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Getting
Around Thailand
Bangkok & Central Plains
There are many championshipstandard courses in Bangkok and around the city
perimeter, while the neighbouring provinces of Pathum Thani to the north, Nakhon
Pathom to the northwest, and Chachoengsao to the east, each boast a number of
world-class facilities.
This region is the major rice bowl of the country, and many of the courses have
been carved out of rice paddies, compensating for the flat terrain with
beautiful layouts and lots of water hazards. The older courses have shadier
fairways, with mature vegetation, making it pleasant to play even in the most
torrid months.
There are many championshipstandard courses in Bangkok and around the city
perimeter, while the neighbouring provinces of Pathum Thani to the north, Nakhon
Pathom to the northwest, and Chachoengsao to the east, each boast a number of
world-class facilities.
This region is the major rice bowl of the country, and many of the courses have
been carved out of rice paddies, compensating for the flat terrain with
beautiful layouts and lots of water hazards. The older courses have shadier
fairways, with mature vegetation, making it pleasant to play even in the most
torrid months.
The North
The North is ideal for a golf holiday, with its long mountain ranges, wide
valleys and spectacular jungle scenery within easy reach of culturerich cities,
and pleasant weather yearround. Because of the altitude it is cooler than other
regions, with temperature in the single digits in the cool months of December
and January.
The regional capital of Chiang Mai, 700 kilometres from Bangkok, has the biggest
number of golf courses, most with magnificent views of surrounding hills and
valleys. Chiang Rai, three hours' drive further north, boasts a number of
championship courses in picturesque settings. Around the region are gems of
courses owned and run by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, in
areas surrounding its dams, with moderate albeit comfortable accommodation
nearby.
Eastern Seaboard
The provinces on the Eastern Seaboard are major agricultural and industrial
producers. In the past decade, recreational golf has grown in step with the
industrial estates, with new courses springing up to serve the expatriates and
local enthusiasts. Some of the most famous names in golf have created impressive
layouts with first-class facilities out of the rocky and sandy terrain. Some
cater to serious players, others to the holiday golfers, and yet others fall
somewhere in between.
Golfing action is centred around Chon Buri and Pattaya. Just two hours' drive
from the capital, the area is ideal for day trips, though most courses, if they
don't have their own hotels, are within a short drive of good accommodation.
The Northeast
Golf in the Northeast is centred around the Khao Yai area in Nakhon Ratchasima,
gateway to the region, about three hours' drive from Bangkok. Khao Yai, the
largest protected area in the country, enjoys the status of a National Park. The
area is at a fairly high altitude, so the weather is pleasant all year round,
with temperatures averaging 7-8 degrees Celsius lower than in Bangkok. It is
possible to drive to Khao Yai, enjoy around of golf and then return to Bangkok
within the day, but there is firstrate accommodation in the area if you choose
to stay for a few days.
Western region
Golf in the Western region is centred in the Hua Hin and Cha-am area, and around
the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi. Hua Hin and Cha-am are both resort towns on the
Gulf of Thailand, with excellent hotel accommodation. The Royal Hua Hin Golf
Course is the oldest course in Thailand. The weather on the coastline here is
pleasant for most of the year, with cooling breezes offering respite from the
sun even in the hottest months.
Kanchanaburi, which like the two resort towns is around two hours by road from
Bangkok, is known primarily as the site of the historic Bridge Over the River
Kwai. Now, however, it is becoming known as an attractive destination for
recreational golfers, with several world-class courses in picturesque settings.
The courses have their own accommodation onsite or nearby. There are resort
hotels along the river but few in the town itself, so reservations are
advisable.
The South
The major resort towns on the southern peninsula, known for their pristine
beaches and first-class facilities, are also home to some of the best golf
anywhere. The island of Phuket off the western coast has some of the country's
best courses, including the Blue Canyon, host to the Johnnie Walker Classic in
1994 and again in 1998.
Neighbouring Phang-nga, also on the coast of the Andaman, has one of only a
handful of links-type facilities in the country. The island of Samui has just
one golf club, the Samui Golf Club & Driving Range, with professional golf
instructors. The southern courses have been carved out of tin-mine workings and
coconut plantations, and are set against spectacular backdrops of ocean,
mountains and wooded hills. |
