Golfers spoiled for choice in Thailand

You can go up the Red Mountain or down the Blue Canyon. You can climb the Black Mountain or just stay on the Plantation. The choice is yours. Then, there are about 200 other choices you can make if you take to Thailand for golf.

Not everyone who wears red shirts or yellow shirts in that country is interested in driving and putting and there is no doubt that events this year have hurt the country's tourism. One result is that golf courses are quieter than usual and some are offering good deals to attract back those who have stayed away.

On a trip at the end of June, we played seven courses in seven days. It was the rainy season - and there was plenty of it - but most of it at night and we did not get wet once. Several times we finished as the black clouds rolled in and once, at Black Mountain, near Hua Hin, it was thundering down as we had lunch, but the weather was perfect 40 minutes later when we played.

At Lam Luk Ka, near Bangkok, we had finished playing when the heavens opened in the early afternoon. Sometimes you get lucky. You usually get lucky with the delightful caddies employed at every course. At Blue Canyon, one engaging elf not only had the clubs of a large golfer, but the strength to cheerfully pretend to push same large golfer up the steps to the clubhouse. At Black Mountain, the caddie had a ball marker with a crossed-out "Three Putt" message. We soon disabused her of that idea. Of course, a four-putt was not what she had in mind.

There are as many types of course in Thailand as anywhere, but, on the whole, those round Bangkok tend to be flat and use water to increase the interest and difficulty. The resort courses in places such as Hua Hin, Pattaya, Chiang Mai or Phuket are more scenic.

FACT FILE

Red Mountain Golf Club, Kathu, Phuket. www.redmountainphuket.com.

Blue Canyon Country Club, Thalang, Phuket. www.bluecanyonclub.com.

Siam Country Club, Pattaya. www.siamcountryclub.com.

Burapha Golf and Resort. www.buraphagolfthailand.com.

Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin. www.bmghuahin.com.

Banyan Golf Club Tab Tai, Hua Hin. www.banyanthailand.com.

Lam Luk Ka Golf and Country Club, Patumthani. www.lamlukkagolf.net.

Read the full article at The West

Ed. There are 25 courses within easy driving distance of Pattaya alone. The quality of the courses for the fees charged really does make Thailand a golfer's paradise. 

Pattaya Rag

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