Lihn's lifestyle and golf guide 2014-15

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O t s e

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www.lihnsgolfguide.com

Thailand Pocket Edition

2014-15 US $25

PHUKET

A FASCINATING VACATION ISLAND

Vientiane, Laos Charming Golf

Thailand best restaurant 2007-2013

By Thailand Tatler

The “Crystal” of Lanna

C ome and experience the finest French cuisine here at Le Crystal restaurant, Chiang Mai. 最高級なフランス料理を味わう旅を、 是非お店「ル・クリスタル・レストラン、チェンマイ」 までいらして体験してみてください

Open daily for dinner/ディナー 毎日営業時間 : 6.00 pm - 10.30 pm 74/2 Paton Road, T.Paton A.Muang, Chiang Mai 50300

Website/ホームページ : www.lecrystalrestaurant.com Email/メール : info@lecrystalrestaurant.com Tel/電話 : 053 872 890 -1 / 08 4177 6599

การดูดไขมัน (Vaser) 8,999.-/จุด

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Mini facelift

ดึงหนาสไตลเกาหลี ราคา 79,999.-/ครั้ง ฉีด PRP

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www.thesibclinic.com

Hotline

088-222-8660

At the start of every December, the Luang Prabang Film Festival brings together the boldest storytellers and the most talked about films in Southeast Asia. Our curators handpick these films from ten countries, spotlighting them each year in the World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang. This inspiring environment, rich in culture, provides an ideal backdrop for artists and industry professionals to share their experiences and showcase their talent. It is a festival for the adventurous, and is quickly becoming known as one of the most exotic and exciting locations on the international film festival circuit.

For further information on the festival, visit www.lpfilmfest.org, or stay up to date at facebook.com/lpfilmfest. To book tours and travel arrangements to attend the festival, email Khiri Travel, LPFF's Official Travel Partner, at sales.laos@khiri.com.

Tel. 089 449 7555, 086-9999-603 Fax 02-893-9163

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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Bangkok’s Exclusive Golf Membership Club 29,500 Baht Annual Benefits Include: Eight green-fees (including) : Alpine Banyan Bangkok GC Black Mountain Lotus Valley Riverdale Royal Gems City Vintage

Siam CC (two) St. Andrews 2000 Soi Dao Rayong Green Valley Rancho Charnvee KhaoYai GC Chiangmai Inthanon

Golf Lessons (Doug Hood, PGA) – private, on-course Logo Shirt (Fenix)

Golf Equipment – golf bag (Coca-Cola), shoe-bag, hats, bracelet, etc.

Fitness and Spa Vouchers Thailand Hotel/Resort Room Vouchers Member Tournaments Lihn’s Best of Thailand Golf Guides 2013 For more information call: 089 516-9865 Info@lihnsgolf.com www.luxurygolfclub.com

Introduction

T

his is a fun introduction.

Chef Frank E. Lihn

My brother, an accomplished chef of New York haute hotel pedigree, visited Thailand this past July as a guest of Olivier Gibaud, the Group General Manager of the popular five-star Twinpalms resort on Surin beach in Phuket.

Frank used his expertise to serve the staff as a teaching consultant at the Oriental Spoon (the fabulous Sunday brunch buffet) and Catch (on the beach).

The experience was exhilarating. “I had a special opportunity to interface with Thai chefs and cooks and both learn from and teach them. They were an enthusiastic, happy and talented bunch. We practiced presentation – food design – and new recipes. The results were instant and impressive.”

Frank had scant opportunity to tour the magical island but was suffused with, and encouraged by, the possibilities.

So, sadly, he flew back to his home and work in the San Francisco bay area on the first of August.

A week later he happily announced that he was going to pack it in – leave sunny California – and move to Phuket! Zhanel Tyurina, the energetic business doyenne of

Frank and Sue Ultman of Baan Rim Pa

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Maikhao Dream Villas and the Natai resort property, asked Frank to join them for a spell to help reshape and refine menus, and prepare for expansion (Natai is adding 50 villas shortly) and rebranding.

He jumped at the opportunity and is now a rookie denizen of tropical Phuket.

“This is a grand place to cook and conceive.

And to vacation!”

Frank did his formal training at the Waldorf Astoria, the Plaza Hotel, the Irving Trust Lunch Club, the Metropolitan Club, The United Nations Plaza Hotel (where he catered to the tastes and whims of visiting heads-of-state), The Doral Park Avenue Hotel and the heralded 60 East Club (the private culinary enclave of Harry Helmsley, the former owner of the Empire State building).

Sophie Juneau ,Chef Frank, Chef Cheryl Johnson, Fei Wong The Breeze Restaurant, Phuket

His training is in Classical Continental Cuisine, although over the years he has adapted his skills to using local American food sources and various regional cuisines. The best description is “elegant simplicity,” he says.

“This is a grand place to cook and conceive. And to vacation! Maikhao provides organic vegetables that are home-grown down the Soi! There is a serious commitment to culinary excellence here. ” We have asked Chef Frank to help us with a new Fine Dining section for our Lifestyle & Golf guides. He has already experienced an epiphany or two.

Read on!

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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David Lihn Publisher/Author Kineeya Somsuan Director of Operations Rita Dugas Design Supervisor Cartography Suebsakul (Cartoon) Supsin Web Designer ____________________ Thanaporn (Ying) Yokchawee Sales and Advertising Manager Sriprapa (Larn) Mongkoltriratana Sales and Advertising Artittaya (Tarn) Seelaporn Administration Kineeya Somsuan Marketing and Distribution Lee E. Miller, Esq. Administration Lihn’s Best of Thailand Pocket Golf Guide 2013-2014 is published annually by Lihn’s Golf Guide (Thailand) Co., Ltd., .at 199/12 Chicha Castle, Sukhumvit Soi 31, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand 10110 +66 (0) 2 259 5185 and (0) 87 351-7722 info@lihnsgolf.com.

All contents Copyright © 2013 by Lihn’s Golf Guides, LLC All rights reserved

The production or use, in whole or in part, of any contents of this magazine without prior written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Lihn’s Golf Guide (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork.

www.lihnsgolfguide.com and see www.bestofhotelresort.com

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Publisher’s Letter

W

e are thrilled, again, to be publishing our golf guide in this golfing playground with its stunning geographical diversity, astonishing value and cultural beauty.

For the 2013-14 edition, we have expanded our featured golf courses covering a north-to-south swath of 1,200 miles: from the mountains of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in the north; around the massive national park in Khao Yai in the center; through Bangkok, into Pattaya to the east on the edge of the Gulf of Siam; down through the regal resort town of Hua Hin; further south to the beaches of Phuket; and the island of Samui in the Gulf of Siam.

The golf courses are diverse and lustrous.

Additionally, we have added copious information on 50 other courses in Note sections for the six regions. We feel you might want to visit them and they deserve comment.

Further, we have stretched our golfing borders to the northeast and followed our sponsor, Coca-Cola to a new market: Laos. Six courses in Vientiane – the charming, French-colonial capital of the six million populated country – offer varying degrees of proficiency and challenge are included.

One – the new Long Vien GC – is a stunner and worth the one-hour flight from Bangkok to play it and marvel at the clubhouse and condition.

When you go, call the Mercure Vientiane and ask for the most informed man in town, Christopher Yeo, the venerable general manager, and a Vientiane fixture for 20 years.

Finally, we have added many more five-star hotels and resorts for your reading pleasure; as well as a new Fine Dining section headed by Chef Frank.

David Lihn

And look for our inaugural Best of Class Thailand’s

Luxury Hotels and Resorts 2013-2014.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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Table of Contents Intodruction by Chef Frank E. Lihn Publisher’s Letter Thailand Map

12 15 18

FEATURE - PHUKET & THE ISLANDS • Introduction 20 • Phuket Map 26 • RESORT Phuket, Samui, Krabi 28 Cape Sienna / Twin Palms Resort 28 Kalima Resort & Spa / Maikhao Dream Villa 30 Maikhao Dream Resort & Spa Natai / Paresa 32 The Belle Pool Villa / The Naka Island 34 Conrad Koh Samui/ Bhundhari Resort & Spa 36 Shasa Resort / Vana Belle, A Luxury Collection 38 Pimalai Resort & Spa 40 • FINE DINING (Phuket/Chiang Mai) Twin Palms Resort Baan Rim Pa Boat House The Breeze Cape Yamu Ninth Floor Phuket Le Crystal (Chiang Mai)

42 42 44 45 46 47 48

• GOLF COURSES 185 Blue Canyon CC 186 Red Mountain Golf Club 188 Phuket Country Club 189 Phunaka Golf Course 191 Santiburi Samui Country Club 192 NOTES 194 VIENTIANE, LAOS • GOLF COURSES Long Thanh-Vien Golf Club Dansavanh Nam Ngum Golf & CC Lao Country Club SEA Games Golf Club Lao Inter Golf Club & Resort Vientiane Club KM6 • PLACES TO STAY VIENTIANE • VIENTIANE MAP

50 52 53 54 55 55 58 61

Medical Tourism 62 Hospitals 64 Spas and Well Being 71 Places To Stay 72 The Peninsula Bangkok 73 Shangri-La Hotel / Hansar Bangkok Hotel 74 Sivatel Bangkok / Amari Hua Hin 76 Dusit Thani Hua Hin / Hilton Huahin 78 Springfield Village/ Springfield @ Sea 81 Pattaya Sea Sand Sun 83 Tips for Thailand 87 Caddies 89

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

GOLF COURSES BANGKOK Alpine Golf Club 92 Bangkok Golf Club 93 Cascata Golf Club 94 Lum Luk Ka Country Club 95 Lotus Valley Golf Resort 96 President Country Club 97 Riverdale Golf Club 98 Royal Gems City 99 Subhapruek Golf Club 100 Suwan Golf & Country Club 101 Thai Country Club 102 Thana City Golf & Sports Club 103 Vintage Club 104 NOTES 105 PATTAYA, RAYONG and EASTERN Burapha Golf and Resort 114 Khao Kheow Country Club 115 Laem Chabang International Country Club 116 Phoenix Golf and Country Club 118 Rayong Green Valley Country Club 119 Siam Country Club (Old Course/ Plantation) 120 St. Andrews 2000 128 Silky Oak Country Club 130 Soi Dao Highland Golf Club 131 NOTES 132 HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI Banyan Golf Club 138 Grand Prix Golf Club 140 Imperial Lake View Resort & Golf Club 141 Mida Golf Club 142 Palm Hills Golf Club & Residence 143 Royal Hua Hin Golf Club 144 Sea Pine Golf Course 145 Springfield Royal Country Club 146 NOTES 150 CHIANG MAI and CHIANG RAI Alpine Golf Resort – Chiangmai 156 Chiangmai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort 159 Chiangmai Inthanon Golf & Natural Resort 160 Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort 162 Santiburi Country Club 163 Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club 165 NOTES 166 KHAO YAI and CENTRAL Kabin Buri Sport Club 170 Khao Yai Golf Club 172 Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa 174 Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club 175 Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club 178 Sir James Country Club (Forest Hills) 179 Toscana Valley Country Club 180 NOTES 181 Other Courses

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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THAILAND

Myanmar Mae Hong Son

Chiang Rai

Nan Lamphun

Chiang Mai

Phrae Lampang

Northern Region Tak

Phitsa Sukhothai Kamphaeng Phet

Nakohn S Chainat Central Sing Buri

Region

Uthai Tha

Ayutthaya

Kanachanaburi

Lop B Sa

Bangko

Ratch aburi Samut Sakhon Phetch aburi

Cha-Am

Patt Hua Hin Chumphon

Gul

Ranong

Andaman Sea

Sa Southern Region Phang-nga Krabi

Phuket

Trang

Satun Songkhla

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Laos

n

Vietnam

Vientiane Nongkai Loei Udon Thani

anulok

anni

Buri araburi

ok

Sakon Nakhon

Khon Kaen

Northeastern Region (Issan)

Yasothon Chaiyaphum

Sawan

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Ratchasima Buri Ram

Si Sa Ket

Surin

Ubon Ratchathani

Khao Yai

Eastern Region

Chon Buri

Chachoengsao

taya Rayong

Cambodia Phnom Penh

lf of Thailand

amui N W

E S

a Pattani Yala

Narathiwat

Map of Thailand

Malaysia LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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FEATURE

Phuket

and the islands

V

isiting a Thailand beach or island is the preferred holiday for hundreds of thousands of visitors to Thailand every year. Thailand is blessed with natural beauty and its islands are among the most scenic and beautiful in the world. Likewise, each Thai beach, such as Karon Beach in Phuket, Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui, or picturesque Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi, is simply stunning, and many feature powdery sand, crystal clear water, and postcard-perfect scenery.

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LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

PHUKET & THE ISLANDS Each Thai beach and island has its own character and identity and therefore draws a specific type of visitor.

Each coastal area contains a slice of heaven suitable for a different style of traveler: The west coast of Thailand, along the Andaman Sea, features beaches that appeal to every type of traveler, including the activity-filled resort island of Phuket; the popular backpacker beaches of Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and Krabi; the family friendly, laid back, and pristine coast of Khao Lak (the launching point for trips to the spectacular Similan Islands); and the remote, undeveloped islands of the far south.

A

long the Gulf coast, the resort island of Koh Samui lies nearby the natural splendor of Koh Phangan and the scuba diving paradise of Koh Tao. Closer to Bangkok is the popular resort town of Hua Hin, a favorite among Thais, and its quieter neighbor Cha Am.

Finally, to the east of Thailand, the northern Gulf features Bangkok weekend getaway Koh Samet, and the up-and-coming resort island of Koh Chang, which has both upscale resorts and budget beach bungalows.

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is a perfect example of this contrast. Phuket is certainly the most developed Thai island, having been the first Thai beach resort destination.

Koh Samui is the prime island attraction in the Gulf of Thailand. The most popular beach, Chaweng, features accommodation from five-star luxury resorts to affordable beach bungalows, and dining includes fine dining on international cuisine and casual beachside seafood barbeques.

Krabi is a province on the mainland Andaman coast, near Phuket. In addition to popular beachside resort areas, such as Railey Beach, Krabi includes a number of spectacular islands, such as the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta, off of which some of Thailand’s most popular scuba diving sites are found.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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PHUKET & THE ISLANDS

powdery sand, crystal clear water...

K

rabi Province, which lies along the coast of the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand, is a top tourist destination as a result of its plentiful natural attractions including: white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, extensive coral reefs, numerous caves and waterfalls, and over 130 islands, including Koh Lanta and the jewels of the Andaman coast, the six islands of Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park.

While not the top destination in and of itself, Krabi Town is a charming provincial capital located along the banks of a river that leads to the nearby Andaman Sea. Consequently, Krabi is an important port city for both local fisherman as well as boats ferrying visitors to the nearby attractions, including Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and Railey Beach.

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

...and postcard-perfect scenery.

K

oh Lanta lies on the west coast of the Andaman Sea between Krabi and Phi Phi Island. It is a large island measuring six km wide and over 30 kms long, with nine beaches along the sunset coast. Stunning scenery, and fantastic white sandy beaches, with coastlines which have more than 70 small islands and plenty with forest, coral reefs and under-water life.

Koh Lanta consists of 52 islands that stretch from the southernmost district of Krabi province. The two largest islands are Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi. The other islands are of various sizes, many of which are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs such as Koh Ha, Koh Rok and Koh Hai (or Koh Ngai).

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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PHUKET & THE ISLANDS Places to go in Phuket Phuket Beaches: most popular beaches in Phuket: Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kamala Beach, Surin Beach, Bangtao Beach, Mai Khao Beach, Nai Harn Beach Kata-Karon Viewpoint is one of the most frequented viewpoints in Phuket. From here, it is possible to take in the scenery of Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon beaches Snorkeling in Racha Island Phuket’s Big Buddha is one of the island’s most important and revered landmarks.

Wat Chalong and other Temples in Phuket have been extending a warm welcome to visitors for over a century.

Places to go in Koh Samui Na Muang Falls is the tallest waterfall on Koh Samui. The water cascades over amazingly purple rocks and there’s a great pool for swimming at the base.

Ang Thong National Marine Park is made up of an archipelago of about 40 small islands combining sheer limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, white-sand beaches.

Chaweng Beach is the most well-known and developed, but also one of the best.You can rent anything from a simple bungalows to a five-star hotel room.There are plenty of high standard resorts. The sand is invitingly white, but it can be a lot of people here, especially at high season.

Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks - Lamai Beach (the Grandpa and Grandma rocks), which look, respectively, like male and female genitalia.

Magic Garden - A fruit farmer laboured in the jungle in Koh Samui interior to create this spiritual garden of concrete characters depicting Buddhist myths and legends.

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Th e A

Ch ic

nda man

Sea

rabi K , land s I n ke

Koh

Pipi

eac h B n ar Nai H LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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Alpine Golf Club PHUKET A

B

Maikhao Dream 10 km inland Resort & Spa Natai

C

D

Gatway to Phuket ประตูเมืองภูเก็ต

1 Sai Kaew Beach หาดทรายแกว Mai Khao Beach หาดไมขาว

1

Maikhao Dream Villa Resort & Spa

36-holes

Nai Yang Beach หาดในยาง

Siriart National Park

Indigo Pearl

2

แหลมขาด Laem Khat

4 City Pillar Shrine ศาลเจาหลักเมืองภูเก็ต

Nai Thon Beach หาดในทอน

2

Bang Pae Waterfall นําตกบางแป

Layan Beach หาดลายัน

Tong Sai Waterfall นําตกโตนไทร

Bangtao Beach หาดบางเทา

Twinpalms Phuket Resort

3

Surin Beach หาดสุรินทร

3

The Doubletree Resort

Kamala Beach หาดกมลา

Phuket FantaSea

7

The Bell

Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas Paresa

Kalima Resort & Spa Phuket Butterfly and Insectarium

Baan Rim Pa Restaurant

Patong Beach หาดปาตอง

Bangkok Hospital, Phuket โรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพ ภูเก็ต

5

Karon Beach หาดกะรน

The Big Buddha Phuket พระพุทธมิ่งมงคลเอกนาคคีรี

6

t

ke

Phuket Botanic Garden

27-holes

Phu

4

To w n

แหลมตุกแก Laem Tukkae

Phuket Zoo สวนสัตวภูเก็ต 9-holes

Kata Main Beach หาดกะตะใหญ

Hotel Cape Panwa Phuket Orchid Farm สวนกลวยไมภูเก็ต

Sri Panwa Phuket

Kata Noi Beach หาดกะตะนอง

Nai Harn Beach หาดในหาน

5

Hat Rawai Beach หาดราไวย

The Racha Resort

แหลมพรหมเทพ Laem Promthep

Koh Racha

เกาะราชา

A

26

B

C

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

D

E N W

E S

Phuket

1

8

Koh Samui

เกาะสมุย

2 แหลมยาง Laem Yang The Naka Island Resort & Spa

GOLF COURSES 1. Blue Canyon CC +66 (0) 76 328 088 www.bluecanyonclub.com 2. Laguna Phuket GC +66 (0) 76 321 929 to 34 www.lagunaphuketgolf.com 3. Loch Palm GC Phuket +66 (0) 76 321 929 to 34 www.lochpalm.com

4. Mission Hills GC +66 (0) 76 310 888 www.missionhillsphuket.com

3

5. Phuket CC +66 (0) 76 319 200 to 204 www.phuketcountryclub.com 6. Phunaka GC +66 (0) 76 521 911 to 5 www.phunakagolf.com 7. Red Mountain GC +66 (0) 76 322 000 www.redmountainphuket.com แหลมงา Laem Nga

8. Santiburi Samui CC +66 (0) 77 421 700 to 8 www.santiburi.com

4

Andaman Sea

LEGEND

Tourist Attraction สถานที่ทองเที่ยว Police Station Hospital Airport Port/Marina Resort Golf Course Beaches

สถานีตำรวจ โรงพยาบาน สนามบิน ทาเรือ

รีสอรท

5

สนามกอลฟ ชายหาด

E

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

27

R esorts

of Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi

CAPE SIENNA PHUKET

T

his tropical-urban resort tip-toes up the serene Kamala Beach hillside. Perched in three ascending tiers on Phuket’s western edge, Cape Sienna boasts space, grace, a wonderfully casual attitude and sweeping views into the deep, Andaman Sea sunset.

It’s peaceful, popular, buoyant and relaxing – with a subdued, chic swagger that belies its poised demeanor and cosmpolitan decor.

The enthusiastic staff sports a delightful combination of serious service and happy bonhomie. They keep it cheerful for the many couples that come to luxuriate (children must be over 12) and hold hands (indeed,it was Travellers’ Choice 2010, Most Romantic Hotel in Asia).

“All 146 rooms are blessed with sea views,” smiled Frank Dreist, the GM, gate-keeper and project mid-wife who nurtured the opening four years ago. “We have nine exclusive, spacious, three to-four bedroom villas, which sit on the oceanfront cliffs, each with a private pool. Quite a romantic setting for the dazzling sunsets!”

The epicenter of the relaxation is the 30-meter marble pool and infinity Jacuzzi, and nests of chaise lounges.

The PLUM Restaurant features more of that impeccable view and the Vanilla Sky Bar invites for cocktails and Tapas to relax and chill out at sunset time. +66 (0) 76 337 300 18/40 Moo 6, Nakalay Road, Kamala Kathu, Phuket, Thailand 83150 mail@capesienna.com www.capesienna.com

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

RESORTS

TWIN PALMS PHUKET RESORT

I

had met the Swedish owner(s) and many of the Thai staff when this sleek and refined contemporary resort first opened in 2004.

I remembered Khun Somjai, now the Executive Manager (and all-purpose asset of the resort). Over her shoulder I noticed the elongated pool, handsomely arbored by trees (“330,” she tells me “and over 6,000 plants”).

I discovered that the consummate hospitality, compassion, style, camaraderie – and benchmark service – remain after all of these years. Vacationers return in seasonal rhythm.

The charm, the elegant minimalist style, the infectious joy, the animated guests, the plethora of pools – the sunshine – are all still in place.And more Burnishing the luster of this 97-room resort idyll are:21 suites added in 2009 (the Residences) featuring luxurious, expansive, duplexes and penthouses (mine, with a roof-top pool, was an exquisite 250 sqm); the chic. Catch Beach Club, a stroll from the lobby, showcasing a scrumptious dinner buffet (I stayed on to meet friends for sea-breezed cocktails). And a spa, wine room, fitness center, library and – if you desire an ocean outing – a 76-foot yacht. +66 (0) 76 316 500 Surin Beach Road, Cherng Talay, Phuket 83110 book@twinpalms-phuket.com www.twinpalms-phuket.com

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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PHUKET +66 (0) 76 358 999 338/1 Prabaramee Road, Patong Beach Kathu, Phuket, Thailand 83150 rsvn@kalimaresort.com www.kalimaresort.com

KALIMA RESORT AND SPA

T

his towering and terrific contemporary resort grips the steep acclivity of a terraced cliff overhanging Kalim Beach and rises dramatically (and precipitously) high over the western coastline of Phuket.

Actually, it hovers. What a view!

I arrived in the lobby, greeted by the enthusiastic and kinetic GM, Somchai Suwannagate, who is proud of this meticulously planned and designed vertical hotel (October 2012) – and his delight is evident: “Splendid views all over the property. The pool is majestic. The rooms have balconies. Seaview elevators and ubiquitous stairs ascend gloriously to infinity pools, a fitness

30

center, spa, two open-air (lovely breezes) restaurants (four in all) with 220-degree vertiginous views focusing on panoramic Patong Beach and the arcing shoreline stenciled with beachfront architecture.

From all of its 190 spankingnew rooms – and the options, generous: Seaview (45 sqm); Family Suite (72 sqm); a bevy of Honeymoon suites and duplexes; private villas – you see the Sea.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

RESORTS

MAIKHAO DREAM VILLA RESORT & SPA

L

ess than 15 minutes from the airport (ahhh… location), it exemplifies excellence without opulence. It suffuses elegance.

Maikhao Dream Villa Resort & Spa offers a stately venue for the elite vacationer who seeks solitude, grace and luxury – and, certainly, space. But count your farthings: this surfeit of sumptuous pleasures and superb detail comes at a price.

This romantic resort showcases 22 capacious pool villas.

The 11 three-bedroom quasimansions, are each a gargantuan 650 square meters (imagine: a Brobdingnagian two-story villa with a second-story pool that waterfalls below to the main pool; a pantry the size of most hotel rooms; two outdoor decks; a pool-side sala; four bathrooms; five TVs; a living room that can serve as a conference center; four

stop signs and a traffic light – I made that up).

I kept the butler (né villa tourguide) at my side in the event I got lost. I needed a map to find the fourth bathroom.

And he escorted me to the serene, expansive, private beach.

I was a guest of Zhanel Tyurina, the intensely animated and perspicacious Managing Director of Maikhao Dream Villa (and its sister resort in Natai – 20 minutes north on another gorgeous beach) who clearly has her heart, soul and vigorous mind into enhancing every operating aspect of this property: “We aspire to make this a significant, memorable experience for the wealthy vacationer seeking pampered service, consummate style and privacy.

Vacationing with us is a considerable commitment.”

With its private, spacious and classic luxury, it personifies the very best.

+ 66 (0) 76 371 371 138/21 Moo 4, Mai Khao Thalang Phuket, Thailand 83110 maikhaorsvn@maikhaodream.com www.maikhaodream.com

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PHUKET MAIKHAO DREAM RESORT & SPA NATAI

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his resort, a half-hour north of Phuket Airport (and its imposing and impressive sister property, Maikhao Dream Villa Resort & Spa) in quaint and sleepy Natai, was not on our five-star map.

So at the end of a long, frenetic Phuket visit, I picked up on an invitation from Zhanel Tyurina, the managing director who had earlier hosted me at the Villa, followed my instinct about hotel gene pools, and drove north to Phang Na into the edge of a sunset.

+66 (0) 76 401 301 55 Moo 6, Kok Kloi, Takuathung Phang Nga, Thailand 82140 natairsvn@maikhaodream.com www.maikhaodream.com

Well, someone had sprinkled a bit of pixie dust before I arrived.

New, buoyant and elegant – it was a happy surprise.

Sometimes fairytales do come true.

(the beach side of the family) – and a lot of attention to felicitous details (flowers, amenities, slippers, newspapers…).

With the sun arcing over the Andaman Sea and adding ambient illumination to the soothing sand, this became a quiet, luxurious rendezvous with a classy, fully-accoutered resort.

What a terrific spot to simply unwind. For the relentless lounge lizards, this is nowhere near the thumping Phuket cacophony of Patong Beach (well over an hour to the south).

This resort is about respite, relaxation, peace of mind and a special date with Mother Nature

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A 56-room, horse-shoe shaped building which frames a pool, features splendid diversions: an elegant spa; fitness center; supervised playroom; pool table; business center – and a potpourri of spacious rooms, including a Pool Terrace with a private plunge pool (107 sqm).

Two restaurants (fresh vegetables and fruit are organically farmed down the road) of Epicurean simplicity nest at either end of the building on the lip of the secluded, unspoiled beach.

This is a restorative Camelot.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

RESORTS +66 (0) 76 302 000 49 Moo 6, Layi-Nakalay road, Kamala, Kathu, Phuket 83150 Thailand reservations@paresaresorts.com www.paresaresorts.com

PARESA

H

igh atop a towering rock face and overlooking the breathless sunsets across the Andaman Sea, 49 commodious guest suites offer views, solitude, balconies, pools, in-villa dining … and a respite from all of your earthly cares and woes.

Most of all Paresa offers luxury, indulgence and an inimitable steepled character: cozy, intimate and classy.

The terraced resort rests like a regal eagle nest on a secluded pinnacle on the high western shore of Phuket, surveying quite an overwhelming horizon. Minutes from the gentle Kamala fishing village (and a private beach club for guests) and a shuttle to throbbing Patong Beach, the playful choices exist.

the dining rooms, the restaurant deck, the miracle lawn Contemplate, meditate, luxuriate – expropriate a dream or two and let it drift with you across that luminous, orangetinted sunset sea.

“A sanctuary,” mused Khun Vichit, the director of operations.

He turned me over to his new resident manager, Mirko Corbella, who has spent years in island properties (Bora Bora among them) and was still scintillating with excitement: “This place is fantastic!” (a consensus among the major travel sites).

Hold hands. Snuggle. Peer.

Indulge.

Panoramas radiate from every venue: the holistic spa, the complete fitness center,

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PHUKET +66 (0) 76 279 914 41/31 Moo 5, Baan Hua Khuan, Soi Bell, Kamala, Phuket 83150 Thailand reservation@thebellphuket.com www.thebellphuket.com

THE BELL POOL VILLA RESORT

A

sense of elite privacy and comfortable entitlement suffuses this elegant, private resort.

The Bell is not overlooking seaside breakwaters (although an active complimentary shuttle-service delivers you in minutes to two splendid beaches, Kamala and Patong beach).

Here you are smothered with attentive service and expansive – but intimate – privacy.

This pampered, handsomely organized, family-run boutique resort showcases 16 mammoth, one to four-bedroom luxury private pool (which are king-sized) villas and delivers exquisite service: A ubiquitous butler (who also happens to be a concierge, tour guide, food consultant, and factotum) is on his game 24-hours a day. It’s all about the details: a mobile phone for instant contact; an indulgent breakfast delivered every morning; in-room/on sala massage; cooking classes in your kitchen; shuttle tuk-tuks; limousines; bicycles; or a motor bike at your door.

“We fell in love with Phuket eight years ago during a visit,” smiled Antonie Polfliet, the exuberant chief-of-staff, whose parents moved from Belgium after building a villa. “Then we turned a modest real estate concept into a dream: our own boutique, luxury resort that delivers enjoyment in a closed, walled environment. Ultimate privacy in a huge space.”

The two Presidential private pool villas highlight 500 sqm of abundant privacy.

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RESORTS

THE NAKA ISLAND PHUKET

I

t’s an exhilarating beginning: sea spray in the air and wind in your hair as you begin your five-minute speedboat scamper across the Andaman Sea to this private, romantic and exotic island.

And what is in store at this unique, tropical Starwood Luxury Collection Resort & Spa as you float in?

Well…the aura of a soothing nature-preserve; a profusion of smiles at the dock; cheer and exuberance as you are escorted by buggy to one of the 67 sprawling, private-pool villas (350-450 sqm of indoor and outdoor space; and the massive, Lucretian Royal Horizon villa); a divine fitness center with views; two signature restaurants; a gargantuan, über-luxurious spa; biking; sailing; snorkeling; and…kayaking.

“I give anyone who makes the two hour kayak voyage a certificate!” says, Erich Friedl, the GM, “We provide a box lunch, drinks, staff members, a compass, a GPS! Even me! I’ll join the flotilla!” he chuckles.

“It’s private and peaceful here. People come to relax,” said Eric.

You have to love the energy.

And the luxury.

Service and style; intimacy and smiles. Terrific. +66 (0) 76 371 400 32 Moo 5, Tambol Paklok, Amphur Thalang, Naka Yai Island, Phuket 83110 Thailand naka.reservations@luxurycollection.com www.nakaislandphuket.com

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KOH SAMUI CONRAD KOH SAMUI

+66 (0) 77 915 888 49/8-9 Moo 4, Hillcrest Road, Tambol Taling Ngam, Amphur Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand 84140 conrad_koh_samui@conradhotels.com www.conradkohsamui.com

T

alk about a lofty experience. Polished, refined and luxurious – and privately perched atop the world – this is some sea side experience.

Carved from a stately cliff in the southwest corner of Samui, rising 350 feet above the quivering-blue Pantone palettes of the Gulf, this offers vacation intimacy, sophistication and style.

Seeking cinemascopic panoramas, tranquility, and peace of mind?

Vertiginous. Breathtaking.

Leave your cares behind: no cell phone cacophony; no drowning in digital detritus; no blizzard of messages; no diapers to change or dog food to buy. Just the fleece-streaked sky fading into luminous, orange sunset, with five distant islands speckled on the horizon.

It is a Mecca for starry-eyed honeymooners.

Eighty free-standing villas edge the cliff, all with private pools. The 65 One-Bedroom Pool Villas (136 sqm of indoor and outdoor living space),14 Oceanview TwoBedroom Pool Villas, the Conrad Royal Oceanview Pool Villa (the über-deluxe villa at the water’s edge, 434 sqm), and one Oceanview Three-Bedroom Pool Villa (829 sqm), all provide superb, personalized service.

It has all the accoutrements of class, grace and luxury.

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

KOH SAMUI BHUNDHARI RESORT & SPA

+66 (0) 77 915 000 111/1-2 Moo 5 Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320

V

contact@bhundhari.com www.bhundhari.com

isiting Thailand from Latin America, Europe, Asia or North America, one can take advantage of the tropical uniqueness of Samui Island.

In the 15th century, the island of Samui was an isolated, self-sufficient community with few interactions with other parts of the Kingdom. Today it is a compelling tourist attraction.

For travelers seeking luxurious alternatives, one can escape Thailand’s monsoon months of April through September in Samui (its weather is at its driest during the month of January until March).

This idyllic and sumptuous resort, set on a sloping hillside tumbling down to Chaweng Beach (Samui’s largest and most popular beach), and only five kilometers from the airport, is less than 10 minutes from the heart of Chaweng shopping, dining and entertainment.

Infused with Southern Thai contemporary interiors, the resort suffuses comfort. The Bhundhari is an exclusive hideaway and most guestrooms offer spectacular views of the oceanfront.

The 124 deluxe rooms (starting at 42 sqm.), suites and villas are commodious.The real deal are the 29 pool villas. The two Royal Pool Villas are exquisite: two-story, with 280 sqm of pampered luxury, with a pool, Jacuzzi). Two swimming pools, a fitness center and spa offer respite.

The Bhundhari presents a romantic setting for weddings: Plumeria petals, pink ribbons, scented candles...

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KOH SAMUI

SHASA RESORT & RESIDENCES

L

ayered with a quiet, understated charm – but exuberantly spatial – this all sea-view suites resort exudes cheerfulness.

+66 (0) 77 913 888 116/1 Moo 2 Tambon Mared, Laem Set Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84310 Thailand unforgettable@shasahotels.com www.shasahotels.com

This is simplistic but outsized luxury with ballroom-sized interiors and sweeping balconies extolling sea views.

Eight 3-BR suites each sprawl over 250 sqm; a two-BR, duplex beachfront villa (320 sqm) comes with a butler, plunge pool and a roof-top veranda that could land a Huey helicopter.

And 24 convertible one/two-BR “suites” (I call them apartments) offer nearly 150 sqm of magnanimous, comfortable living space (with a washer/dryer).

Music floated in the air. In the morning an orchestral, Mozartlike fugue hovered over the hydrotherapy pool (this you have to experience) and drifted past the fish pond, the two terraced pools, and down to the beach.

a memorable meal.

The buffet breakfast extended the pleasure.

♫ “But tell me now, and I won’t

ask again, will you still love me to-mor-row?”♪ The Shirelles.

You bet I will.

A buoyant and happy experience.

In the evening, melodious, vintage ‘60s Oldies tunes graced BEYOND THE SEA, Siamese Brasserie which startled me with

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

KOH SAMUI

VANA BELLE, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT

I

t twinkles in the morning as the eastern sun lifts over the Gulf. Spanking and gleaming new, refreshing and sparkling, Vana Belle, A Luxury Collection Resort refracts the luminous morning aura.

Vana Belle is gently situated on a gardened cove above the soft, white sand of Chaweng Beach. Its name,which means “beautiful forest,” resonates in both the tropical topography and design. The manicured grounds suffuse botanical grace.

This Luxury Collection Resort features 80 capacious, adoringly-appointed Pool Suites and Pool Villas, ranging from the Classic (86 sqm) and the Grand Pool Suite (128 sqm) to seven villas on beach, which offer an imposing, indeed, hedonistic 211 sqm (and butler).

All of the suites offer private pools, expansive terraces, tropical gardens and…ohhh…those majestic morning views.

The hallmarks: Service, space, style.

The Vana Spa, the contiguous Fitness Center, diving, snorkeling, Thai cooking classes, Yoga classes and an aqua-toned, beachside pool – all add panache.

+66 (0) 77 915 555 9/99 Moo 3, Chaweng Noi Beach Surat Thani, Koh Samui 84320 www.vanabellekohsamui.com

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KRABI

PIMLAI RESORT AND SPA

W

e splashed along quietly on the upperdeck of the sleek Pimalai craft – refreshed by warm, salty, tropical breezes across our cheeks, and cold drinks in hand – gliding south over a mystifyingly technicolor and translucent sea.

The startling, chameleonic water sparkled aqua, then turquoise, turned blue-green, and then blue-sky cerulean and (it seemed) a dozen harmonizing shades of blue.

Then – out of the blue – towering, enchanting, bewildering, singular rock formations (stalagmites, vertical islands, prehistoric outcroppings?) began to sprout to our front

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…and left…and right…and charmed us for the entire 45-minute journey to the resort.

We rounded the tip of lush Lanta Island as the sun, now in our eyes, began its slow arc into evening.

Then, rising from a horseshoe beach, the Pimalai Resort appeared, perched on an arboreal hillside facing the Andaman Sea and looking down into the habitually brilliant sunset.

Wow, are you kidding me? Who scripted this?

What a majestic pedigree. Built in 2001, this elegant and stylish

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

KOH LANTA

resort (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World) has been cosseted and meticulously cared for. It pampers both itself and its patrons.

Franck de Lestapis, the ubiquitous GM, happily greets and energizes his guests throughout the day.Satisfaction? “We constantly hear: ‘Paradise, serenity, heaven!’” he smiled. “Our guests return.”

Indeed, during a blue-sky-afternoon snorkeling excursion, a suntanned Norwegian couple with two kids in tow, smiled when they told me it was their fifth visit.

“And many awards: Conde Nast, World Luxury Spa, 2012 Travelers’ Choice...”

Elegantly tiled, panorama-blessed, private infinity pools; a marathon beach (nearly one kilometer long); a spa that is a botanical wonderland: a lush, bosky oasis with landscaping grace and a three-tiered waterfall that sends a soothing, susurrus symphony of splashing music.

Pretty neat. + 66 (0) 23 205 500 reservation@pimalai.com www.pimalai.com

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MENU Today’s Specials

Twinpalms

Baan Rim Pa Boathouse

Fine Dining

Ninth Floor The Breeze Le Crystal

by Chef Frank E. Lihn

Twinpalms Resort

T

he dining experience at Twinpalms is a study in contrasts, not only in its cuisine, but also in the atmosphere.

Within the usually calm, quiet interior of the Oriental Spoon, located inside the resort at Surin Beach, Modern Thai cuisine is served alongside a Western menu.

One can choose to dine on the covered terrace facing the distant ocean or in the warm, inviting environment inside on elevated banquettes, surrounded by tall vases of orchids and indigenous tropical flowers.

The most notable offering is a favorite of the F&B manager: fresh Prawns in a spicy sauce delicately seasoned for Western palates.

In contrast, at the Catch Beach Club, the driving beat of pop music blares, the ocean pounds, and the attentive, attractive and friendly staff fuel an unparalleled party atmosphere. Both the Spoon and Catch offer their own brand of extravagant buffets.

At the Spoon, the Sunday Brunch is an opulent, over-the-top array of lobster, prawns, oysters, clams, appetizers, salads, cheeses, bite-size desserts and a carving station offering Prime Rib, Leg of Lamb and Roast Duckling.

And did I fail to mention the hot entrees, both Thai and Western, as well as a weekly special, which during my two visits were Foie Gras and Andaman Prawns, cooked a la minute?

Down at the Catch, a twiceweekly outdoor and more casual barbeque buffet is offered that in-

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Oriental Spoon Grill & Bar cludes: a lamb rotating and roasting on a spit, fresh grilled Prawns, rib-eye, calamari steaks, bratwurst and lots more. And while the selection of salads and appetizers is not as copious as that of the Spoon, it is still almost more than one can consume in a single visit.

Aside from the buffet, the Catch offers wood oven baked pizza, a rotisserie for chicken and duck, and pasta. Not to mention a few “WOW!!” menu items such as a tower of seafood stacked and groaning under the weight of lobster, crab, prawns, mussels, clams and other seafood, a massive double-rib prime rib, and a full one-pound gargantuan Burger. More than you can eat? Probably. More than you should eat? Most definitely – but what are vacations for but to indulge and savor and enjoy.

And at the Catch, you can dance away the calories far into the next morning. +66 (0) 76 316 500 Surin Beach Road, Cherng Talay, Phuket 83110 book@twinpalms-phuket.com

www.twinpalms-phuket.com

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FINE DINING

Baan Rim Pa

I

n the US, and in many culinary circles, it was once said that – with the obvious exception of blueberries – there was no such thing as “blue food.”

My recent visit to Baan Rim Pa has proven me mistaken, as the Chef ’s featured creation is a strikingly blue-steamed dumpling filed with a glorious mixture of artfully seasoned chicken, which is encased in a blue dough colored not by any artificial means, but by extracting the essence of a flower and adding it to the pastry to achieve its unusual hue.

versions of modern Thai cuisine so prevalent today.

Nestled above Patong Bay and facing the ever changing colors of each setting sun, and with the Andaman Sea crashing on the rocks immediately below, it seems a more romantic and satisfying dining experience cannot be had anywhere else on Phuket.

FINE DINING

Baan Rim Pa is old fashioned only in the sense that its strictly Thai menu is “classical” Thai cooking, seeped in the Royal tradition of Thai cuisine, rather than the eclectic and trendy

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+ 66 (0) 76 618 239 223 Prabaramee Road, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150

www.baanrimpa.com

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

FINE DINING

Boat House

W

hat was I to expect at the Boathouse, located on trendy Kata Beach? The name conjured images of portholes and anchors, and seafood served by a costumed wait-staff (one or two sporting an eye patch).

What I discovered was an elegant restaurant and 38-room boutique hotel with a worldclass wine cellar.

scallop followed, served in a shell and topped with a vinaigrette of fried onions, shallots and garlic which turned up the spice level a bit more.

The selection that made me sit back in wonder was Pan Fried Sea Bass with a silky smooth Lemon Verbena Sauce. The presentation – atop a circle of perfectly prepared sautéed spinach leaves topped with tomato compote - was stunning. The blend of flavors still lingers. A memorable entrée.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this February, new ownership two years ago redesigned paying homage to its nautical past. The open atmosphere with a view The western menu holds other into the kitchen, is harmonious. delights: seafood, duck, lamb and beef, which all beg exploComplementing the unapoloration. I’ll be back for another getically French cuisine, the voyage of discovery. wine list leans heavily on Bordeaux. The Two Glasses awarded the Boathouse by the Wine Spectator the past seven years indicates a wideranging selection.

Thailand grows some of the sweetest mangos, and the captain of this culinary ship, Chef Bryan Burger, utilized them with a first course of Mango Gazpacho – sweet, smooth and with a hint of spice.

A deliciously plump seared-

+66 (0)76 330 015-17 Main +66 (0)76 330 015-7 Restaurant 182 Koktanode Road, Kata Beach, Phuket 83100, Thailand

www.boathousephuket.com

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FINE DINING

H

The Breeze Cape Yamu

ad it been a symphony, a standing ovation would have been in order.

Dinner at The Breeze, an openair restaurant perched on a serene cliff above Cape Yamu, makes music with its cuisine.

The tone, the texture, the skill and art, the care and precision – the maestro weaving her magic baton – all are abundantly evident. The movements: 1st: a delightfully spiced cashew butter served with crisp, flatter-than-flatbread.

2nd: exquisite chicken and lemongrass pate and a velvetsmooth pork mousse.

3rd: a plump, juicy, lightlysteamed oyster in the half-shell with peanut-soy vinaigrette.

FINE DINING

I began to wonder if Chef Cheryl Johnson and the allwomen crew could maintain the pace and extraordinary level of excellence.

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When the carrot ginger soup with coriander yoghurt and croutons was presented, my doubts evaporated as, with eyes closed, other senses awakened as the harmony continued.

Building slowly and purposefully, the 5th movement – a resplendent version of Coquille St. Jacques (scallops, mushrooms, cheese, mustard greens

and Duchess Potatoes piped along the shell rim) – again transported me. Mellifluous. A veritable fermata.

Then two entrees, Crispy Pork Belly and Duck Confit, provided the perfect crescendo.

These opened my senses to terrific tastes and textures – the crispness and tenderness of the meat, with the accompaniment of bright, fresh, flavorful local vegetables and subtle sauces that enhanced, not masked the meat.

As close to sensory overload as I might have been, the Pastry Chef brought me the finale: a light, airy confection of a white chocolate and yoghurt mousse studded with fresh fruit.

The Chefs also participate in the service, each delivering their art to the table, sharing their enthusiasm, pride and delight.

Culinary orchestration.

Fantastic!

+66 (0) 81 271 2320 224 Moo 7, Pa Khlok, Phuket 83110 breeze@capeyamu.com

www.breezecapeyamu.com

LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

FINE DINING

Ninth Floor Phuket

T

he view of Patong from this ninth floor aerie is unparalleled. Thomas Brack, the affable GM, has been the creative force behind the 9th Floor since its inception seven years ago, when he transformed the site’s decor from a rustic hunting lodge into a sleek, elegant, glass-encased restaurant.

The wine list is impressive – more than 300 labels from all hemispheres, and there are four junior sommeliers in constant training to advise and pour.

The tables are dressed in black (as are the attractive and attentive wait-staff ) heightening the contrast with the immaculately white china. The question I sought to answer: “Does the cuisine attain the same lofty heights as the decor?”

The answer came quickly with Seared Goose Foie Gras followed by Fresh Crabmeat: one a salad with tomato brunoise; the second preparation, a napoleon comprised of crabmeat and julienne green apple. Expertly prepared and presented, the tastes, textures and full,

rich flavor of the foie gras and the soft, subtle combination of crabmeat and apples were unburdened by heavy sauces.

Two unique entrees followed.

And if the devil is in the details, the 9th floor has accomplished a spellbinding exorcism.

Tournedos of Beef Tenderloin were surrounded by gnocchi in a light cream sauce, and baked cherry tomatoes filled with spinach gratin highlighted a stunning presentation. No knife was needed to cut it, and it was so flavorful that no sauce was necessary.

A generous portion of Sea Bass, the second entrée, was lightly topped with bread crumbs and crushed peanuts, then baked and served on a bed of spiced tomato, sweet peppers, onion and mushrooms – all of which added color, texture and flavor. +66 (0) 76 344 311 47 Rat-U-Thid Rd. Sky Inn Condotel, Patong, Phuket 83150 contact@the9thfloor.com

www.the9thfloor.com

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FINE DINING

Le Crystal (Chiang Mai)

I

f you truly want an elegant dining experience, according to local bed-and-breakfast impressario Howard Feldman, Le Crystal should be your choice.

Located on the banks of the gently flowing Ping River in Chiang Mai, it exudes class and style. Vaulted ceilings and panels of glass offer splendid garden views.

‘This is a restaurant built not as a business, but as a passion: to bring a genuine French dining experience to Chiang Mai,” explained Howie.

FINE DINING

“The owners have a consummate passion for food and for delivering a fine-dining experience. It really shows here.”

+66 (0) 5387 2890-1 +66 (0) 84177 6599 Mobile 74/2 Paton Rd.,Paton,Muang, Chiang Mai 50300 info@lecrystalrestaurant.com

www.lecrystalrestaurant.com

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CHIANG MAI

Signature dishes include: French Toast with Sweet Thai Mango Chutney and Cherry Sauce; Black Summer Truffle Soup with Truffle Shavings; Pan-Fired Dover Sole with Black Truffle Sauce; Roasted Rack of Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic Pan Jus; Crêpes Suzette served with Vanilla Ice Cream; as well as various Soufflés; and Smoked Salmon Salad with Mustard Mayonnaise sauce.

The restaurant is beautifully constructed in a updated Lanna-style made of golden teak, with huge glass walls to see the encompassing natural, scenic view of the river and countryside.

Le Crystal has an extended (actually, incredible) wine list, and their food stocks are selected from the freshest local sources.

For a truly extraordinary experience -- whether for that special occasion or an important business meeting -- Le Crystal is, absolutely, the best selection in Chiang Mai.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Vientiane, Laos

Long Thanh Dansavanh Nam Ngum Golf & Country Lao CC SEA Games Lao Inter / Vientiane GC Places to Stay

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Y

ep, there’s a new kid in town and he’s taking over the high school. He happens to be the star football player, Homecoming King, Class Valedictorian and every mother’s favorite boyfriend. And a polite, humble, class act.

Well, this golf course deserves the same accolades: it is one sensational world-class facility.

The golf course is part of an ambitious 557 hectare (1,380 acre) master-plan that includes: 1,600 residential units, an additional 36-hole golf course, a five-star hotel, a school, hospital, and supermarket; all in a new freetrade zone 20 kilometers east of Vientiane. The US $1 billion projected investment is the largest foreign project in Laos.

Vientiane, Laos

It rolled out its emerald green carpet in late 2012, and is an unexpected – but brilliant – addition to local golf. Its immaculate condition, intelligent layout,

superlative (and humongous) clubhouse, dazzling driving range are, frankly, astonishing in the burgeoning golfing environment of Laos.

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Long Thanh-Vien Golf Club

Recreational “Absolutely sensational! Gobsmacked!” “Brilliant infrastructure, unbelievable maintenance.”

“One of the best in Asia.

Professional “This handsomely crafted track is in marvelous condition and already mature”

The course is gracious, extravagant and lovingly diverse. Five sets of tees begin at a staggering 7,538 yards (Black). My point of reference will be the Gold tees at 7,252 yards (the Blue is a reasonable 6,843).

The magic of this layout is in the reality that the local topography is Florida-flat. So to craft an elegant, challenging and absorbing course in this context is commendable. To make it fun and playable is terrific.

The Specifics Type: public

Greens Fees: $42 to $56 Caddies/Cart: inclusive/$22 Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,538 Black N/A 7,252 Gold 6,843 Blue 6,360 White 5,318 Red Architect: Peter Rousseau, 2012 Director of Golf: Long Hung, Nguyen Superintendent: Cong Minh, Duong Practice Facility: superb driving range, chipping green, extensive putting green(s) Walking: permitted

Getting There

Km17, Tha Deua Road, Hatxaifong District, Vientiane, Lao PDR +856 (21) 335011, +856 (30) 977 8888 +856 (21) 335007 Fax booking@longviengolfresortcom Directions: one kilometer from Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge

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Dansavanh Nam Ngum Golf & CC

T

he Dansavanh Nam Ngum Golf & CC sits almost 2,000 feet above sea level atop a rolling mountain range in the midst of some majestic real estate.

Sixty kilometers (36 miles and one hour) north of Vientiane, it is a sporting complement to a 220room resort and 24-hour casino (one of four in Laos). The resort is etched out of a hillside overlooking the southern edge of Nam Ngum Lake – a massive manmade (250 square kilometers) reservoir gouged into the mountain 40 years ago and dubbed the “Lake Geneva of Asia,” one of the largest lakes in Asia.

The resort was painstakingly constructed by Malaysian family in 1999, completing the golf course three years later.

But the years lapsed and financing diminished. The erstwhile handsome resort was neglected, than ignored. In mid-2012, a Chinese/ Hong Kong conglomerate purchased the expansive property. An ambitious restoration has been planned. It is a daunting task.

Vientiane, Laos

The golf course (being resuscitated) roams for 7,107 yards over forested terrain. The imaginative design showcases:

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• a gorgeous mountain-chain backdrop

• tilting, sloping, angled fairways (often narrow) framed by forest • lakes and abundant intersecting creeks (water in play on 12 holes)

• gentle, ascending doglegs on

Recreational “Potentially, this is an outstanding course, but it has been ignored for too long.”

Professional n/a

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: $20 to $50 Caddies/Carts: $7/$20 Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/ Slope: 7,107 Gold 74.6/137 6,705 Blue 72.5/132 6,131 White 69.3/123 5, 528 Red 72.1/135 Architect: unknown, 1999 Practice Facility: driving range, chipping green, putting green Walking: permitted

Getting There Ban Phonkham, Toulakhom District, Vientiane, Laos Tel: +856 30 5200 666 www.dansavanh.com half the holes

• ample carries over water, crevices and mini-gorges • sit-up, dartboard greens

• minimal bunkering, and

• some serious, contemplative vistas

• The layout is pleasantly diverse and a serious challenge (137 Slope Rating).

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Lao Country Club

Recreational “First course in Vientiane and rebuilt nicely.” “Lots of water and sand on a flat layout.”

T

his was the first golf course (1997) built in Vientiane.

Called Youth Garden, it was short.

In 2009 a local businessman bought the club and spent two years renovating. A Korean company manages it.

In 2011 it rose like Phoenix from the ashes and has been flapping its wings ever since. Now an impressive 7,303 yards from the tips (step down to a cordial 6,737), this popular track –30 minutes from the city – has flat fairways, fast greens, and is straight, wet, decorative and playable. The busy weekends are dominated by 200 members.

Water prevails and appears dramatically on every hole. Bring a sleeve of floating balls.

Bunkers are, also, a salient (and pleasantly random) feature: the green complexes are smothered by more than 50 and where few lurk, they are cosmic. The par-3s (three of which exceed 205 yards and sport tough handicaps) are particularly bunker-centric: The picturesque, 207-yard 3rd showcases an island green with a sand horseshow in the rear; the daunting 13th (handicapped 4) travels 218 yards with 270º of sprawling bunkers.

The par-5s on the front (in the mid-500s) are peppered with fair-

Professional “I expected better fairway maintenance.” “Solid layout with some fine tests.”

The Specifics Type: private Greens Fees: guests of members $34 to $40 Caddies/Carts: no Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/ Slope: 7,303 Black N/A 6,737 Blue N/A 6,184 Gold N/A 5,790 White N/A 5,196 Red N/A Architect: unknown, 1997 GM: Nouchanh (Chan) Sirisombat Practice Facility: no driving range; chipping green, putting green Walking: mandatory

Getting There KM 14 Thadeua Rd., Nahai Village, Hadsayfong District, Vientiane, Lao PDR +856 (21) 812 390 +856 (21) 812 395 Fax

www.laocountryclub.com

way bunkers (each with five). The 553-yard 5th has a total of nine.

Yet the par-5s on the inward side are without.

The par-4s get feisty: the 6th and 7th and the 14th and 15th range from 445 to 489 yards.

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SEA Games Golf Club

Recreational “Comfortable, gracious, nicely maintained.” “Flat as a pancake, but in great shape.”

Professional

I

f I hadn’t checked my compass and coordinates or had arrived here in a jet-lagged torpor, I would have mistaken these well-groomed 27 holes for central Florida.

Palm trees drape shadows over a flat, manicured, pampered landscape whose rectangular footprint has seven misshapen toes of water splayed throughout. Water is, indeed, in earnest play (on 21 holes by my count). The first nine has the majority of the dry holes, and ironically, one of the prettiest of the inundated, the 9th.

Vientiane, Laos

A 40 minute drive east from city center, the course was built for the 25th Southeast Asia Games (hence, Sea Games GC) a Korean company in the residential home-building business for 20 years. It completed the commendable construction in two years at a cost of US $15 million and opened in October 2009. Night golf was introduced in March 2010.

56

The 27 holes travel 10,704 yards making each of the three 18-hole combinations 7,100 yards or more from the back of four sets of tees.

The first impression of this facility is the condition. The grass is wellmaintained. The first impression (I get two because I visited twice) is, also, the abundance of water in play.

My final first impression (well, one for each of the nines) is the level topography.

“Korean owned with a lot of weekend traffic, but a terrific 27 holes.” “Place was buzzing when I showed up.”

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: $48 – $55 Caddies/ Carts: inclusive ($11/$10) Layout: 27-hole, par-36 Rating/Slope: Course A Course B 3,582 Blue 3,516 Blue 3,331 White 3,425 White 3,092 Gold 3,036 Gold 2,788 Red 2,788 Red Course C 3,066 Blue 3,367 White 3,146 Gold

2,911 Red Architect: unknown, 2009 Practice Facility: driving range; chipping green, putting green Night Golf: yes Walking: permitted

Getting There Saythany District, Vientiane, Lao PDR +856 21 732 238 +856 21 732 145 Fax www.seagamesgc.com

The three nines (prosaically named A, B and C – what happened with the naming rights?) are not dramatic, but offer solid, enjoyable golf. Wind is a factor.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Lao Inter Golf Club & Resort

T

his golf club was a puzzle when we researched the courses. I followed a hint that it was in the undeveloped hills, 19 kilometers northwest of the city. It was quite an adventure.

We drove north on route 13 past Wattay Airport for 15 minutes and turned left at Nong Teng Village on a local road.

We learned: (1) it opened in 2009; (2) took three years to build at a cost of US$8 million; (3) the local road will be completed soon; (4) and it is managed by a Korean company with little play.

I was able to survey six holes. The elevated and naturalistic par-73 course (almost 200 acres) seemed sparingly maintained, but the layout (hovering around 7,300 yards) actually showed vigor and promise. Woodlands line the wide fairways and a few sharp doglegs, chasms, intersecting creeks, ponds and ample bunkers demonstrate promise.

Vientiane Club KM6

V

ientiane Club KM6 is an amiable, nine-hole neighborhood course, as the name states, six kilometers northeast of the city to the right of Highway 13.

Built in 1996, it is a short (about 2,700 yards depending on which set of tees), “executive” track, which is popular with both locals and seniors who can walk the gently flat fairways in under two hours.

With one reachable and one extended par-5 (405 and 555 yards); three par3s (the 130-yard 6th is handicapped 1, and the 170-yard 4th is indexed 3!); and four par-4s ranging from 245 yards (the picturesque 9th), 310 yards (the 2nd) to 400 yards (7th), play here is genial and relaxed.

Recreational “A puzzle. Nice lay out, but in the middle of a mountain with tough access. Not in great condition.”

Professional

n/a

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: $40 to $75 Layout: 18-hole, par-73 Rating/Slope: 7, 307 Blue GM: Songsak Limbanyen

Getting There Ban Champa, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 01000 Laos +856 30 5704-411 www.laointergolfclub.com

Recreational “Cute neighborhood course with a happy crowd of talkative seniors.”

Professional n/a

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: $10 to $25 Caddies / Carts: $8/no Layout: nine-hole, par-35 Rating/Slope: 2,675 Out 2,755 In Architect: unknown,1996 Director of Golf: Phisith

Practice Facility: driving range, chipping green, putting green Walking: mandatory

Getting There KM6, Ban Nonesavang, Vientiane Laos PDR +856 21 460 888

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Places to Stay Vientiane V

ientiane is a surprisingly charming, relaxed, sleepy, quietly-cosmopolitan city with regal colonial villas along its tree-lined boulevards and French colonial roofs shading clean, crisp architecture.

Part of its laid-back appeal is the easy access in and out of the airport, (a 15-minute drive to city-center).

Vientiane, Laos

It is the capital and largest city (750,000) of Laos (six million), situated on the Mekong River near the Thailand border. The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, built in the 1990s, crosses the river 18 kilometers downstream from Nong Khai, and is the major crossing between the two countries.

58

During French rule, Vientiane was the administrative capital and, has now become the economic focal point of Laos.

The city hosted the 25th Southeast Asian Games in December, its international coming-out party.

The memorial monument, Patuxai, (completed in 1968), the most prominent landmark in the city, offers panoramic views. Inspired by the arc de Triomphe, the design incorporates typical Lao motifs including “Kinnari”, a mythical bird woman.

LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Mercure Vientiane

M

y favorite. Cannot beat the personalized service of this fullservice, four-star retreat. Only three kilometers from the airport, the genial (even zealous) staff whisks you up and delivers you within 10 minutes to the 172-room business hotel, on the western edge of the city.

Christopher Yeo, the venerable GM, left Singapore for Vientiane 20 years ago and his knowledge of the ins-and-outs of the entire locale make him an invaluable host. His buoyant staff displays constant courtesy and efficiency. “This is a four-star hotel which prides itself on service,” he smiles. He seems to meet and greet everyone.

The fourth floor hosts an Executive Lounge and offers comfortable rooms and an Executive, a Junior and a Presidential Suite(s).

Particularly outstanding are the recreational facilities: a pool, fitness center and tennis court. A sauna and steam room and a spa make the experience complete.

The dining is versatile and capacious, serving a fulsome buffet breakfast and various themed dinners.

Casual comfort, marvelous service and copious smiles.

Unit 10, Samsenthai Road P.O.Box 585,Vientiane Tel : +856-21-213570 ~ 1 Fax : + 856-21-213572 ~ 3

resvn@mercurevte.com www.accorhotels.com www.mercure.com

LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

59

Lao Plaza Hotel

T

he country’s first designated five-star hotel, the business-oriented Lao Plaza Hotel offers 134 rooms (30 sqm) including 20 suites (60-120 sqm) in the heart of the city. It features a pool, four restaurants, a lounge and bakery.

Refurbishment will be completed by year’s end.

Settha Palace

B

uilt in 1932, and restored in 1999, the vintage, French colonial-style, 29-room Vientiane landmark strains to offer Old-World luxury. The hotel showcases Italian marble floors and crafted rosewood furniture, European fine-dining, a café and pool bar. Swank, expensive.

Others

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· · · · ·

Best Western Vientiane Salana Boutique Hotel Ansara Hotel Beau Rivage Mekong Hotel Lao Orchid Hotel

LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Loei, Loei Province Province

Nong Pla Pak

Thailand

5

on gR d.

Phan Phrao

Si Chiang Mai

Wattay Airport

Si th

Laos

9-holes

6

Ban Don Noun

i Thadeua

4

Photan Neua Village

Ban Hangkae

Ban Phonpapao

Patuxai Monument

60 KM North

1

vard Kham phengm euan ule g Bo

Tha

Sa non

LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

61

3

Nong Khai, Thailand

NEW!

Ban Nong-Heo

27-holes

2

6. Vientiane Club KM6

6. Salana Boutique Hotel 7. Settha Palace

2. Beau Rivage Mekong 3. Best Western Vientiane

Tep Thani Village

Thai / Laos Borderline

4. Lao Orchid Hotel

5. Lao Plaza Hotel

1. Mercure Vientiane

HOTELS

5. Lao Inter Golf Club & Resort

3. Long Thanh-Vien GC

E

4. Lao Country Club

S

2. SEA Games Golf Club

Ban Keun

Casino

1

Nam Ngum Lake

W

1. Dansavanh Nam Ngum Golf & CC

Ban GOLF COURSES Phōnsoung

Ban Saka

Ban Nalao

Vientiane, Laos

N

Medical Tourism Well-Being Astonishing value, incomparable service, state-of-the-art facilities, proficiency and panache.

Experience a hospital vacation.

H

ealth is the functioning by-product of the spirit, diet and lifestyle of the 60-plus million people populating the mountains in the north, the hustling city in the center, the sleepy islands and stylish seaside resorts in the Golf of Siam, and the halcyon, breathtaking beaches to the south.

And interestingly (and quiet unexpected), health is a major attraction for visitors to this country: Homeopathic and holistic (yet modern and state-of-the-art) Eastern and Western medicine morph into a healthcare industry that is unmatched in Asia and perhaps the world.

Whether you have an annual check-up, eye examination, dental work, cosmetic surgery, liposuction or work on that ailing golf elbow, here is an enormous opportunity to take advantage of the expertise, service and extraordinary value in Thailand.

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LIHN’S Best of Thailand POCKET GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Medical care is a global business and Thailand’s model is extraordinary in its value.

Many travelers underwrite their vacation to Thailand by the savings on basic medical care. How about a six hour, exhausive Executive Checkup? The cost is $700. You will have saved enough for a plane ticket from New York.

Why not get your eye xamination and new glasses? The savings here cover a few nights out in Bangkok.

Dental care? Take the family to get their teeth cleaned at $30 a pop and no waiting. Or – heaven forbid – an emergency root canal: three painless visits capped by a crown, for $500.

Plastic surgery is a fraction of the cost you pay in Los Angeles, London or Milan. As explained in a companion article, the Thai Doctors-of-the-magic-hands excell at making you look younger and more robust.

Medical Care is a global business and its value. The private hospitals featured below seem more like resorts with spacious private rooms and suites, cheerful service and attention to detail all of which imparts a “five-star” hotel experience.

Additionally, the doctors all have degrees and residencies from Western universities. They are fluent in English and their profession.

Comfort, service, pampering and professionalism are the hallmarks of these institutions.

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63

Hospi als Bangkok

Pattaya

Phuket

Bangkok Hospital Group is the kingdom’s largest hospital operator with 13 network locations throughout Thailand. Each facility offers specialized medical treatments, staffed with multidisciplinary teams of highlytrained and world-renowned specialists.

The hospital is the flagship facility of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, which operates the largest network of private hospitals in Southeast Asia. A team of interpreters and coordinators are fluent in 26 languages.

Bangkok Hospitals first medical campus was inaugurated by a group of 40 medical practitioners and pharmacists, including a team of nurses administering a 100 bed-facility in 1972. It was the first private medical institution in the nation. .

The ambulatory and mede-

vac fleet is amongst the largest in the Southeast Asia connecting by air, sea and land.

“The atmosphere at the state-of-the-art hospital complex is one of warmth and comfort, complete with luxurious accommodations, five-star amenities and a host of services including limousine airport transfer and onsite visa extension,” explains Chatree Duangnet, M.D., the Chief Executive Officer.

“Our chief concern has always been providing the highest level of personal and compassionate patient care.

Our physicians, nurses and specialists are among the best-trained certified medical professionals in the world, and many have received their educations and completed their residency programs in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia.”

Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Rd, Bangkok, 10310 Tel: +66 2310-3000 www.bangkokhospital.com/phuket

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Bumrungrad International Hospital is the standard-bearer for premier medical tourism in Asia. An internationally–acclaimed facility located in the heart of bustling Bangkok, it was founded in 1980 to provide world-class health care in Thailand. It is the first hospital in Asia to be internationally accredited by the US-based Joint Commission International. And for good reason.

quality create the ambience of a luxury hotel. Perhaps the portmanteau “hospitotel” is a more defining moniker. The 554-bed hospital in the center of Bangkok towers 12 floors with nearly one million square feet of clinics, laboratories, rooms (how about “suites”), a heliport, restaurants and shopping—and 600 doctors.

More like a medical resort, Bumrungrad’s mission is to The service, efficiency and comfort, cater and cure.

33 Sukhumvit 3 (Soi Nana Nua), Wattana, Bangkok, 10110 Tel: +66 2667-1000 Fax: +66 2667-2525 E-mail: info@bumrungrad.com www.bumrungrad.com

Comparative Costs for 12 Days Vacation Wellness, Shopping, & Golf (For a Family of Four from New York) Flight Hotel Meals Attractions: Culture vs. Amusement Parks C E C

TO BANGKOK

$4,000 1,800 800 500

ity and Wat Tour lephant Ride/Floating Market/ ultural Show

TO ORLANDO, FL $1,600 5,000 2,400 2000 Disney/Universal/ Sea World

Golf (4 rounds) Cars/Taxis Souvenirs

200 (w/caddy) $35-70/round 200 200

800 ($125-225/round) 800 900

GRAND TOTAL

$7,700

$13,500

And if you want more Bang(kok) for your buck: 2,000 Shopping 4,000 Medical GRAND TOTAL

$13,700

6,000 8,000 $27,500

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Hospi als Bangkok

Pattaya

Phuket

Samitivej Sukumvit Hospital serves 108 nationalities in its 220-room (all single) facility.

How about a boutique hospital that is refreshing and sparkling in care and composition? The serene repose of this institution pervades the lobby. Almost 35 years old, this facility remains polished and revitalizing. The suites are capacious and restorative, with patios and wood-paneling. You feel healthy just being there. String quartets play

on Saturday night outside the garden (where the plants get monthly check-ups).

Patients are so looked after, it is rumored that an ailing math professor was given a plant with square roots. Flowers adorn the lobby, hallways and rooms.

What an appropriate metaphor: this hospital is a fragrant, charming bouquet.

133 Sukhumvit 49, Klongtan Nua, Vadhana, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 2711-8000 Fax: +66 2391-1290 E-mail: info@samitivej.co.th www.samitivejhospitals.com

Bangkok Phuket Hospital offers care in a tropical, exotic climate. Phuket, an island one-hour south of Bangkok by plane, is renowned for its beaches, diving, boating, golf, swimming, shopping, cuisine, evening excitement and sheer relaxation.

has a five-star ambience. It looks and feels like a resort.

It dedicates 35% of its healing to foreigners. It provides service in 16 languages and navigates health insurance.

Over 600 out-patients are treated daily.

The Hospital offers elegant, attentive care in an environment that has to be described as holistic (if not hedonistic).

If you need a place to recuperate, does it get any better than this? Four hours in a hospital and two weeks in a villa, spa and on the beach.

This is a full-service health and wellness center: an extensive plastic surgery practice (with many male patients), skin care and rejuvenation, health and fitness checkups, knee and hip replacement, dental care, eye examinations, an outstandThe hospital is part of the ing heart center, pediatrics largest hospital corporation and a diving chamber (hyin Southeast Asia. It, also, perbaric oxygen therapy).

Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Rd, Bangkok, 10310 Tel: +66 2310-3000 www.bangkokhospital.com/phuket

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Phuket International Hospital is now lodged in a new facility. Peter Davison, the Manager of International Services, shakes his head: “We are ecstatic about being in the expanded facilities! We have been overwhelmed.”

He wasn’t kidding. The lobby was abuzz when I wandered through.

“We have some of the finest medical staff in Thailand,” this 20-year veteran stated.

“We focus on medical care and comfort without a lot of the frills. We are affordable, especially for the foreign clientele that streams in. And they come mainly because a previous patient recommended them.”

Phuket International Hospital relocated in 1993 and prides itself on sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic care.

44 Chalermprakiat Ror 9 Rd, Phuket 83000 Tel: +66 7624-9400 Fax: +66 76 210 936 E-mail: info@phuketinternationalhospital.com www.phuketinternationalhospital.com

Samitivej Sukumvit Hospital

Phuket International Hospital

ME D I C A L

$avings Procedures: Golf:

Knee Reconstructive Surgery Hip Replacement Surgery

General: Check-up (Wellness to VIP)

Average cost in Thailand (USD)

Savings compared to LA/NYC

$7,000 6,000

45% 55%

200-700

60%

Eyes:

Cataract Surgery (per eye) LASIK (per eye)

500 1,100

60% 65%

Heart:

Bypass Surgery (off pump) Angioplasty

8,00-15,000 3,000

70% 45%

Dental:

Teeth Cleaning Fillings Laser Whitening Root Canal (per tooth) Implant

35 50 300 200 2,300

75% 70% 67% 40%

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

67

Hospi als Bangkok

Pattaya

Phuket

Bangkok Pattaya Hospital boasts three, noteworthy accomplishments: it’s a highlyacclaimed, award-winning institution with remarkable state-of-the-art technology (it earned the Prime Minister’s Excellence Award in 2003); it’s set in the midst of an international, seaside, resort city; and, it rests moments away from a dozen golf courses (including four of the Kingdom’s top 10).

An arcing beach frames the cosmopolitan city, 90 minutes south of Bangkok and an hour from the airport. Pattaya offers beguiling nightlife, bustling seaside shopping,

water sports, 300 hotels, resorts and those splendid golf courses.

And a world-class, comprehensive medical care facility in a glistening, five-star hotel setting.

Its standard of service and its extraordinary panoply of services—both elective and lifesaving—have attracted an array of foreign clientele (50% of its patients) from the US, Germany and the UK. SuperBrands, the Reader’s Digest consumer survey in Europe and Asia, has endorsed it for its quality and high-tech, international healthcare

2 Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Rd, Bangkok, 10310 Tel: +66 2310-3000 www.bangkokhospital.com/pattaya

Knife

THE

THE

Price

of Going Under

Thailand’s plastic surgeons have been regaled for decades for their consummate surgical skills. “Soft hands” and brilliant technique have made a select group of these practitioners sought-after, hot commodities on the face-lift and breast-augmentation circuit.

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Bangkok Pattaya Hospital

Phuket International Hospital

Bangkok Phuket Hospital

Comparative costs for standard plastic surgery/augmentation procedures.

Face-Lift Eyelid Surgery Nose-Job Lip Augmentation Breast Augmentation Liposuction Average cost in...

$4,500 800 2,200 1,200 2,300 2,000

$14,500 5,600 4,800 4,600 9,600 4,800

$8,600 4,600 6,500 2,800 7,400 6,400

$8,600 3,500 3,000 1,800 6,000 4,000

57% 83% 55% 61% 70% 61%

Thailand

Tokyo

London

US

Savings

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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Spas and Well Being

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Thai massage. Renowned in every culture and practiced around the world, who ever thought it would enhance your performance and improve your score? It’s a prescription for a better game of golf.

RELAXATION. Embrace the other reality that is Thailand: massage. Spas. Luxurious, resplendent; soothing, understated; capacious and cozy. Their ubiquity is matched only by their dedication to healing and relaxation.

The opportunities to treat your golf-weary body to a soothing après-golf treat are countless. Just think: Repose. Heal. Comfort.

Relief. No 40-foot, twisting downhill putts. No 600-yard uphill par-5s. No cell phone cacophony. No blizzard of messages.

No diapers, no dog food. Just you, soft music, a massage therapist and nirvana.

A spa. Now this is a golf vacation.

Thailand revels in an elegant proliferation of world-class spas. They offer the visiting golfer a host of marvelous, salubrious choices ranging from sports-fitness training (to stretch, tone and prepare your body – flexibility is key) to treatments to quell the fatigue or bring sheer hedonistic delight to the end of the day.

More significantly, beyond comfort and relaxation, you have the opportunity to improve your golf game. You will enhance performance by quantum leaps if you follow a customized regimen to train your over-taxed body: stretch, loosen and relax. Arrive feeling below par, and leave playing below par.

Lower you score.

Imagine twisting your cramped body off of the plane on Thursday afternoon and being chauffeured to your hotel. First, an hour spent assessing your body and stretching the tight areas. Then a lesson, a trip to the range, back to the Spa for yoga, and then a deep tissue massage, sauna – and a succulent (and well-deserved) dinner.

The next morning: another stretch, another lesson, a round of looserlimbed golf and – ahhhh – another massage. Saturday morning you stretch again, perhaps yoga, and more golf. Sunday, it’s up to you: stretch, a lesson, golf.

Your body, your attitude and your handicap will have been rejuvenated.

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71

PLACES TO STAY – Great Alternatives – Hotels and Resorts

O

ne of the principal benefits of visiting Thailand is value.

The glory of the trip emerges when that value blends in an extraordinary fusion of luxury, service and special amenities.

Then your vacation becomes something special.

During my nearly 10 years of traveling in and out of Thailand (with considerable time spent in Bangkok), I have been a guest at countless (literally) hotels, resorts and serviced apartments.

Nowhere

in

my

exhaustive travels have I encountered a country (and major city) with such valueadded luxury. It’s a wonderful currency.

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

BANGKOK

Number of Rooms: 370 Fitness: excellent and elaborate, Pool: infinity (below) Restaurants: Chinese, Thai (outdoor) especially

+66 (0) 2 861 2888 / +66 (0) 2 861 1112 Fax pbk@peninsula.com www.peninsula.com/bangkok 333 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan, Bangkok 10600

THE PENINSULA BANGKOK

I

f this hotel were a woman, I would propose.

Elegant, sleek, worldly, sophisticated and suffused with Old-World charm, the Peninsula is one of the best in Bangkok. It holds your hand, caresses you and whispers in your ear. It’s love at first visit.

Towering over the frenetic Chao Phraya River – and a rapid ferry ride to the shopping and business enclaves (and the BTS) – this gracious hotel personifies class and luxury.

“We make your visit special,” says Khun Kee, the Director of Public Relations, as she took my impressed Director, Khun Bew and me from room, to spa, to pool, to the restaurants.

And much to relate here: it’s eye-opening and superb.

Arrive by car, riverboat or helicopter. Travel in a Rolls Royce or a custom, open-air tuk-tuk.

It is grand. Plush. Oozing style. It’s a favorite. And it was honored at the Top City Hotel in Asia in 2012 by Travel + Leisure.

Its 370 spacious guest rooms (each a sumptuous 46 square meters) and classical suites, rising 37 floors, all provide sweeping, river views of the City of Angels.

The three-tiered pool flows toward the river. Tennis courts and a Fitness Center keep you buff, and the restaurants insist that you indulge (try the idyllic Thiptara, for Thai food by the river; Mei Jiang is award-winning).

The spa is magic.

Romantic? You bet. Business? Voted third best business hotel in AsiaPacific.

A must.

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BANGKOK

Number of Rooms: 802 Fitness: Health Club, tennis courts Pool: one at each wing Restaurant: Salathip, Angelini, NEXT2 Café, Shang Palace, The Chocolate Boutique 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500, +66 (0) 2 236 7777 +66 (0) 2 236 8579 Fax www.shangri-la.com/bangkok

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL

I

f you travel in this hemisphere, this hotel is certainly no stranger to you. World-renowned, and elegant in every aspect, the Shangri-La brand is synonymous with tasteful luxury and distinguished service.

I am a big fan.

I have listened to the string symphony playing nightly in the cathedral-ceiling lobby of the Makati Shangri-La in Manila; boated to the stunning new resort in Boracay; been dazzled by the extended architecture in Singapore (and, ohh, that Valley Wing!). I had a blissful stay in Abu Dhabi (and still have the leather-encased flash-drive they gifted me!). And enjoyed the pomp and celebration of an international film festival in Bangkok.

The brand is superb. It’s all class.

The Shangri-La’s 802 rooms have towered over the Chao Phraya River for 26 years and continue to impress and shine. Five categories of suites provide 62 spacious options in the main building. The Krungthep Wing – a luxurious, discerning, private enclave – features 119 rooms (10 suites) along with butler service and a private pool.

The hotel serves vacationers and business travelers (with copious banquet – the Grand Ballroom – and conference space) with a comforting Spa and a large fitness center and views.

It also serves: the kids; chocolates and pastries; great dinner at any of four restaurants (the dinner buffet is cosmopolitan, diverse and fresh) and a floating dinner on the chic Horizon Cruise.

While all of the formal accoutrements and details give the guest comfort, it’s the exuberance that makes it special.

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Number of Rooms: 94 Fitness: state-of-the-art Pool: infinity pool Restaurant: Eve, Café Boca, Vue 3 Soi Mahadlekluang 2 Rajdamri Road, Lumpini Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 +66 (0) 2 209 1234 +66 (0) 2 209 1212 Fax www.hansarbangkok.com

HANSAR BANGKOK HOTEL

“H

ansar: …to be in the moment of great happiness or enjoyment.”

How apt is that Sanskrit: sky gardens and vertical green walls with hanging tropical plants; a fantastic, central-Bangkok location; muted grace and sophistication; handsome, commodious suites.

Let me quote their perspicacious media materials: Hansar Bangkok was designed with the Boutique Traveler in mind …[and] is to be discovered, revisited… [by] customers who yearn for an authentic and unpretentious luxury experience in an intimate environment where no luxuries are forsaken.

The 94 roomy guest suites (59 to 82 sqm; and two, grand, duplex Loft Suites at 125 sqm – with butler), are bedecked with teak furniture and built-ins, imported silk fabrics and wall coverings, hand-woven carpets, and lighting fixtures – all custom-designed. It is suffused with Thai culture. And lots of space.

Everything, it seems, is elegantly-outsized: the dramatic, 10th floor, Luxsa spa stretches down a 100-meter-long teak corridor with eight treatment rooms (enter, turn right, walk to the end for a premier private suite with Jacuzzi and shower encased in tropical gardens); a double-story fitness center and yoga room; two spacious but cozy restaurants: Eve (breakfast was classy) and Café Boca (excellent lunch, from soup, salad, a Thai specialty, to homemade desserts) the Rooftop Sky Terrace Tucked into a fashionable Soi, and a four-minute walk to the BTS Skytrain, convenience is coupled with casual glamour.

The warm-tones, high ceilings, hanging gardens and sensational, sensuous space make this a splendid, luxurious aerie in the heart of bustling Bangkok.

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BANGKOK

Number of Rooms: 75 Fitness: extensive Pool: infinity pool Restaurant: casual 53 Wittayu Rd. Lumpini, Patumwan Bangkok 10330 +66 (0) 2309-5000 info@sivatelbangkok.com www.sivatelbangkok.com

SIVATEL BANGKOK

O

verlooking the British Embassy compound on Wireless Road, this wonderfully urbane, elegantly contemporary and environmentally-conscious hotel is a constellation (all-star, five-star; whatever…).

Crisp, clean, clear, marvelously convenient – and hosting some fabulous views of nearby central Bangkok – this is a commodious alternative for the traveler seeking both living space and stylistic grace.

Talk about prime location. The mixed-use building sends you to the capacious 17th floor for check-in (do step out onto the balcony); and there’s no place to go from here but up. The 32nd floor is one of three top tiers that houses 10 long-stay serviced apartments. The remaining floors showcase Regal Suites (64 sqm), Regent Suites (96 sqm) and more suites (144 to 196 sqm – the Regal Suite with private terrace).

Sweet.

The accoutrements are bountiful and special, from an IPTV with an Apple platform, to recliners, in-room dining, complimentary everything, post office and bank, sky-diving launch-pad and camel racing (I made some of that up). And a glorious, seductive, infinity pool offering sunshine and views.

The refinements (see the metaphorical mural on the wall as you escalate), service and attention to detail are special.

Khun Apichan Sivayathorn, the executive director and GM, whose family has owned the property and the two+-year-old hotel for more than 50 years, smiles gently as he discusses its genesis and core values: “We believe in green. We have invested in energizing our environment.

The tri-part Sivatel logo symbolizes harmony and the focus we must put on sustainable and healthy life-style options. Balance.”

The mantra is persuasive and the calm pervasive.

It earns another star for holistic.

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HUA HIN

Number Number of Rooms: of Rooms: 207296 Fitness: Fitness: complete complete Pool: Pool: outdoor imposing saltwater (see below) Restaurants: Restaurants: five,five with andin-six bars room dining service 33 Naresdamri Road, 117/74 HuaTakiab Hin, 77110 Road, Nongkae, Hua Hin Prachuapkhirikhan +66 (03) 253-8999 77110 huahin.reservations@hilton.com +66www.hua-hin.hilton.com (0) 32 616 600 www.amari.com/huahin

AMARI HUA HIN

L

ocated 10 minutes from downtown Hua Hin and next to Khao Takiab Beach, the new Amari Hua Hin is a sparkling addition to the area’s luxurious hotel/resort options.

The vivid red-colors of the parasol will entice you to soak up the sun by lingering at the outdoor saltwater pool next to the Aqua Pool Bar, while enjoying varieties of Thai snacks and lavish cocktails. There are also trails of falling water coming from the artful bamboo strings. The Shoreline Beach Club offers more aquatic options.

The patterned fabric decorations in each room come in modern tones: light yellow or light grey. The see-through rail at each balcony of the seven-story building gives eye comfort in all directions out to the pool or the sea.

This ocean-view hotel offers 207 deluxe rooms, plus 16 suites.

Missing your daily gym workout? Do not worry: apart from a state-ofthe-art gym the Amari offers a whole array of outdoor sports (use the jogging trail) and recreational activities.

Imagine another bright shining day: stop by Mosaic for a scrumptious international breakfast buffet. Pamper yourself at the end of the day at Breeze Spa. It is new spa concept based on mood treatments.

This is a wonderful place for the toddlers and a superb dream-date destination for newlyweds. That is if you are willing to fly across the world to the exotic vacation wonderland that is Thailand!

BY: Salinthip ( Joyce) Tangpanjapon

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HUAHIN HIN HUA

Number of Rooms: 296 Fitness: imposing Pool: more imposing Restaurants: elegant and great choices 1349 Petchkasem Road, Cha-am, Petchburi 76120 +66 (03) 252-0009 dthhrsvn@dusit.com www.dusit.com

DUSIT THANI HUA HIN

T

his is a class act: aristocratic, stately, elegant and a wonderful blend of cozy and grand.

Entering the majestic, lofty, high-ceiling lobby makes you wish you wore your tuxedo and brought your butler. Yet a pervasive sense of relaxation hovers. Happy faces greet you, inquire about your needs and assist along the way.

This is a complete resort experience. With 52 acres, privacy and quiet prevail.

Its long beachfront and capacious swimming pool gleam from the terraces of the 296 rooms and suites spread across seven floors.

It is special. It is looked after by a general manager who has been on hand since the opening 22 years ago. The PR director has been there for 10 years.

Hey, why leave?

Golfers who enjoy athletic diversity will enjoy the tennis and squash courts, the fitness center the riding track (saddle up), and a potpourri of water sports. And the Spa. I enjoyed the food. Four restaurants provide superb options. Breakfast is a favorite of mine and the Dusit starts off your day in style: hot waffles, smoked fish, fruit, breads‌ And the luxurious and essential details: plush bathrobes; thick pillows; a bathtub and shower; personal scales; shoeshine (my sandals never looked so good); and bottled water everywhere.

Spoil yourself and jump into a suite: 84 square meters of wellappointed joy with a living room Elegance.

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Number of Rooms: 296 Fitness: complete Pool: imposing (see below) Restaurants: five and six bars 33 Naresdamri Road, Hua Hin, 77110 +66 (03) 253-8999 huahin.reservations@hilton.com www.hua-hin.hilton.com

HILTON HUA HIN

I

have always enjoyed this seaside resort hotel. Nestled in the heart of quaint, but regal, Hua Hin (and towering above the beach), I have stayed often during my 10 years in Thailand.

It soars over the sea. All of its capacious, 296 Thai-themed rooms (42to 60 square meters; the 22 suites are 80 sqm – mine was elegant) have balconies with panoramic ocean views.

The location is ideal; the décor and ambiance warm; the cozy but stylish lounge – with soft, live music, drinks and snacks – is a charming conclusion to an active day (I have enjoyed it many times); the terrific, stylish spa will relax you (do it after a round of golf ); the dining firstrate (11 bars and restaurants, two award-winning); and the service always hands-on with lots of smiles from a ubiquitous staff.

At the same time, choose from delicious grilled fare at the beachside Chay Had restaurant, cooling cocktails at Hua Hin’s only Sky Bar or live music at the Beer House.

The pool (with Jacuzzi and slide) is perched on the edge of the beach.

If that doesn’t dazzle the kids, enlist in the Siam Adventure Club or use the Kidz Paradise to entertain them; and jump into the Fitness Center; onto the two tennis (or squash) courts, or yoga, darts, or a jog on the beach.

If you are visiting with your buddies to play golf, bringing the family for a warm holiday, or simply seeking a weekend of pure romance – this is it.

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HUA HIN , CHA-AM SPRINGFIELD VILLAGE GOLF & SPA

B

y the sea, by the beach – by the fairways and the greens: the Springfield Resorts offer stimulating, diverse, relaxing, formalcasual and frolicking vacation options at the edge of the imperial city of Hua Hin. Family-owned – and – managed with an abundance of grace, harmony and bonhomie – Springfield Village Golf & Spa is one of the few complete golf resorts in Thailand.

Within its 1,200 protected acres find: 27-holes of crafted Jack Nicklaus-golf (with practice areas), an expansive clubhouse, a spa-aerie on a hillside pedestal, tennis courts, a climbing-wall, and a 97-room resort (and bungalows curling up a hillside) arcing around two sparkling pools with waterfall and slide.

I have enjoyed the outdoor merriment as well as the quiet hospitality on many occasions during my 10 years traveling through Thailand.

Rooms: Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant Fitness:

97 (75 rooms and suites, and 22 Cottage Suites, ranging from 55 to 119 sqm.) with waterfall / no on the hillside with holistic views three plus a Cool Bar Indoor, Tennis court +66 (0) 3270-9222 / +66 (0) 3270-9234 208, 208/1 Moo2, Sampraya, Cha-Am, Petchaburi 76120, Thailand (Map Locator: N 12.709208 E 99.865046) reservationbkk@springfieldresort.com www.springfieldresort.com

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SPRINGFIELD @ SEA RESORT & SPA Drive east 15 minutes to Springfield @ Sea Resort & Spa. Overlooking the Gulf of Siam, 105 rooms, capacious suites (55 to 135 sqm) and sprawling villas (the beachfront pool villa is a whooping 164 sqm) provide boutique (and enlarged) comfort to a barefoot collection of Thai families and foreign tourists.

Lots of smile and laughter here.

This casual resort offers a gigantic, two-tiered pool, a generous kiddie playground, the Life Spa@Sea (and salon) and Perfect Shape@Sea. Eat, drink and be merry: both resorts boast four restaurants and a bar.

It’s luxury in a different context. Rain curtains, pocket gardens, porch swings, soft breezes over the sand…delightful night-falls.

Rooms: Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant Fitness:

105 (seven categories ranging from 44-135 sqm) humongous / yes Life Spa@Sea – seven treatment rooms (sauna and Jacuzzi – and salon) four (two at the beach) complete

+66 (0) 3270-9300 / +66 (0) 3270-9333 858 Jumnong-Poomivej Rd., Cha-Am, Petchaburi 76120 Thailand (Map Locator: N 12.745978 E 99.967463) reservationbkk@springfieldresort.com www.springfieldresort.com

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PATTAYA

PATTAYA SEA SAND SUN

I

visited this gem of a villa-resort twice during the course of the summer and – how does the song go: ♪“…love’s more wonderful the second time around ♫…”

So I told a friend and he has been back twice. For good reason.

A 15-minute drive south of Pattaya, this boutique vacation jewel provides a glorious, beachside, romantic get-a-way and/or a happy family retreat.

I ran on the quiet, private beach in the morning, dunked into the infinity pool later in the afternoon, and nibbled some terrific food for breakfast.

“We are a smaller brand and must exemplify service to satisfy our

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guests,” says Nitipat (Magun) Patchimnan, the energetic managing director for the past five years. “We expect them all to return and walk through the gardens out to the special beach. Our staff is excellent.”

Witness the new chef, who is designing a special menu for November guests. This is a hands-on operation.

The treat here is 61 spacious villas that each provide a living room, outdoor shower (indoor bathtub) and a Jacuzzi/pool on your private deck (with an awning).

Pretty swank.

And the privacy. Glorious.

Golf courses are close by, as is the famous Nong Nooch Garden.

But closest of all is the cheer, conviviality and attention to detail (check out the amenity box in the bathroom – Khun Magun, I took it home! – a great touch) that makes the stay memorable.

Number of Rooms: 61 Fitness: yes Pools: yes, and in villas Restaurant: on the beach (new chef coming!)

78/4 M.8 Sukhumwit K.M. 163 Na Jomtien, Sattathip, Chonburi 20250 +66 (03) 823-8654-8 sales@seasandsunpty.com www.seasandsunpty.com

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CHIANG MAI

+66 (05) 329-8181 Reservations.thailand@fourseasons.com www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai FOUR SEASONS

It does not get any more indulgent or elegant than this.

Nestled in the valleys and mountains in the north the resort sprawls dramatically, evocatively and regally over graceful, subdued, rolling terrain; spilling into terraced rice paddies – seemingly embroidered into the cascading landscape – and framed by the mountains in the beautiful Mae Rim Valley.

Peering at dusk from the windows of any of the 64 capacious Lannastyle pavilions (with private covered verandas, polished teakwood floors, and beautiful Thai textiles and Siamese art) or 16 magnificent, one to three bedroom Residences (each with a personal, live-in mae baan), the peripheral panorama is overwhelming and the aura almost spiritual.

You feel as if you may be in the enveloping privacy of an English manor or antebellum estate – yet you observe water buffaloes from your porch; eat the scrumptious traditional desert, mangoes and sticky-rice; and contemplate a visit to an orchid or butterfly farm, a hill-tribe village, or an elephant trek.

The Resort is elegant, the Spa is eternal, and you will return.

HOWIE’S HOMESTAY

You talk about an exquisite B&B! This is off the charts.

First, a disclosure: I know Howard Feldman, and watched as he and world-famous architect Bill Bensley created this manse over a 10-year period. Lovingly designed and magnificently constructed, this is a masterpiece, a veritable tour de force.

I have spent many weekends visiting him and his darling wife and

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CHIANG MAI

have thrived on the hospitality. This guy can cook, entertain, fix your luggage, and book your next flight to Bhutan. He may be Chiang Mai’s only renaissance man!

The neighboring Four Seasons often uses his estate for functions.

For the guest, it is an elegant sanctuary.

Quiet, luxurious, private, stunning, and – most of all – tasteful. And expensive.

Check out the web site and drool. Six stars. Maybe a constellation. Go. +66 (81) 882-8345 Howie@HowiesHomeStay.com http://howieshomestay.com ORIENTAL DHARA DHAVI CHIANG MAI

T

his is a luxurious, stylish and inimitable resort in the polished and historic northern city of Chiang Mai.

It is all class.

I visited years ago shortly after it opened and was dazzled by the setting, artistry, diversity and lush surroundings. The architecture is magnificent. Someone has his heart and soul into this project and the exquisite details show.

Marvelous. Expensive – but, ohh, so worth the visit.

The setting is majestic, on 60 acres, with a design influenced by the rich heritage of the Lanna Kingdom with rice paddies, a Thai village and colonial buildings. A wonderful ambiance.

The range of accommodations is magnificent. Luxurious, colonial suites (54) start at 75 sqm; 64 private, marvelous villas and five residences range to – get ready – 644 sqm, all with separate sitting areas, some with private plunge pools and Jacuzzis. Whew!

It is impressive, manicured, refined and grand. Take a leisurely walk and fill your senses. Opulent.

Restaurants proliferate with four offering an international range of fine dining. The Dheva Spa is world-class (18 treatment rooms) and offers a wide array of creative and healing treatments. The fitness facilities are state-of-the-art and a jogging trial and two tennis courts increase the aerobic options.

Manage to stay for, at least, a weekend, and wander around the superlative, manicured and landscaped grounds.

Sumptuous. +66 (0) 53 888 888 mocnx-reservations@mohg.com www.mandarinoriental.com/chiangmai

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Tips for Thailand Street Food It proliferates and is cheap. Portable kitchens pop up at lunch and dinnertime like forest mushrooms and people dine al fresco at tables on the sidewalk. Fruit vendors are a good deal.

Business The Thailand Tango…too often in Thailand transactions are delayed or stalled because of a face-saving custom that believes that “saying no” is bad. So the Westerner thinks he has evoked some interest, only to discover none exists.

Or the Thai businessman changes his mind. Or she signs an agreement and then changes her mind. I have dubbed this: “the Thailand Tango” – three steps forward, two steps back (and many to the side). Don’t be frustrated – prevail with patience.

Transportation Cheap with varying degrees of efficiency BTS (Skytrain): limited to downtown, but glorious – and great exercise up the stairs.

MRT: (Underground): excellent, clean efficient.

Taxis: Bring directions. Some of the most disoriented drivers on the planet. KNOW THE WAY. But cheap. Have correct change.Be patient. There is no grid system and Sois wander.

Directions: It’s hilarious to listen to a three-minute “na ka” session of direction-giving and then you take 2 turns and go straight. I limit my driver to 30 seconds to get it right.

Sidewalks: Not great and crowed with stalls. Take your strolls early in the morning.

Canals: Fetid. Chao Praya River is as dirty as any waterway I have seen. When you take a ferry across, you will avoid three strains of meningitis by keeping dry. But a boat shuttles many along the canals.

Tuk-Tuks: If you are a farang, be careful to avoid overpaying. Never pay more than 100 Baht (US $2.50) Motorbikes: These “Bangkok helicopters” are often the only way to negotiate the mean, over-trafficked, stop-and-never-go bedlam of the Bangkok streets. But you must be brave, for they are not for the timid. They weave, negotiate one-way streets (both ways – “Isn’t this a one-way street?” I once queried to a semi-bilingual driver. “I am

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going one way!”)

Bicycles: How? Where? Try Lumpini Park.

Car Service: if you must travel around Bangkok, use one.

Shopping And Sightseeing Splendid and so affordable. Tailored suits, shirts, blouses, dresses, slacks. Jewelry. Fabric. Leather goods. Street food. DVDs. Places to go and things to eat on the way.

Malls • Central World • Siam Paragon • MBK • Terminal 21

• Gaysorn Plaza • Emporium (6th floor food court) • Central Chitlom (basement food court)

Chatuchak Weekend Market, Night Markets Bustling, inexpensive markets are scattered all over Thailand. In Bangkok, this is the main attraction – acres of it – steps away from the BTS and MRT. Also Suan-Luan across from Lumpini Park, Patpong, on Silom and up and down Sukhumvit and Khao Sarn Road (also budget hotels and pubs).

Muay Thai Exciting, kinetic and noisy. Lumpini Boxing Stadium on Rama 4 Rd. Siam Niramit A grandiose tour through Thai culture and history, as it keeps the mystical past alive.

Grand Palace, Vimanmek Palace Musts for the enthusiastic sight-seers. The former is grand, the latter the largest golden teak building in the world (19th century).

Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew The Temple of the Dawn, the reclining Golden Buddha (and Thai massage) and the Gallery of Murals.

Nattayasala In 1985, Joe Louis revived the puppets that had been missing from the Thai culture for 50 years.

Massage Fantastic. Everywhere in the Kingdom. Thai massage to stretch and oil to relax. Very inexpensive at spas and shops dotting – it seems – every Soi.

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Caddies

C

addies. Female caddies. Savvy, female caddies. Savvy, welltrained, female caddies. And some who are better golfers than you.

They walk with you or drive your “buggy,” chose your club, calibrate the distances, analyze the wind, fill your divots, find your errant shot, correct your putting line and keep your record-breaking score. They know every valley and hazard in the fairway, every dip and danger in the turf and every break and bump on the greens.

And smile.

And, thanks to the wonderful vagaries of international exchange rates, probably the most compelling golf value in Asia, and maybe the planet.

Welcome to the Kingdom of Smiles.

For 18 pampered holes she’s a butler, a valet, a cheerleader, a partner and a strategist. All for the price of a top-grade golf ball at your country club pro shop. Another astonishing value.

Smiling, perky, cheerleading and knowledgeable. Many are university educated who caddied after school and weekends and find the outdoors, the hospitality, conviviality and generous tips too much of an allure to trade for a mundane job at a desk.

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In Thailand, caddies are as traditional and significant to the game of golf as dimples on a golf ball. Caddies in the Kingdom are as relevant as diamonds to an engagement ring wings to an airplane, wheels on a golf cart and sticky-rice with mangos.

In multi-colored uniforms and wide-rimmed hats, which zealously protect them for the ubiquitous sun, as many as 300 to 600 caddies populate a golfing facility. The fee is 200 Baht (US $4) plus tip. Are you kidding?

Helpful, marvelous valuable and fun.

Some members have a steady favorite and many golfers hire two or more hold an umbrella, bring extra cheer or simply join the party.

It makes golf in Thailand

unique and special.

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Bangkok Alpine Golf Club Bangkok Golf Club Cascata Golf Club Lotus Valley Golf Resort Riverdale Golf Club Royal Gems Golf City Suwan Golf & Country Club Thai Country Club The Vintage Club NOTES: Amata Spring CC Bangpoo Golf & Sport Club Bangsai CC Best Ocean Golf Green Valley CC Krung Kavee GC & CC Estate Krungthep Kreetha GC Lakewood CC Lam Luk Ka CC Legacy GC Muang Kaew GC Navatanee GC Panya Indra GC Pinehurst Golf & CC President CC Rajpruek CC Rose Garden GC Royal Gems Golf & Sports The Royal Golf & CC Subhapruek GC Summit Windmill GC Thana City GC Uniland Golf & Resort Windsor Park & GC

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Alpine Golf Club

Recreational

T

his is a course that is defined in superlatives.

Exciting, beguiling, charming, stylish, mesmeric, groomed and gracious, it provides a marvelous aggregation of superb architecture, elegant landscaping, excellent routing, exceptional diversity and immaculate conditioning.

Alpine, a private club of 1,200 members, was opened in December 1996 after Ron Garl worked some design alchemy on the former rice fields. He created mounded, rolling fairways, nine lakes, 128 bunkers, a waterfall, tiered greens and a veritable botanical garden. And charm.

The 7,100-yard track has a 148 slope rating.

BANGKOK

The long par-3s are highlighted by a 238-yarder. The par-4s are fearsome, commanding three of the four most difficult handicaps. They stretch as far as 441 yards (the 8th, handicapped 1), but also appear shorter (four holes ranging from 355 to 380 yards) with marvelous shaping.The par-5s average 550 yards. Only the 546-yard 14th affords a decent birdie opportunity.

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“It’s a Top Five. Gorgeous setting. Like a fairy-tale on rice paddies.” “First-class and maybe the best in Thailand.” “Find a member and get invited.”

Professional

“World-class layout and service.” “Great assortment of par-defying holes.” “One of the best.” “Have to play it if you are serious about golf.”

The Specifics Type: private Greens Fees: members’guest 1,800 to 3,000 Baht Caddies: 400 Baht Cart: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,100 Black 75.3/148 6,579 Blue 72.5/142 6,048 White 70.0/134 5,226 Red 71.1/128 Designer: Ron M. Garl, 1996 Managing Director: Udomsak Ngowsiri

Getting There Klong 5, Klong Luang, Pathumthanee 12120 +66 (0) 2 577-3333 alpine@alpinegolfclub.com www.alpinegolfclub.com

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Bangkok Golf Club

Recreational

B

angkok GC is defined by its convenience, accessibility, championship layout, superlative landscaping, flocks of fowl and environmental sensitivity. Its location – 30 to 50 minutes from both airports and a half hour from downtown Bangkok – and it’s night-time golf make it, perhaps, one of the most and busiest in the Kingdom.

It is a golf facility of charming characteristics: it boasts botanical abundance, claims a virtual outdoor aviary, seems to have more waterways than Venice, and displays defining doglegs, an island green (the 11th), an island tee (the 6th) and a handsome waterfall presiding over interchangeable greens (the 17th).

It features: floodlit golf; a nine-hole par3 course replicating famous international holes (also floodlit); a 168-room resort and spa; and a golf-training center.

Tucked into an urban neighborhood, the course excels at making you forget that.

An estimated 1,500 different species of trees, shrubs and flowers bespangle the artfully laid-out acreage, and a multitude of birds are more pervasive then divots.

Founded as an 18-hole course in 1991 during the incipient stages of Thailand’s golfing boom, the course was deluged during an intense flood in 1995.

Although it was inundated and shut down by the recent flooding, it has been revived yet again.

“Good location and a garden golf course. It survived yet, another, flood.” Night golf, a par-3 course – all post-flood refurbished.”

Professional “Has hosted many tournaments over the years and always measures up.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 1,700 to 2,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: East Course, A-B 6,812 Yellow 72.6/132 6,337 Blue 70.8/129 5,928 White 68.9/122 5,399 Red 69.7/124 Designer: Chird Boonyarattanavej, 1991; Mah Boonkrong International Par-3, 1999 General Manager: Songsak Limbanyen Golf Manager: Antonio Choy

Getting There 99 Moo 2, Tiwanon Road, Bangkadi, Muang, Pathumthani 12000 +66 (02) 501-2773 bkgolf@ksc.th.com www.golf.th.com

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Cascata Golf Club

Recreational “This is quality golf at a great value.” “Gorgeous vegetation and very quiet.”

Professional

T

his owner-designed “Tropical Links” 27-hole golf course is a family-affair and the result is a polished, courteous and contented experience.

According to Jui Saprungrueng, the GM, the course is a result of his father’s passion: “He was in the construction business and found it tiring. He has invested in three other courses in the area, but he wanted to shape and design his own. He is out here almost every day. As a result, the cost for maintenance is high, but we seek quality.”

Near Lam Luk Ka and Lotus Valley, Cascata is carved out of rice paddies on 1,000 rai of sculpted and groomed grounds. The three nines offer: smooth, wide fairways; receptive greens; pervasive lakes (water surrounds every hole but one); a dozen bending, angling and arcing dog-legs; and ample – often strategic – bunkers. No homes are in sight.

It’s tranquil, clean, lean and serene.

BANGKOK

The ancillary features (the clubhouse, pro shop and driving range) are all first-class.

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The four tees provide solid options, which they must, considering that the A/C course ambles 7,394 yards from the tips (5,684 from the forward tees). The par-5s range to a boisterous 620 yards (the pencil-thin A4 with a narrow green) and half of the par3s are average 210 yards. The par-4s extend from 342 to 453 yards.

“The East Course is a real challenge – despite that dopey slope rating – and is excellent (and, I think, championship) golf.”

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: 1,700 to 2,700 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout:

3 nine-hole, par-36 Rating/Slope:

Course A A-B 3,687 Yellow 73.2/138 3,472 Blue 71.0/130 3,263 White 69.4/121 2,979 Red 72.0/128 Course B B-C 3,360 Yellow 73.8/144 3,158 Blue 70.9/135 3,010 White 68.9/124 2,762 Red 71.1/128 Course C C-A 3,707 Yellow 75.5/149 3,369 Blue 72.7/140 3,074 White 70.5/125 2,705 Red 73.0/132 Designer: Thanawat Saprungrueng, 2006 General Manager: Jui Saprungrueng Head Pro: Takeshi Nagasawa

Getting There 87 Moo 2 Lumlukka Klong 15 Road, Amphur Ongkarak, Nakornnayok 26120 +66 (087) 493-3888 info@cascata.co.th www.cascata.co.th

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Lam Luk Ka Country Club

Recreational “This is quality golf.” “Gorgeous vegetation and very quiet

Professional “The East is a real challenge and is excellent golf.” “Members enjoy the simplicity of the West.”

I

The Specifics

Your reward for your travel is a manicured, trimmed, quietly gracious golf facility created out of an environmental wonderland consisting of: 36 holes of golf, 10,000 trees, quaint bridges, and over 100 species of birds and wildlife populating an impressive 3,000 rai (1,200 acres) of erstwhile, lowlying wetlands. In 1994, Roger Packard (who earlier designed Imperial Lake View near Hua Hin) lifted and floated these fairways like ribbons of green and stretched them along canals, lakes and waterways.

Type: semiprivate Greens Fees: 1,200 to 2,200 Baht Caddies: 200 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: East Course A-B 7,012 Blue 73.1/124 6,617 Yellow 71.0/121 6,222 White 69.0/116 5,511 Red 71.0/120 West Course C-D 6,605 Blue 71.3/125 6,176 Yellow 68.8/120 5,900 White ----5,335 Red 70.3/126 Designer: Roger Packard, 1994 General Manager: Vichai Chanyasiri Head Pro: Somchai Banjobdee

Getting There

t was a treat to circle back to this course, tucked up northwest nearly an 80-minute drive from city-center.

Water is everywhere. Some members have traded their golf carts for gondolas and their caddies for sailors.

The four nines radiate from the estimable clubhouse in four aquatic quadrants.

The vigorous East Course (the A and B nines) expands in a heart-shaped, drenched footprint from the back, and the West (C and D) stretches out from the front door.

Lam Luk Ka Klong 11, Patumthani 12150 +66 (02) 995-2300 info@lamlukka.com www.lamlukka.com

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Lotus Valley Golf Resort

Recreational

A

nd a palpable feeling of commitment suffuses the tranquil environs that envelop the Lotus Valley Golf Resort, a 75-minute drive northeast of Bangkok (40-minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport).

This renovated Gary Player course ambles amiably over 7,015 yards of pastoral landscape and offers a mature and arboreal landscape. The fairways are some of the best I have seen in Thailand. The maintenance here is superlative.

BANGKOK

No homes gather around the carpeted fairways and there is little visual distraction or aural interruption. The elliptical footprint of the course resembles a dragon, with lakes and streams as veins.

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The elongated layout at Lotus Valley plays as nicely as it looks.

With pervasive lakes and ponds, crossing creeks, ample doglegs, long (236 yards) and short (164) par-3s, a diverse range of par-4s (311 to 467 yards) and two long par-5s (587 and 600 yards), the track has terrific repose: 75 bunkers selectively (and eclectically) serenades the fringes like canals in Venice, and the greens are uniformly front-sloping and sizeable.

“Beautifully restored. Serene.”

“It’s a bit of a drive, but what a surprise!!” “I have been back three times. I would like those fairways in my living room…”

Professional “First-class.” “I lost sight of this course and was glad to see it back so dapper.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,000 to 3,500 Baht Caddies: inclusive Carts: inclusive Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,911 Black 73.1/133 6,527 Blue 71.3/129 6,147 White 69.4/124 5,506 Red 71.5/129 Designer: Gary Player, 1998 GM/Director of Golf: Derek Schade, PGA Superintendent: Managed by TurfPro Golf, Robert Barnes and Kittipong Suabsaun

Getting There Ongkarak-Bangnamprieo Rd. Chachoengsao 24170 +66 (03) 883-5555 info@lotusvalley.co.th www.lotusvalley.co.th

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

President Country Club

Recreational

J

ust 40 minutes northeast of Bangkok, this full-service country club features 36 holes of Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed golf; a spacious (and stately) Mediterranean-style clubhouse; a well-equipped pro shop; excellent practice facilities; a fullfacility fitness center (with sauna and Jacuzzi); and a swimming pool.

The four groomed nines, designed in 1993 and utilizing 1,500 rai of level terrain, offer engaging linksstyle golf.

The North/East and West/South present two pleasurable golfing alternatives over flat, open tracks featuring: soft undulations (and breezes) on the fairways; water tactically placed on half of the holes; a grouping of doglegs (the East); strategic bunkers – many of them framing contoured (and fast) greens; and a vast double green in the shadow of the welcoming clubhouse (it does have aplomb). Native grasslands and trees, which have matured nicely over the course of the decade, accent the myriad lakes.

Although wide and flat, accuracy is a helpful navigating around the sand and water. In typical links-tradition, Jones has encouraged shots to run onto the greens, which the club emphatically describes as “fast and firm.”

The two tracks are playable with a special balance of fair and daunting.

The West/South, at 7,092 yards, is considered the more difficult. The North/East runs 6,971 yards and offers a plethora of angled doglegs and lakes (the East boasts six doglegs and seven lakes).

“Very friendly atmosphere. In England we’d call it ‘collegial’.”

“Nice amenities and snappy service.”

Professional “An enjoyable links-style experience that can be a test from the Gold’s. It’s deceptive because it’s flat, but water and the greens give it punch.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 1,400 to 2,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: North/East 6,971 Gold 73.0/128 6,471 Blue 70.6/123 5,976 White 68.1/118 5,407 Red 70.9/121 West/South 7,092 Gold 73.9/128 6,622 Blue 71.4/123 6,141 White 68.9/120 5,434 Red 70.9/117 Designer: Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 1993

Getting There 42 Moo 8 Suwintawongse Rd., Nongjok, Bangkok 10530 +66 (02) 988-7555-63 golf@president.co.th wwwpresident.co.th

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Riverdale Golf Club

Recreational

T

BANGKOK

his golf course is a consensus beauty.

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“Delightful experience: service, location, and great shaping.”

“One of my favorites in Thailand.

When the trees grow out, it will be irresistible.”

Professional

This new course is on the radar of every Bangkok golfer with whom I have spoken. A 45-minute expressway ride north of the city, this track is a marvelous confluence of design diversity, ingenuity and maintenance.

“This is the real deal. Wonderful layout with lots of clever shaping.” “Bunkers, water, mounding – all add to the excitement.”

Built up from exurban flatlands and designed creatively by Jonathan Morrow, the shaping is commendable, the grounds-keeping superb and the landscaping elegant. As the course matures and the trees grow, this could become a parkland classic.

Type: daily fee Greens Fees: 2,750 Baht Caddies: 350 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,001 Black N/A 6,636 Blue 6,220 White 5,852 Yellow 5,309 Red Designer: Jonathan Morrow, 2010 GM/Director of Golf: Nattaphon Thoopputsar

The course rolls, tumbles and impresses with: ponds and lakes (in serious play on 14 holes); acres (nearly 100) of bunkers, sprawling, beach, pot, falsefront and mounded (the 623-yard par 5, 6th is like an hour at the beach); and some commodious and perilous greens (surprisingly, both of which are at the glowing par-3 8th – more about that serendipity later).

This track has an intelligent set of four tees with a 7,001-yard journey from the tips (and 6,625 one step down).

No rating has been established, but my guess for the Slope is in the high 130s.

The Specifics

Getting There 123/5 Moo 1, Bang Kadi, Mueang, Pathum Thani, 12000 +66 (02) 501-2789 riverdale@riverdalegolfclub.co.th www.riverdalegolfclub.co.th

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Royal Gems Golf City

Recreational “A lot of attention to detail.

Fun to play the famous holes!”

“As it grows out and gets some Augusta foliage, it will be a world-beater.”

Professional

“I loved it! The conditioning was great considering the flooding and the layout is terrific.” “Exciting and first-class”

The Specifics Type: private Member’s Guest Greens Fees: 2,000 to 3,500 Baht Caddies: 350 Baht Carts: 800 Baht Layout 18-hole, par-71 Rating/Slope: 6,629 Black N/A 6,182 Blue 5,694 White 4,978 Red Architect: Architect: Ron Garl, 2011 General Manager: Arthorn Sutthisomboon Director of Golf: Varong (Nat) Sooppipatt

Getting There 101/1Moo 3, T. Rungsit, Pathum Thani, 12110 +66 (02) 577-8500 sales@royalgemsgolfcity.com www.royalgemsgolfcity.com

T

he plan is grand: 1,400 rai (560 acres) of prime real estate 45 minutes north of Bangkok in a golfcentric neighborhood; 63 holes of world-class golf; an elegant clubhouse and driving range facilities; and a delightful soupçon of smiles and service.

“We have completed the first 18 holes and our members are delighted!” said the soft-spoken GM, Arthorn Sutthisomboon.

An 18-hole, eco-friendly lighted course by Lee Schmidt (Moon Walker) is on the drawing boards; as well as a 27-hole tournament course

by Andy Dye. Ron Garl (who crafted the nearby – and Chiang Mai – Alpine courses) designed the par-71 6,629-yard “Dream Arena,” a paean to golf ’s greatest holes (the 17th at TPC Sawgrass – the 140-yard 3rd – was on the cover of my first golf guide), which replicates the finest holes of Augusta, Firestone, Royal Troon, Bay Hill, the Blue Monster…and more).

“The late-2011 flooding delayed our opening by five months,” said Varong (Nat) Sooppipatt, the Director of Golf. “But now all is thriving.”

Indeed they are. Khun Nat and I went on a tour. “It’s about service and making our golfers feel comfortable.

We create a memorable experience and we want our guests to dream about returning!”

The grounds-keeping is immaculate.

Platinum Paspalum grass adds luster and the landscaping is colorful.

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Subhapruek Golf Club

Recreational “Superb, gracious club.” “Kudos to the gardener and course superintendent.”

Professional

T

his is a handsome and beguiling golf course that rolls gently over manicured terrain punctuated by hundreds of palm trees, pervasive water and trademark Pete Dye bunkers.

Flower beds, bridges, waterfalls, lush landscaping and bouquets of palm trees add to the appeal of this flat and imposing 6,837-yard course.

Water is a fixture, imposing itself on virtually every hole. Additionally, railroad-tie bunkers are scattered throughout the fairways (see the 11th for an extended, mammoth example) and sprinkled greenside (the 18th has a pair).

BANGKOK

Another Dye specialty is the 140-plus-yard, par-3 island green (the 16th), which he made famous at TPC Sawgrass.

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The par-5s, stretching from 500 to 612 yards, provide the 3 and 4 handicaps: the 552-yard 1st hole and the elongated, 612-yard 15th.

The daunting par-4s conclude each nine. The 9th, handicapped 2, is a 449-yard gentle dogleg right. Water runs up the entire right side winding around the back of the flat green, only 18 yards wide.

“With all of the bold new courses popping up, you tend to lose sight of the sterling ones that have endured..”

The Specifics Type: private Greens Fees: 1,200 to 1,800 Baht Caddies: 200 Baht Carts: 500 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,837 Back N/A 6,423 Champion 6,013 Member 5,249 Lady Designer: Pete Dye, 1993

Getting There Bangna-Trad Km. 26, Bangbor, Samutprakarn 10560 +66 (02) 705-6262 info@subhapruekgolf.com www.subhapruekgolf.com

The 18th is longer and tougher, but at the end of this 461-yard, dogleg left excursion (also, with water accompanying the fairway the entire way) you are treated to an extravagant waterfall to the left of the 20-yard wide green.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Suwan Golf & Country Club

T

his is an exclusive golf course – with exemplary service – available to the public, and dedicated to the proposition that a first-class golfing experience need not be confined to a pricey, private country club.

Twilight golf on the final three holes – an exquisite par-3, a dogleg par-4 (the signature hole) and a bodacious dogleg 631-yard par-5 into the clubhouse – make this a wonderful conclusion to a round of golf on some of the finest fairways in Thailand.

Seashore Paspalum grass on tee-boxes and the fairway provides consistent quality and durability.

Featured on the cover of our 2007 Japanese-language Guide), the 7,125yard golf course, less than an hour west of Bangkok, is elegant, exciting, daunting and manicured . It hosted the Asian Tour International in 2009 and 2010, and the Thailand Open 2011.

The gently rolling track is encompassed by water (it is in play, or sight, on every hole except the 7th) and six doglegs require prudent course management.

Three of the par-3s are water carries and none exceed 190 yards. The par4s earn three of the hardest handicaps and range from 381 yards to 445 yards.

The par-5s are uniformly unreachable in two.

Recreational “Consistently one of the bestkept courses in the region.”

“No topographic drama, but a great experience.” “Classy and exceptional golf.”

Professional “It’s a Top 10.”

“Attentive service.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 1,800 to 3,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 650 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,125 Back 74.0/144 6,721 Blue 71.7/136 6,378 White 70.1/132 5,712 Red 72.6/134 Architect: Veeyos Phetbuasak, 2005 Director of Golf: Pongsakorn Pongsak

Getting There 15/3 Moo 2 Srisathong, Nakornchaisri, Nakhompathom 73120 +66 (03) 433-9333 reservation@suwangolf.com www.suwangolf.com

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Thai Country Club

Recreational “For pampering and service, what’s not to like?” “Fun golf, but not a severe challenge.”

A

4,000 square meter clubhouse hovers over a lake; locker rooms paneled in wood and accoutered with Venetian marble; an attentive staff of 400 (including knowledgeable female caddies); and Paspalum grass that tempts you to play barefoot on the cushioned fairways – or just lie down and picnic – are hallmarks of this private club.

The members contend that golf here is a religious experience and they genuflect at the opportunity to putt at this altar of expectation.

Designed by the prolific Denis Griffiths in 1996, the 7,101 yard course is bedecked by palms trees; bespangled by 80 strategic, fingered, pot, sweeping and humungous (the 2nd) bunkers – most on the back side – and swathed in water (in play on 15 holes). A handful of doglegs add some risk-reward moments.

“They roll-out the old red carpet here and make you feel special.” “The golf is more stylized than exciting.”

The Specifics Type: Private; guests of the Peninsula Hotel Bangkok are welcome and are charged at member guest rate.

Greens Fees: 4,800 to 6,000 Baht Caddies: compulsory Carts: optional; caddies drive Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,101 Black 73.9/129 6,558 Blue 71.3/129 6,043 White 69.0/128 5,279 Red 69.8/120 Designer: Denis Griffiths, 1996 General Manager: John Blanch

Getting There Bangna-Trad, Bangpakong, Chachoengsao 24180

BANGKOK

Although not a topographically dramatic course, this is its virtue. It is satisfying and immaculate, but more functional than sizzling, with a Slope Rating of 129. The course is ideal for walking.

Professional

It features artful flora as well as +66 (03) 857-0234 conifers and a variety of palm trees. inquiry@thaicountryclub.com The fairways and tee boxes are radiant. www.ThaiCountryClub.com Even the divots seem manicured.

Your body should be in this kind of tiers than a weepy Merchantcondition. In its former life, the course Ivory movie. must have been a royal garden.

It’s 2,000 members hail from The greens are cosseted and have more nearly 30 nationalities.

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LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Thana City Golf & Sport Club

C

onvenience counts: this semiprivate golf course (800 members), is located 30 minutes from Bangkok. After extensive renovation, the 6,966-yard course is showing its pedigree: mature landscaping accents this track, featuring three tee-boxes, fast greens, many lakes and streams and strategically placed bunkers.

Doglegs, pervasive water (lakes, streams and ponds dominate – only the 8th is dry), peninsula greens and Norman-esque bunkers (the 533yard 14th and the 440-yard 18th boast them all –and carry the 1 and 3 handicaps) embellish this playable course (an enjoyable 128 Slope).

The par 3s are benign, rolling from 148 (the splendid water-borne 13th) to 239 yards (the 16th).

The par-4s are diverse and wholesome, ambling from 302 to 462 yards. The 9th (440 yards – but far shorter from the Whites), leaning left with water all the way up; and the 18th (442), angling right with water streaming up the right side to a peninsula green, are the toughest.

The par-5s greet you at the 1st hole with a 585-yard dog-leg left trek over six bunkers and six more greenside.

The signature hole, the par-3 13th is the shortest. The 28-yard wide green wears a necklace of bunkers at the other end of the water. Lovely.

Recreational “Easy to get to and lots of great changes.” “Convenient and has all of the goodies: great range and restaurant.”

Professional “It is professionally operated now and presents some solid play.

Nicely done.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 1,200 to 3,000 Baht Caddies/Carts: 300/ 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,966 Shark 72.6/128 6,400 White 70.5/124 5,615 Red 72.8/128 Designer: Greg Norman, 1993 GM: Nathawat Aksornchat Head Pro: Yosunthorn Nichapanich

Getting There 100/2 Moo 4, Km 14 Bagna-Trad Highway, Bangplee 10540 +66 (02) 336-0567 reservation@thanacitygolf.com www.thanacitygolf.com

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The Vintage Club

T

his 20-year old course is draped with hoary trees, adorned by graceful landscaping and accented by myriad lakes and ponds.

Redesigned in January 1996 by Arthur Hills (I have been on several of his fine tracks in Michigan and Florida), it is a 40-minute drive east of Bangkok. Now owned by the Central Department store group, it has undergone significant changes. The stately clubhouse and the 6,952-yard course has: groomed fairways; an assortment of flat bunkers; water in play on 14 holes; and two quaint, waterlogged par-3s on the front side.

Recreational

“It’s the maintenance that sets us apart,” said Khun Sunthon, the GM. “We have a managing director who is out here almost every day helping us remove weeds!” The superintendent is a veteran and – astonishingly – the original Bermuda grass is still growing.

Type: public Greens Fees: 2,300 to 3,400 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 750 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,952 Black 71.0/ N/A 6,279 Gold 69.3 5,865 White 68.3 5,072 Red 68.3 General Manager: Sunthon Chitsuntisuk

It has dignity, patrimony and harmony.

No homes are in sight. The fairways are uniformly flat with generous landing areas. The 60+ bunkers are strategic but not onerous (with the exception of maybe the par-4 15th and 17th where they flank the landing area) – and only 15 are on the front nine. The greens are level and small.

Thus, it is a golfer-friendly experience.

No Slope Rating is posted, but Khun Sunthon and I are guessing 128.

Congenial it is. It’s a great walk.

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“Wonderful clubhouse.”

“Peaceful out there.”

Professional “The enhancements are gracious and professional.

This is a terrific player’s course with little penalty.”

The Specifics

Getting There 549/1-4 Moo 3, Panviti Rd. Samutprakarn 10550 +66 (02) 707-3820-5 marketing@vintagegolfthai.com www.vintagegolfthai.com

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Bangkok Notes AMATA SPRING CC

Superbly conditioned and designed, this private and exclusive club features glowing service, a motif of elegance, velvet fairway carpets and two man-made lakes. It’s an urban golf-scape, a golfing oasis in a businesspark desert. However, putting aside the peripheral distraction of the towers, cables and warehouses, the 7,450-yard golf course is immaculate.

Golfers exult over the “green carpets” that luxuriously spread from tee to green. The centerpiece of the course is water. Two gargantuan lakes spread out from the clubhouse and edge eight holes. +66 (03) 846-8888

www.amataspring.co.th

BANGPOO GOLF & SPORT CLUB This congenial Arnold Palmer course is on the sea, 45 minutes southeast of Bangkok, and stretches 7,048 yards over flat, wide fairways, with sea breezes, flower boxes and 130 bunkers. The beauty of the course is its simple grace. Sloped at a modest 121, it is a pleasure to play for the recreational golfer (and family). Deceptively casual (check out the severe doglegs at the 5th , 7th and 15th) and landscaped artfully, it’s a pleasant day of golf. Just ask the 700 members. +66 (02) 324-0320

www.bangpoogolf.com

BANGSAI CC Located 27 miles south of Ayutthaya, the historical capital of the Kingdom, the track is a delight. Charming, imaginative, affable and full of quirky surprises, it will keep you entertained. Designed by a local father-son team in 1996, the course is the result of intelligent, collective cogitation. Its 6,923 yards weave around lakes and streams with sand appearing in some astonishing shapes and forms.

Rolling fairways, tumbling terrain, ample doglegs and elevated greens add excitement. +66 (01) 643-9121

bangsai@hotmail.com

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Bangkok Notes BEST OCEAN GOLF This Lee Schmidt-designed links course has been struggling with its identity for several years. It is 45 minutes southwest of Bangkok and sits in a residential community with an airstrip. It certainly has ample potential, but I am still not sure what their plan is. Its direction puzzles me. +66 (086) 300-0894

www.bestoceangolf.co.th

GREEN VALLEY CC The name is an ideal sobriquet for this colorfully gardened and artfully planted Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course. Built in 1988 and a short drive from Bangkok, it stimulates and entertains with fine green complexes. Rolling greens, an abundance of sand, sugar palm clusters, peaceful lakes and ponds sprinkled with fountains, abound on these 307 acres, with water on 17 holes. This 7,028-yard course has a slope rating of 130. +66 (02) 312-5883

www.greenvalleybangna.com

KRUNG KAVEE GC & CC ESTATE Worth the short drive north for the 7,082 yards of gentle terrain that used to be rice fields, for the 27-year old course pleases recreational golfers with a manageable 117 slope. Water dominates, and a 190yard island par-3, and four, severe doglegs on the back side make it an adventure. +66 (02) 577-4141

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www.krungkavee.com

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Bangkok Notes KRUNGTHEP KREETHA GOLF & SPORTS CLUB

“Water, water everywhere,” is true for this compact 6,735-yard course, a 30-minute drive from Bangkok. You will be impressed by the landscaping, flower-bedecked bridges and the meandering peaceful waters. This accommodating course (built in 1969) carries a 129 slope.

A traditional Thai look and feel provides an Eastern tranquility that comes from its elegantly groomed gardens and natural flora. Like a martial arts master, accuracy rather than force governs. +66 (02) 379-3716

www.krungthepkreetha.co.th

LAKEWOOD CC Diversity and enjoyment intersect nicely within 27 holes of distinct landscaped fun 40 minutes east of Bangkok. Built in 1994 with a lovely mix of native flora, sculptured waterways, artful sand traps, blooming shrubbery, palms fluttering in the breezes, and 26 groomed lakes – it provides a calming atmosphere. The diverse layout offers surprising challenges: two daunting par-3s; the shortest par-5 at 504 yards (Rock 7th) is the most difficult; and five par-4s exceed 440 yards. +66 (02) 312-6278

www.lakewoodcountryclub.co.th

LEGACY GC Diasappointing. The glass-doomed clubhouse is ageing and the course looked unkempt during my August visit. The 25-year old, 7,003-yard course (contiguous to Safari World), is quintessential Jack Nicklaus with ample hazards, doglegs (10), two substantial lakes and lots of sand: broad and generous expanses of waste areas from start (the first two holes have over 900 yards stretching up the right fairways) to finish. Water hazards will whet (sorry) your appetite on eight holes. The par-4s range to 451 yards. +66 (02) 914-1930

www.legacygolf.com

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Bangkok Notes MUANG KAEW GC One of Bangkok’s most popular courses because of its excellent location. Leo Schmidt redesigned the course years ago and every green, tee and fairway was reconstructed – and five new holes created. It plays long and tough at 7,015 yards. Both convenient and classy, it is characterized by a naturalistic look with meandering lakes and klongs. In fact, one canal passes the 1st and 3rd holes and every afternoon a local businessman returns from the market and sells his wares as he floats along. Bring a shopping bag! The fairways are wide, flat and surrounded by water. The greens are tricky. +66 (02) 316-3918 www.muangkaewgolf.com

NAVATANEE GC When golf was still a fledging sport 40 years ago, a course was built in the rice-paddies 20 kilometers north of Bangkok to attract international, championship golf for the 23rd World Cup Tournament (1975). Navatenee helped shape the development of golf in Asia. The 6,902-yard track was rated by Golf Digest as the best golf course in the Kingdom. Today over 1,000 active members enjoy the sanctified experience of play at this historic club. With manicured fairways and lush environmental accoutrements, it carries an enjoyable 123 slope rating. +66 (02) 376-1031

www.navatanee.com

PANYA INDRA GC This is a dynamic, vigorous, golf operation with 27 holes of kinetic and bustling golf. With nighttime golf, the course runs in overdrive. This convivial, parkland facility is 45 minutes northeast of Bangkok and may be the most frequented golf facility with nearly 100,000 rounds of golf annually (night and day) over this well-kept course. More staggering is the caddie statistic: 700 females roam the golfing earth here, and are considered to be some of the most knowledgeable and perky in the golfing universe. +66 (02) 943-0000

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www.panyagolf.com

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Bangkok Notes PINEHURST GOLF & CC Built in 1988 this 27-hole facility is one of the busiest in Thailand.

The flood closed it down and it has struggled. The three nines – all with water, bunkers and mounding in play – provide some compelling golf. Check out the West (4th and 6th) and the 8th hole on the North and South. No template golf here. Night golf is available. +66 (02) 516-8679

www.pinehurst.co.th

RAJPRUEK CC

Courtly, manicured, studiously private and conveniently located 20 minutes north of Bangkok en route to the Don Muang airport, this elegant 6,568-yard track is fun to play and a rigorous challenge if you can get a member (and they are zealots) to bring you along. Or just call the club and see if a tee time is available. It’s a beauty. +66 (02) 955-0055

www.rajpruek.com

ROSE GARDEN GC Like a splendid geisha, this course, located 40 kilometers southwest of Bangkok is courtly, stylish, groomed and grand in tradition. It is one of Thailand’s oldest courses – and also a leading venue for cultural shows at the Rose Garden Hotel. Built in 1972, it runs 7,085 yards.

At 8:00 am you can view elephants from the Cultural Show taking a morning stroll. The condition is superb. Water is a pervasive obstacle. +66 (03) 432-2770/422-5517

www.rose-garden.com

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Bangkok Notes ROYAL GEMS GOLF & SPORTS A 50-minute drive west of Bangkok, this 7,192-yard veteran track took a hit from the floods, but has always been a pleasant surprise as you traverse the flat, lagoon-festooned landscape. The fairways are wide and often narrow and water is in serious play on a dozen holes.

The fairway bunkering is high-mounded and the greens are huge, sloping and protected by sand, mounds and swales. Par-3s are handsome and fun. A resort hotel has 50 rooms. It’s back in action and worth the visit. +66 (03) 429-7723

www.royalgems.com

THE ROYAL GOLF & CC This scenic, 7,123-yard course, just minutes from the airport, is spread over 2,000 rai and uses all of Mother Nature’s embellishments to burnish the experience. Canals flow through many of the holes and the soft-sand bunkers are flat, wide and decorative. The greens are tiered and fast. Two long par-3s (the 17th is handicapped 8) and par-4s (the 14th is 466 yards) add some whimsy (a “Mickey Mouse” hole) and adventure. The course is bathed in repose. Four of the last five holes – while long – are a joy to play. +66 (02) 738-0138

www.royalgolfclubs.com

SUMMIT WINDMILL GC

Nearly 80,000 golfers a year visit this groomed, classy but difficult golf course (146 Slope). But popularity has its price, so be prepared for a five-hour round. Often cumbersome. Trademark Faldo bunkers (96) embroider the 6,964 yards and water weaves and courses its way around all 18 holes. Over 5,000 trees serenade and shelter the grounds (2,000 of them palm). Then add to the drama the heaving, roiling and bumptious mounding and hills with valleys and depressions. Along with water and sand and bumps, doglegs dominate. Play under the lights until midnight. +66 (02) 750-2112

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www.summitwindmillgolfclub.com

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Bangkok Notes UNICO GRANDE GOLF COURSE Less than a half hour drive, this understated 6,861-yard track, one of the oldest in Bangkok, has been serving golfers since 1979. Pines, vegetation and water (and few bunkers) surround this flat course. Diversity is exceptional here: the par-3s range from 117 to 231 yards and have tougher handicaps than the 5s! The long par-4 are the consistent challenge. The dogleg left 1st (491 yards) is longer than two of the par-5s. +66 (02) 138-8319

www.unicograndegolf.com

UNILAND GOLF & RESORT

An hour west in Nakorn Pathom (near Rose Garden and Suwan), these 27 holes (A and B play at 6,986 yards) are graceful, well-managed and popular among the denizens. Over a dozen lakes and ponds curl around the courtly fairways, and the atmosphere is pleasant – with a touch of suburbia – cheerful and colorful. The B Course, 641yard double-dogleg (book-ended by water, no less) is the champion hole. A group of the 350 caddies were taking Japanese lessons when I visited. +66 (03) 424-3444

www.unilandgolf.com

WINDSOR PARK & GC Cheerful golf is spread through 27 holes of a lovely, naturalistic landscape with rolling fairways, mounded bunkers, wavy greens with palm tree backdrops, chirping bird life and pervasive lakes. Opened in 1993, and 75 minutes from town, it has a sparkle and panache. The atmosphere is scenic and buoyant, the golf first-rate. It’s pacific, and sets the mood for a delightful day of golf. +66 (02) 989-4200

www.windsorpark.co.th

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Pattaya and Rayong Burapha Golf & Resort Khao Kheow Country Club Laem Chabang International Country Club Phoenix Golf and Country Club Rayong Green Valley Country Club Siam Country Club Pattaya (see Feature)

• Plantation Course • Old Course

St. Andrews 2000 Silky Oak Country Club Soi Dao Highland Golf Club NOTES Bangpakong Riverside CC Bangpra International GC Crystal Bay GC Eastern Star CC & Resort Green Wood GC Mountain Shadow GC Pattana Golf & Sports Resort Pattaya CC & Resort Pleasant Valley Golf & CC Royal Lakeside GC & Resort Wangjuntr Golf Park

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Burapha Golf & Resort

Recreational “Well-maintained and a nice links game.” “Deceptively difficult on the West course.”

Professional

C

onceived in 1995, homes (and boasting an attractive “California lifestyle”) were built around two 18-hole golf courses spreading impressively across 721 acres.

Designed by the Arizona team of David Graham and Gary Panks, the four nines (now have reconfigured and lengthened) have emerged in a hilly, links-style landscape with delightful vistas. Impressive mango trees, coconut palms, and free-standing Jamjuree trees accent the rolling fairways, with mounded bunkers. Two dozen lakes sprinkle the track.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

I have watched this course mature over the past 10 years and management has kept it first-rate.

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The 36 holes provide crisp, clean, conditioned and functional golf. The fairways are uniformly rolling and bumpy with bunkers in bas relief. The greens are in excellent shape, and bend and roll and twist and turn. Above all, the nines are diverse and anything but predictable. This course is iconoclastic and quirky; but challenging and zestful.

“The course has matured nicely over the years and the longer holes have increased the difficulty.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 2,000 to 2,700 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 36-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: East (A&B) 7,185 Tournament 74.6/141 6,713 Championship 73.2/131 6,174 Regura 71.8/123 5,504 Ladies 70.8/119 West (C&D) 6,947 Tournament 73.4/136 6,491 Championship 72.5/130 6,030 Regura 71.2/122 5,421 Ladies 70.7/118 Designer: David Graham/ Gary Panks General Manager: Kullatorn (Mike) Meesommont

Getting There

281 Moo 4, Tombon Bung, Sriracha, Chonburi 20230 +66 (03) 837-2700

The Dune and the Cyprus (at info@buraphagolfthailand.com 3,479 yards, the shortest with a wild www.buraphagolfthailand.com assortment of yardage opportunities) comprise the more daunting West hole, a beautifully manicured, bowl-shaped green complex.

Course.

The East course (Augusta and Belfry), The Belfry nine travels 3,550-yards boasts the best scenery. The “A” course and features a 451-yard par-4 to is the home of the 171-yard signature start the nine.

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Khao Kheow Country Club

Recreational “A nice Pete Dye confection with quiet scenery relaxing you.”

W

rapped in the embracing arms of forested hills and conical mountains, this 27-hole golf course, wonderfully fashioned by Pete Dye in 1992, is handsome, gracious and tranquil.

It is also popular, servicing nearly 60,000 rounds a year. The price is right, the condition admirable and the quiet, country look give it appeal.

Comprised of three nines (A, B and C) that each range about 3,500 yards, the course – 45 minutes southeast of Bangkok on the Motorway – features narrow fairways dominated by mounds at the edges. Lots of water and the beautiful mountain backdrop are the highlights.

Tall coconut palms give the course an almost tropical look. Many fairways are on plateaus with drop-offs to ample flat bunkers (see A-2). The greens are generally small with gentle slopes and tiers.

The “Mountain Course,” consisting of the A and B nines (7,077 yards), is the championship track.

The six long, thin, dogleg par-5s range from 489-yards (with a 3 handicap) to 592-yards (both on the A course), five of which have water in play.

The par-3s use crafted bulkhead greens surrounded by water. The signature hole, the 146-yard 8th (B), is a characteristic island green.

The par- 4s range extravagantly from 354 to 465 yards. The longest two are on the A and B nines. The 462-yard 4th (A) is handicapped 1.

Professional “Always has been a solid experience.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 2,000 to 2,800 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 800 Baht Layout: three nine-hole, par-36 Rating/Slope:

Course A: 3,493 Blue 3,107 Yellow 70.9/126 2,815 White 68.0/117 2,441 Red 68.9/120 Course B: 3,584 Blue 3,252 Yellow 70.5/119 2,965 White 67.8/116 2,608 Red 68.6/116 Course C: 3,472 Blue 3,102 Yellow 70.4/121 2,841 White 67.5/115 2,442 Red 68.0/114 Designer: Pete Dye, 1992 General Manager: Khun Suraphol Komuthanond

Getting There 220/15 Moo 12, Bangphra, Sriracha, Chonburi 20210 +66 (03) 831-8000 info@khaokheowgolf.com www.khaokheowgolf.com

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Laem Chabang International CC

R

olling for 27 holes over and around 700 verdant and luxurious acres of valley, hills, lakes, waterfalls and vivid vegetation, the Laem Chabang International CC – 30 minutes from Pattaya – provides style, grace and challenge.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

In 1994, Jack Nicklaus shaped the natural rock, hilly terrain, indigenous landscaping and meandering streams to fashion a scenic and lush golf course. The facility has a fecund beauty about it.

Coconut and palm trees embroider the fairways and gardens and flower-beds splash color from teebox to green. Several bridges are festooned with floral arrangements that provide glorious softness to the already serene setting.

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Indeed, there is a signpost at every tee-box highlighting the genus of flowers that are so marvelously pervasive and abundant. And over 130 species of birds.

The three distinct nines range up to 3,619 yards (the Valley). The six par-3s do not exceed 212 yards, but keep an eye on the 175-yarder on the Mountain course with its sneaky 4 handicap. The par-5s travel from 518 to 550 yards. The par-4s are the struggle. The Lake

and Valley courses boast a 441 and 454-yard one handicap par4. Indeed, the two most difficult holes on each nine are 4s.

The fairways are characteristically wide, bunkered, slightly rolling and slanted. The greens are modest with subtle undulations and occasional gentle tiers. Other touches add grace: the mounded tree and rock garden adorning the intruding bunkers in the middle of the fairway on the Mountain 4th hole, trellised waterfalls accenting the edges of several fairways, and wooden bridges that clatter over streams edged with flora.

The Mountain course has elevations, drops and views, along with ample doglegs. The signature hole is the 384-yard 6th hole, with water on the left. You approach over a narrowing fairway to a green 35-yards deep sitting on a bulkhead on the edge of that leftside lake. A deep bunker protects the right side.

The Lake course is dominated by doglegs and water. The 6th is a 441-yard beauty. The prodigious drive must avoid a bunker (and water) on the inside angle at the dogleg right. Then leave this pod,

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Recreational “Great facility. I rank it top five.” “And now it has nine holes of floodlit golf !”

Professional “Consensus Top Ten. Facilities superb, service great, food yummy and nice people all around.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 1,250 to 3,750 Baht Caddies: 200 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout:

carry a pond and hit the target green resting behind a high bulkhead bordering the lake. The green is 24 yards deep.

The Valley, the most difficult nine, features more doglegs, a beach-load of bunkers and water intersecting the first four fairways. Labor your way through the first four holes, three of which are par-4s that average 435 yards. They all feature fairways intersected by water.

Better yet, this nine now has night golf (the first in the region).

three nine-holes (par-36) Rating/Slope:

Course A: Mountain Course A-B 3,446 Black 72.5/136 3,298 Blue 70.9/131 3,050 White 68.6/122 2,704 Red 70.5/124 2,319 Yellow n/a Course B: Lake Course B-C 3,419 Black 3,265 Blue 3,032 White 2,700 Red 2,409 Yellow

73.3/133 71.3/132 69.3/121 72.0/127 n/a

Course C: Valley Course C-A 3,619 Black 73.8/139 3,456 Blue 72.0/137 3,255 White 69.9/124 3,009 Red 72.6/128 Designer: Jack Nicklaus, 1993 General Manager: Somsak Hataipiemsuk

Getting There 106/8 Moo 4, Beung, Sriracha, Chonburi 20230 +66 (03) 837-2273 info@laemchabanggolf.com www.laemchabanggolf.com

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Phoenix Golf And Country Club Recreational “A very pleasurable golfing afternoon.”

Professional “Smooth and entertaining.

Great course for a family round of golf.” “Popular spot.”

The Specifics

T

he burnished, bronzed-capped roof covers an imposing, openair clubhouse, which presides over 27 holes of scenic golf – and provides sweeping views of the skyline of Pattaya and beyond to the Gulf.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

Three nines stretch over 1,000 rai (450 acres) of lush landscaping. Bouquets of shrubbery weave bracelets around the front lawn. Denis Griffith (who designed Thai CC, Chiangmai Green Valley and Soi Dao Highland) crafted this popular course in 1993.

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Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 1,000 to 1,800 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: The Mountain: 3,449 Blue N/A 3,224 White 2,907 Yellow 2,548 Red The Lakes: 3,261 Blue N/A 3,080 White 2,846 Yellow 2,394 Red The Ocean: 3,261 Blue N/A 3,080 White 2,846 Yellow 2,394 Red Designer: Denis Griffiths, 1993

Getting There

Km.158 Sukhumvit Road, It is accommodating and pleasantly Chonburi 20260 challenging, catering to 70,000 golfers annually. It plays through +66 (03) 823-9391 hillsides, rolling and wide fairways, pgccpataya@hotmail.com accommodating (but subtly slanting) greens, and streams and water The Lakes, at only 3,261 yards, (particularly on the Lakes nine). offers two, quirky holes: the The Ocean runs 3,363 yards over the 404-yard 4th with a mango prettiest terrain. It offers a gorgeous tree shading the middle of garden between the 2nd and 3rd holes the fairway; and the 406-yard and more eye-candy at the 161-yard double-dogleg 8th, the signature 7th. hole.

It starts with three short par-4s The Mountain is the longest at averaging 375 yards and finishes with 3,449 yards and has the lengthiest a scenic traverse down a 511-yard, and most difficult par-4. par-5 fairway with hills and valleys.

Look at the lovely view of Pattaya The 3rd is a 441-yard subtle, dogleg right handicapped 1. from the commodious green.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Rayong Green Valley Country Club

Recreational

P

icturesque Rayong Green Valley CC is framed by rolling hills and adorned by colorful flowers and shrubbery. It shares the sprawling acreage with its sisters, St. Andrew’s 2000 and the new Silky Oak CC. If St. Andrew’s is the busty, brassy, overthe-top big-night out, then this is the, pleasurable, courtly blind date: demure, well-dressed, well-mannered with a wonderful personality.

The first three holes are all dolled-up with plenty of adorable accessories: flowering bushes form bracelets around the fairways and swaying palm trees are draped like necklaces around the greens. Lakes and waterfalls are lovely accoutrements and towering trees, tumbling fairways, dramatic doglegs and diverse greens all add romance.

Designed by Peter Thomson in 1992, this 6,980-yard course boasts one long (239 yards) and three short par-3s. The par-4s stretch as far as 456 yards (the 1st), and five are in the 370 yard range.

The par-5s feature water and doglegs and extend from 506 to 575 yards.

Perhaps the personification of the landscaped loveliness course appears at the 174-yard 16th. As you finish you drive past an expansive rock and cactus garden with sprawls along the cart path.

Love is in the air.

I am told that the second date is as thrilling as the first.

“Great layout and, solid challenge. Really like it.” “It’s a course you keep playing and enjoy every time.”

Professional “Excellent track and popular.”

“It’s underrated.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,000 to 2,500 Baht Caddies: 350 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: Rayong Green Valley 6,980 Blue 73.5/137 6,306 White 70.1/125 5,217 Red 69.7/115 Designer: Peter Thomson, 1992 Managing Director: Narongdej Sinthukiow General Manager: Nirand Phimwong Practice Facility: double-sided driving range, bunkered putting green Walking: Yes

Getting There 9/36 Moo 7 T. Sumnukthon, Banchang, Rayong 21130 +66 (03) 803-0660 golfing@standrews2000golf.com www.standrews2000golf.com

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OLD COURSE and PLANTATION COURSE Pastoral, pacific and possibly perfect.

I

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

have to admit to a bias and special appreciation for Siam CC, because I witnessed Managing Director Prasertchai (Chai) Phornprapha, the project manager, eldest grandson and cheerleader of the expansive project, working closely with family members and Schmidt Curley Design Inc. five years earlier.

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Siam Country Club Pattaya Khun Chai meticulously organized the marvelous crafting of these two golf courses. During many visits over many months, I observed his painstaking attention-to-detail as the 45 holes progressed: renovation on the old course; innovation on the new.

I marveled simply because he did it right. With obsessive perfection.

HISTORY: Khun Chai was lured back from the US by his family, who required his organizational skills and efficient investment-banking eye to get it right in Pattaya. He did.

The two courses are groomed, courtly and immaculate. “We call these golf courses the best 45 holes in the Asia Pacific,” he stated.

Siam CC, just a 20-minute drive from the seaside resort town of Pattaya, was completed in 1972. For over 35 years, the idyllic, bucolic setting of this golf course – with narrow fairways embroidered by arching trees and adorned by lush, mature landscaping – was a magnet for members and vacationers.

But time took its toll, and the venerable, but aging, course needed restoration.

The late Dr. Thaworn Phornprapha was the patriarch whose passion for the game (and for Pattaya) created the original 18-hole environmental showcase (years before golf was in vogue). Now, in further homage to him, the family – led by his son, Khun Phornthep – has shaped a multiple golf sensation in further testament to his dreams.

The renovated 18-hole Siam Old Course (2007) and the innovative, naturalistic 27-hole Plantation have been painstakingly crafted within the enormous 5,600 rai (2,260 acres). The charming Old Course is a terrific instauration. The 27-hole Plantation is a robust, classy addition.

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Siam Country Club Pattaya

The sweeping views of Pattaya to the west, the nurturing use of the pure terrain (a private nursery onsite employs 40 gardeners), the serene accomplishment of establishing a golf atmosphere without the incursion of homes or buildings, are all a testament to their dedication to the game of golf.

“Golf should be played in just over four hours,” muses Khun Chai. “We want it to be a relaxing nature walk. This course has been meticulously designed for the aesthetic of golf.

PLANTATION: There is a primal, simplistic beauty to this modern, cultivated golf course.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

If it were an automobile, it would be a Lamborghini: sleek, polished, fast, perfectly detailed, luxurious and redolent of verve, style and swagger.

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Opened in 2008 – and offering more panoramas than the Eifel tower; or a good day on Mt. Everest – this wind-swept, rolling, links-style track undulates splendidly in rhythmic, roiling beauty over hilltop terrain. Pattaya’s seashore skyline hovers in the western horizon as wisps of clouds juggle for position in the high sky.

Beneath the blue rests an endless carpet of green punctuated by ubiquitous ground cover (Red Fountain, Love and Yellow Peanut grasses) and spotless bunkers (well over 150 – the 1st and 5th on Sugar Cane average 20). Paspalum grass dresses the course in a regal, emerald patina. “Is this stuff synthetic ?” A golf initiate asked me.

Besides the roof and the floor, the architecture of this exquisite golf tour de force is decorated by length. Golfing from the tips is a marathon. Pineapple, rolls for 3,645 yards, Sugar Cane (with glorious views) is 3,736 and Tapioca stretches 3,752. So put any two together and the arithmetic is over 7,400 yards. Whew! The Blues track nearly 6,900. Downhill helps. Wind, not always.

The 27 holes sweep across the hillside plains, with copious bunkers (waste, pot, beach, sprawling, pervasive), a host of natural grasses and the triple-green. Other than your perspiration, water pops up only on six holes.

But the challenge is the distance. Pack a toothbrush and a tent.

My team insisted on riding this course. Soft, exclamatory whistles floated past my ears and we doubled-up on golf carts. Expansive views exposed dozens of foursomes dotting the hillsides in 270-degree wonder: anthills of golfing activity; bustling, colorful, corybantic groups propelled themselves up and around the sloping fairways.

The Sugar Cane was our favorite. From the towering tee boxes of the 242-yard 6th (199 from the Blues) you have glorious views of the Pattaya skyline.

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Siam Country Club Pattaya

The 9th is one of many elongated monsters: 498 yards of par-4 terror, uphill to a three-tiered green that rolls 49 yards deep and only 15 across (part of the triple-green).

Tapioca is no dessert. The longest nine, it features a 606-yard dogleg right; followed by a 235-yard par-3 (with the wind this could be a treacherous hole); and a 581-yard dogleg right with a pond in front of the narrow green (with a 3 handicap).

The 6th is 443 yards of uphill, challenge to a 48-yard green that is a scant 15 yards wide.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

The Pineapple has more par-3 length with a 235-yarder (the 3rd) with a green that could do time as a runway. And the 184-yard 8th offers a 46-yard wide green with two table-top tiers book-ending a valley.

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Plantation

Recreational “Both courses are 10 carat. Like, solid gold. The Old is a walk in the park and the Plantation is wind-swept links golf. Superb.” “It is a class experience.

Top Five in Thailand for sure.”

Professional “This is about as professionally managed and maintained as they get.”

“The LPGA adores this place!” “It’s all style and substance. Both.”

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: 3,000 to 3,600 Baht Caddies/Carts: 400 Baht/650 Baht Layout: 3 nine-hole, par-36 Rating/Slope: Sugar Cane (A) 3,736 Black 3,438 Blue 3,213 White 2,598 Red

A-B 76.1/131 73.5/125 70.3/120

Tapioca (B) 3,752 Black 3,473 Blue 3,211 White 2,612 Red

B-C 75.8/142 73.1/136 69.9/120

Pineapple (C) 3,645 Black 3,401 Blue 3,204 White 2,543 Red

C-A 75.8/142 73.1/136 69.9/120

Designer: Schmidt & Curley Design, 2008 Manager: Kob Kaew Superintendent: Boon Thong

Getting There 50/6 Moo 9 T. Pong, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Tel: +66 (0) 3 890-9600, 081 295-9791 Fax: +66 (0) 3 890-9699 www.siamcountryclub.com info@siamcountryclub.com

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Siam Country Club Pattaya OLD COURSE: Antique, charming, elegant, and traditional, this is an exquisite walk through the park. It is the popular home of the LPGA Honda Classic every February.

Two years of precise planning and skilled reconstruction – combined with 35 years of antiquity – have resulted in the superlative renovation.

It now streams 7,162 yards over fertile fairways sparkling with Seashore Paspalum grass and accented by 100 bunkers. Designed by I. Izumi in 1969, Siam was Thailand’s first privately-owned golf club.

“We didn’t change the routing,” says Khun Chai. “We lengthened it by a couple hundred yards and shaped the contour a bit. It’s a traditional golf course with tree-lined fairways and little mounding.”

But it now has more enhanced challenges and elegant characteristics: elevations, wind, five doglegs, water looming on six holes, a double tee-box (10th and 16th) and bunkers. Many: strategically aligned, false-front (four) and whimsically (and optically) deceptive.

“The best part of the course is the last four holes. They could be a nightmare!” he smiles.

“We have Riviera-styled flash bunkers and use them as a deception,” smiles Khun Chai. “At the 11th [par-4, 450-yards, handicapped 1] it looks as if the left-side grouping of four bunkers is close, but it’s a 290-yard carry from the blues.” Indeed, the par-4, 423-yard 6th has nine bunkers (including a false-front duo), but as you stand on the back tier of the front-sloping green and look down the fairway you see only grass.

The par-3s are moderate (two in the 188 range) to brutal. The 8th is a long 220-yard carry over water to a 40-yard green wrapped in bunkers. But the 231-yard 16th (with a 3 handicap!) and water on two sides, defines trepidation.

The par-4s range from 373 yards to 450. The 449-yard 3rd is the second most difficult on the course, despite a wide landing area for the short hitter. If you can avoid one of three flanking bunkers tiptoeing up the fairway, your approach has to contend with a 50-yard deep, front-sloping green with a back tier only 20 yards wide.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

The 5s are long but fair (540 to 578 yards), but wind and elevations (and those ubiquitous bunkers) add adventure.

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The 18th is a double-dogleg left that runs 540 yards uphill. Accuracy will help you negotiate the first two shots, but at the angled approach veering left avoid: a mid-fairway bunker 100 yards out, two falsefront bunkers within 40 yards of a long (44 yards), a narrow green with two bunkers at the back left and some unexpected slopes.

And More…

A par-72 course, Waterside, is being planned for opening in March 2014, with a water theme spread over 525 rai (210 acres).

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Old Course

Recreational “It’s a restored classic.” “Great condition and feel. Like playing in your backyard.”

Professional “Classic.” “Groomed and graceful.

A parkland beauty.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 3,600 to 3,900 Baht Caddies/Carts: 400 Baht/650 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,162 Blue 74.1/132 6,534 White 71.4/126 6,191 Yellow N/A 5,329 Red 69.8/122 Designer: Schmidt & Curley Design, 2008 General Manager: Suksan Suwanpanich

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St. Andrews 2000

T

his is the most creative course in Thailand. Daring, full of energy and exhilaration, it is a surrealistic stretch of the golfing imagination, pushing past the boundaries of design expectation.

It is also beautifully groomed and decorative. It has swagger, pizzazz and accomplishment.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

Kinetic in conception, frenetic in implementation, it is topographically gyroscopic and wonderfully kaleidoscopic. The fairway mounding is bodacious, the landscaping artistic, the routing outrageous and the style – pure class.

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misshapen canyons and hollows; insistent elevations and views; split-level and tiered fairways; an extra par-3 hole with an island green; festering bunkers (15 on the par-4 6th), and a fairway shaped liked a woman’s body?

These 18 (well, 19) holes sparkle with eccentric excitement. This is a course on steroids with implausible possibilities. The links-style, out-

Designed by the flamboyant and whimsical Desmond Muirhead, the par-74 course, was crafted with a sweeping Scottish links-look over 7,540 yards of picturesque, rolling countryside. He is the Salvador Dali of golf architects.

How about: a gargantuan boulder garden at the 4th fairway; gracious waterfalls; spouting fountains; pervasive lakes; playful islands; LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Recreational “It has stood the test of time.

Top 10.” “This is a golf course!

Two par-6s!”

Professional and-back track is highlighted by the 700-yard 4th and 910-yard 13th with huge tiered-greens.

Although outsized in length, it has balance and plays at an accessible 6,862 and 6,303 yards from the two mid-tees. The par-3s are exceptional and difficult. The par-4s travel from 326 to 468 yards. The two par-5s are handicapped 16 and 17!

It’s audacious, stunning and inspiring.

“This is a big-league challenge from the tips.” “Iit’s a carefully calibrated course that demands respect.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,500 to 3,000 Baht Caddies: 350 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-74 Rating/Slope: 7,540 Blue 77.7/143 6,862 Yellow 76.1/138 6,303 White 71.5/130 5,334 Red 71.6/127 Designer: Desmond Muirhead, 2000 Managing Director: Narongdej Sinthukiow General Manager: Nirand Phimwong

Getting There

9/36 Moo 7 T. Sumnukthon, Banchang, Rayong 21130 +66 (03) 803-0660 golfing@standrews2000golf.com www.standrews2000golf.com

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Silky Oak Country Club

Recreational

S

ilky Oak CC has its new 36 holes up and running. They are shaping up to be a sterling addition to the two adjoining courses. Designed by the St. Andrews staff, the two courses feature elevations and distant views, flaunt 10 lakes and ponds, and present a host of terraced tee-boxes.

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

Completed at the end of 2012 , the “A” course is a British-style design with pot bunkers and small, oval or round, flat greens; the “B” is more American in style with free-form bunkers and bigger, shapely greens.

Now there is a terrific balance of playful par-3s, testing par-4s (four run from 420 to 468 yards) and judicious par-5s with gentle handicaps (except for the 585 13th the most difficult on the “A” nine).

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The distinguishing feature of this irriguous course is the “twin” design concept: contiguous tee boxes, matching greens, and the shared fairways. And, oh, the water. Lots of it.

The half-way house is perched on a hill with panoramic, 360-degree views, next to which is the enticing 5th, a hilltop par-3 5th – a sylvan beauty that loops 150 yards into an amphitheatre green.

Rayong: “Great layout and solid challenge. Really like it.”

“It’s a course you keep playing and enjoy every time.”

Professional “Excellent track and popular.”

“It’s underrated.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,000 to 2,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht 7,041 Blue N/A 6,514 Yellow 5,973 White 5,232 Red Designer: in-house team, 2011-2012 Managing Director: Narongdej Sinthukiow General Manager: Nirand Phimwong

Getting There 9/36 Moo 7 T. Sumnukthon, Banchang, Rayong 21130 +66 (03) 803-0660 golfing@standrews2000golf.com www.standrews2000golf.com

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Soi Dao Highland Golf Club

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an you justify the three-hour drive from Bangkok? You bet.

Clearly country, maybe rustic, but definitely worth the excursion, the this is a jewel of a golf course located deep in the southeast.

Scenic? For you movie buffs, it’s as if “Sound of Music” meets “South Pacific.”

Rimmed by the beautiful Khao Soi Dao mountain chain, the property ripples with forest and mountain elan. Blessed with surrounding forests; embroidered with indigenous trees; and sporting a splendid terrain that rolls and dips around and through creeks, ponds and lakes (with a waterfall or two), this course is as rewarding and gratifying as owning a water cannon at Songkran.

In 1995, Denis Griffiths designed the gently rolling fairways and slanting greens that tumble for 7,162 yards.

“When the course was built,” according to LtG. Bharawee Janlekha, “no damage was done to nature. Not one tree fell down. They were moved and replanted.”

And it shows. Trees that are indigenous only to the area, such as the ngew (“like a big rose bush”), samrong (“it bears a big, juicy fruit”) and the chamoung ( says the General, who also oversees the cozy, 46-room hotel on site) flourish here.

The area is known for its robust fruit market: rambutan, durian, longan, and mangosteen.

Intersecting creeks and ponds come into play on over half the holes and several gentle doglegs add some drama.

It is a perfect setting for golf. Take the journey.

Recreational “One of the best golf courses, and unquestionably the best value. You just have to get there!” “Don’t miss this.”

Professional “An excellent course. Top 10.”

“I brought 50 people here to play and saw 51 smiles.” “It’s special and underplayed.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 1,000 to 2,000 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 650 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,162 Blue 71.9 6,642 White 67.8 6,180 Yellow 71.1 5,379 Red 68.5 Designer: Denis Griffiths, 1995 General Manager: LtG. Bharawee Janlekha

Getting There 153/1 Moo 2, Tambol Tabsai, Pong Nam Ron District, Chantaburi 22140 +66 (03) 932-0174 soidaogolfclub@hotmail.com www.soidaogolfclub.com

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Pattaya and Rayong Notes BANGPAKONG RIVERSIDE CC

Halfway between Bangkok and Pattaya, the 18-holes sit like a vast island in a network of rivers, lagoons and lakes. At 7,140 yards and spread out over a 600-rai reserve, the club was voted one of Asia’s most popular golf courses at its inception in 1981. While it has a links-flavor, its decades of growth and the wonderful ecological patina give it more of a parkland feel. Spread along the Bangpakong River, this long, appealing, hybrid track ripples with a leitmotif of water. Doglegs accent the wide, level fairways at a dozen holes. +66 (03) 850-0500 www.brc-golfcourse.com

BANGPRA INTERNATIONAL GC The Club had its genesis in 1958 when the tourist authority decided to engender an interest in golf. The 7,209-yard course was taken over

by Japanese owners and reconfigured in 1987. new ownership?? The valleys and hillsides echo with color from the mature trees and flowering shrubbery as well as dozens of lakes and ponds that lace and decorate the fairways. Water is in play on 13 holes and temperate doglegs add excitement. The par-5s, are long and longer (622 yards).

The par-3s stretch from 206 to 228 yards. The par-4s are prodigious with four exceeding 431 yards. +66 (03) 834-1149 www.bangpragolf.co.th

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

CRYSTAL BAY GC This 27-hole track is just over an hour from Bangkok. Some rugged doglegs (A2nd and B3rd) and a trio of short, signature, par-3 island greens (A 8th, B4th and C7th) provide ample adventure and zdiversity. The par-4s are the test here and the reason the slope ratings run up to 135. Any combination of the three nines comes out to nearly 7,000 yards.

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+66 (03) 839-3001 www.legacygolfthailand.com

Pattaya and Rayong Notes EASTERN STAR CC & RESORT Built in 1991 by Robert Trent Jones, the 7,134-yard track was carved out of a coconut palm plantation and weaves its way around the residences on the resort. Water is in play on a dozen holes (11 lakes pepper the landscape), as are 10 doglegs (one double – the short 8th).

Bunkers (65) and over 2,000 palms decorate your round. +66 (03) 863-0410 www.easternstargolf.com

GREEN WOOD GC This 1994 Peter Thomson-designed course is under new ownership.

A good thing: these 27 holes of creative architecture are too splendid to be left languishing. Punctuated by mounding, swales, hollows, sand (beware) and palm trees, the five-time British Open champ has affectionately replicated the UK links courses he dominated on this inland landscape. It’s about as relaxed a layout as you’ll find and a great value. +66 (03) 826-3158 www.gwgolfclub.com

MOUNTAIN SHADOW GC A Ronald Fream signature course, this 6,722-yard track spreads its seductive fairway-tendrils down a hillside, around ponds and lakes and among old growth mango orchards. This course has three long par-5s, twinkling par-3s with island greens, and some eviscerating doglegs (11th, 14th and 16th). +66 (03) 839-3001 www.legacygolfthailand.com

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Pattaya and Rayong Notes PATTANA GOLF & SPORTS RESORT

Money and affection have been poured into this marvelous, 1,169 rai (500 acres) resort, featuring: 35 three-bedroom villas, a hotel, a 70room serviced apartment, a humongous clubhouse – and 27 holes of golf. It promises to be stunning if a management team can be gathered to organize the glorious elements and make the cohesive whole work.

Two par-6s and some lengthy par-4s give you 7,361 yards to meander over. This is potentially a most impressive golfing facility. It just keeps losing focus. +66 (03) 831-8999 www.pattana.co.th

PATTAYA CC & RESORT Disappointing. Located in a veritable Mecca of golfdom, this 20 year-old course is tired and somewhat unkempt. Too many other great choices in the area, so leave it to the locals who enjoy the value. +66 (03) 842-3718 www. pattayacountryclub.com

PATTAYA AND RAYONG

PLEASANT VALLEY GOLF & CC I did not spend much time here and none of my team has played it.

Minutes from the attractive Khao Kheow national park, the 7,002yard course is – as it name suggests – pleasant. The par-3s range from 140 to 240 yards. The par-4s run long and rugged; and one par-5 stretches to 601 yards. The course features ample water around its rolling fairways. Walking is recommended.

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+66 (03) 826-0825 www.pleasantvalley-golf.com

Pattaya and Rayong Notes ROYAL LAKESIDE GC & RESORT An impressive clubhouse and landscaping splendor capture your attention. A virtual botanical garden, your jaunt to the first tee is as pretty as it gets. The 18 holes are surrounded by a flowing, narrow lake, which serves as a marina for the terra-cotta-roofed homes that arc and stretch along the canals. The course traverses 6,815 yards, with 14 holes exposed to the lakes and a plethora of bunkers. +66 (03) 857-3275 www.royallakeside.com

WANGJUNTR GOLF PARK If you slide east past Chonburi for about 45 minutes, you will be in the fringes of Rayong where an expansive and ambitious set of forested mountain golf courses await your attack. They are imposing, daunting and scary-long. Just 1.5 hours from Bangkok, these 36 holes (plus, now, a nine-hole Jungle Course) are smothered in nature. Each of the Valley and Highland courses has two sets of greens, so you can play four golf courses. The Highland is long (bring your Thunderstick for the three par-5s that tumble from 606 to 679 yards), wet, forested and brutal (a 153 Slope!). The Valley is more gentle but just as dog-legged, wet and elevated. Accommodations aplenty are on site, as are activities (kayaking, biking and hiking). A nice weekend get-away for the long-ball adventurer and his outdoor-happy family. +66 (03) 896-5088 www.wangjuntrgolf.com

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HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

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Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi Banyan Golf Club Black Mountain Golf Club Grand Prix Golf Club The Imperial Lake View Resort & Golf Club Mida Golf Club Palm Hills Golf Club & Residence Royal Hua-Hin Golf Club Sea Pine Golf Course Springfield Royal Country Club NOTES Blue Sapphire Golf & Resort Dragon Hills Golf & CC Eagle Milford GC & Resort Hua Hin Evergreen Hills GC And Resort Kaeng Krachan CC And Golf Resort Petchaburi Majestic Creek CC Mission Hills GC Kanchanaburi Sawang Resort GC & Hotel

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Banyan Golf Club

Recreational

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uperb. Simply superb.

It towers, dips, twists, climbs, slopes, slants, bends and surprises.

A holistic calm suffuses this verdant, cascading golf course.

The Banyan Golf Club, heralded as Asia’s best new course in 2009, is perched upon the quiet edge of a sprawling mountain, and spread across a golfing promontory with hushed, cinemascopic views of both the distant Burmese mountains and the visually contiguous Gulf of Siam.

HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

It sweeps and rolls, descends and rises with naturalistic grace and repose.

Stately Banyan trees arbor the roiling fairways and serve as towering sentries to the tumbling topography.

Creeks and streams and lakes (and a waterfall) accent the lush landscape.

And handsome, crafted bunkers dot the 18 holes of the course – 10 minutes from the center of regal Hua Hin.

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For the beleaguered urban dweller, Banyan is a dreamscape. The only sounds that filter through your senses are the happy palpitation of your heart, a flutter of bird-speak and a susurrous wind-song whirling around the forested edges of this golfing sanctuary.

It crackles with enthusiasm, energy and elan.

This 7,361-yard championship course features: elevations, doglegs (two double), ample tee boxes, commodious greens, lakes, ponds and streams and drama. Three of the par-3s average 235 yards and possess

“One of the most peaceful, relaxing golfing environments I’ve seen.” “Wonderful golf along hillsides and streams.”

“The best.”

Professional

“Excellent condition, superb layout and a genuine challenge from all of the tees.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,950 to 3,850 Baht Caddies: included Carts: included Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,361 Black 75.2/137 6,774 Blue 72.2/130 6,286 White 70.3/120 5,087 Red 69.7/114 Designer: Pirapon Namtra, Golf East, 2009 General Manager: Stacey Walton Director of Operation: Stuart Daly

Getting There 101 Moo 9, Tab Tai, Hua Hin 77110 +66 (03) 261-6200 reservations@banyanthailand.com www.banyanthailand.com

some daunting greens. The par-4s tumble from 377 to 488 yards; and the par-5s range from 527 to 610 yards (a dogleg with a mere 14 handicap).

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Black Mountain Golf Club

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lack Mountain GC was completed in 2007 as part of an ambitious plan to develop a tasteful golf community with condominiums (76) and villas (71) – many that now stand in proud sentry on the hillside off of the sparkling 11th hole (and an expanded par-3 course and a new Water Park).

In early January 2011 it hosted the fifth edition of the prestigious Royal Trophy Cup (the Asian octet prevailed over the European golfers as an announced 40,000 spectators cheered them on). It was voted best host venue on the by the Asian tour players in 2010.

It has garnered countless accolades, including Top 100 Outside the US by Golf Digest (the first in Thailand on that list).

The 7,257 track (from the “Pro” tee with a Slope Rating of 146 boasts six sets of tee boxes). The longer front nine features a Champ 639-yard par-5, and a prodigious 488-yard par-4.

Recreational “A most difficult course despite the fact it’s popular and expensive.” “It has a Top 10 cachet.”

Professional “One of the best in Thailand.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 3,600 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,645 76 - Champ N/A 7,257 73 - Pro 75.5/146 6,956 70 - Low 73.3/142 6,501 65 - Men 72.2/135 6,061 61 - Men 70.4/131 5,657 57 - Ladies 73.3/134

Doglegs (five), water hazards on half of the holes, elevations (and blind drives), and a plethora of strategic bunkers (many deep and sprawling) all highlight the round.

Getting There

The par-3s (but for the 154-yard 3rd) all exceed 190 yards. The former, the 210-yard 11th, is a pastoral beauty.

+66 (03) 261-8666 proshop@bmghuahin.com www.bmghuahin.com

The par-4s this topographically tumbling course constitute the five most difficult holes.

567, Moo7, Nong Hieng Rd., Hin Lek Fai, Hua Hin, Prachuapkhirikhan 77110

The par-5s are all handicapped in the teens and start from 547 yards.

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Grand Prix Golf Club

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ontiguous to Blue Sapphire (a two-hour drive west of Bangkok in Thailand’s gem district), a great deal of effort has been expended here.

I toured on a drizzly summer day and was impressed.

Recreational

The expansive residential golf project is the brainchild of an automotive businessman. This course, his labor of love, is a vast (2,000 rai) residential and resort project and includes a boutique hotel, condominium units and a comprehensive range of sporting facilities, restaurants and shopping venues.

N/A

HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

It is gracious, imposing and private.

The par-72 track has five sets of tees

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“A lot of money and care was injected into this project.”

Professional The Specifics Type: private Greens Fees: TBD Caddies/Carts: TBD Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,136 Black N/A TBD Blue TBD White TBD Yellow 5, 791 Red Architect: Khun Prayard, 2012

Getting There 19 Moo 13 Chongdan, Bo Phloi, Chongdan Kanchanaburi 71160 +66(02) 971-7340 bluediamondgolf@gmail.com www.bluediamondgolf.com

and runs 7,136 yards. Bunkers (50) pepper the front side (none on the 460-yard 4th, which feels like an island fairway).

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

The Imperial Lake View Resort & Golf Club

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et amidst 1,100 rai (500 acres) of rolling hills and lakes, this is the oldest beach resort in Thailand. The fetching resort has 75 comfortable rooms and a pool, squash court, tennis courts and fitness facilities.

The 6,915-yard Championship Course was opened in 1993. The Desert Course, begun in 1997 is strikingly distinct.

Conditioning, dictated by a frequent dearth of water, is an issue.

The Championship Course is characterized by lakes on half the course; rolling and mounded fairways; plentiful doglegs; and ample mounded bunkers (more than 100). The greens are gyrating and sloping.

The par-3s feature the delightful 207yard double-island 14th where both the tee box and the green are on pods in the lake.

The rigor and excitement are captured by the par-4s, the six toughest holes.

They range from a tricked-up, bunkerladen, 323-yard 7th; to the lustrous 440-yard, dogleg-right 18th, featuring water up the entire left side and a waterfall at the green.

The par-5s run from 471 to 550 yards (the 2nd is a dogleg-right with eight bunkers strategically pock-marking the landing areas).

The Desert Course is a stark contrast to the valley-look of its sister. Flat, dry, with a links feel, the track is highlighted by boulder formations. The par-3s (164 and 186 yards) and par-5s (503 and 525) are short and playable.

Recreational “Was a disappointment. Expected a better-conditioned course.”

Professional “They could make this a really superb resort.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 800 to 2,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 750 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: Championship Course 6,915 Blue N/A 6,621 Yellow 6,195 White 5,396 Red Desert Course 7,276 Blue N/A 6,881 Yellow 6,407 White 5,939 Red Designer: Roger Packard, 1993 General Manager: Rachane Dangrojana Golf Course Manager: Sompong Jermpee

Getting There Cha-Am, Petchburi 76102 +66 (03) 245-6233 booking@imperialhotels.com www.imperialhotels.com

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Mida Golf Club

Recreational

M

ida GC, , adorning the outskirts of busy Kanchanaburi two hours west of Bangkok, has been growing bountifully for 20 years.

Ownership has recently changed and the rustic course now glows – as does a new clubhouse.

The 7,073-yard naturalistic golf course maximizes its foliage, mountain and forest backdrop (they claim 20,000 trees and half-dozen lakes) to provide a wonderful walk in the park.

HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

While the fairway grass is not perfect after all of these years, the condition and ambiance are lovely.

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Several doglegs, ample water, situp greens (many tiny), a half-dozen fairways with trees, and (but for the 550-yard 8th) minimal bunkers (I counted 49) all highlight the track.

The back nine is the more intriguing, as it sports five of the most difficult holes and lots of diversity and zest: the 435-yard 15th doglegs left with two fairway trees and no bunkers.

The long approach must avoid water on both sides of a dartboard green.

The 12th is a 586-yard par-5 that arcs around a lake on the entire right side. The 1 handicap is understandable as you peer at the 25 by 27-yard teardrop green.

“It seems new ownership has brought new life.” “An antique, peaceful course.”

Professional

“The course is old and the fairways show it, but the atmosphere is terrific.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private resort Greens Fees: 600 to 1,400 Baht Caddies/Carts: 250/600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,073 Blue n/a 6,501 White 6,131 Yellow 5,548 Red Architect: , 1992 Director of Golf:

Getting There 123 Moo 7 Tambon Lad Ya, Kanchanaburi 71190 +66 (03) 452-7250

information@midagolfclubkanchanaburi.com info@midahotelsandresorts.com

www.midagolfclubkanchanaburi.com

tional, particularly the 169-yard 11th. Two bunkers bookend the scant, sit-up green.

The property has a section of villas that provide 78 rooms for guests (mainly from overseas and BangThe par-3s on the back are excep- kok).

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Palm Hills Golf Club & Residence

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nchored by its affordable 6,892yard golf course, this resort is developing into an encompassing facility.

The 18 holes, on 1,600 rai (750 acres) of rolling landscape, bask in mountain backdrops and distant sea views.

The facility boasts a multi-level, attractive clubhouse and an expansive, popular sports club with a family-sized swimming pool, two squash courts, a small indoor gymnasium, fitness center and four outdoor tennis courts.

Designed in 1992 by American architect Max Wexler, the topographical highlights are the low hills that edge and accent many of the holes and several distant views of the Gulf of Siam.

The course features wide and gently rolling fairways; 11 doglegs; and water on more than half the holes. With the strategic placement of fairway bunkers and water framing a good deal of the course, it requires accuracy.

The variety also makes the course engaging. The par-5s, for example, give you some risk/reward temptation and extend to a bawdy 571 yards (the uphill par 16th at the edge of the mountainside, adorned with boisterous bougainvilleas). The 4s are testy and long, providing the toughest handicaps. They range from 369 to 432 yards.

The most fun, however, are the par-3s, which have a variety of sprawling traps, intersecting creeks, artistic bulkheads, frightening greens, captivating views, and some magnificent landscaping.

One even boasts a 3 handicap. They are short and exciting.

Recreational “It’s a perfect walk and a nice challenge.” ”Great family outing.” “Fairways and greens keep improving.” “Comfortable golf.”

Professional “It’s a lovely setting and a fine recreational round, but that water demands accuracy.

Enjoy the views.” “Some fun tinkering on the course with an island green being added.”

The Specifics Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 3,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 650 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,892 Blue 73.0/na 6,373 Yellow 71.0/na 6,139 White 70.1/na 5,498 Red 71.0/na Designer: Max Wexler, 1992

Getting There 1444 Phetkasem Road, Cha-Am, Petchburi 76120 +66 (03) 252-0801 info@palmhills-golf.com www.palmhills-golf.com

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Royal RoyalHua-Hin Hua-HinGolf GolfClub Club

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his is a national treasure and a regal antique.

The oldest golf course in Thailand, it extends over 240 acres of naturalistic terrain – built in an era sans bulldozers , when men and mules sculpted the landscape. Construction began in 1919.

HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

This 6,678-yard course has preserved its aura, class, the original clubhouse and all 18 holes. A 130 slope rating makes this more than just a viewing pleasure.

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The course has adorable simplicity.

The flat, wide terrain has no gimmicks (except for some marvelous topiary). No seismic earth movements, no artificial mounding or gyroscopic greens. It was built by hand and is still watered by hand. Two tees serve the course.

This course has punch, evident right from the beginning (the 1st is a 569yard par-5; the 2nd a 384-yard par-4; and the 3rd a 535-yarder – handicapped 6, 4, and 2). The bread on this sandwich is tough to chew.

Recreational “It’s a national treasure, it’s accessible and affordable.” “What’s the word: venerable?”

Professional “This course is a pleasure to walk and play and experience.”

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: 1,200 to 1,500 Baht Caddies: 250 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,678 Men 72.6/130 5,713 Ladies 73.6/126 Designer: A. O. Robin, 1928 General Manager: Prakob Nakbua, Admiral, RTN

Getting There Anphur Hua Hin, Prachuabkhilikan 77110 + 66 (03) 251-2475

The par-3s are short and absolutely royal_golf@hotmail.com delightful. The two shortest, the 131www.golfhuahin.com/royalhuahin yard 5th and the 139-yard 14th, are green on the edge of the hill side. sumptuous. The 4s range from the Mountains tumble down. From 305-yard 12th to over 440 yards. the tee box hill, loft a short iron to The beauty here is the 149-yard a two-tiered green perched on the 14th. A temple spire rises behind the hill over the chasm.

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Sea Pine Golf Course

Royal Thai Army Sports Center Suanson Pradipat

T

he Army originally developed this seaside site as a retreat for soldiers and veterans. Opened in September 2010 (four kilometers south of town) the course is set within bracken pine trees and the towering mountains and the Gulf of Siam. It is “a tropical version of a links course,” the Generals say.

Designed with six holes beachside and 12 inland (divided by the railroad), the sea breezes often dominate and dictate the degree of difficulty. The 7,350-yard (6,350 from the middle of five sets of tees) track is diverse (ample carries over water on 14 holes; half are doglegs; sprawling beach bunkers abound), fun and aquatic. It sports a fair 131 Slope Rating.

The par-3s are long from the back tees (where they average 210 yards).

The beauty, the 17th, is the shortest (186/146 yards). The par-4s (particularly on the longer back nine where the shortest is 420) are gigantic. The par-5s travel from 508 to 540 yards from the mid-tees (538 to 619) and, but for the longest (the 12th) are doglegs with ample water.

The three finishing holes (a 580-yard right-angle dogleg with glorious views; a signature 186-yard, seaside par-3 with a peninsula green; and a crafty 420-yard dogleg with two carries) are artistic.

Recreational “Enjoyable. A buddy got bumped by the military, but I liked it.”

Professional “It’s the real deal. The military loves to play golf !”

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: 2,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht/1 person Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,350 Tournament 75.2/131 6,824 Championship72.8/125 6,350 Exclusive 70.3/120 5, 738 Yellow 71.8/122 5, 413 Front 67.5/113 Designer:

Major General Weerayuth Petchbuasak

Director: General Kosit Samutpong

Getting There Nong Kae, Hua Hin 77110 +66 (03) 251-5470 rtasportscenterii@hotmail.com www.suansongolf.com

NOTE: the Army rules here, so when the Generals come, step aside.

A 199-room hotel is steps away.

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Springfield Royal Country Club

S

HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

pringfield Village Golf & Spa is celebrating its 20th anniversary this autumn.

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a family affair. Dr. Tasnawat Sombuntham, the youngest of four siblings, was introduced to golf when he was seven by his physiOpened in 1993, this 7,043-yard cian-father. “My brother-in-law layout (Mountain and Lake coursvisited Nicklaus in Florida bees were designed with diligent fore embarking on the three-year craft by Jack Nicklaus), has a slope construction. Jack was terrific, my rating of 130, and features: a plethbrother-in-law told me. Many visora of sand bunkers; manmade its and lots of concern with landing lakes; doglegs; generous, tumbling, areas and ball positioning. fast greens; and creative inclusions (the18th is an island green, framed “My sisters, one an accountant, by the imposing clubhouse). another a medical doctor – a dermatologist; and a painter and spaIn August 2006, the course exbuff – managed the course and panded with the nine-hole Valley they then became the force behind Course, built by Schmidt-Curley, the hotel and Spa. My eldest sister featuring long, narrow, heavilyresides in the U.S.” bunkered fairways.

Dr. Tom is a courtly, US-trained, It has been chosen as the venue to practicing physician who now host the Asian Tour Q-School fihelps oversee much of the operanal stage for the past four consecution of the resort. “We take great tive years (2010-2013). pride in our extended ‘family’ here.

Springfield Golf has always been We have many caddies and staff

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who have been with us from the very beginning and we have helped send many of their kids to college.

We are also proud of the fact that we have many nationalities of golf pros on hand to assist and guide our international guests, should the need arise.

“In addition, we have taken a longterm view of the ecological impact of our 1,200 acre resort. We are caretakers and think ‘green’ on and off the golf course.” He smiles at the double entendre. “Water is our challenge and we preserve it.”

A gentleman.

Indeed, the course is, also, courtly and hosts more than 100 species of native birds, and fish occupy 12 lakes (water impacts two-thirds of the holes). “We are a proactive member of the Audubon International, a world-renowned environmental organization.”

The impressive and stylish 97room resort and spa was added in January 2006. The hotel wraps around a sprawling pool with a quiet waterfall (serving as a backdrop to an Italian fusion restaurant).

Additionally, a 15-minute drive east, the 105-room, beachfront Springfield @ Sea serves up a beach and gargantuan pool with Favonian sea breezes flowing through the seaside restaurants.

The 18-hole course has moderate par 5s, which, with the exception of the 18th, are reachable in two.

The par 3s, ranging from 167 to 209 yards, are typical short-andlong Nicklaus with two lengthy tests, the 4th and 17th.

The 6th is the shortest and may be the most fun. With distant mountains unfolding and rolling down

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HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

Springfield Royal Country Club

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Recreational “Superb early-Nicklaus layout and a comfortable resort with an outstanding spa, good food and tennis courts.” “Course condition has improved.”

in backdrop, this plays tougher than its 18 handicap. The tee shot must carry a huge waste bunker and intersecting creek. The green is 20 yards wide and 37 deep and encircled by three bunkers.

Par 4s constitute seven of the eight hardest holes on the course and stretch as far as 460 yards (the 15th).

The 393-yard 8th is a slight dogleg left which becomes more difficult as the years progress. The inside angle has a large over-hanging tree which, at the time of the construction was supposed to have been cut. However, the caring locals would not remove it: the spirits and ghosts wanted it to be protected. And be aware of this spirithole as you approach for your second shot – the tree is said to be over 150 years old.

The big challenge is the uphill, rightangle 422-yard 13th. Your tee shot must miss the traps on both sides of fairways and expansive water running up to the entire right side start at the landing zone. The approach must carry water to a long, narrow, sloping green.

The daunting finishing hole is a par5, 527-yard double-dogleg that travels in three different directions over the flexuous fairway. Your tee-shot must avoid two bunkers short on the left side and a trap running up the right, and lay up at the lake. Floating on the other side is a generous circular green with a slight mound.

Amble back to the handsome clubhouse, walk up the stairs, hang a left, check in for the night, enjoy dinner and do it all again.

Professional “When maintained, Springfield provides an excellent, fair round of golf.”

The Specifics Type: resort (97 hotel rooms and suites) Greens Fees: 3,500 B Caddies /Carts: 300/750 Baht Layout: Mountain/Lake 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,043 Gold 73.2/130 6,695 Blue 71.6/127 6,285 White 69.6/119 5,660 Red 72.0/123 4,964 Green n/a Valley

With Lake 3,673 Gold 74.3/136 3,454 Blue 72.6/132 3,251 White 70.7/123 2,991 Red 73.7/128 2,534 Green n/a Designer: Jack Nicklaus, 1993 / Valley course: Schmidt-Curley, 2006 GM: Pro Jack (Arnajak Attapreyangkul) DoG: Michael van Amelsvoort Instruction: Golf Learning Center ( Junior Camps, Golf School) Practice Facility: driving range, chipping green, putting green Walking: permitted

Getting There 208 Moo 2, Sampraya, Cha-Am, Petchburi 76120, Thailand Tel. + 66(0) 3270-9222-5 Fax. +66(0) 3270-9234 www.springfieldresort.com reservationbkk@springfieldresort.com

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Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi Notes BLUE SAPPHIRE GOLF & RESORT Tucked away two hours west of Bangkok (170 kilometers), the resort was constructed in 2002 on an exhausted gem mining site. The 6,975-yard Canyon and the newer 6,756-yard Ocean Courses are surrounded by water (not ocean!), and accented by the elevations resulting from the gorges and valleys created by excavation over the years, island greens, and countless doglegs. The tracks need grooming, but are full of imagination and surprises and some memorable golf holes. Water is everywhere. The par-5s are long and the greens bodacious (Canyon 609-yard 17th). The Ocean features benign par-5s and some testing par-3s on the inward half (the 10th is 224 yards with an 8 handicap). A little more superintendence and it is a solid 10-carats. +66 (03) 458-1322 www.bsgolfclub.com

DRAGON HILLS GOLF & CC

HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

This course, located in the middle of valley and hills, offers routing that ranges from serene to dramatic and is tucked inside 1,500 acres of naturalistic terrain. The original course, designed in 1994 by Jim Engh as part of an extensive residential community 90 minutes west of Bnagkok, winds for 6,821 yards and is characterized by tumbling fairways; narrow and daunting landing areas; roiling mounding, particularly around the greens – which are long, tiered, front-sloping and hugged by a captivating assortment of bunkers. Water on 14 holes, 11 doglegs and lovely mountain forestry makes this track exciting. Two more courses, designed by Isao Aoki and Jack Nicklaus, have been part of the original site plan.

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+66 (03) 222-8222 www.dragonhillsgolf.com

EAGLE MILFORD GC & RESORT HUA HIN Designed by Robert McFarland in 1992 and revamped in 2010, this course, 15-minutes south of Hua Hin in a wonderful bucolic setting, is dated and has been marginal in maintenance. It exists as an option for beginners looking for some practice, quiet, and a naturalistic backdrop. The 6,475 -yard track features nine quiescent holes followed by a scenic back side with uninterrupted views of the Gulf of Thailand and surrounding mountains. Check out the scampering peacocks running through the edge of the fairways. And the views. +66 (03) 257-2444 www.milford.co.th/golf_huahin.htm

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Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi Notes EVERGREEN HILLS GC AND RESORT This 97-room resort and golf course – similar to many Kanchanaburi tracks – caters to vacationing Koreans as well as locals. The 6,879yard course features the water-borne, par-3 16th with a green in the middle of the lake; and par-4 17th with water bookending the fairway. Nice condition. +66 (08) 1 928-1992

www.evergreenhillsgolfclub.com.th

KAENG KRACHAN CC AND GOLF RESORT PETCHABURI This course is, unfortunately, remote and, therefore, underrated (and underexposed). An hour north and inland of Hua Hin (51 kilometers) and nestled in an impressive mountain range, the location dissuades many golfers. Too bad. Load up the camel and take the hike.

Opened in 1994, the Lake and Valley nines were designed by Cherd Bunyaratavej, a popular local architect. The fairways are lush and the greens tricky. Several lakes offer water hazards on six holes. The new Jack Nicklaus nine-hole Mountain course opened for play in early 2008, and stretches over 3,600 yards, offering some dramatic elevation. Great value! +66 (08) 1 867-6701 kkcclubhouse@hotmail.com

MAJESTIC CREEK CC

This water strewn, 27-hole course (built on 400 acres) was opened in 1993. This year the owner has taken a hands-on interest and the word on the street is that positive changes are being made. Bunkers to the left, bunkers to the right (totaling more than 100) and doglegs galore, will keep you on your toes. Water on 19 holes and rolling fairways placed against a backdrop of majestic mountains (they form the border with Myanmar) add to the visual splendor. I like the layout and ambiance. A leitmotif of understated, landscaped elegance: a rock sculpture as you approach the 1st tee, the quaint bridges at the 15th and 17th. +66 (03) 252-0162

majesticgolf@thailand.com

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Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi Notes MISSION HILLS GC KANCHANABURI

This is the first Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Thailand. Opened in 1991, it provides delightful playability with accommodating fairways, strategic bunkers and calm. The natural terrain is flat, but the tumbling fairways are accented by rolling and dramatic bunkers. Long par-4s provide most of the par-hardship with four of them exceeding 430 yards. Typically, one par-3 is long (the 219-yard 6th). The par-5s range from 513 yards to 553 with a nifty double-fairway featured on the 545-yard 12th. +66 (03) 464-4147

www.ksc.th.com

HUA HIN and KANCHANABURI

ROYAL RATCHABURI GC & RESORT

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This scenic and contoured golf course lies at the base of a forested mountain range and shares the ridges with hundreds of happy monkeys, a 90-minute drive west of Bangkok, in a town of ample and impressive Buddhist temples, shrines and mammoth statuary. Opened in 1988 it ranges to 6,852 yards. The defining features are the explosion of bunkers on the back side (more than 70) and a network of lakes that influence a trio of holes at the end of the front nine and the 13th through 16th. +66 (03) 226-1223

www.royalratchaburi.com

SAWANG RESORT GC & HOTEL Set in a splendid forested mountain range 84 kilometers west of Bangkok, these 27-holes could be fantastic. But no one is paying attention to maintenance. The hotel is weary and the condition of the course is neglectful. Huge potential, though. Let’s hope someone and brings it in to this century. +66 (03) 256-2555 www.sawangresort.com

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Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Alpine Golf Resort - Chiangmai Chiangmai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort Chiangmai Inthanon Golf and Natural Resort Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort Santiburi Country Club Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club NOTES Gassan GC & Resort (3) Mezza Nine, Koolpunt Golf Royal Chiangmai Golf Resort Waterford Valley Chiang Rai GC & Resort

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Alpine Golf Resort – Chiangmai

Since the 13th century, Chiang Mai has been the pulse of the northern Kingdom of Thai Lanna. This culturally significant city, greater than 700 kilometers north of Bangkok, is enveloped in a narrow valley among the highest mountains in the country.

Chiang Mai was rebuilt in the late 18th century when the Burmese were expelled and a diverse aggregation of multi-tongued artisans from Burma, Laos, China and East Bengal were conquered and brought to live in the fertile basin. Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam after the Thai King helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.

CHIANG MAI and CHIANG RAI

The city burgeoned with cultural diversity and flourished with beautiful handicrafts, principally silver jewelry, handcrafted goods and wood carvings.

More than two million foreign tourists visit each year.

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Regal and elegant, with serenading mountains decorating its verdant valleys (Doi Inthanon is 2,565 meters or 8,415 feet), Chiang Mai continues to make every guest feel like a prince.

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uilt within 450 rai of valley and forest, this is an elegant restoration of parkland golf in a gracious mountain setting.

Adorned with a bracelet of mountains, it has resort grandeur, decorative charm, and is wonderfully conditioned.

Everything is new: the stately golf course has been redesigned with Paspalum grass on the fairways, the resort (78 rooms with views) is capacious and harmonic, the spa fetching, and the clubhouse classy.

I first saw this property in 2003 when it was Chiangmai Lamphun GC and “draped in arboreal elegance. Golden teak and rain trees, along with countless blossoming shrubs, flowerbeds and vines decoLIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

rate beautifully crafted stone walls.” Three years later and it was dry and neglected.

In 2008 the restoration began. Unfortunately, none of the antique course was saved. Ron Garl was commissioned to build a new one.

And a fine job he did. But not preserving some of the exquisite features (the par-3 15th, the “Rose Hole”, was a gem).

However, my rookie sidekick marveled at its condition and the verdant mountains framing it. The Black tees measure 7,541. The Blues are 7,174, so my comments are based on that sane yardage.

Two of the par-3s are in the 150s, so that provides some relief. But the Brobdingnagian 4th to the 7th (a pair of par 4s and 5s) total 2,080 yards (the Whites are 1,997), or two kilometers! Hey, rent a jet-pack.

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Alpine Golf Resort – Chiangmai Few bunkers intrude on the fairways (on the front nine only the first two holes have fairway traps). Water is pervasive and is in serious play on every hole but for the 444-yard 5th.

The biggest hazard is the captivating mountains circling the course One favorite is the slender, flexuous 456-yard 9th, an arcing par-4 (handicapped 5) that slides along a right-side lake. The tee-shot carries the water to a commodious landing pod. The long approach requires a glorious loft over (or around) a mid-fairway, gnarly tree and the lake to a sweeping, left-to-right, frontsloping green.

The monster is the 11th, a whopping 485-yard dogleg-left par-4 (475 from the Whites!) with yet another water carry from the tee-box.

Drive past an elegiac Jamjuree tree draping its tendrils over a tiny island and reflecting off the blue pond.

The bragging rights, however, belong to the “Signature Zone:” the 14th, 15th and 16th holes. The former is a picturesque 527-yard par 5. The drive carries water and passes twin palms in the middle of the fairway.

“A handsome and robust course.” “I miss the charm of the old layout, but the new design and conditioning here is special.”

Professional “This is a big league track with exceptional holes. And I do enjoy the cooler climate!”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 3,000 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,541 Black 70.2/123 6,915 Blue 68.8/121 6,414 White 71.3/132 5,562 Red 76.9/151 Designer: Ronald M. Garl, 2008 General Manager: Pan Thaweewat Head Pro: Nupat Pruengprasith Superintendent: Somsak Tanpanya

Getting There San Kamphaeng-Banth Rd., Chiangmai 50130. +66 (05) 388-0888 chiangmai@alpinegolfresort.com www.alpinegolfresort.com

CHIANG MAI and CHIANG RAI

The post-card 15th is a 151-yard loft to a stone bulk-headed, island green with a bunker providing protection in the front.

Recreational

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Chiangmai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort Recreational “Got to love the cooler mountain weather and conditioning of this course.” “Really neat service and comfy quarters.”

“Excellent golf !”

Professional

“It’s a first-class track with courteous and professional service.”

The Specifics

I

visited in 2005 as the course was being completed by the Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley design team and was delighted to see the attention to detail: a handsome clubhouse, a soothing 10-room spa, family villas and 19 capacious rooms.

The track rumbles an impressive 7,227 yards. The Blues measure 6,621. It has consistently garnered “Best Of ” awards.

The course highlights water on 11 holes – oddly, on five consecutive holes on each nine; bunches of bunkers: 46 on the front side (the 438-yard 8th has 11 splayed down the left side up to a characteristically commodious green), although four fairways are without fairway sand (4th, 13th, 16th and 18th); and accommodating putting surfaces – and the Paspalam lawn.

The par-3s are pleasant and modest.

One on each side has a water carry. The 201-yard 14th is the longest.

The par-4s range from 342 to 460 yards and feature the seven most difficult holes. The prodigious 5th is handicapped 1.

Three par-5s are long. The 3rd does a 601-yard, dogleg swing left with five

Type: resort Greens Fees: 3,000 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,227 Black N/A 6,621 Blue 6,287 White 5,056 Red Designer: Schmidt-Curley Design, 2006 General Manager: Prayoot Attasillapakit Superintendent: Sathip Chaonchom

Getting There On Nuar, Mae On, Chiangmai 50130 +66 (05) 326-1354-9 info@chiangmaihighlands.com www.chiangmaihighlands.com

bunkers at the two landing zones on the right side and water down the left.

The rollercoaster, 558-yard hilltop 18th is the signature hole with an 8 handicap. From the terraced tee-boxes, launch downhill to the inside angle of the dogleg-left fairway, where you might catch the slope and get a roll. No bunkers here. Either lay-up in front of the crossing creek (125 yards out) or sail over and try to land in front of the sit-up green. But be wary on the uphill approach: four deep bunkers encase the 40-yard wide putting surface.

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Chiangmai Inthanon Golf and Natural Resort

M

y New York sidekick joined me on a mountain escapade toward the towering Doi Inthanon (Thailand’s highest peak at 8,415 feet) hoping to see some cool northern lights. A new addition to Chiang Mai’s stellar golf-destination presence, it is worth the trip.

Set within 200 acres (a former mango and longon forest), this clever, delightful and bosky track courses its way over serene hilltops, lush, forested vegetation and past copious streams, lakes and ponds (the only dry hole is the 15th).

CHIANG MAI and CHIANG RAI

Highlights are the flexuous and angled doglegs; forced water carries; island greens (the 13th and 18th); a split fairway (the 7th); clusters of bunkers (the par-3 6th has a bracelet of seven encircling the green); towering trees, looming mid-fairway; long and short par-4s; and capacious greens.

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Khun Sayan, runs an export business that delivers the fruits of these fertile fields. He is also an avid golfer. So five years ago he proposed to his wife and business partner, Khun Nattamon (“Well, she is actually the boss…”) that a golf course would complement both the hillside and the family business. And, of course, give him a playground.

So they hired Supachai Silamon, a local golf architect, and they began their joyful labor. “This is my baby!” said Sayan. “I wanted to make this a memorable and exceptional experience. Embrace nature!”

In June 2010, 7,268 yards of golfing opportunity were created (the first two holes feature a prodigious 610-yard par-5 followed by a 464yard par 4). My reference will be from the 6,898-yard tees.

The par-4s are the challenge, ranging from the 440-yard 2nd (over a LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Recreational “New and fun. Naturalistic.

Enthusiastic.”

Professional

“Caught it on a rainy day, but still enjoyed the layout and challenge. Great potential.”

The Specifics

crossing creek with flanking wetlands that pinch the fairway just before the 50-yard deep, two-tiered green); the 425-yard 9th; and the 424-yard 10th (handicapped 1, 3 and 2); to the intriguing 363-yard 5th (a tiny doglegright offering splotches of bunkers from the landing area to the green.

The par-5s are long and are burnished by the splendid finishing hole, a 545yard rolling trek to a peninsula green carved from a ravine. It is a signature beauty: the last-minute dogleg-left begins on a quiet hilltop and presents a wide fairway with a blind tee shot.

Reach the landing area and peak over the ridge and downhill to the querulous green complex set on a cliff and surrounded by water (with the resort and clubhouse in an arcing backdrop).

Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,500 Baht (stay-and-play resort packages start at 4,500 Baht) Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,268 Black N/A 6,898 Blue 6,548 White 6,098 Yellow 5,658 Red Designer: Supachai Silamom, 2009 General Manager: Parinya Samerjai

Getting There 99 Moo 13 T. Khuangpao, A. Jomthong, Chiangmai 50160 +66 (05) 326-7115/6

booking@chiangmaiinthanongolfresort.com

www.chiangmaiinthanongolfresort.com

Lay-up downhill more than 200 yards and prepare to loft a high approach over the water to a sloping green 43 yards deep and 22 yards wide.

As the course matures, greens and grows it will become a holistic alternative for the happy golfer.

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Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort Recreational “Gets better as it ages.” “Lots of nice golf up north, and this course adds to the choices.”

Professional “Solid.”

The Specifics

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uilt in 2004, this attractive and enjoyable course, spreading over 500 rai (and 20 minutes north of Chiang Mai), runs a comfortable 6,570 yards (5,375 from the forward tees) through wide fairways. It is tranquil and composed.

It has become progressively more impressive as the years add maturity.

Type: public Greens Fees: 2,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,570 Blue N/A 6,442 Yellow 6,085 White 5,375 Red Designer: Senee Thirawat , 2004 General Manager: Songdej Panichamit

Getting There 112 Moo 7, Baan Sriboonruang, Sansai, Chiang Mai 50210 +66 (05) 335-4431-2 info@.maejogolfclub.com www.maejogolfclub.com

CHIANG MAI and CHIANG RAI

This fertile fruit orchard was converted into a wonderfully landscaped track. The gardening is superb as colorful flowers and shrubs blossom en route. A nice touch – and taste.

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Water (except from the 13th through the 16th holes) is sprinkled around the track and is in play on 11 holes. Doglegs proliferate on more than half the holes (with two doubles, the 4th and 6th). So do the fruit trees (Longan, Lychee, Pomelo, Mango and Tangerine).

The par-4s range from 312 to a robust 441 and 475 yards (the only ones The course is family-owned and exceeding 390 on the course). The well-maintained. Attention to greens are uniformly large and testy. detail makes it special (I like the tee-markers and signage!). ElevaThe back nine is longer and more tions and views of the mountain challenging – and provides some ranges give it flavor and style. As glorious panoramas from the 177- does a boutique resort and spa. yard 14th.

Nice experience.

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Santiburi Country Club

I

f you are seeking a truly player-friendly golf course in immaculate condition with gracious landscaping and terrain adorned with arboreal elegance, take the pilgrimage north to the valleys and mountains of Chiang Rai.

Despite December’s winter grass, the course sparkled emerald green. And the grounds were flawless. Was there even a loose twig on the ground? The leaves seemed hand-polished and the sand must have been blow-dried. The lake water is probably changed daily and the powder-puff clouds ordered the night before. And the birds had manicures.

This course has more nice touches than 20 soothing aestheticians at your favorite spa. This is scenic eye-candy. It dazzles and it calms.

The track begins with a casual double-dogleg that meanders 522 yards down a bunker-less fairway and winds up at a flat green with an array of bunkers running up the right side.

Then it becomes rhapsodic. It’s an Elegy Written on a Sylvan Fairway: Scene I: Haunting The 384-yard 5th stretches past your imagination. Lovely? Gaze out at an intersecting lake that twists around the left side of the fairway. A bridge, with a glorious potted garden framing the railing, carries you to the tee. The green is encapsulated in crafted rock bulk-heading. Trees on the left edge are embroidered into the landscape with quiet majesty.

Puffy clouds linger in a cerulean winter sky accenting the bluest firmament witnessed since Gainsborough. Oh, the golf…a languid, flexuous fairway, a couple of bunkers and an elevated, front-sloping green.

Scene II: Exquisite From the 6th tee-box, a 573-yard dogleg right begins its extension uphill. Another “Landscape Moment” – this one worthy of Van Gogh, surrealistic in its isolated beauty. A mushrooming Jaamjuree tree sits down the right edge of the pod, spreading like an awning over the LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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Santiburi Country Club fairway. Carry the bisecting canal 40 yards further up and avoid the double-decker bunker on the left (part of a pair flanking the fairway) 150 yards out and a mounded, giant, false-front bunker 50 yards out. The green sits in hilltop repose embraced by hollows, swales, a pot bunker on the left and more sand on the right.

It’s two-tiered, only 20 yards wide. It earns the 1 handicap.

Scene III: Enthralling Wildflowers – bright, yellow and glimmering – scramble over the rising dale as you reach the tee box.

Drive to the right of this 370-yard split fairway, preferably on the plateau above the bunker in the middle.

An elegant garden in crushed stone sits at the base of a lake. Orangeblossoming Khaesaad trees add to the peripheral pleasure.

Scene IV: Penultimate The back nine is as verdant with more surprises and delights. The 13th is a double-dogleg right that bends 503 yards. The green complex has five bunkers stretching up the right side from inside the last angle past the green. The 15th, a 421-yard dogleg right, features a stunning stone and boulder garden spreading around the cart path behind the green.

Recreational “Immaculate, elegant, loved it.” “Perfect for the serious recreational golfer.”

Professional “About the best-conditioned and groomed course in the north, if not the country.”

The Specifics Type: public Greens Fees: 1,600 to 2,200 Baht Caddies: 250 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,076 Gold 71.9/140 6,434 Blue 69.9/122 5,792 White 67.5/114 5,083 Red 69.7/114 Designer: Robert Trent Jones II, 1992 General Manager: Chotivud Gajesanandana

Getting There 12 Moo 3, Huadoi-Sobpao Rd., Wiangchai Province, Chiang Rai City 57210 +66 (05) 377-4685 golfreservation@santiburi.com www.santiburi.com

CHIANG MAI and CHIANG RAI

the signature hole, a quaint, 170Scene V: Finale The trio closing out your ethereal yard short-iron over water. afternoon begins with the 447-yard 16th (handicapped 2). The 17th is What a denouement.

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Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club Recreational “This is an unheralded, special place. Gorgeous and a challenge.”

Professional “Big-time golf course. Play smart and long.” “If you’re up north, visit.”

The Specifics

T

his 7,202-yard course, designed

by Denis Griffiths in 1991, embraces approximately 1,300 rai to accommodate its intimidating 142 slope rating.

Bring your best game and be prepared for quite a shoot-out. Even if you move up a tee-box you’re still dealing with nearly 6,900 yards of daunting grace (this slope is 133).

The fairways are long, the greens are fast and vary in size. Water is pervasive and bunkers are prolific (more than 100; several garrulous, boisterous traps run up the 8th and 9th fairways).

Despite its length, the track has good balance. The par-3s are in the 180’s, but for the monster 236-yard 16th. All the par-4s, except the 396-yard 7th, are greater than 400 yards and top out at 467 (the 13th). The 5s are respectable and average 530 yards except for the migraine-producing 1st hole, which is a 610-yard gorilla with a 2 handicap.

Type: semi-private Greens Fees: 1,800 to 2,400 Baht Caddies: 250 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,202 Blue 74.5/142 6,875 Yellow 72.9/133 6,490 White 71.1/128 5,509 Red 72.1/125 Designer: Denis Griffiths, 1991

Getting There 186 Moo 1 Chotana Rd., Mae-Rim,Chiangmai 50180 +66 (05) 329-8222 – 3 info@summitgreenvalley.com www.summitgreenvalley.com

The toughest and longest par-4 is the dogleg-left, 467-yard 13th.

Then finish in elongated fashion with a consecutive par step-up: the par-3 16th is 236 yards; the par-4 17th is 446 yards of wavy fairway; the par-5 18th is a dogleg right that travels 536 yards past a 130-yard bunker.

Start with a 610-yard par-5, with a two-level fairway, water running up the entire left side and seven bunkers plastered like a plague on the fairway.

Bunker: the 521-yard par-5 5th has 12 of them buried in a mountainous topography from 90 yards into the green.

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Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Notes GASSAN GOLF CLUB & RESORT Three golf courses, two resorts and more than 2,000 rai of prime Chiang Mai real estate. The Gassan Group (the name derives from Japanese for “mountain”) purchased an idyllic tract of mountain property 45 kilometers southeast of Chiang Mai. In 2004, the Khuntan resort was built, surrounded by Doi Khuntan National Park, famous for historical structures like The Railway Bridge and Khuntan Tunnel. The sprawling resort features 63 rooms overlooking the valley that embraces the 7,068-yard golf course and the terraced hills and mountains.

The 7,089 yard Lake City opened in August 2005 and is dominated, as you might guess, by lakes. A 75-room resort provides comfortable lodging.

Gassan Marina runs nearly 7,600 yards. It has been built around Chiang Mai’s largest lake with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. It was barely occupied when I visited.

Gassan also owns and operates the Gassan Par-3 Driving Range Rama II in Bangkok and a driving range complex in Chiang Mai. +66 (05) 350-7006

www.gassangolf.com

MEZZA NINE, KOOLPUNT GOLF This nine-hole course, about 15 minutes from downtown, began to emerge in the summer principally as an amenity to the residential real estate that surrounds it. The formal opening is anticipated in November.

I saw it in the construction stages and it seemed as if an impressive clubhouse was on the way up. Water will be in play on every hole. +66 (05) 312-2222

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www.koolpuntville.com

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Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Notes ROYAL CHIANGMAI GOLF RESORT

Refined and stylish, this golf course (designed in 1996 by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson) is similar to a pampered, vintage touring sedan with an elegant grill, polished wood dashboard, custom wheel covers, and gussied up with an eight-speaker digital sound system and a wet bar. Yet under its hood is an engine with more horsepower than grandma ever suspected. Without realizing it, you are motoring at 120 mph. Customized bunkers (94), lakes and streams (water laps onto 15 holes) all add a splash. Downshift past trees and landscaping that have the feel of impeccable leather interior.

Tour around eight doglegs that bend on graceful suspension.

The 6,969-yard course (with a modest 50-room resort), about 40 minutes north of the airport, sports a solid 130 slope rating. The par5s are lusty, averaging 565 yards. The par-3s are accommodating (but for the 202-yard 6th, with a 3 handicap), and the 4s range from a pleasant 358 to a boisterous 438 yards. Pastoral, peaceful and lovingly landscaped. +66 (05) 384-9301 www.royalchiangmai.com

WATERFORD VALLEY CHIANG RAI GC & RESORT The attractive, rolling terrain of this nearly 7,000-yard course, approximately 40 minutes northeast of Chiang Rai, offers a cool counterpoint to most courses in Thailand. Nine holes were built in 1995, and the other nine finished in 1997. With wide, rolling fairways, large greens, pleasant elevations, lots of foliage and ample water, this naturalistic course provides mountain backdrops and lovely resort golfing. The views are worth the trip. A quaint resort lodge and condominiums with two-bedroom units provide restful and affordable accommodations. The par-4s provide the test with five holes less than 390 yards, but also a 478-yard, uphill-beast par-4 (3A) and a 444-yarder (5B). +66 (05) 395-3440

www.waterford.co.th

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Khao Yai and Khon Kaen Kabin Buri Sport Club Khao Yai Golf Club Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa Rancho Charnvee Country Club Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club Sir James Country Club (Forest Hills) Toscana Valley Country Club NOTES Bonanza Golf & CC Hillside Country Home Golf & Resort Iyara GC Korat CC Mountain Creek Golf Resort and Residence Naraihill Golf Resort & CC Panorama Golf and Country Club Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa

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Kabin Golf BuriClub Sport Club Alpine

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visited this nicely-designed and well-groomed golf course on a cool, misty late-July weekday and was impressed by the condition and captivated by the calm. Despite the overcast morning, it did shine. The early-morning drive (on quiet highways) was less than two hours from Bangkok.

So why labor through traffic and endure a five-plus hour round of golf in often congested Bangkok? Invest the time to motor east and enjoy the receptive fairways without the oppressive crowds.

Built in 2006, the course has repose. It is long (really), flat, gurgling with water (in play on every hole), manicured and gracious. It features marvelous landscaping: garlands of flowers around the picturesque, par-3 11th (234 yards) and the shorter 16th.

KHAO YAI and KHON KAEN

Wide fairways and capacious greens define this humongous golf course (7,504 yards – a sensible 6,652 from the Whites). You can land an Airbus on the par-5 fairways, the shortest of which is 637 yards. Two are in the 660s from the tips (all average 550 yards from the Whites).

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While the course is long, the five tees provide prudent options. Doglegs abound on half the holes. Bunkers are minimal and strategic.

The back nine is artistic. Khun Nam, who supervises the operation, walked me through the 479-yard (380 Whites) 13th – a severe dogleg-left with a lake drowning the angle. “Four options exist here: cut the corner and drive over the water to the green about 248 yards; or aim for one of the landing pods to the front and right side” that tiptoe up the lawn. Fun hole.

His favorite is the 482-yard 15th (386 yards), a similar dogleg with a water-carry to the sit-up green.

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Recreational “A surprise! Easy drive and a great quiet, weekday excursion.” “Liked it. Long and wide and a pleasure. Will return.”

Professional N/A

The Specifics

The most difficult hole on the course is the 485-yard 18th (406 Whites,) which also doglegs left around water with a landing area bunker to avoid.

The clubhouse is small and the driving range excellent; as are the putting greens before the 1st and 10th tee boxes. The value is sensational (800 to 1,200 Baht).

Couple that with a night (or two) at the 36-room hotel that is nearing completion (1,200 Baht/night) and you have an excellent two-day excursion.

Type: public Greens Fees: 800 to 1,200 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7, 504 Black N/A 7,158 Blue 6, 652 White 6,241 Yellow 5,829 Red Designer: Yoshikazu Kato, 2006 General Manager: Wipolson Manchuen

Getting There 196 Moo 11 Suwannasorn Rd., Wangdal District, Kabinburi , Prachinburi 25110 +66 (03) 728-3888 wipolson@hotmail.com www.kbscgolf.com

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Khao Yai Alpine GolfGolf ClubClub

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his is a stunning, verdant course bestriding the Khao Yai National Park framed with lush backdrops and featuring glorious elevations.

What a comeback! It looks terrific.

A two-hour drive northeast of Bangkok in the bucolic Saraburi region of Thailand, this is a splendid resurrection of a 20-year old, 7,058yard course designed by Jack Nicklaus (with a big helping hand from Mother Nature) that had been neglected and managed poorly.

KHAO YAI and KHON KAEN

Two years of sedulous and passionate work by the Bangkok Airways new ownership have paid off handsomely. Okay, we caught it on a perfect, sundrenched, blue-sky afternoon – but Jack would be proud.

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Khao Yai is part of Thailand’s largest topographical region and boasts indigenous trees, exported flora, fruit orchards, horseback riding, dairy farms, and the oldest national park in Thailand (built in 1962, some 31 miles of nature trails meander and traverse over what is considered some of the richest terrain in Asia). The Park has over 300 species of exotic birds and elephants, leopards, pig-tail macaque and gibbon, along with black bear, wild dogs, python, Siamese cobras, and green tree vipers in its jungle habitat.

You certainly have a lovely golf course to play. The first and final 12 holes embrace the lower edges of forested hills and mountains that frame the beauty of this entire region. The routing, however, requires a long ride uphill to the 2nd hole. Once you finish this five-hole mountain-top roundelay, you will speed down the hill and continue to be thrilled.

Hazards are minimal: water is in play only on four holes (highlighted by the 407-yard, downhill 16th with looming hills as backdrop); a few dogLIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Recreational “Gorgeous topography!” “Except for the excursion to the 2nd hole, really a heck of golf course.” “Was dazzled.”

Professional “Given the geography and the layout, it’s a solid golf experience. Wonderfully redone.”

The Specifics

legs scamper across the hilly terrain; and the bunkering (except for the 549-yard 5th that throws up eight at this difficult hole) is not onerous.

It’s the wind and the roiling terrain – and the distracting vistas – that get you.

The par-3s are less than 200 yards (but for the 208-yard 4th). The 8th is a 176-yard cutie with bunkers wrapping around the front-sloping green with water lingering off to the right.

Type: resort Greens Fees: 1,500 to 2,500 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,058 Black N/A 6,659 Gold 6,295 Blue 5,765 White 5,031 Red Designer: Jack Nicklaus, 1993 General Manager: Pitikarn Puangrod

Getting There 151 Moo 5, Moosi, Pakchong, Nakhonratchasima 30130 +66 (08) 1 977-1952 info@khaoyaigolfclub.com www.khaoyaigolfclub.com

The par-4s are uniformly robust, but for the short 7th, a 359-yard beauty. The monster par-4 is the 14th, a 472-yard excursion that is helped by prevailing winds and a downhill fairway.

The par-5s earn three of the six toughest handicaps on this course. They range from the 508-yard 2nd to the more bodacious 572-yard 18th.

As Khao Yai emerges as a favored golf destination, this course adds to the luster.

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Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa Alpine Golf Club Recreational “Scenic and natural.” “A nice Nicklaus course.”

Professional “A classy track with nature all around.”

The Specifics

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first-class, early Jack Nicklaus golf course – restored to its simplistic beauty and wedded to a brand new and sparkling, five-star boutique resort six years ago – is beckoning. It’s a metaphor for Khao Yai: vernal, serene, naturalistic, manicured, lovely, topographically mesmerizing – and, at sunset, even enchanting.

KHAO YAI and KHON KAEN

With minor iterations and refinements, this out-and-back, par-72 track runs 7,115 yards on lush fairways embroidered by forests, intersected by streams and marshes, serenaded with ponds and framed by forested mountains. It’s so shamrockgreen out there, you wonder why you don’t have a Leprechaun as a caddy.

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Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,500 to 3,500 Baht Caddies: 400 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,170 Black N/A 6,744 Gold N/A 6,371 Blue 71.7 5,722 White N/A 4,875 Red N/A Designer: Jack Nicklaus, 1994 General Manager: Prakard Tantiprasertsuk

Getting There 1/3 Moo 6, Thanarat Road, Nakornrachaseema 30130 +66 (04) 442-6000 proshop@kirimaya.com www.kirimaya.com

though with some shifty greens (see the 7th).

The 534-yard 3rd is the favorite.

If this hole were a photograph, it would be framed. The fairway sits in an emerald valley with trees overhanging the fairway and the Khao Yai Mountain arcing on the horizon.

Doglegs, water, woods and sand define the experience – and a wee bit of length. The par-4s range from 374 yards to a whopping 483 (the 14th). The par-5s are moderate but work. The 3s are less problematic – Enjoy the horseshoe canopy enin fact, comforting and scenic – al- folding the green at the 374-yard 9th. Picture perfect.

The par-4, 404-yard 13th is another snapshot of grace. The dogleg right fairway is strewn with strategic bunkers and wanders up to a picturesque green surrounded by naturalistic peril.

Be accurate to the green.

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Rancho Charnvee Country Club

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estled in the bucolic foothills of Khao Yai – a two-hour drive from Bangkok – Rancho Charnvee CC and the commodius 64-room resort (which opens in November) is an excellent addition to the burgeoning golf landscape of this tranquil vacation region.

Both the course, opened in 2010, and the enveloping area are charming and idyllic. And management is hands-on and passionate.

Khao Yai is part of Thailand’s largest topographical region and is proud not only of its proliferating (and impressive) golf courses, but also its indigenous trees, exported flora, fruit orchards, horseback riding and dairy farms.

It also boasts the oldest national park in Thailand. Built in 1962, with some 31 miles of nature trails that meander and traverse over what is considered some of the richest terrain in Asia, the park has over 300 species of exotic birds and elephants, leopards, pig-tail macaque and gibbon, along with python, and green tree vipers in its jungle habitat.

Minus the wildlife (except for the horses), this links-style 7,131-yard course utilizes three sets of sensible tees. It sweeps along a gently rolling terrain with sprawling bunkers strategically placed (or not at all, on five of the first 10 fairways) and pacific water hazards on eight holes. Doglegs (seven) and a few blind tee-shots add some adventure and risk-reward to the round. And a yacht in the lake.

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Rancho Charnvee Country Club Alpine Golf Club

It has a user-friendly resort layout. While not rated yet, my guess has the Slope at about 130.

KHAO YAI and KHON KAEN

It features playful and scenic par-3s, with ample sand and water. The 4th, at 205 yards, is the most difficult. The 178-yard 17th is charming with the lake and yacht off to the right in front of the clubhouse.

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The par-4s are lengthy and daunting and carry the three most difficult handicaps. The 470-yard 3rd is a sharp-angle, dogleg right with no bunkers until the flanking pair at the edge of the green. Cutting the corner over a towering tree is an option. Then uphill to a commodious green. It earns the 1 handicap.

The 6th (handicapped 3) runs 450 yards with three bunkers sprinkled on the fairway and two at the front of the wide, front-sloping, tiered green. Notice the stables and practice track off to the right. Hey, forsake the golf cart and saddle up.

Only two of the par-4s are less than 400 yards, the highlight being the 330-yard 18th. This exquisite closing hole features seven festering bunkers and an approach over an uphill moonscape to a round, tiered, sit-up green. Nice finish.

The most troublesome par-5 is the 540-yard 14th., sporting a 2 handicap. The dogleg left begins with a blind drive past bookend bunkers.

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Recreational “New and friendly. Enjoyed it.”

“Short drive, great countryside and fine golf.” “It will grow beautifully”

Professional “This is shaping up to be a real treat as it matures. Wonderful attention to detail.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: 1,200 to 2,400 Baht Caddies: 450 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,131 Blue N/A 6,559 White 5,936 Red Designer: Bob McFarland, 2010 General Manager: Lerson Lohachalitanon

Getting There The second shot must avoid a rightside bunker. The long, saddleback (what else at the ranch?) green runs nearly 50 yards and slopes to the left.

The course is contoured, curved and gracious – and lovingly looked after.

333/2 Moo 12, Khanongphra, Nakhon Rachasrima, Khao Yai 30130 +66 (04) 475-6210 ranchocharnvee@gmail.com www.ranchocharnvee.com

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Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club Alpine Golf Club Recreational “Great design on a flat, interior course.” “A pretty classy experience for the price.” “No other golf courses of note up here, but this course is worth a trip.

Great value.”

Professional

“It’s a surprisingly difficult course from the back tees, where it gets complicated.”

The Specifics

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he Singha Beer Brewery in Khon Kaen sits on ample acreage and generates copious waste water from its expansive plant. In late 2009, the land and the water were put to symbiotic use.

KHAO YAI and KHON KAEN

Four tee boxes present bodacious golf from the surrealistic tips (you must sip a special brand of steroid Singha to conquer these 7,502 yards), to the Ladies tees at 5,258 yards. The two mid-tees are realisitc.

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Type: open to public Greens Fees: 1,500 to 2,000 Baht Caddies: 250 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,502 Black N/A 6,840 Blue 6,211 White 5,258 Red Designer: Pirapon Namartra, 2009 General Manager: Panu Anambutr

Getting There 555 Moo 19, Khon Kaen Mahasarakam Rd (208), Khon Kaen 40260 +66 (04) 320-9000

With ample imagination, topoinfosinghapark@santiburi.com graphical artistry and tractor legerwww.santiburi.com demain, the entire layout – particularly the par-4 4th and 6th as well kers and water (the enchanting as the par-5 11th and 18th – offer 16th, handicapped 2, features a picturesque hilltop green with inspired design. a convex front, a plateau in the From the Blues the course travels center and a back-sloping rear 6,840 yards. The front half is lon- with drop-offs all around). ger and boasts two par-5s averaging over 600 yards from the tips. They The 18th is the piece de reprovide three of the toughest holes. sistance. Handicapped 4, this 587-yard beauty wanders past The par-3s are long (but for the 150- bunkers, a right-side lake and yard 17th) and sport light handicaps. promenades up to a creative green: a crested mound on the The par-4s present some audacious left front, bunkers at the rear, a possibilities, ranging to (the Blues) lake to the right and a narrow, 483 yards with mid-fairway bun- tiered green.

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Sir James Country Club (Forest Hills) Recreational “A nifty get-a-way not far from Bangkok.” Had a short weekend and wish I had extended it.” “Loved the golf here.”

Professional “An antique course that plays lovingly.”

The Specifics

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ld-world, stylish, manicured and graceful.

Featuring a 100+-room hillside hotel with picturesque views of the cascading sylvan scenery, it is an environmental delight. Built in 1993 on more than 500 rai of panoramic terrain, the fairways extend 7,026 yards. They roll, lift, dip, tilt and slant along narrow passageways.

The accents are the thing here: many English-garden inspired bouquets of flowering bushes, perky hedges and a copse or two of native coconut palm and cypress to accompany the surrounding mountain forests.

The fairway bunkering is strategic but sparse with no traps on half the holes.

Water both intersects and accompanies fairways on nine holes. The biggest obstacles are the surrounding and engulfing greenside bunkers that require meticulous and dexterous approach shots to the elevated greens.

The course features a delightful moderation of playable par-3s (not exceeding 206 yards). The par-4s are the biggest challenge, your first one right at the starting gate: the boisterous 483-yard 1st. Two more on the front nine exceed 450 yards. The par-5s are all balanced,

Type: resort Greens Fees: 2,000 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 500 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 7,026 Blue N/A 6,520 White 6,177 Yellow 5,669 Red Designer: John William Rogers and Col. Veerayuth Phetbuasak, 1993 Director of Golf/GM: Puritat Pochawongse

Getting There 195 Moo 3, Mittrahab Road, Saraburi 18180 +66 (03) 634-3200 mail@sirjamesresort.com www.sirjamesresort.com

ranging from 533 to 560 yards.

The front nine boasts a handsome par-3, the 203 yard 6th.

Four bunkers surround the 29yard deep elevated green which is rimmed by an elegant horseshoe of high pine trees.

The backside offers as much drama. Start with the 555-yard 10th with its 3 handicap. The long sliver of fairway is accompanied by a lake the entire way and doglegs right at the last minute. Pause at the lovely garden.

The 15th and 16th holes provide more charm.

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Toscana Alpine GolfValley Club Country Club Recreational “It’s new, classy and exciting.”

“Groomed and pampered.”

Professional “Spectacular setting”

The Specifics Type: private Greens Fees: 3,000 Baht Caddies: 350 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,978 Blue 6,459 Yellow 72.0/1 5, 562 White 70.1/1 4,774 Red 68.5/1 Designer: Bob McFarland, 2010 Director of Golf: Theptad Prommopakorn

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KHAO YAI and KHON KAEN

his course is setting a new standard in golf course elegance – and is beginning to define Khao Yai as a significant, upscale golf destination.

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Getting There 96 Moo 9, Moo-Sri, Packchong, Nakonratchasima 30130 +66 (087) 549-7222

Imagined and created by an owninfo@toscanavalley.com ership team with impressive golf www.toscanavalley.com course patrimony in Thailand (they have built golf courses from Pattaya, It is worth a visit as a great secBangkok to Chiang Mai), this is a ond-home option. labor of love and excellence.

The 7,007-yard course, features Toscana Valley CC is an exclusive, crafted excellence: swales, natuprivate country club residential de- ral bulkheads, mounds, lakes, velopment sprawling over 1,000 acres plateau-greens, sculpted fairways of rolling hills and plentiful lakes and and impeccable landscaping. ponds framed by the verdant Khao Yai National Park. It is redolent of Five judicious tees with a back the carved grace of Tuscany, Italy and nine that offers: both par-3s in certainly replicates the tasteful, dig- excess of 200 yards, a 499-yard nified and colorful ambience of the par-4, and a whopping 645-yarder to finish. It’s all class. lush Mediterranean hills.

It is the ne ultra plus of Thailand golf communities with dazzling residences draping the hillsides – and still being constructed as I write.

I felt it worth a mention because of its gorgeous setting and natural beauty. Quite an impressive project.

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Khao Yai and Khon Kaen Notes BONANZA GOLF & CC This is an overlooked course with a lot of potential. Tucked away in the foothills of Khao Yai, it stretches over long plateaus. Begun as a nine-hole excursion in 1997, it was expanded in 2001 to 7,480 yards.

It augments a rustic cowboy-themed resort with a modest hotel overlooking a quiet lake, a new hotel off the first fairway, bungalows and an apartment complex, and a panoply of outdoor extracurricular activities (horseback riding, an aviary and flower farms). The layout is well conceived, but the course is a bit rugged at the edges. It is still a worthy and swarthy challenge featuring water, dominating doglegs, mid-fairway trees and distracting vistas. +66 (04) 492-1009 www.bonanzakhaoyai.com

HILLSIDE COUNTRY HOME GOLF & RESORT Set in a forested mountain backdrop, this rustic golf course rolls, tumbles and angles (nine doglegs) for 6,752 yards over sloping terrain. It features a terrific (well, maybe, terrifying) 680-yard par 6 dogleg-left with water drifting up the entire right side of the fairway and a fulsome, lily-covered pond fronting the green. Two dogleg-left par-5s (on the back side) range from 590 yards (the 14th, boasting a 2 handicap) to 505 yards (the 17th with a carry over a pond to the green). The 11 par-4s feature: a playful 295 yarder (the 4th); seven ranging from 321 to 394 yards; and the 12th, a 493-yard dogleg-right beast with a water carry to the large green. The notable par-3 is the 244-yard 13th with a 5 handicap. A heavy Korean contingent populates the 150-room resort, with a conference center (300 conferees were in session during my visit). +66 (03) 721-5492 www.hillsidecountry.com

IYARA GC A splendid leitmotif of elephants (Iyara is the king of the Thai mastodon) permeates the impressive 400-room hotel and spa spread over the 250 elegant acres in Uthai Thani, 2.5 hours north of Bangkok. A host of sporting options complement the 5,728-yard, out-and-back golf course. What it lacks in length, it compensates in charm and craft. The fairways are narrow and most of the dartboard greens are barely large enough to hold the flag and two golf balls. The island-green par-3 finishing hole is the signature beauty. +66 (05) 651-6333 www.iyaralake.com

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Khao Yai and Khon Kaen Notes KORAT COUNTRY CLUB A 15-minute drive east from Korat on route 24, this 15-year old, 7,127 yard course exists principally for the locals. The clubhouse is ageing. The course is satisfactory and hoary, but will not really provide a special day of golf. Minimal bunkering (except for the three finishing holes), water on half and scattered doglegs highlight this forested track. The par-4 are difficult (ranging from 346 to 444). The par-5s have length with the 602-yard 16th (575 from the Whites) the big bully. +66 (04) 424-9060 www.koratcountryclub.com

MOUNTAIN CREEK GOLF RESORT AND RESIDENCE Brought to you by the veteran owners of Lake Wood CC in Bangkok, this new, dramatic and scenic Seve Ballesteros-designed course is part of an ambitious development, hosting 27 holes (Highland, Creek and Valley), a five-star hotel, recreational and spa facilities, outdoor concert zone and a shopping center. It should develop into a beauty.

When I saw it in the summer it was rumored to be up for sale. The potential is vast. +66 (04) 475-6100 www.mountaincreekthailand.com

NARAIHILL GOLF RESORT & CC Brought to you by the veteran owners of Lake Wood CC in Bangkok, this new, dramatic and scenic Seve Ballesteros-designed course is part of an ambitious development, hosting 27 holes (Highland, Creek and Valley), a five-star hotel, recreational and spa facilities, outdoor concert zone and a shopping center. It should develop into a beauty.

When I saw it in the summer it was rumored to be up for sale. The potential is vast. +66 (081) 842-5311

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www.naraihillgolf.com

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Khao Yai and Khon Kaen Notes PANORAMA GOLF AND CC

Here is the start of a solid resurrection. Constructed 20 years ago and languishing in the rolling, rustic foothills of the Khao Yai National Park, this course has new ownership and is drawing attention.

The track is commendable and had my sidekick drooling for a round under those azure skies with the forest and mountains preening. My favorite is the slanting, tilting 10th, a 380-yard poke from an elevated tee box over a gyroscopic fairway, bracketed by a forest on the left and graceful landscaping up the right side. +66 (0) 4 443-6298

www.panoramacountryclub.com

ROYAL HILLS GOLF RESORT & SPA Framed by the forested, overlapping hills of the Khao Yai National Park, this 7,372-yard course gleamed even in the mist I encountered when I visited with the daughter of the Mom who built the course 21 years ago (and the 253-room resort 10 years thereafter). The par-4s, which range from 389 to 422 yards from the mid-tees (6,550), define the difficulty on this track capturing the four toughest handicaps.

Worth the drive to the foothills. Lovely. +66 (081) 842-5311

info@royalhillsresort.com

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Phuket and Samui Blue Canyon Country Club • Canyon • Lakes Phuket Country Club Phunaka Golf Course Red Mountain Golf Club Santiburi Samui Country Club NOTES: Laguna Phuket GC Loch Palm GC Phuket Mission Hills GC

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Blue Canyon Country Club

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his club has been struggling with ownership issues and it has affected the quality of play. It’s a shame because the core institution is terrific: clubhouse, resort rooms and the layout of both courses.

Minutes from the airport and wrapped in mountains, this had been the most established golf resort in Thailand. The world-renowned Canyon was built in 1991; and the Lakes Course, also completed in 1999.

CANYON: This 7,129-yard track (141 slope rating) had been the paragon of championship play in Asia years ago. But the facility has dipped in quality for several years as deeds and titles are being sorted out.

PHUKET and SAMUI

A former rubber tree plantation and tin mine, this facility was sculpted from the original contours of the vast property: the existing lakes, towering trees and primordial canyons are all woven like a basketweave into the natural routing.

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Water is in play on 13 holes; 87 bunkers accent the course; large, fast greens require legerity; flexuous, tight fairways demand scrupulous course management; doglegs offer angles; and ravines and canyons provide trepidation.

The course is a cornucopia of challenge. The par-3s average nearly 210 yards (the shortest is the 194-yard, downhill 14th). The par-4s are diverse and range from 357 yards (the dogleg left 16th) to a prodigious 449 yards (the 2nd). The par-5s are humongous, averaging 575 yards.

The 11th is 600 yards of angst. The drive must extend down the fairway pod to a crossing creek 280 yards from the tips. The approach LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Recreational earns this the 1 handicap: four bunkers engulf the 45-yard long, front-sloping, tiered green, and water horseshoes around it.

The 221-yard 17th is glorious. From an elevated tee, survey the long, bending green as it arcs to the right with water running up the entire right side. A bunker before the water and two in the rear make this a tough 3 handicap.

LAKES: More user-friendly, this is a fine counterpoint to its fitful sister course. Boasting water on all but the 17th – and flowers blooming throughout – this out-and-back 7,129-yard track is fun, with trees in the midst of several fairways. The front nine plays at par-35.

The par-3s average 200 yards, except for the 164-yard 12th. The par-4s are assorted and attainable – until you confront the 18th, a 471-yard behemoth.

The par-5s are 514 yards to long, but fair and straightforward. The 9th (591 yards) and the 10th (573 yards) are handicapped 3 and 4.

The slight dogleg right 18th (handicapped 2) and arches for 471 perilous yards uphill, over ravine, water and past a mid-fairway tree. Drive uphill and stay to the left on the high ground.

Your second shot must carry the ravine and water to a hilltop green, thankfully flat and accommodating (44 by 23 yards).

“Difficult but compelling on the Canyon and a lovely day on the Lakes.” “Becoming spotty.”

Professional “Great balance, diversity and adversity.”

The Specifics Type: resort Greens Fees: Canyon: 1,600 to 4,500 Baht Lakes: 1,400 to 3,800 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: The Canyon 7,179 Black 74.8/141 6,664 Blue 73.0/137 6,330 White 71.5/134 5,943 Red 75.2/134 Designer: Yoshikazu Kato, 1991 The Lakes 7,129 Black 74.0/128 6,504 Blue 70.0/115 6,073 White 68.3/114 5,366 Red 68.9/119 Designer: Yoshikazu Kato (with Gary Player), 1999

Getting There 165 Moo 1, Thepkasattri Road, Maikaw, Thalang, Phuket 83110 +66 (07) 632-8088 reservation@bluecanyonclub.com www.bluecanyonclub.com

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Red Mountain Golf Club Recreational “It’s expensive and has sensational topography for Phuket.

A first-class round.” “The price keeps it quiet, so the glorious golf is uncrowded.”

Professional “Unusual and excellent golf.”

The Specifics

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arved out of the detritus of a 1,400 rai tin mine in the belly of the Kathu Mountains, this course is terrific not only in design but in ambience. Regal, yet serene; complicated but unencumbered; daunting, but a pleasure to play.

The closing three holes are about as striking and theatrical as they get: a short, dogleg, cliff-side par-4 with a tee-box view of Greenland; a delicious Alice in Wonderland 169-yard par-3 17th with a 150-foot, rabbithole vertical drop; and a 559-yard finish from a tee-box brocaded by forested hills to a fairway shared with a looming lake that edges the green.

PHUKET and SAMUI

Designed by Jonathan Morrow and opened in 2007, it has set a standard for style – and expense (one of the priciest at 5,500 Baht). It tumbles and rolls 6,781 yards from the tips with a 136 Slope Rating.

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Type: resort Greens Fees: 5,700 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 700 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,781 Black 72.7/136 6,341 Yellow 70.4/128 5,925 White 68.4/121 5,203 Red 70.4/123 Designer: Jonathan Morrow, 2007 GM/Director of Golf: Theera Wongsawanon Head Pro: Michael Brasier

Getting There 119 Moo 4, Vichitsongkram Rd., Kathu, Phuket 83120 +66 (07) 632-2000 info@redmountainphuket.com www.redmountainphuket.com

with a procession of sprawling bunkers crawling up the rightside of the narrow fairway.

The par-5s also offer yardage diversity and are modest. The 2nd is a delightful dogleg right that In addition to the elegant elevations, scampers a mere 484 yards, but is the course features: water in play on unreachable in two.

10 holes; a half-dozen doglegs; and jungle vegetation. The par-3s are picturesque with forced carries over forest and water. The only difficult test of the four is the 191-yard (handicapped 6).

The par-4s range from 301 yards (the 16th) to a bodacious 480 yards: the flexuous (and most difficult) 6th LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Phuket Country Club

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his multihued and verdant facility with 27 separated holes is undergoing an extensive renovation. The course will continue to offer a round of balanced, pleasurable and delightful golf.

Whether you stroll past cliffs and jungle as you play the amenable, 18hole Old Course (the oldest in Phuket), or attack the rigorous ninehole Country Club Course (with a 140 slope rating, you are sharing country club service.

A colorful palette of sweeping, landscaped artistry is etched in the hillsides, lakes, forests and valleys of this club. Designed in 1989 over 800rai (360 acres), the course was converted from a tin mine. Three sets of tees, from 6,484 yards (124 slope rating), offer excellent options.

THE OLD COURSE This features water on five holes, more than 100 bunkers (none on the 2nd and 8th), more doglegs than a kennel, and daunting elevations and intriguing carries.

Two par-4s and par-5s provide the lengthy muscle on this naturalistic track. The shorter front-nine features two par-3s in the mid-150s and par-5s that average 500 yards. One par-4 is over 400 yards (the 8th at 428). The par-4s are the most difficult.

The signature hole is the 10th, a 557-yard emerald extravaganza that boomerangs to the right around a lake. If you avoid the 240-degree roundtrip around the circumference of the water and launch from the tee box over the lake, you have a 290-yard drive to a 40-yard green guarded loosely by five bunkers and shrubbery.

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Phuket Country Club Recreational “Quaint, lovely course. Like a garden.” “Nice resort-type feel and not penal.” “Really enjoyed this track. Delightful day.”

Professional “Solid resort course with nice mix.” “ Its strength is its diversity and maturity.” “Harder than it looks if you scatter shots. Respect it.”

The Specifics

The 7th is a 344-yard dogleg right, with 14 bunkers peppered all over. You don’t see them from the tee. The green is elevated, has three tiers and drops off.

The 428-yard, dogleg-left 8th at is the longest par-4.

THE COUNTRY CLUB COURSE Built in 1995 as a nine-hole challenge, it ambles over 3,575 yards of entertaining terrain. The par-37 nine features three par-5s that: average greater than 550 yards, dogleg dramatically, with 28 bunkers and fearsome water hazards.

PHUKET and SAMUI

The course has its own capacious clubhouse facilities with a pool. The driving range is down here and provides 52 bays.

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Type: members Greens Fees: Old Course: 4,000 baht Country Club: 2,400 Baht Caddies: 200 Baht Carts: 600 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: Old Course: 6,484 Blue 71.1/124 6,126 White 69.5/115 5,719 Red 73.2/123 Layout: nine-hole, par-37 Rating/Slope: Country Club: 3,575 Blue 75.1/140 3,435 Yellow 73.5/136 3,203 White 72.1/122 2,715 Red 72.8/122 Director of Golf/GM: Keith Lau

Getting There 80/1 Vichitsongkram Road, Katu District, Phuket 83120 +66 (07) 631-9200-4 bookings@phuketcountryclub.com www.phuketcountryclub.com

With water drenching the landscape in sparkling excess and over 70 bunkers sprinkled like sugar on a bowl of around the left bank of a lake. oatmeal, you wonder where the fair- Flowers and bridges add artistry. Nine bunkers run up the way is. opposite side. The elevated Don’t leave any legerity at home. Bring green is at the end of the secall the skills and hope for some magic ond angle and its peninsula as you deal with a 75.1 course rating effect makes for a harrowing approach. and a 140 slope.

The 3rd is dazzling. A flexuous, dou- After this mini-round the only ble-dogleg right fairway wraps itself drink you want is a martini – dry.

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Phunaka Golf Course Recreational “Great location and a ‘phun’ (haha) place to practice, with a neat range and good nighttime golf ” “It’s clean, fresh and a neat place to kill an evening pounding golf balls into the night.”

Professional

“The driving range facility is really first-rate.” “For shortgame practice, the nine holes – especially during the cooler nights – are perfect.”

The Specifics

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his is a splendid day-and-night option for: serious practice, fine-tuning, or simply to bring the family to enjoy all phases of golf.

A commodious, double-decker driving range (56 bays looking out over 330 yards of grass), golf academy, pro shop, and a Jonathan Morrow-designed nine-hole course (he also designed the neighboring Red Mountain GC) which is floodlit for nighttime play – all make this facility a terrific golf watering-hole.

The facility is cozy, comfortable, accessible and affordable.

The six par-3s all stretch from 160 to 178 yards, but for the quaint 120-yard 3rd, with a temple set back off to the left.

The 160-yard 1st rolls downhill through a frame of trees to a flat green with two bunkers in the front and one along the rear.

Type: public Greens Fees: 950 to 1,600 Baht; night 80 to 150Baht surcharge Caddies: 150 Baht/ 9-hole 300 baht/18-hole Layout: 9-hole, par-30 Rating/Slope: 2,163 Blue N/A 1,926 White 1,660 Red Architect: Jonathan Morrow, 2009 Director of Golf/GM: Mr. Suwat Wangkiat

Head Pro: Oliver Bates

Getting There 61/17-19 Moo 6, Soi Chaofa 73, Chalong, Muang, Phuket 83130 +66 (07) 652-1911-5 www.phunakagolf.com info@phunakagolf.com

a straight shot. Negotiate a false front bunker on your approach.

Enjoy a family outing.

After this, ponds pervade on this flat layout. A large one spills in front of the 162-yard 5th. The wide, elliptical, saddleback green is fronted by a bunker.

But watch out for the rocky creek that reaches up the right side of the green. I am told wind isn’t much of a factor, but the 2 handicap requires you to beware.

The 433-yard 8th is the longest. It is LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

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Santiburi Samui Country Club

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onquering the northern edge of the exotic, tropical island of Koh Samui, this dramatic golf course spreads its fulgent tendrils over the exotic landscape in harmony with the indigenous decor. The 18 holes – with elevation changes of 800 feet – are elegant, regal, imposing, Herculean and a marvel.

This 6,930-yard track (4,717 from the Reds) courses through verdant jungle, climbs into forested mountain terrain and proudly towers and presides over the Gulf of Siam.

Fascinating in design, this golf course offers tantalizing angles, stunning views, coconut mangrove jungles, daunting acclivities, dramatic vertical drops, vertiginous tee boxes, gentle waterfalls, beguiling landscaping, mid-fairway obstacles and gyroscopic greens. And birds and monkeys, iguanas and butterflies.

PHUKET and SAMUI

The dual hallmarks of this course is its relentless, tumbling diversity and its degree of difficulty. It’s a rugged, demanding test.

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The par-3s range from 157 to 219 yards, highlighted by the shortest (the audacious 6th with a daunting vertical drop and waterfall). The par-4s are whimsical, querulous and lengthy (fluctuating from 357 to 454 yards). The par-5s start at 462 yards (the uphill 1st) and end at the signature 17th with 631 yards of downhill travel (or travail). The fairways are tilted and the greens are uniformly tumbling.

Calling this new facility a “golf course” is like calling the Statue of Liberty a figurine, the Taj Mahal a house, a Formula One race a Sunday drive, or Noah’s ark a canoe. It is memorable.

Stand on the tee box at the 1st hole and survey the possibilities: The LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Recreational “Quite a collection of memorable holes.” “At the 17th you pause and thank the golfing Gods.”

“It was a tough course for me.”

Professional “The visuals are overpowering and the routing splendid but difficult: elevated, plunging, tilting and challenging. But it’s cleverly strategic and fair if you hit the ball straight.”

The Specifics

sumptuous clubhouse behind you; the waters of the Gulf off to your right, touching the beach at Mae Nam and rippling out to the island of Koh Pha Ngan, known by locals for the notorious full-moon parties; and straight ahead to the deceptive, abridged 462yard par-5 which begins your golfing excursion (a 30-yard rise).

The 6th is a stunner: a 157-yard chip shot which travels downhill for three days into a valley with a waterfall in the back right.

The back nine is hilly, dramatic, doglegged, extended and exciting.

Type: resort Greens Fees: 3,350 Baht Caddies: 300 Baht Carts: 750 Baht Layout: 18-hole, par-72 Rating/Slope: 6,930 Gold N/A 6,506 Blue 75,8/ 145 5,792 White 73,5/ 137 4,717 Red 72,5/ 128 Designer: Edward A.Theile (front nine) and Pirapon Namartra, October, 2003 Director of Golf/GM: Derek McKenzie

Getting There 12/15 Moo 4, Baan Donsai, Amphur Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84330 +66 (07) 742 1700-8 golfreservation@santiburi.com www.santiburi.com

The 17th is transcendental. If you ever thought that your game would go downhill – and you’d be happy – this is it. Stop at the red tee box and soak up the best view in the Kingdom with a gaze at Baan Tai, the Gulf of Siam and Koh Pha Ngan in the distance. A 631yard, downhill, sharp-angle dogleg left, without a flat lie, with an intersecting stream and an escort of bunkers beginning at the angle, 150 yards out (2 handicap). Whew!

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Phuket and Samui Notes LAGUNA PHUKET GC

This casual resort course, nestled on over 190 acres, is verdant with wellmanicured greens, coconut groves, lagoons, more than 100 bunkers and local flora and fauna. Water is featured on 13 holes. This player-friendly, resort course calls for patience and accuracy. Several memorable holes add luster: the exquisite 9th (a short par-4 with a target, rock bulkheaded island green); the signature 17th (a 612-yard excursion with more sand and water than on many of the surrounding beaches). +66 (07) 632-4350 www.lagunaphuket.com

LOCH PALM GC PHUKET It spreads and rolls over 170 acres of hilly mountainside descending into valleys and forest. The centerpiece of this recently restored 6,555-yard course is a 48-acre lake, around which wrap the first three holes and offer some compelling shot-making and landscaping. Additionally, the course boasts 1,400 towering palms embroidering the fairways. Although short, it possesses a solid slope rating of 130. Interestingly, the par-4s measure from 319 yards and have only one hole longer than 400 yards. +66 (07) 632-1929-34 www.lochpalm.com

MISSION HILLS GC The 18-holes are bordered by the Gulf of Thailand and a rim of mountains. Water comes into play on all of the holes except the 1st, 10th and 11th. Doglegs dominate the fairways (on every hole except the 17th and the par-3s) and several blind shots add suspense and adventure. The Nicklaus-designed course, which showed such promise when built in 2005, was a major disappointment when I saw it last.

The condition was poor. +66 (07) 631-0888 www.missionhillsphuket.com

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Other Courses BANGKOK & CENTRAL REGION Adisorn Golf Center 54/275 Mitraphap Road, Saraburi 18000 Tel. (036) 212-945 700 baht Artitaya Golf & Resort 16 Moo. 10 Rangsit-Ongkharak Road, Klong 14, Nakhonnayok 26120 Tel. (037) 300-712 800 baht Ayodhaya Links 199 Moo. 10 Boh Ta Lo, Ayutthaya 13170 Tel. (035) 257-999 (Private) 200,000 baht /year Ayutthaya Golf Club 16/2 Moo. 1 Leang Muang Ayutthaya Road, Koarean, Pranakhon, Ayutthaya 13000 Tel. (035) 703-664-6 1,800 baht Chuan-Chuen Golf Club 100 Moo. 8 BangkokPatumthani Road, Bangkuwat, Patumthani 12000 Tel. (02) 598-2878 1,700 baht Chomponpor Golf Course 13rd Royal Thai Army, Thale Chupsorn, Nawatkai Road, Lopburi 15000 Tel. (036) 413-133 700 baht Dynasty Golf & Country Club 99 Moo. 3 Poldanri Rd, BangLane, Nakhonpathom 73130 Tel. (034) 993-333-7 1,550 baht Ekachai Golf & Country Club 8 Moo. 5 Ekkachai Rd, Bangnamchuea, Samutsakorn 74000 Tel. (02) 416-5557-9 1,800 baht

Kantarat Golf Course Royal Thai Airforce, Donmuang, Bangkok Tel. (02) 534-3840-3 700 baht Khao Cha-Ngok Golf & CC Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Promanee, Muang, Nakhonnayok 26000 Tel. (037) 393-001 700 baht Kiarti Thanee Country Club 199-200 Moo. 5 Bangna-Trad KM.29 Bangboh, Samutprakan 10560 Tel. (02) 707-1700 2,800 baht Kritsada Golf City Hill 110/215 Moo. 1, Bang Krabao, Nakhonchaisri, Nakhonpathom 73120 Tel. (034) 231-101-3 1,600 baht Muang Ake Golf Course 52 Moo.7 Pahonyothin Road, Muang, Patumthani Tel. (02) 533-9335-40 1,200 baht Muang Ake Visa Golf Course 52/999 Pahonyothin Road, Lukhok, Patumthani Tel. (02) 997-8501-6 830 baht Muang Ake Wang Noi Golf Course 85 Moo. 4 Pahonyothin Road, KM.61, Lumsai, Wangnoi, Ayutthaya 10137 Tel. (035) 214-825-9 1,300 Baht Na Khone Chai Sri Country Club Golf & Marina 104/105 Moo. 14 Bangluang, Banglane, Nakhonpathom 73130 Tel. (034) 399-012 1,000 baht

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Other Courses Northern Rangsit Golf Club 19/2 Moo. 7 Pahonyothin Road, KM.58, Wangnoi, Ayutthaya, 13170 Tel. (035) 744-596-9 1,750 baht

Royal Dusit Golf Club 183 Pitsanulok Road, Suan Chitlada, Disit, Bangkok 10300 Tel. (02) 281-1330 800 baht

Panurangsri Golf Club 70 Moo. 7 Burachat Military Academy, Muang, Ratchaburi 70000 Tel. (032) 391-019 800 baht

Royal Thai Air Force GC (Dhupatermiya) 14 Moo.8 Kookod, Lumlukka, Patumthani 10130 Tel. (02) 523 6404 1,100 baht

Pine Golf & Lodge 39 Moo. 8 Sanghasantisuk Road, Kratumrai, Nongjok, Bangkok 10530 Tel. (02) 178-3666 1,350 baht

Royal Thai Army Sports Center 4 Ramintra Road, Bangkaen, Bangkok 10220 Tel. (02) 521-5338-93 1,120 baht

Prime City Golf Club 82/3 Moo. 5 Rangsit-OngKharak Road, Klong 15, Prakog, Nakhonnayok 26120 Tel. (089) 771-5341 900 baht

Thanont Golf View & Sports Club 61/601 Moo. 6 Pracharoumjai Road, Klongsamwa, Bangkok 10510 Tel. (02) 916-9100-4 1,660 baht

Rachakram Golf Club 84 Moo. 1 Changyai, Bangsai, Ayutthaya 13290 Tel. (035) 367-060 1,500 baht Rangsit Sport Club 29 Moo. 3 Klong 13, Nong Sam Wang, Rangsit-Ongkharak, Patumthani 12170 Tel. (02) 904-0468-70 400 baht

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Watermill Golf and Garden 44 Moo. 2 Pholand, Rangsit-Ongkharak Road, Nakhonnayok 26120 Tel. (02) 546-3392-4 1,800 baht Woosung Castle Hill Country Club 79 Moo. 12 Jombung, Ratchaburi 70150 Tel. (02) 758 5154-6 800 baht

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Other Courses KHAO YAI/ KHON KAEN Dancoon Golf Club 222 Moo. 2 Dangyai, Khonkaen 40000 Tel. (043) 522-107 800 baht Pra Pha Sri Golf Club Kritsiwara Camp, Muang District, Sakhonnakorn 47000 Tel. (042) 713-342 280 baht Suranaree Golf Club Ratchadamnern Rd, Muang Nakhonratchasima 30000 Tel. (044) 255-530-9 ext. 2218 500 baht Victory Park Golf & Country Club 191 Moo. 1 Khaibogvan, Nongkai 43100 Tel. (042) 407-296-9 1,100 baht PATTAYA/ RAYONG Treasure Hill Golf & Country Club 222 Moo. 7 Klongkyu, Sriracha, Chonburi 20170 Tel. (038) 420-766 1,050 baht HUAHIN/ KANCHANABURI Army Sport Center II Petchakasem Road, Hua-Hin, Prachuabkirikhan 77110 Tel. (032) 515-470-3 2,000 baht Dhanarat Golf Club 125/10 Moo. 3 Khao Noi, Pranburi, Prachuabkirihan 77160 Tel. (032) 622-033 800 baht

Green World Hot Spring Hotel Resort & GC 127 Moo. 5 KM.107, KanchanaburiThongphaphum Road, Kanchanaburi 71110 Tel. (02) 539-4613-6 700 baht Nichigo Resort & Country Club 106 Moo. 4, Wangdong, Kanchanaburi 71190 Tel. (034) 518-518 1,000 baht River Kwai Golf & Country Club 191 Moo. 2 Wangkrajae, Saiyok, Kanchanaburi Tel. (085) 931-8024 200 baht Srinakharin Dam Golf & Resort 300 Moo. 4 Thakradan, Srisawad, Kanchanaburi Tel. (034) 574-001-2 ext.2511 400 baht Thanarat Golf Club Thanarat Camp, Pranburi, Prachuabkirikhan 77000 Tel. (032) 555-232 1,000 baht CHIANGMAI/ CHIANGRAI Gold Canyon Golf Club 231 Moo. 9 Muangjee, Muang, Lumpoon 50100 Tel. (053) 560-333 1,400 baht Kwan Pha Yao Lake Golf Club Koon Jeung Than Mik Ka Rat Camp, Thawangthong, Muang, Pha Yao 56000 Tel. (054) 431-230 ext. 2156 300 baht

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Other Courses Jiraprawat Golf Course Jiraprawatti Camp Nakornsawan 60000 Tel. (056) 255-806 ext. 3091 600 baht

Rajjaprapha Dam Golf Club 53 Moo. 3 Khao Phung, Ban Takoon, Suratthani Tel. (077) 242-545 ext. 4 1,000 baht

Lanna Golf Course Lanna Sport Center, Chotana Road, Changpuek, Muang, Chiangmai 50300 Tel. (053) 221-911 1,400 baht

Southern Hills Golf & Country Club 128 Moo. 8 Kanchanawanit Road, Ban Pru, Hat Yai, Songkla 90250 Tel. (074) 553-683 1,400 baht

Mae Moh Golf Course 801 Moo. 6 Mae Moh, Lampang 52220 Tel. (054) 254-970 500 baht Regina Golf Course & Hotel 230/26-27 Pahonyothin Road, Mae Sai, Chiangrai 57130 Tel. (053) 731-790-1 800 baht SOUTH Hat Yai Resort & Golf Club Ton Nga Chang Waterfall, Hat Yai, Songkla 90110 Tel. (074) 434-770-3 900 baht

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Thong Yai Golf Club Ratchadamri Road, Songkla City, Songkla 90000 Tel. (074) 323-761 350 baht Tublamu Navy Golf Course 38 Moo. 5 Thai-Muang, Pang Nga 82120 Tel. (076) 443-288 1,600 baht

LIHN’S Thailand LIFESTYLE & GOLF GUIDE 2013-2014

Nonsurgical Face-Lifting First time trial only 500 B (from normal price 3,000 B)

087-351-7722

4th Floor Times Square Building Sukumvit Soi 12-14 (Asoke)

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ST. ANDREWS 2000

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AWAY CHIANG KHAM VILLA, PHAYAO, THAILAND