Gassan Lake City Golf Club & Resort,
Chiang Mai
The Majestic Creek Country Club,
Hua Hin
Santiburi Samui Country Club,
Koh Samui
Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Hua Hin
Without exception, all courses will require you to take a caddie. If this is a new experience, enjoy it. Having someone to pull your trolley, lug your bag or drive your cart gives you more time and energy to concentrate on the game. Hiring a caddie is not expensive and just now and again, you will get one who really does know the course, can read the greens and occasionally even club you. Don’t forget though, some of the caddies have never, and will never, play the game, so don’t be harsh if they get the putt line wrong – after all, you are the one hitting the ball!
The number of golfers in Thailand is difficult to determine, but judging by the amount of driving ranges in and around most cities, vast numbers of people at least swing a club from time to time, even if they do not get to play regularly.
The military owns and runs many courses and almost all main army, navy or air force bases will have at worst a 9 hole track, while some boast 36 hole complexes with country club style facilities.
The fun way to get on course
What better way to 'do' Thailand's golf courses – many of which are in fairly remote areas – than to fly yourself in? General Aviation (that is private flying) is growing in the Kingdom and is much easier now than, say, 10 years ago. There are around 120 airstrips around the country that are open to private fliers, though some are suitable only for STOL (short take of & landing) aircraft.
Learning to fly is relatively easy and quick, not to mention exciting, fun and rewarding – and surprisingly inexpensive. Once you've learned you can rent aircraft by the hour from a flying club, take a part share in an aircraft or, of course, go the whole way and buy your own.
Thailand's 'HQ' for flying light aircraft is The Thai Flying Club, based at Bang Phra Airport in Sri Racha (just east of Bangkok). It's a friendly club full of people who love what they do and who are keen for others to join them.
For more information visit www.thaiflyingclub.com, call +66 (0)38 777348 or email info@thaiflyingclub.com
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) also has a number of very good courses, which are open to the public. The proliferation of courses has led to a massive increase in the popularity of the game and, naturally, a rise in the number of world class players as well as an increasing number of big tournaments.
Major sponsors such as Volvo, Honda, Isuzu, Johnnie Walker, and Heineken have all promoted international tournaments in Thailand; some have been co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour events and, in 2006, the first LPGA event external to the USA was held here.
Thailand is arguably the dominant nation on the Asian Tour. With back to back order of merit winners in 2004 and 2005, Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, as well as regular top ten finishers, the country now has a very strong group of talented players ranging in age from early 20s to late 40s.
The best known and much admired is Thongchai Jaidee, with two wins on the European Tour and solid European order of merit places in the last few years. The former paratrooper has developed into a mature competitor with an enviable track record.
Thaworn Wiratchant has also won on the European Tour and, despite a style not found in any coaching manual, has a short game to die for. Former Hua Hin caddie, Prayad Marksaeng, has been a regular winner on both the Asian and Japanese Tours. Former World Junior Champion, Prom Meesawat, now in his early 20s, could very well be the future of Thai men’s golf. And let's not forget that Tiger Woods comes from Thai stock!
Thai women have also started to shine in international tournaments with Virada Nirapathpongporn playing the LPGA Tour together with Stacy Prammanasudh, another player of mixed Thai-American heritage. If you watch Thai ladies play, many have graceful and fluid swings, so it is only a matter of time before world class stars breaks through.
