about.
Thanks,
mark
Bangkok, Thailand: What Is So Special?
I am always asking myself why I like Thailand so much. Previously, when living in New York and Singapore, I couldn’t wait to get out of town every weekend, as I found myself to be much happier on the golf