February/April 2017
AWAY DAYS Thailand
SELECTION Pattaya Courses
PREVIEW
Honda LPGA Thailand
OVERSEAS Bintan & UAE
Issue 11
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From the
February/April 2017
Issue 11
Publishers desk With so many tournaments around the world suffering from the poor economy, Pattaya is blessed to be hosting the 11th Honda LPGA Thailand. Yet again the world’s top women players will descend on our beautiful beach city for about six days, with the entourage and the publicity machine in tow the event earns millions of Baht for Pattaya. We can be very proud with many top International tournaments only able to attract the top five ranked players, Thailand’s Honda sponsored LPGA in 2017 will host the top 20 players in the Rolex world rankings, competing at the Siam Country Club Old Course.
CEO & Advertising Charlie Warner. T.086 088 8744 charlie@thepattayagolfer.com
See our preview feature on page 36 for more details.
Managing Editor Mike Bridge, T.083 198 6700 mike@thepattayagolfer.com
By Charlie Warner
Production Supervisor Kanyapat “Aof” Kohmanee. aof@silvermover.com
We will be there and hope to see you there, you can buy tickets online or purchase at the gate.
Graphic Design Silvermover Co.,Ltd
Our new address Silvermover Co., Ltd. 46/131 Moo 4, Soi Chaiyapruek 2, Huay-Yai, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Thailand T. 083 113 8712 www.thepattayagolfer.com
The Pattaya Golfer is distributed via the member clubs of the EGA. You can also purchase in most good news stands and book shops. If you would like to take out a subscription and have the magazine mailed to your door see page 96 for details
Supported by
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CONTENTS
8 14 17 18 6
Interview Siam Country Club GM
Away Days Thailand
Discover : Bintan Island
See Page 14 - 16
See Page 18 - 23
See Page 24 - 28
Course Reports: Pattaya
Overseas Destination: UAE
Motoring: Mercedes E class 350d
See Page 30 - 34
See Page 38 - 42
See Page 50 -51
News Interview: Siam Country Club Gm Financial: Robert Rose Away Days: Thailand
24 29 30 38
Destination: Bintan Island Future Of Golf Course Reports: Pattaya Destination: Uae
44 46 50 52 55
Caddies Local Golfer Motoring Where To Dine Pattaya Sports Club
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News Waterside Golf Academy
At last Pattaya will have a brand new state of the art golf academy. Opening officially in early 2017, the academy will be located at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Golf course. Open to the public, the academy will include a driving range, putting green, chipping area and sand bunker.
They will also have a fully stocked pro shop, a fitting service for golf clubs, a snack bar plus a number of coaches headed up by Head Professional Tyrone Renggli who also runs the successful TPR Golf Academy.
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"Discounted rates, as we are members of the Pattaya Sports Club" " Golf beginners are most welcome and we guarantee for a lot of fun" "Book your rooms please in advance, if needed" "Daily Golf Excursions Monday - Saturday, with 2 courses offered on many days!" "Contact Paul 092-3774-276" Soi Honey Inn / Second Road WWW.RETOXGOLF.WEBS.COM WWW.RETOXGAMEON.COM INFO@RETOXGAMEON.COM
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News MENA Tour Announces Asian Swing
In 2017, the fifth edition of the MENA Golf Tour will include an Asian swing with three Thai golf clubs already signed to host this prestigious event.
Pattana Golf Club and Resort in Chonburi are the latest club to sign up to host the tour next May along with Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin and Mountain Creek Golf Resort in Korat. Each tournament will feature in a 30 minute Highlights TV show, broadcast here in Asia on Fox Sport and to millions on other stations around the world. The MENA Golf Tour whose ambassador is Ryder Captain Darren Clarke is organised by Golf in Dubai and is an initiative by the Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation. With support from the Arab Golf Federation and R&A, the tour is aimed at the best MENA National Amateur and Professional players, along with eligible players from the around the world. During their 2016 season the tour had golfers from over 20 different nationalities competing in 22 tournaments across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Thomas Hans Tapken Managing Director at the Pattana Golf Club said, ‘ Our club with its 27 hole golf course and 200 room hotel is the ideal venue to host a major event, and we are pleased to be part of this initiative to support up and coming stars of the future. “ The official season runs from March to December each year, and culminates with the Tour Championship. Each tournament receives official R&A recognition for World Amateur Ranking and Official World Golf Ranking status.
Players benefits include invites to play in major tournaments including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Hassan 11 Trophy on the European Tour , the Sunshine Tour plus entry to Q School on the Asian Tour. For more information check out www.menagolftour.com
Thai Wins Season Opener Prayad Marksaeng proved that age is no handicap in golf as he eclipsed his younger rivals with a final round four-under-par 67 to lift his 10th Asian Tour title at the SMBC Singapore Open. The Thai who recently turned 51 won the iconic Singapore showpiece celebrating its 51st edition this year, and his success was entirely appropriate. Prayad’s birdie on 18 proved decisive as it gave him a one-shot advantage and also the clubhouse lead while the rest of the field were still on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation. With no-one in the chasing pack able to match his four-day total of nine-under-par 275, Prayad was crowned champion more than two hours after completing his round.
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Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, South African Jbe Kruger, Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines and defending champion Song Young-han of Korea all had their chances to at least force a playoff with Prayad.
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News
New Merger
Last month Golfasian has established their own Pattaya Branch with the acquisition of Solar Golf. Golfasian Pattaya will be headed by Stuart Mackie, the son of Solar Golf ’s company founder Callum Mackie. In the coming months they will heavily up market the destination and introduce the world to the higher end side of Pattaya. With 27 golf courses including the renowned Siam CC, Thai host of the US LPGA; the area is rich for discovery and ripe for change. The continued and expanded appeal of Pattaya among golfers will rest on its wide choice of golf courses and the huge diversity of accommodations, dining, entertainment, nightlife and shopping. Pattaya offers golfers great value and with Golfasian’s already close relationship with local partners it’s about to get even better. Callum Mackie will be working closely with Golfasian in a consultancy basis as well.
New Nordic Golf Event a Success
Local developer New Nordic hosted their first golf tournament last month called New Nordic Golf Open 2017. Originally due to be a three day event , they eventually played two days due to some of the worst weather Pattaya had seen for years. Luckily the tournament was held at the Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club, which being designed on a sandy hilly is known as one of the best courses for drainage. They had 96 players participating, and there were presentations on both days. The company and players were very pleased with the tournament and they are already planning another event in January 2018.
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News Outback Bar Goes Retail
The owners of the Outback Sports Bar on Soi Siam Country Club have been busy up grading their bar facilities and have recently opened their own golf retail outlet.
Andre Coetzee their CEO has signed a deal with Titleist and will be stocking their latest range of products including their latest new golf balls. Apart from a full range of clothing and accessories, they run a club re-gripping operation with a range of grips available starting at 300 Baht for a standard Golf Pride or Nike grip. They also have a number of golf bags and travel bags all that can be personalized with your name. For more information visit www.outbackgolfbar.asia
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Exclusive Interview
Siam Country Club.... Three Star Attractions By Mike Bridge We caught up with Siam Country Club’s busy General Manager, Suksan Suwanpanich, to find out all about their three clubs, The Old Course, Plantation and Waterside. General Manager Suksan Suwanpanich 14
LPGA and GM
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‘ n 2016 we handled over 140,000 rounds of golf which was 5% up on the previous year. Over 50% are Japanese, 25% European and 20% Korean’, Suksan told us. In the past 12 months the club has been investing in improvements including improving the landscaping at the latest club Waterside and added a few bunkers and a new tee box. They are also about to open their state of the art golf academy at Waterside this February which will include a driving range, putting and chipping areas, a sand bunker plus a club fitting service, a pros shop and professional coaches. Suksan explained, ‘ Weekdays golfers will use a plastic matt and a bucket of balls will cost THB50 or at weekends they will play off the grass and you will pay THB100. We plan that our academy will be open to the public by March.’ At Plantation they planted some more trees and Old Course they have been continually maintaining that course as well. The Old Course will once again
Old Course No 10
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Waterside’s 9th Hole with Clubhouse in the background host the 2017 Honda LPGA Thailand from 23rd-26th February, and he told us that it takes them around two weeks to build all the grand stands and hospitality suites. They can handle up to 60,000 spectators over the 4 days and with Ariya Jutanugarn returning as No.2 on the Rolex ranking, they expect bumper crowds. There will be parking for 5,000 cars! Future plans will naturally depend on the economy of the country, but include a new 18 hole golf course to be built on land next to the current Waterside club. This will mean the Siam Country Club will have over 81 holes, making it one of the top clubs in Asia. They also are considering building a hotel at the Old Course as well. From April to October they will once again offer sports day green fee rates of THB1,850 at Plantation and THB1,750 at Waterside. They also offer residents yearly weekday memberships. Exciting times for Pattaya’s No1 golf clubs. For up to date information visit www.siamcountryclub.com
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Siam Plantation
CASHING IN: TO STUDY, OR NOT TO STUDY, THAT IS THE QUESTION
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aising children is becoming more and more expensive. Never mind the obligatory i-pad, the latest sportswear or the foreign holidays. The real concern that most parents have is in relation to the soaring rise of University fees. With many parents facing university fees of over $100,000 per child, governments and advisors are encouraging people to plan well in advance for further studies. The big rub for an expatriate is that you could be faced with fees of two or three times that amount as your child may be deemed an overseas student. Throw accommodation and living costs into the mix and it’s an expensive life event. Now, this is all a troubling thought, and we haven’t even accounted for inflation yet. As a global average, the cost of education is growing at around a staggering 7% per annum. This has the unfortunate result that you may need to double or triple the current costs, depending on the age of your
By Robert Rose child. When your child eventually heads off into the sunset, clutching his or her student cookbook, things will inevitably be more expensive. However, with all that said, providing for your child’s education is one of the greatest investments that you can ever make and the benefits of providing your child with a good start in life can outweigh the costs. But what are the best ways to prepare yourself financially: 1. Get an idea of how much it will really cost. Sit down with an advisor and run through the figures…and be realistic! 2. Save regularly. Trying to save over $100,000 per child may feel like hunting for a torch in a powercut. However, the real key is to save regularly by putting monthly contributions into a dedicated and separate plan. Putting just $300 per month over 18 years into a 6% return plan could allow you to reach your goal.
3. Take advantage of the tax free benefits of saving offshore. Remember that this is one of the perks of being an expat! 4. And finally, make sure your child or children know the value of money. Budgets should ideally not be new concepts to first year students. I recall performing the most cost effective supermarket trips known to mankind whilst at university. Knowing how to be thrifty is an extremely valuable trait.
Important Note - This article
contains general information only and is not intended to be taken as specific financial, investment, or tax advice. A personal analysis should always be obtained. If you need help or advice on any of the issues raised in the article or in any other area of your personal finances Rob can be reached as follows: Mobile: +66 852129792 Email:rob@bankingonbangkok.com Web: www.bankingonbangkok.com
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Thailand
A true golfers playground By Mike Bridge No one knows exactly how many golf courses there are dotted around Thailand, but it is estimated that there are over 240 and more are being created every year.
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hailand has won many awards as a global golf destination and all the top professional players genuinely like to experience the high quality courses and the friendly hospitality. Golf vacationers are also in agreement that the ‘Land of Smiles’ delivers on every count and makes Thailand one of their top destinations all year round.
Expats also like to travel about the country too, as we are spoilt with a wide variety of challenges from seaside to mountain courses, all offering a great day out.
having played on about 90 courses since arriving here in 2010, here is my personal selection of some unforgettable rounds of golf, listed by region and in no particular order.
But where to start? Naturally if you are going to fly half way across the World to play golf, then you need to find some really first class and memorable tracks to play. Therefore
Bangkok There are around forty golf clubs within an hour’s drive of the capital and a fairly new addition opened in 2010 is Riverdale Golf Club,
Bangkok: Riverdale’s Two Green Par 3
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Bangkok: Thai Country Club roughly 30 minutes from the city centre. Designed by Jon Morrow of Red Mountain fame, he has cleverly created 18 superb holes out of a fairly flat piece of scrub land. With 20 metre variations with island greens, sloping fairways and some devilishly tricky greens, this 7,006 yard layout has it all. In fact it was described by Golf Digest USA as one of the most challenging 18 holes from the back tees in Asia. Another classic course and worthy a mention is the famous Thai Country Club, run like clockwork by the Peninsula Hotel Group. This course designed by Denis Griffiths hosted the 1997 Asian Honda Classic won by 10 strokes by a certain youthful Tiger Woods. A fairly flat layout around a couple of large lakes, but wonderfully laid out and always offering a very interesting day out on a well maintained classic course. Eastern Seaboard. OK, I agree most will have Siam Country Club’s Old Course or perhaps Jack Nicklaus’s Laem Chabang at the top of their list,
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Eastern Seasboard: Wangjuntr Golf Park, Highland Course.
however for pure enjoyment a trip to Wangjuntr Golf Park’s Highland Course, around 70 minutes east of Pattaya is always on my list, when guests hit town. Wacky to say the least, with two greens on every hole and wild animals roaming, this is a very peaceful day out. Here you tee off on hole one on top of the drinks kiosk, there are also have boulders
and mounds on some greens, there is one island green is in the shape of Thailand, and their signature hole has a tee box 100 metres above the fairway below. No point looking at your scorecard, but everyone will be talking about the Highland Course for months afterwards as an amazing, crazy and unique experience. They also have a Valley and Jungle Course too.
Phuket: Red Mountain’s 10th Hole. Phuket Here there are seven courses on the island and as they have run out of land and are unlikely to build anymore, you will find some of the most expensive rounds of golf in Thailand. That said I always look forward to taking friends to tackle the Red Mountain Golf Club’s 6,905 yards, which Jon Morrow has cleverly created running through some incredible landscapes left behind by a disused tin mine. Every hole has a WOW factor, from gauges to water hazards, and many raised tee boxes and immaculate undulating greens. Too many Kodak moments to list here. A modern clubhouse with great views of the 18th makes this a class act. It is expensive but it always delivers! Chiang Mai Often a cooler alternative, being in the North of the country, Chiang Mai has a number of top rated championship courses including Alpine Golf Resort and Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club. However one course that keeps grabbing all the awards is the iconic Chiang Mai Highlands Resort, now a 27 hole masterpiece. Designed
Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort by Schmitt and Curley around some spectacular countryside beside a mountain, here you have a serious number of bunkers, water hazards, sloping fairways and undulating greens. Mist in the early morning and peaceful sunsets at the end of the day and you really are in golf heaven. Hua Hin Many Scandinavians golfers including Alex Noren, Johan Edfors and Pelle Egberg have bought property at Black Mountain Golf Club and this course
has been voted as one of the top 100 courses in the World by Golf Digest. They have added nine new holes, and with breezes playing off some of the mountain side tee boxes, it can be quite daunting but still great fun. Close by is another Thai classic countryside course called Banyan Golf Resort. Perhaps my favorite 18 holes in Thailand, here you play around some beautifully molded fairways, with coconut palm and pineapples to avoid in the rough along with some interesting hilly terrain. The course is always in
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Hua Hin: Banyan Golf Club immaculate condition and is both exciting and challenging, and their Thai style clubhouse has also won many international awards. Two of the country’s best golf clubs!
Hua Hin: Black Mountain Hole 7
Khao Yai If you are planning to drive up to the Khao Yai National Park then a visit to Kiri Maya Resort has to be on your list. About two hours drive North East of Bangkok you reach the Jack Nicklaus designed 18 holes weaving its way through some spectacular Nation Park countryside backed by a majestic mountain range. Mainly single track the course has lily ponds, mature forests, rolling fairways, and some interesting and tricky greens. Best part is the resort itself, where you can stay in a luxury tent or a fairway villa with private pool. A very chic resort! Kanchanaburi Our last selection has been winning many admirers since it open three years ago as an 18 hole dream of the Bangkok Motor Show organiser Dr Pranchin. Located two hours west of Bangkok and close to the River Kwai, at the Grand Prix Golf Club you are treated to a wonderful course playing around a massive lake surrounded by Burmese mountains in the distance. You start your adventure by teeing off 50 metres above the green with views
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Khao Yai: Kiri Maya
Kanchaburi: Grand Prix Golf Club across the front nine. Many bunkers, rolling fairways, water hazards, even a par 3 green surrounded by sand add to the fun. The attention to detail with sculptures, shrubs and flowers is amazing and here they have a clubhouse sitting on top of the course, great for a cool cocktail while enjoying the awesome sunsets. A worthy addition to playing a memorable round in the Land of the Smiles!
Editor’s Note:
So there you have my own personal favorites. I am sure you will say, well he left out Alpine or Blue Canyon....its all a matter of personal taste so please go on our Facebook page and let us have your own top Thai selection. Happy Golfing.
Bangkok: Riverdale’s double green par 3
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Discover
BINTAN ISLAND Singapore’s Indonesian Golf Neighbour By Mike Bridge Bintan Island, although still part of Indonesia, is actually only a relatively short distance by water from Singapore. Part of the Riau Archipelago, the island which is served by a 50 minute ferry trip from Singapore, offers everything from secluded sandy beaches to a variety of water sports and the best news....excellent first class Championship golf courses.
Destination
Bali BINTAN ISLAND
Ian Baker Finch’s Bintan Lagoon Course
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ocated in the north of the island there is an upscale resort and where you can stay and there are championship golf packages which naturally you can customize to fit into your schedule. We all know how expensive playing golf in Singpapore can be, however here the rates are reasonable and the bonus is that the courses are all in magnificent condition, and the beaches tranquil and inviting ideal for the perfect vacation. Here we give you a short idea of the types of wonderful golfing experiences that await you with the island’s top four courses.
Bintan Lagoon Golf Club, “Seaview Course”. The Bintan Lagoon Golf Club’s “Seaview Course” is 6,443 meters of 18 beautiful golf holes created and inspired by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. Open back in 1996 on Bintan Island, and just a short ferry trip from Singapore, golfers and media from all over the world have
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Hole-3-Laguna Bintan been amazed by what everyone has described as an enthralling and awesome undulating jungle golf course. Here you feel excitement around every corner, as Jack has included water hazards on thirteen of the holes, while the remaining holes are on the other side of this course, with the serene South China Sea providing the backdrop. Of course it is a very scenic journey, but with all
Jack’s courses, you still have to think about your strategy, as through this tropical jungle layout you will need to contend with well placed bunkering throughout the rolling topography of his 6,443 metres. It is not only about the scenic South China Sea views, and the tropical jungle, but Nicklaus has made good use of his trademark bunkering throughout the hilly layout.
Jack Nicklaus Course at Bintan Lagoon Bintan Lagoon Golf Club, “Woodlands Course”. Ex US Ryder Cup Captain, Ian BakerFinch was the designer of the Bintan Lagoon Golf Club’s “ Woodlands Course”, which he created back in 1996. Here he has cleverly incorporated the 6,832 yards through a wonderful rainforest, designed with the front nine holes going away from the resort and the back nine winding their way back to the clubhouse. His Woodlands Course offers a lot of challenges with an undulating set up, several elevated greens guarded by some monster deep bunkers, and water hazards on at least six holes. Laguna Golf Bintan Laguna Golf Bintan was originally created by Greg Norman back in 1998, and after a major revamp was then officially relauched by Laguna’s own Golf Ambassador, Sir Nick Faldo in 2016. This tropical 18 hole Par 72 courses is well known for its remarkable sea views and its unusual layout allowing for a very unique golf experience. The first few holes
Laguna Golf Bintan’s 9th Hole
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Destination
BINTAN ISLAND
Ria Bintan’s Ocean Course Hole 10 play close to the South China Sea and then plays alongside some incredible lagoons. After the revamp they revised all 18 greens and actually reduced the original number of bunkers to create a better golfing experience. You will find the front nine offers more undulations with a flatter back nine to finish off your round. Players will benefit from the cooling sea breeze and will enjoy some wonderful ocean views, while driving through fairways with the jungle either side towards a backdrop of sea and large rocks. Ria Bintan Golf Club Ria Bintan Golf Club is one of golfing legend Gary Player’s great designs, with 27 holes running through mature woodlands or beside windswept ocean fronts. Here you have an 18 hole ‘Ocean Course” opened in 1998 with many holes offering fantastic views of the South China Sea. Then if you have time, you can take on the challenge of the nine hole “Forrest Course”, which he created in 2000. Gary has used the natural contours of the island to the best, as some of the holes run through native jungle, where you may even see monkeys, deer or even wild boar! Ria Bintan made it into the top 100 golf
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Ria Bintan’s Ocean No 9
courses published by Golf Digest, and is a firm favorite with golfers all over the World. Bintan Island Info. If you are arriving at Singapore’s Changi Airport, then the Tanah Merah ferry terminal is only a nine minute taxi ride away. Bintan as part of Indonesia is in fact one hour behind Singapore. There is a regular ferry service operated by Bintan Resorts Ferries (BRF) that plies between Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore and Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal, Bintan Resorts. For updated schedules, please refer to www.brf.com.sg – Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal tel: (62) 770 691-93
The island has several excellent hotels and resorts, however if you want to stay close to the top course, then living up to its immaculate reputation of a world-class golfing resort destination, the Ria Golf Lodge offers a memorable stay for those seeking for the perfect golf vacation. Featuring just 31 modern rooms, guests can soak in the picturesque view of the greens against the majestic South China Sea. Relax and rejuvenate after a gratifying game and experience the best of Indonesia hospitality at Ria Golf Lodge. If you wish to book a golf vacation and let the experts arrange everything for you, then check out http://www. indonesiagolfholidays.com
Credit: Airbus
Fast Forward 100 Years... The Future of Golf It is a fact that golf is looking to encourage the next generation to take up the game, but if you look way into the future, I wonder what we will be doing in a 100 years.
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e all know how frustrating it can be especially when you are starting out to learn to play golf. Currently when you go see a PGA Professional today, you’ll often have video taken of your swing and analyze it on a monitor. In the future, PGA Professionals will be able to take that video and create a 3D holographic model of you and your swing. Your teacher can change things such as your plane, your hand position and your weight distribution to show you exactly what your improved swing should look like. Then you just have to imitate yourself. You may have also thought single-length irons were cool. How about a single iron system? Your golf bag will become a lot lighter going from 14 clubs down to 4 — a driver, an iron, a wedge and a putter. Each club will be able to extend several inches. The head will adjust to the loft you need. Some laws of physics might make this seem impossible right now. But in 100 years? We have time on our side to figure it out. Golf can be an expensive sport too, but in the future we will lose less balls. In
the future, microchip technology will be seamlessly integrated into golf balls as to not affect the flight or distance. These microchips will enable golfers to use GPS on their phones -- or whatever device we’re using in 100 years -- to locate an errant shot. That duck hook that goes deep into the thickest part of the woods? It’ll still be hard to retrieve. But you’ll know exactly where it is!
However you won’t be getting that cart path bounce on your drives anymore. And you also won’t see tread marks on the course and have to stay on the cart path when the course is wet. Two words: Hover carts. Bubba Watson already has one but in the future they’ll come in 1, 2 and 4 person styles and will be a heck of a lot of fun to drive.
If you want to go out and play a relaxed round without the hassle of losing golf balls in the woods and the frustration of dealing with that slice? The future is for you. Yes, bumper golf. You’ll have the option to activate an invisible fence that, should your ball hit it, will deflect your shot back into play.
If you short of golfing partners and wanted to play a round of golf with the legends of the game? No problem as now you’ll have your chance. At courses that have held the most epic of major championships, you’ll be able to play alongside a hologram of Jack, Arnold, Tiger and many more as they hit the shots that built their legendary careers. Put your ball next to theirs and see how you fare.
This technology will not only save you shots, but the hassle of replacing the window in someone’s fairway villa. The fences will be placed along the out of bounds markers throughout the course. The ball will drop straight down at that point. You’ll take your penalty and continue playing. So it speeds up play, too.
The introduction of new technology won’t mean that everyone will be a scratch golfer in 100 years. Golf will still be a challenging game. The handicap of golf will still be the little white ball. But in 100 years, more people will be able to enjoy the game, just as more people are able to enjoy the game now than did 100 years ago.
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Course Reports Pattaya.... A Seaside Golf Destination
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There can’t be many seaside resorts around the world that can offer twenty seven golf courses, all within sixty minute drive from the city, and can guarantee 365 year round play in a wonderful climate. Well Pattaya can!!!
Siam Country Club’s The Old Course
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Burapha
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ell known as the host for the past ten seasons of the prestigious Honda LPGA Thailand, the city has also been award by the 500 members of the International Golf Tour Operators Association “ Best Golf Destination for Asia and Australia”. Not surprising therefore that over 600,000 rounds of golf were booked by golf vacationers in 2016, many returning year after year.
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Laem Chabang 6th at Mountain course
To help you add to your golfing experiences, here we have selected our top ten courses in no particular order, which all offer a unique and memorable round of golf in the city of fun.
2. Burapha Golf Club. Always a popular club with locals, expats and overseas players, here you can enjoy four nine hole layouts offering everything from water hazards to hilly undulations all in excellent condition. Around 35 minutes from Pattaya via expressway.
4. Siam Plantation is also a 27 hole challenge, which hosted the LPGA a few years back. Laid out on the side of a hill, here the greens are fast and undulating and bunkers are everywhere providing a fun day out. 25 Minutes from the city.
1. Siam Country Club. ‘The Old Course’ is home to the top 50 lady golfers in the world, who every February try to conquer its 18 holes, especially the par 5 final hole that has served up more dramas than a Thai soap opera. Close to the city.
3. Laem Chabang the neighbour of Burapha, is a 27 hole masterpiece and a personal favorite of designer Jack Nicklaus. Mountain, Lakes (flood lite) and Valley perhaps the most though provoking nine holes in Thailand, awaits you here. Top class golf.
5. St Andrews 2000 has two par 6’s and is designed to replicate the Scottish highlands, with raised tee boxes, sloping fairways and undulating greens. Always provides a memorable round of golf. 35 minutes from the city.
Rayong Green Valley 6. Rayong Green Valley shares the same clubhouse as St Andrews 2000, and offers players a slightly flatter layout but with a few interesting water hazards and mature trees. A very popular course with the local golf societies. 7. Siam Waterside is one of the newer additions to the region, with an 18 hole layout designed by IMG passing by two large lakes. Designed with a stadium feel, they aim to host the LPGA in the future. Soon to open a state of the art golf academy too. 25 minutes from the city.
Waterside
8. Pattana Golf Club & Resort is a 50 minute drive up the 331 from Pattaya, however their well maintained 27 holes are well worth the trip and offer everything from island greens to par 6’s, hilly fairways and some tricky greens. Great clubhouse with excellent restaurant here. Pattana B 1
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Phoenix GC Mountain Course 9. Phoenix Golf Club is one of the closest to the city, just a 20 minute drive away. 27 holes here called Mountain, Ocean and the new Lakes course offer great golf. As it is located on top of a sandy hilly, the course drains very quickly even after a tropical storm. Host to the Asian Tour’s Kings Cup.
St Andrews 2000
10. The Emerald was designed back in the 90’s by Nick Faldo and runs through a mature forest with natural humps and bumps, a couple of lakes, raised tees and some undulating greens. Slightly tired clubhouse, but for sheer fun worth the 50 minute trip east of the city. The Emerald
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Siam Plantation A5.2
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Ariya having FUN and raising Awareness For Local Charities
Honda LPGA Thailand Preview For four days in February the eyes of the golfing world will be focused on Pattaya, when the 11th edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand kicks off at the Siam Country Club’s Old Course.
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rom Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th February, 50 of the World’s best female golfers will battle it out to take this prestigious title with a massive purse this year of US$1,6million on offer. When many international golf tournaments are struggling, and as we know we no longer have the Thailand Golf Championship at Amata Springs or the Thailand Classic at
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Black Mountain, Thailand’s longest Naturally this has now become the running golf tournament thrives and biggest sporting event in Thailand, watched by millions around the continues to deliver fantastic golf. world on TV, which is also great for There are very few men’s or ladies promoting golf vacations here in golf tournaments anywhere in the Pattaya. world that can attract all of these top players, and in fact all the top 10 on This year expect bumper crowds, as the Rolex rankings will be turning we welcome home Thai super star 20 up at the Old Course in 2017. Lexi year old Number 2nd ranked player Thompson also returns to defend her Ariya Jutanugarn. Who can forget her title. sad lose a few years back when she
Stars in Thai National Costume came up the 18th on the last day 2 shots ahead and then lost in all on the treacherous 18th green. 2016 saw Ariya rise up the rankings with multiple wins and several top ten’s to take the No. 1 Spot on the LPGA 2016 money list winning a staggering US$2,550,947, and she was voted Player of the Year as well. All done with her trademark smile and her attitude of going out there to have ‘FUN’! This year Ariya and sister Moriya will be in the field along with Pornanong Phatlum who also is always a treat to watch and wouldn’t her army of fans love to see her win her 1st LPGA tournament here in Thailand. Apart from the Thais routing for the home players, golf fans will be able to see the world’s number one ranked player Lydia Ko who is returning to Pattaya after a couple of years absence. Also watch out for in form Shanshan Feng from China, Canadian Brooke Henderson and Rookie of 2016 and ranked 3rd In Gee Chun. You can buy tickets at the course and most of the action kicks off early to avoid the heat. Some of the players will be making this there 1st event of the season while the likes of Ariya and Pornanong will have already played in the Bahamas
Ariya Jutanugarn, World no.2 golfer and South Australia before jetting into Thailand. The one comment you keep hearing is how much these talented girls love the Dusit Thani hotel, the Thai cuisine, the spas and one of Pattaya’s special golf clubs The Old Course at Siam Country Club. We hope you too will enjoy some exciting golf....more drama here than a Thai soap opera.
Lydia Ko World No. 1 golfer
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38
Discover
UAE
By Mike Bridge
Over the past thirty years, the United Ar ab Emir ates has been attr acting a lot of attention, not just for its tall mega towers and monster shopping malls but also for its great golf facilities.
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Emirates Golf Club
De s t i nat ion
UAE
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
E
very spring the popular Desert Swing attracts most of the top professional’s golfers including Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Then they all return in November for the Dubai World Championship, part of the ‘Race to Dubai’. Many including Henrik Stenson actually used to live there and Rory McIlroy’s first ever win was at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic...in fact Rory loves Dubai so much he still likes to start his year staying and training in the region. Now with the help of air conditioned golf buggies, expats tend to occupy the tee times all year round, while the tourists still pack the clubs during the cooler months being October to May. With a vast choice of flights from Thailand to the UAE with the likes of Emirates, Etihad or Thai Airways there are many great deals to be grabbed , and booking on line means there are a lot of
40
reasonably price hotels, so going on a golf package to the UAE does not need to break the bank. Golf is actually a relatively small industry here with only around 21 courses and approximately 10,000 resident golfers. Most of the courses are still quiet new and have all the designer names attached. Notable clubs in Dubai include the Emirates Golf Club, with its new floodlit Faldo course, and the famous Majlis course home to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The Dubai Creek and Yacht Club, the Els Club, the Earth course at Jumeirah Estates, the Montgomerie and my personal favorite The Jebal Ali Golf Resort, a 9 hole master piece, with the odd Peacock to avoid! There are also courses in the Northern Emirates, but the majority of memorable courses are located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Emirates
Abu Dhabi Gary Player has created a superb golf course on Saadiyat Island, with several of the holes running alongside the Blue waters of the Arabian Gulf. The 18 holes cater for everyone starting at 5,290 yards up to a whopping 7,784 yards which will challenge any of the world’s leading golfers. The club is only pay and play, to ensure visitors and residents have an equal opportunity to play. As facilities go everything is done with a touch of nostalgia, from the old pictures from the past to the beautiful Filipina waitress in their flat caps and Plus Fours. Yas Links is one of the top courses in the region designed by Kyle Phillips, the chap responsible for many links courses including the famous Kingsbarns Golf Links in St Andrews Scotland. Yas Links is the first truly links golf course to open in the region, and is located next to the Abu Dhabi Formula I Grand Prix track. It has 18-holes, 7450-yards, par 72, 144
Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course bunkers, 8 coastline holes, 300,000 m3 of capped sand…this course is more than just numbers, it is a celebration of the all that Links golf has to offer. Although created from scratch, it feels like you were actually playing on an old historic course in Scotland. The overall experience was hard to beat, with an eerily silence next to the Gulf of Arabia. Dubai Golf here is a bit more mature than Abu Dhabi and if you get a kick out of following the stars then a round at the Majlis course and the Earth course is worthwhile. Emirates Golf Club actually has two superb 18 hole courses, the Faldo course under floodlights and the famous Majlis Course home to the Desert Classic. Their Majlis course has been officially ranked amongst the ‘World’s Top 100 Golf Course’ by Golf World magazine, and in fact it was the first all grass championship
Earth Course Hole 18th course when it opened back in 1988. Both courses combine the natural rolling desert terrain offering some memorable golfing experiences. Owned and run like clockwork by the golf in Dubai group, they also own the enjoyable Dubai Creek Golf Club as well. Jumeirah Golf Estates is the home to two courses, Fire and
the Earth course, which hosts the Race To Dubai DP World Tour Championship every year in November. Greg Norman’s Earth course has lots of undulations, many sparkling white bunkers and great island par 3 and the thrilling 18th a very long par 5 with a creek running up to the club house. It’s a tough challenge but well worth the trip.
41
De s t i nat ion
UAE
Earth Course White Bunkers Meydan’s “The Track” 7,412 yard course is a unique new pay-and-play golf course at the world famous Dubai racecourse, and is open daily from, 6:30 am - 11:00 pm. With several varying tee boxes this course allows every ability of golfer a chance to play and enjoy the experience of Meydan Golf. Renowned golf course architect Peter Harradine strategically placed each hole allowing the six natural lakes on the course to come into play on several approaches. Floodlights allow for a late tee off here.
Editor’s Note: An easy way to guarantee you and your partners get a valuable tee time is to go and book on line with www. golfcitizen.com who have the best tee times at most courses and some at discounted rates as well. They also handle online tee times here in Thailand, so worth checking out.
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Yas links 13 th
Meydan’s ‘The Track
er v r o rs o t f yea s E 10
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Phoenix Gold’s Caddies
Busy Caddies What makes the rounds of golf played here in Thailand so memorable, is the friendliness of the golf club staff especially their caddies.
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Greenwood GC Caddies
Pattavia Century Caddies
Pattaya Country Club caddies
F
or many, especially those coming here on a golf vacation, the experience of playing golf on some wonderful courses is made that more special by the attention given by your smiling caddie. Not only do they look after you, can improve your game and clean your clubs, but they also will pull your golf trolley or drive your golf cart too. A good caddie may have worked at her course for several years and can read the greens like a paperback. So if you care to listen to their advise, they can also lower your score too.
There are over 240 courses around the country with up to 350 caddies employed at the large clubs so estimate that over 30,000 are employed here in Thailand. Perhaps more than any other golfing country around the world! Of course at this time of year, during the high season, they are working seven days a week and really earn their tips. However during the low season they can sometimes only see two golfers per week.
Pattana GC When you check in at the pro shop or club reception you will pay a caddie fee of between Thb250 to 400 and a large percentage does go to your caddie. However after spending 4-5 hours with you, while you hack your way round 18 holes, it is customary to reward your caddie with a tip of between Thb300-500. They do rely on their tips to live, so your generosity is always most welcome. If you ask a caddie what should I tip you? The answer will always be though ‘Up to you!’
45
We talk to a local golfer Oil Baron of 18 Holes
Ron Gale was born in Meekatharrain Western Australia in 1952, and for most of his working life worked in the oil industry for Halliburton travelling extensively around the world. In the early 80’s he was based in Bangkok while working in the Gulf of Thailand and spent a lot of his time in Pattaya. 46
I
‘ n those days if you wanted to play golf, there were only three courses, Siam Country Club’s Old Course, Bangpra and Plutaluang Navy Golf course’, said Ron. Ron returned here in 1996, commuting to different countries around the world, met his Thai wife Yeow and married in 2002. He also became a member of Siam Country Club in 2006, and currently is also Golf Chairman of the Pattaya Sports Club. Ron would normally play golf with friends around Thailand, rather than joining some of the golf societies, although he became a full member of the Pattaya Sports Club in 1983. He has used the card ever since, even when he was travelling back and forth into Thailand for work. In those days Ron said he was playing golf around 3-4 times a week. So as a regular golfer Ron was naturally upset when in mid 2015 he tore a tendon in his right knee, the Doctor finally told him in January 2016 that he had to rest for at least 12 months. After a lot of treatment and exercise Ron returned to play again at the Outbackmonthly medal at Burapha.
‘As I had not hit a golf ball in 12 months, I had to count all my strokes, and I had a lot in fact 116. My normal handicap was 20, however it was absolutely fantastic to be back on the golf course.” Ron is hoping to fully recover and he did not feel any pain after walking the course. For Ron The Old Course is still his number one course here, as it was the first course he ever played at in Thailand and has a lot of memories. However he also likes LaemChabang, Khaow Kheow, Phoenix and Plutaluang.Ron also added that he always enjoyed
playing The Emerald golf course, but surprisingly has still to test out a few of the local courses including Pattana. Ron summed up the appeal of golf here. ‘The cost of golf is what I think brings a lot of people to Thailand, the diversity of people you meet and friendships made, and the friendliness of the golf courses. When you go to play here the caddies are great, They may not always know everything but they are fun to be around and although we have our serious tournaments, the majority of the time you are playing for fun.’
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Visit, www.decorum-thailand.com 49
Dressed for the
Wilderness
Mercedes E class 350d All Terrain
Mercedes E-Class Estate gets new sense of adventure Look out Audi and Volvo, former champions of the off road estate class, with the Audi A6 Allroad and the Volvo V70, following VW’s launch last year of the Golf Alltrack and the Passart Alltrack, Mercedes have now also joined the party with this pumped up E class touring. A 5% change in parts was enough to morph the favorite big estate car into this tough looking go anywhere luxury wagon. You would think that the fact Mercedes already have around thirty SUV’s variants in the model range was enough, but no, they want to own it all it seems. Taller, more supple suspension might allow the E-Class All-Terrain to venture off-road, but the benefits it brings to the on-road comfort are equally, if not even more, attractive. It might look tough, but all that plastic bodywork is more likely to be protecting the car from shopping trolley dings and wayward car doors in the carpark as it is fighting off foliage in the jungle. Inside, door mats and extra lift button for the suspension aside, it’s all regular E-class, only a fraction higher than usual and offered with an All-Terrain carbon effect metal trim that looks as bad as that sounds, pseudo skid plates on the front and rear bumpers in aluminium, a unique SUV-style front grille and larger 19-inch AllTerrain alloy wheels.
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Those wheels, and the tyres’ larger height and width ratio, create 15mm of the total 29mm lift over a standard E-Class Estate. The suspension is a raised version of the E-Class’s Air Body Control air springs and variable dampers. In its most extreme All-Terrain setting via Drive Select, this off-road-enabled E-Class gets 156mm of ground clearance, but only at speeds of up to 19mph. After that, it lowers automatically. The 4Matic permanent four-wheel-drive system, ESP stability control, ASR traction control and active yaw control all have their settings adjusted accordingly to suit the All-Terrain’s more adventurous capability, allowing it to clamber, crawl and wade where other E-Class models wouldn’t dare. You won’t be able to follow a big Mercedes SUV all the way into the deep rough. Power for the new model comes from Mercedes’ long-running OM642 diesel engine. Already used by the standard E 350 d Estate, the turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, produces 254bhp and a solid 457lb ft. No performance or economy claims have been made as yet, but expect figures close to those of the E 350 d Estate 4Matic, which boasts an official 0-62mph time of 6.6sec along with combined economy of of 49.6mpg and an average CO2 rating of 150g/km.
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Larn Thong at Royal Cliff
Where to DINE
Of course it is easy to forget if you are living or staying in Central Pattaya, that there are a lot of great places to discover east of the city.
S
tarting with one of Pattaya’s biggest hotels, the Royal Cliff Grand Hotel has a number of excellent restaurants including their Larn Thong, where a superb menu offers a fine selection of exotic and
52
authentic Thai cuisine in an exquisite setting. Located on The Praya road is the second version of successful La Baguette chain, which doubles as a French style
bakery and restaurant serving delicious savory or sweet pancakes and salads and cakes. Good place for a brunch. Tucked away in Na Jomtien close to the Pinnacle Hotel in View Talay Marina
Bacco Beach
La Baguette Cafe area is the Drifters Cafe, a rustic cafe serving great pizzas from a stone oven. Very laid back with the sea lapping beside the tables, they will even serve you as cold beer in the sea! Mainly used by locals in the know.
Pavillion U Pattaya
Close by also in Na Jomtien, and next to the Glass House restaurant is Bacco Beach a true Italian restaurant with incredible fresh pasta dishes, wonderful local fish, succulent steaks and some cool bears and wine. They
Drifters Cafe Na Jomtien even have their own beach with sun loungers so stay there all day. Showers included! Finally around 15 kms along the Sukhumvit Road is Bang Saray, and it’s worth trying out the U Pattaya hotel’s beachfront restaurant serving anything from burgers to international and Thai dishes. Great view of the bay and dinners can sneak into the pool or try out their spa too.
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Pattaya Sports Club’s HQ
What Makes Pattaya Sports Club Different? Founded back in 1979, the Pattaya Sports Club has grown to become the biggest club in the region with over 40,000 members, 11,000 being active members. We caught up with the club’s Golf Chairman Ron Gale, and he explained to us the benefits of joining the top club in the region. 54
‘We offer a
Golf Chairman with Charity Classic Winners 2017
venue for all the players in the region to obtain a golf handicap. We have the facility where they can submit their scores whether after a casual round with friends or from partaking in a local tournament, and we then manage their handicap for them,’ said Gale. The club run the USGA handicap system. If you do plan to enter some of the many golf tournaments held every week in the region or are planning to regularly play with a local bar or society then they will ask to see your handicap. PSC will post all their members handicap up on the website too.
First though you need to become a member, whether you are living here maybe as an expat or even if you are over in Pattaya on vacation. Registration for membership is only THB400 and a year’s membership is THB500 or a 5 yearly membership is THB2,500. ‘The benefits are numerous and naturally the actual discounts offer by all local courses can be very worthwhile, ‘ added Gale. ‘For example at Khao Kheow their standard weekday green fee rate in high season is THB2,000, while our members pay just THB1,250. At Siam Plantation the current saving THB1,400 on their green fee. Therefore tourists here for a couple of weeks and who are planning to play say six rounds of golf, could pay for the yearly membership in just a couple of rounds, and save on the other green fees. Very handy especially during the high season!’
The club also has a discount scheme where you can get discounts at local hospitals, restaurants and training facilities. Just ask for the discount booklet at their office. Apart from golf, the club have members who join for ten pin bowling, greens bowls and fishing. For golfers wishing to take part in the club’s popular monthly medal tournament, you will need a club handicap or proof of your handicap from back home. Apart from the monthly medals the club also run an annual Charity Classic which helps raise money for local charities. This year it raised of
THB600,000. PSC is also a great way to meet people and apart from the sporting activities they also host a summer and Christmas party which also goes towards raising funds for their charities. In fact apart from everyone enjoying the sporting and social activities the club’s objective was to support local charities especially needy children, the handicapped and underprivileged. Over the past 12 years they have raised over THB30million! For more information on the club, membership, handicaps and the monthly golf rates visit www.pattayasports.org
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56
TO BANGKOK
TO CHACHOENGSAO
314 7 34 315
3 AMATA SPRING C.C.
CHONBURI
7
25
315
349
3 331
344
8 3138 MOUNTAIN SHADOW G.C. 1 BANGPRA G.C. 22 PLEASANT VALLEY G.C.C. 7 KHAO KHEOW C.C.
2
CRYTAL BAY G.C.
BAN BUNG
7
SIRACHA
WANGJUNTR G.P.
344
GREEN WOOD G.C. 5
3241
12
TREASURE 18 HILL G.C.C.
AO UDOM
PATTAVIA CENTURY G.C.
10
LAEM CHABANG
3
331 PATTANA
3
BURAPHA G.C.
7
SPORT CLUB & RESORT
3138
9 LAEM CHABANG G.C.
36
24
3245
MINI SIAM
SIAM C.C. WATERSIDE
PATTAYA
17
SIAM C.C. 14 OLD COURSE
19
ASIA PATTAYA HOTEL
Siam Royal View
26 21
PARICHAT INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS PATTAYA C.C.
20
SIAM C.C. PLANTATION
3376
36
16 11
RAYONG GREEN VALLEY C.C.
PHOENIX GOLD GOLF 23 & C.C. PATTAYA ST. ANDREWS 2000 G.C.
331
3
4
3376
332 ROYAL THAI NAVY PLUTALUANG G.C. SATTAHIP
3375
6
15 U TAPAO AIRPORT
THE EMERALD G.C.
3
3191
13
SILKY OAK C.C.
BAN CHANG
EASTERN STAR G.C.
TO RAYONG
Golf Course Directory 1. Bangpra Golf Club 2. Crytal Bay Golf Club 3. Burapha Golf Club 4. The Emerald Golf Club 5. Green Wood Golf Club 6. Eastern Star Country Club 7. Khao Kheow Country Club 8. Mountain Shadow Golf Club 9. Leam Chabang Golf Club
10. Pattana Golf Club & Resort 11. Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club Pattaya 12. Pattavia Century Golf Club 13. Silky Oak Country Club 14. Siam Country Club Old Course 15. Plutaluang Navy Golf Course 16. Rayong Green Valley Country Club 17. Siam Country Club Waterside
18. Treasure Hill Golf & Country Club 29. Asia Pattaya Hotel 20. Siam Country Club Plantation 21. Pattaya Country Club 22. Pleasant Valley Golf & Country Club 23. St Andrews 2000 24. Wangjuntr Golf Park 25. Amata Spring Country Club 26. Parichat International Golf Links
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COURSE DIRECTORY
25
www.amataspring.co.th Tel : +66 (0) 38-468-888
Amata Spring Country Club is an exclusive private country club Crystal Golf featuringBay one of theResort most prestigious This Golfchampionship Resort course wasin and 27-hole recognizable courses designed by Japanese Asia. Located in Chonburidesigned 50 minutesThai from Takenaka and opened for playprovide in 1988. Pattaya , the course and facilities our members with the best private club Itexperience is locatedunmatched near Sriracha somein 45 anywhere the minutes fromits Pattaya 1.5 hours country. Since openingand the course has from Bangkok. Described Hawaiian style been privileged to host as theahighest profile golf course linedofholes, Crystal events with stagedpalm in thetree Kingdom Thailand.
Bay has good tee boxes, lush fairways and fair greens.
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Tel : 038 250401-11 www.asiahotel.co.th/asia_pattaya.htm
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Asia Pattaya Hotel Right in the heart of Pattaya on Pratamnak Crystal Golf Resort Road SoiBay 4 (between South Pattaya and This 27-hole Golf was Jomtien Beach) is aResort great parcourse 3 course nine designed byowned Japanese hole course by the designed Asia PattayaThai hotel. Takenaka and opened for play 1988. 968 yards from the back tees this isina handy par 27 course. ItConsidered is locatedanear some 45 good Sriracha course to improve your minutes from anddue 1.5 to hours from short game andPattaya rescue shots the fairly Bangkok. Described as a Hawaiian rough surface. Very conveniently locatedstyle course with holes, Crystal next to the seapalm at thetree end lined of Pratumnak Soi Bay hashire good tee boxes, lush 4, they clubs and balls, so tonefairways up your and fair greens. short game here before venturing out to conquer one of the 22 local courses.
Birdies: Course is a true championship track always in immaculate condition. Watch out for: The 17th is the course’s signature hole, featuring the one of the most famous island greens in the world. Get to it by boat. Bogeys: Avoid the rough here as the grass is long and difficult to get out of.
Birdies: Great place to practice on some fairly tricky greens. Watch out for: Beginners may hold you up. Bogey : Not in tip top condition, but the greens are well maintained.
COURSE DIRECTORY
1
website: www.bangpragolf.co.th Email: tiwa@bangpragolf.co.th Tel: +66 (0) 38 341149-50
A well maintained championship 36 hole golf club, located across the road from its neighbourGolf Laem Chabang Country Burapha Club Club and just 30 minutes up the expressway from Pattaya. Here the designers Gary Panks and David Graham have cleverly incorporated the beautiful hilly countryside to create four sets of nine holes. Birdies: Perhaps one of the most spectacular holes on course B is the 4th a 403 yard par 4 off a raised tee down across a small lake onto a large landing area.
Bangpra Golf Club is the one of the oldest golf courses in Thailand.
Birdies: A longish course but with some birdie opportunities.
Constructed on a total area of 550 rai, it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007. Originally Bangpra Golf occupied only 9 golf holes, however they added another 9 holes, and further improvements were assigned by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Bogeys: The course has some of the most difficult greens to putt in Thailand
Also the last 4 holes on D course are good fun with plenty of birdie opportunities. A very well maintained course and their caddies are very knowledgeable and many also play golf. Watch Out for...A great par 3 no.8 on D course with spectacular views across the valley. Bogeys: Locker room is a bit old fashion, but is clean and has adequate showers etc.
Watch out for‌.Tourists in particular will enjoy playing alongside monkeys who frequent a couple of the holes here!
3
www.buraphagolfthailand.com Tel: +66 (0) 38-372-700-2
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COURSE DIRECTORY
2
Tel: +66 (0) 38 349 370-4
Eastern Star Country Club This links-style course located near the Gulf of Thailand, is one of only five courses in Thailand designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Set on 530 acres of land the course features wide fairways and hundreds of coconut palm trees. The gently undulating fairways and greens feature 65 bunkers, 11 lakes and more than 2,200 coconut palm trees.
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Crystal Bay Golf Resort This 27-hole Golf Resort course was designed by Japanese designed Thai Takenaka and opened for play in 1988. It is located near Sriracha some 45 minutes from Pattaya and 1.5 hours from Bangkok. Described as a Hawaiian style course with palm tree lined holes, Crystal Bay has good tee boxes, lush fairways and fair greens.
Birdies: The rates charged make this a popular stop for locals and expats, and it does provide a fun round of golf close to the sea. Watch out for: Several birdie able holes and some potential holes in one here. Bogeys: The rates charged make this a popular stop for locals and expats, and it does provide a fun round of golf close to the sea.
6
Birdie: A great starting hole with a sloping green down to a lake. Watch Out For: The topiary is everywhere including elephants and even what looks like the FA Cup on the dogleg at hole number two. Also yardage markers are quaint bird huts on long poles. Bogeys : Can be a bit slow at the weekends, as it is a popular course.
www.easternstargolfcourse.com Tel: +66 38 630 410
COURSE DIRECTORY
4
www.theemeraldgolf.com Tel: +66 38 941 111
The Emerald Located approximately 40 minutes’ drive east of Pattaya just past Bang Chang, this modest 18 hole course was supposedly designed way back by Sir Nick Faldo. A genuine country course with several single track holes, giving you the feel of playing in a peaceful ‘Hobbit’ style forest. The course which is actually carved through a pristine rain forest with mature trees, has it good and bad days but is always busy as their pricing is reasonable. Birdies: A very pleasant golfing
grassy undulating raised greens. Their first par 3 is across a valley up to a very steep green is a challenge. Well done if you make birdie here.
Watch out for: Some very fast and undulating greens especially on the par 3’s. A very friendly golf outing. Feels like you are playing in a green forest….very peaceful setting.
Bogeys : The locker rooms are very small and old fashioned with have padlocks instead of keys. The club house restaurant is open air so can be humid after a rain storm, but the beers are cool!!!
experience, with not so many bunkers but lots of mature trees lining the fairways plus a lot of
5
www.gwgolfclub.com Tel: +66 38 263 158-9
Greenwood Golf Club Located around 55 minutes north of Pattaya , this country style 27 hole course (A,B and C nine holes) opened in 2007 was designed by the legendary Peter Thompson 5 times British Open Champion. There are three nine hole courses, styled as a Links, British and American Woodland style courses with Bermuda Dwarf on the greens and fairways Bermuda 419 for you technical golfers. Birdies: The fairways on course A seemed lusher and greener and most of the tees offered some ‘WOW’ factors. A good country outing!
Bogeys : Staff in pro shop spoke a little English which can be tiresome, but they are friendly. The locker rooms and showers were clean, and although the restaurant was a bit basic, the menu was extensive. Watch Out For...we especially liked the third and eight holes on Course A where you are driving downhill with a second shot over a valley with a small stream up to a raised green surrounded by bunkers.
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COURSE DIRECTORY
7
Khao Kheow Country Club If you are a Pete Dye fan you will warm to this 27-hole championship course roughly 45 minutes along the Pattaya to Bangkok expressway. Dye has come up with some challenges for golf enthusiasts of every level. While offering exciting golf, these courses also provide the most spectacular and serene mountain vistas and climate.
www.khaokheowgolf.com Email: info@khaokheowgolf.com Tel: +66 (0) 2630391-3
Birdies: Dye has created a course that definitely takes you into the countryside, with lakes, fairly generous fairways, hilly fairways and undulating greens. Bogeys : Can be busy at weekends and attracts a few local golf society tournaments so book ahead. Watch out for: Being out near the mountains the course also has its fair share of winds too, making for a very pleasant round of golf.
Photo
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Mountain Shadow Golf Club Address : 159/1 Moo 2 Saensuk Rd. Muang Chonburi 20130 Tel : +66 38 393 019
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Mountain Shadow Golf Club formerly the Natural Park Hill Golf Club, re-opened 2004 after a complete renovation. Crystal halfway Bay Golf ResortBangkok and Located between This 27-hole GolfFream Resort course18was Pattaya, this Ronald designed holes is by Japanese designed Thai adesigned par 72 running at 6,722 yards. Takenaka and formango play inplantation 1988. It was crafted outopened of a former with beautiful flowers and trees providing a It is located near Sriracha some 45 backdrop to each hole. minutesand from Pattaya andin 1.5 hours from Fairways greens are kept reasonably Bangkok. Described as a Hawaiian style good condition. Utilizing water hazards, doglegs course lined holes, and four with islandpalm greenstree to good effect, theCrystal Bay has short good18-hole tee boxes, fairways relatively courselush is well suited for and fair golfers of greens. all levels.
Birdies: A very pretty course and an enjoyable round of golf is guaranteed. Watch out for: Greens are fast and generally have large undulations. Bogeys: The narrow palm tree lined fairways make it a challenge to recover from errant tee shots. Adding to the difficulty is also the relative long distance between the tees and the fairways. Shorter tee shots often wind up in the difficult to hit out of semi rough.
COURSE DIRECTORY
The name “Jack Nicklaus� is very well known for the golfers all over the world, and this is
most exciting nine holes in the region. Jack
one of his best designers anywhere, which he likes
really asks you to think about your strategy here on
to recommend...It is now has been 20 years old
every hole.
since the course opened, and it still preserves a very
Watch Out For: They have also
good layout. The course itself has been improved
renovated their large clubhouse which
using Paspalum on the fairways which are same as
serves excellent buffets with live music in the evenings
tee boxes, and the greens with 9.0 speed Tiff Eagle.
too! No need to rush back after your round here. Bogeys: A popular course, so expect
The golf course has 27 holes, separated into course A(Mountain), B (Lake- floodlit) and C (Valley). Each
some delays especially on the tee boxes at the busy
course has its own outstanding characteristics and
weekends.
each is named by geography.
www.pattana.co.th Email: Marketing@pattana.co.th Tel: 038-318-999 Golf Reservation: 038-263-378-9
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Birdie: Their Valley course is perhaps the
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90 minutes from Bangkok, and only 50 minutes from Pattaya this 400-acre resort property boasts a superb 27-hole championship golf course, full range of premium accommodations, amenities, meeting and event facilities, and even a quality stadium with a 7,000-person capacity. Caddies here are very well trained, and the course is always in tip top condition.
www.laemchabanggolf.com Email: info@laemchabanggolf.com Tel: +6682 2223031-3
Birdie: A great starting hole on B course with water each side of the fairway and a raised green. Birdie here and you will be on your A game. Watch Out For: A magnificent three storey Clubhouse with all the supporting services and amenities including locker rooms, pro shop, spa, international restaurants, and function rooms. Bogeys: Good driving range but it is around 500 metres away from the clubhouse.
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COURSE DIRECTORY
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www.pattayacountryclub.com Tel : +66(0)81 654 5654
Pattaya Country Club Well located on the 331 and near to the 36 intersection this course was Crystal Bay Golf and Resort recently up graded has just opened This 27-holenew Golfclubhouse. Resort course was a magnificent designed by Japanese designed Thai Only 18km from Pattaya, this 18 hole course Takenaka play in 1988. designed byand Thaiopened Lt Generalfor Weerayut Phedbeusasak is a fairly flat layout with a Itfew is lakes located Sriracha some and near well place bunkers, ideal45 for minutes andThere 1.5 hours from beginners from or lowPattaya scorers alike. is a 300 Bangkok. ascourse a Hawaiian style yard drivingDescribed range and the occupying course with palmatree lined over 1,800 rai offers breezy dayholes, out. Crystal
Birdies: Low handicappers can score low on this course. Watch out for: Possibly the most interestingly designed club house around. Bogeys: Popular at weekends as it is so close to Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard Factories
Bay has good tee boxes, lush fairways and fair greens.
Parichat International Golf Links This is currently the newest 18 hole course in the Pattaya region. Next door to the Pattaya Country Club, this 7,201 yard course is currently on a soft opening with a temporary clubhouse. The course is called a Links although most of the holes offer wide fairways with small greens. It is already becoming popular with local golf societies, as its location on the 331 means you can get there from Central Pattaya in 25 minutes.
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Birdie: There are some fun holes including hole 17 with a cliff guarding the raised green. Watch Out For: Some of the tee boxes are set back so suggest you play White tees if you cannot carry 175 yards to some fairways. Bogeys: The greens here are on the whole very small and are hard to get close to pin.
www.parichatgolf.com Email: sales@parichatgolf.com Tel: +66 (0) 90 3860001-3
COURSE DIRECTORY
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www.pleasantvalley-golf.com Tel: 081-4105522, 085-0454050
Perhaps the nearest course to Pattaya, Phoenix Gold is just a 20 minute drive from the city. Originally designed by Denis Griffiths in 1993, this 27 hole course has recently been totally upgraded by Piraporn Nimatra, who designed Banyan in Hua Hin. Piraporn has worked his magic on the Ocean, Lakes and Mountain courses. The yardage is Mountain at 3,449 yards, Lake at 3,261 yards and Ocean at 3,363 yards.
Pleasant Valley Golf & Country Club Pleasant Valley is located amongst then mountains north of the city of Pattaya, and is cooled by the breezes blowing across the golf course. The Khao Kheow national park with lakes and water-fall are located only a few minutes’ drive from the club house and Khao Kheow golf course is also nearby. It’s a great day for relaxation not only for golfers, but also for family members who are seeking time in the natural beauty of our country. The course is surrounded by the mountains and offers a few water hazards and undulations, on a fairly small area of land. Same owners are now constructing a new course next to Pattaya Country Club which has now opening date yet.
Birdie: Signature hole is the par 3 hole 7 on the Ocean course. Be careful of the winds so club selection is vital….worth listening to your caddie. Watch Out For: Some holes have magnificent views of the ocean and Silverlake in the distance. Being mainly on high ground there are welcome breezes most of the year to keep you cool. Bogeys : Can be busy on sports days as it is popular with local golf societies.
Birdies: A relatively short course so opportunities for low scores here. Bogeys: Relatively cheap rates means this can be a very busy courses. Watch out for: They offer several promotional packages for both weekday and weekends so check out their website.
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www.phoenixgoldgolf.com Email: reservation@phoenixgoldgolf.com Tel: +66 (0) 38 239 400 Mobile +66 (0) 84 873 5363
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COURSE DIRECTORY
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www.pattaviagolf.com Tel: +66 (0) 81-304 1545
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www.plutaluangnavygolfcourse.com Telephone: +66 (0) 80 209 9175, +66 (0) 81 003 3811, +66(0) 33 679 932-3
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Crystal Bay Golf Resort Pattavia Century Golf Club. Recently taken Golf over by Changcourse the major Thai This 27-hole Resort was brewery, this hole country course originally designed by18Japanese designed Thai Takenaka andhas opened playup ingraded 1988. opened in 1993 had thefor course and a new minimalistic clubhouse built Itbetween is located near the 1st andSriracha 18th holes.some 45 minutes from Pattaya andcourse, 1.5 hours Although not a championship the from Bangkok. Describedthe asfairways a Hawaiian layout was interesting, werestyle OK course with palm lined holes,Maybe Crystal and the greens were tree in good condition. Bay has good boxes, back lush so fairways the rough could tee be trimmed you don’t and greens. needfair a mine detector to find your errant ball!
Plutaluang Navy Golf Course Not your normal course designer here as the course was actually designed by the Royal Thai Navy Committee. Primarily open to allow the large Navy base to have a course nearby, there are in fact there are 13,076 yards with 36 holes on offer here. Many locals play here as it offers great value. Located 33 kms east of Pattaya to set up includes a massive locker room with hot showers, Pro Shop, Driving Ranges, 2 Putting Greens, a large Restaurant, 150 new golf carts, and over 350 caddies.
Birdies: For value for money Pattavia is hard to equal, if you enjoy a leisurely stroll around a well maintained country golf course. Watch out for: We found the greens were quick so listen to the caddies, as their undulations are often extreme. Bogeys : Not easy to find, (they need a few road signs!!!) it is around a 50 minute drive from Pattaya along the 331 about 2 kms north of Treasure Hill. At the top of the hill there is currently a small sign Pattavia so turn right and drive for another 7kms.
Birdies: Some raised tees add to the experience. Bogeys : Great prices so can be a bit slow if you are following a five ball. Watch out for: A full size Lighthouse on their par 3‌.photo opportunity here.
COURSE DIRECTORY
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www.standrews2000golf.com Tel: (+66 )38-030660-2
Rayong Green Valley Country Club This 18 hole course is part of a Crystal Bay Resort mammoth golfGolf resort comprising of This 27-hole GolfStResort course wasSilky over 72 holes, with Andrews 2000 and designed Japanese Thai and Oaks also allby sharing a largedesigned joint club house Takenaka and opened for play in 1988. two onsite hotels.
ItRayong is located some 45 by Greennear ValleySriracha was designed in 1992 minutes fromtoPattaya and 1.5allhours from Peter Thomson accommodate levels of Bangkok. as a Hawaiian style players, andDescribed located between Rayong town course withthe palm tree holes, and Pattaya, course haslined a good layoutCrystal and Bay good tee boxes, lushfairways fairways offershas a solid challenge with wide up to and fair greens. relatively small undulating greens.
The Old Course one of the first clubs to open
plus the new Siam Waterside, making this the largest
in Pattaya back in 1969 and boosts an 18 hole
golf complex in Thailand.
Championship course. It has hosted many golfing events such as the Thailand Open four times, Asian Golf Circuits
immaculate and certainly the first hole driving down to some menacing bunkers and an undulating
“Honda LPGA Thailand”. Designed originally by I. Izumi,
green will certainly test your nerves.
Schmidt-Curley Design Inc, it is only 15 minutes from Pattaya and 75 minutes via motorway from Bangkok. You will need to book in advance and in the summer they are often closed on Monday’s. Siam Country Club also owns the adjacent 27 hole Siam Plantation course
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Birdies: The condition of the course is always
and is the current host to the world class tournament and then upgraded and renovated by Lee Schmidt of
Birdies: Enjoy hole No 3. Although it has a fairly wide uphill fairway, Thompson has created some cleverly place bunkers around the raised green, so help from your caddie here is vital. But birdies are rewarded here. Watch out for: Some very well placed water hazards and bunkers with small tricky greens here…..but still one of the most enjoyable courses in the region. Bogeys : A very popular course with Scandinavian golf groups so best avoid those days when the tee off in large groups… can create a bottle neck.
Watch out for: Everything works like clockwork here, as you are called onto the first tee and set off on your adventure, don’t be late!! Pattaya. Bogeys : Due to its popularity during high season it is vital to book well in advance, to avoid disappointment. The course is closed during the
www.siamcountryclub.com Tel +66 (0)38 909700
LPGA event too.
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COURSE DIRECTORY
Opened in 2008 this monster 27 hole course was designed by Scmidt – Curley Design and
get a fair breeze which is great in the hot
hosted the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand and also the
months. They also have a good variety of snacks and
unique Singha Amazing Thailand Caddie Championship
cool drinks at the on course kiosks here.
finals. There is a good driving range to allow players to warm up first, along with a large putting green and
Watch Out For: First class service all the way especially the very well trained
practice area near the first tees. Carts are compulsory
caddies and they have one of the best club houses in
and necessary here as it is quite hilly. Quite a lot of WOW
the region. Popular with lots of corporate and local
factor holes here and to be honest whether you play
tournaments so best to book ahead.
the 3,736 yard Sugar Cane course, the 3,753 Tapioca
Bogeys : Some of the greens really are
course, or the 3,645 yards Pineapple course, they all
extremely difficult to read, and with 205
offer some wonderful challenges.
In May 2014 Siam Country Club launched it 3rd new golf course project in Thailand called Siam Country Club Pattaya Waterside. Now with 63 holes Siam Country Club has now become the biggest golfing resort in Thailand. The Waterside is an 18-hole, par 72, 7,454 yards covering the area of 525 rai (200
they also run a state of the art golf academy.
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Birdie: Holes 8 and 9 offer some wonderful challenges around the lake as does the finishing hole 18. Watch Out For: Highlight of the Waterside apart from the course has to be their clubhouse with 180 degree view of the
of the successes of the Old Course (18-hole) and
beauty of the course, lakes, creeks and landscape
Plantation (27-hole) on the property next door. , The
blending with natural surroundings. Good sized
course was designed by IMG Golf Course Design, one
restaurant, pro shop and modern changing rooms all
of the world renowned golf course architects and built
add to a five star service. Bogeys : Can be quite breezy here, however great in the hot summer.
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www.siamcountryclub.com Tel : +66 (0) 38 909 700
bunkers you will need you’re A game here.
acres) but holds the same championship qualities
by the same team who built Banyan in Hua Hin. Here
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Birdie: Being on the side of a hill, all 27 holes
www.siamcountryclub.com Tel : +66(0) 38 909 700
COURSE DIRECTORY
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www.standrews2000golf.com Email : golfing@standrews2000golf.com Tel : 081-940818, 038-030660-2
St Andrews 2000 This is an extremely long course playing at 7,700yards to par 74, as it features two massive par 6’s. It is part of a 72 holes resort sharing its clubhouse with Rayong Green Valley and Silky Oaks. English born golf course architect Desmond Muirhead has created one of Pattaya’s most spectacular golf courses, as St Andrews 2000 was built to replicate a Scottish links course. Located in Rayong, it is about 40 minutes from Pattaya.
Silky Oak Country Club Located near Rayong, about 40 minutes from Crystal Bay Oak Golfshares Resort Pattaya, Silky the same location and This 27-hole course wasClub clubhouse with Golf the StResort Andrews 2000 Golf designed by Japanese designed Thai and the Rayong Green Valley Country Club. Takenaka andthis opened for par play72incourse 1988. Opened in 2010 7,135 yard gets its name after a native of Australian tree Itthat is located Sriracha 45 resemblesnear a pine and is thesome main tree minutes from Pattaya 1.5 hours from planted throughout the golfand course.
Bangkok. Described as a Hawaiian style course with palm tree lined holes, Crystal Bay has good tee boxes, lush fairways and fair greens.
Birdies: There is a certain thrill when you look down from a high tee box to a valley below with humps and hollows, knowing that you have to drive with a degree of accuracy. Risk and reward is the name of the game here! Bogeys: The facilities although perhaps a little old fashion, are quite adequate. Watch out for: There are two par 6’s, both over 800 yards, claimed to be the World’s longest par 6! Good luck if you par them!
Birdies: Most holes on the course play to panoramic views of the surrounding hills. Least busy of the three courses so you should have no delays here. Watch out for: The half-way houses located on top of the hills have extra special breathtakingly scenery. Be sure to stop here between nines to really take in the magic of the area. Bogeys : Make sure you arrive early as it is a 10 minute drive by golf cart from the clubhouse to the first hole.
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www.standrews2000golf.com Tel: (+66 )38-030660-2
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COURSE DIRECTORY
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www.treasurehill.co.th Tel : 038-420-766, 081-344-8002, 02-295-0856 Fax. 02. -295-0857
Treasure Hill Golf & Country Club Treasure Hill is a beautiful course with the natural environment where you can experience the serenity of the country side along with a good golf challenge with complex features at each hole. Opened over 20 years ago and designed by Mr.Yoshikazu Kato Treasure Hill who has paid meticulous attention to every hole on this par 72 course 7,241 yards course. A first sight the course may look simple. But when you start playing a round you understand that it will be a good challenge to play your handicap. Located around 40 minutes’ drive from Pattaya, Greenwood and Pattavia Century golf clubs are also nearby
Birdies: This course has some smallish occasional water hazards to negotiate and fewer than usual bunkers that are a bit larger than normal, and there are several dogleg holes demanding that you position your tee shots carefully. Bogeys : This golf course sits on foothill terrain that makes it quite challenging, with sloping fairways and greens. Even the avid golfer may find it challenging to play their normal shots on this course. Watch out for: Club house restaurant serving Thailand, China, Japan, and the local food, wine, beer, soft drinks, plus they have a Jacuzzi to get rid of those aches.
Wangjuntr Golf Park Perhaps one of the most memorable golf courses in the region, Wangjuntr Crystal Resort Golf ParkBay nowGolf has three courses, This 27-hole Golf Resort was the Valley (18 holes), Highlandcourse (18 holes) and designed by Japanese Thai their new Jungle course (18designed holes). Park is Takenaka and opened in 1988. in fact the correct term as for theirplay signature course, the Highland’s 18 holes, is actually Itbuilt is located near Sriracha some around an animal sanctuary with45 deer, minutes 1.5 hours from ostrich andfrom cattlePattaya roamingand the spectacular Bangkok. a Hawaiian style countryside.Described Around 70 as minutes North East course with palm treein lined holes, Crystal of Pattaya need to book advance. Whacky Bay has good but great fun! tee boxes, lush fairways and fair greens. N.B. They are closed on Mondays and on other days somtime only open two of the three courses, so call them first before booking.
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Birdies: Hole No 1 is a par 4 408 yard par 4 where if you want you can tee off on the roof of the drinks kiosk down into the valley below. (A Kodak moment perhaps!) However the signature hole has to be No14 on the Highland’s course…..tee box has to be 100Metres above the fairway. Watch out for: To offer golfers 36 holes, both Valley and Highland courses have two separate greens on each hole. When you arrive they give you a left hand or right hand score card so you know what to play on that round. Bogeys: The greens here offer an additional challenge as many have mounds, boulders or even a pond slap bang in the middle, so beware and ask your caddy for advice before taking your final approach shot.
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www.wangjuntrgolf.com