Golf Tips and Tricks: Golf in Thailand, Rate of Play, Playing the Game, Playing in Thailand

Sir James Country Club - Forest Hills,
Khao Yai

Golf Tips and Tricks

Golfing tips and tricks are endless, many relevant to specific locations and local conditions. But there are pointers that will help steer the uninitiated in the right direction on playing in Thailand.

Heat and Exposure:

Bangkok, named as the hottest city in the world by the World Meteorological Organization, 'enjoys' daytime temperatures reaching 40°C, especially between April and September. Combine that with high levels of UV, and covering up on the fairways is an absolute necessity to avoid discomfort or, in extreme cases, heat-stroke.

• Apply as high a protection factor sun block as you can find, even during overcast skies.
• Wear a hat, or better still carry a reflective umbrella which will reflect the sun and provide shade.
• Carry a small towel to dry arms, face and hands. Hands also benefit from absorbent wristbands.
• Cloth gloves are best suited, as leather pairs break down with the continual soaking and drying.

Dehydration and Energy:

Avoid dehydration; drink plenty of water or electrolyte drinks before, during and after the game. Replacing fluids and energy will help lessen the strain on tired muscles and joints, often due to dehydration.

• If you become thirsty during play, you simply haven’t drunk enough, so increase your intake.
• Carry plenty of bottled water or take regular breaks at the course's drink stops.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol before and during play as they add no benefit to body or game.

Diet:

Good nutrition can determine the level of your game, particularly in the tropics. Many golfers find their energy and concentration dropping significantly on the closing holes and, if it’s a tournament, losing shots is often the result! This can be avoided by following a regular and balanced diet of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Healthy eating will also help to reduce excessive stress on joints.

• Don’t over-eat before a game; have a light, easy to digest, meal avoiding fatty foods.
• Don’t assume that fast foods and snacks will give sufficient energy to see you through the game.
• Eat plenty of fruit; it's a good energy source and is available at the drink stops.
• Continue consuming plenty of water and if possible, fruit after the game.

Rate of play:

There’s a lack of understanding about the pace of play in Thailand, but that’s not to say that it should be allowed to ruin the game. If you're used to playing a round of 18 holes in 3 hours with a 4 ball, you'll find that games here can pass by at a much slower pace. As Thailand permits 5 balls plus, you can end up behind players hitting in excess of 160 shots. A situation resolved by spending a bit more time under the guidance of an instructor on the driving range!

• Don’t let a slow round ruin your thought process.
• Relax and be patient, particularly at weekends, when the courses can be heavily played.
• Public displays of anger are considered undignified.
• Don’t attempt to make up lost time by rushing.

Caddies:

Although most caddies have never played golf, many can read the course well. (They tread the fairways regularly!) If they do get it wrong, just stay calm and remember: they're not employed as official adviser or coach!

• If a mistake is made, little jokes go down better than a lost temper.
• Ask if the caddie would like any refreshments both during the game and at the drink stops.
• You should tip your caddie at least the listed caddie fee.

Playing the game:

You might think that in a hot country the ball will fly far and run forever on sun baked ground. In truth there's less run on the ball than at most European courses, so if you're used to 50 yards of run on your drives, get used to seeing six inches of backspin on wet fairways. Local conditions can also affect the flight of the ball; for instance on a humid morning, you might find every shot feels as if it’s short.

• There's often more trouble short of the green than there is long, so consider taking one more club.
• The greens in Thailand generally hold high approaches.
• Many shots may require a club more for the distance than you may be used to.

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