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Golf is one of the most
popular sports in
Thailand.
The game arrived
in the county a century
ago and was quickly
taken up by the elite
and the fashionable.
Among the first sponsors
of the game were the
armed forces and
government institutions,
which built and continue
to own some of the
finest courses in the
county.
About 350,000 visitors
are believed to have
played golf in Thailand
in 2002, generating an
expenditure of nearly
6.2 billion baht. The
Tourism Authority of
Thailand is planning to
raise these figures to
one million golfers,
generating an estimated
18.45 billion baht by
2007. In 2004 alone, the
plan is to attract
400,000 golfers. Who
will generate an
estimated 7.1 billion
baht, an increase of
14.29% over 2002.
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The result is some of
the most attractive
courses in Asia, with
excellent facilities,
memorable signature
holes and regular
maintenance to keep them
in top-class condition.
Every course has its
caddies; it's mandatory
to employ one caddie for
your round. They are
Thailand’s secret weapon
in making golf such good
fun. These brightly clad
ladies, in smart
uniforms and straw hats,
know lots about the
course, smile almost all
the time, and very good
at reading putts.
There are at least a few
courses in or within
easy reach of all major
cites. Most of the newer
courses offer
accommodation on site or
nearby, plus
recreational facilities
for the whole family.
For the more
adventurous, there are
older, natural courses
in remote areas around
the courses in remote
areas around the country
owned by the Royal
Irrigation Department,
the Electricity
Generation Authority of
Thailand, all offering
good value. So for
golfers who not only
appreciate a challenging
course, but an
exotically different one
too, there is an
extraordinary choice.
The best time to plan a
golfing trip is the cool
season, from November to
March. From April to
October it is hot and
wet, but even in the
rainy months the
downfall usually comes
in the afternoon, and
for only a few minutes.
Most courses have good
drainage systems, and
the rains should not
interrupt your game for
long. At some facilities
you may need to book
ahead, through your club
or your hotel, and
advance booking is
recommended for
weekends. Greens fees
continue to be very
reasonable, as are the
fees for caddies.
All around country a
golf course is never far
away the majority being
located in the most
popular tourist
destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua
hin,Kanchanaburi, Nakhon
Ratchasima and also
Bangkok.
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