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Dear Golf Travelers,
Welcome to this issue of the Asian Golf Nation, the source for news breaking information about golf in Asia. Also, unique golf playing tips for Indochina’s tropical environment, announcements of golf travel promotions, and our latest subscription offer are all integral parts of today’s newsletter.
Are you ready for springtime golfing? Golf in Asia continues to warm up as this is the time of year when temperatures climb. Golf travelers are best advised to include a beach destination in their travels to be able to cool off after their rounds. Otherwise, head to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay where another month of good golf weather awaits.
April also starts the low season, and many courses offer reduced green fees. At the same time, annual maintenance programs kick-off. Be sure to check the planned maintenance below and double check with your travel advisor to be sure course maintenance does not affect your trip. We are in contact with the golf clubs daily and can suggest changes as needed.
For even more “excitement,” then plan to be in Thailand or Cambodia for the water celebration on April 13-16. It is truly a time to experience the authentic culture, as well as enjoy all the rituals and festivities. Most locals go back to their villages, and for me, it’s the best time to be in Bangkok. The normally traffic-clogged streets are devoid of cars and getting around, or to/from the golf courses only takes a fraction of the normal time. I suspect it’s the same in Phnom Penh too.
Complete full-service itineraries created for your specific travel preferences, expectations, group size, and budgetary requirements are our specialty. Please contact us anytime for a competitive quote.
Mark Siegel
Managing Director
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A winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 World Golf Awards, Golfasian has once again been nominated for Asia's Best Golf Tour Operator. Please, vote for us now:
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GOLF NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
I have heard of golf greats having their lines of apparel, equipment, and fine wine, but this has to be the first PGA headliner coffee. NutiFood and golf legend Greg Norman inked a cooperation deal to popularise Vietnamese coffee to the world. A Greg Norman NutiFood coffee company will be set up to produce and distribute the Vietnamese coffee product and “The Great White Shark” logo added to NutiFood’s coffee products. While NutiFoods and the whole project might sound like “nutty”, I think the cooperation is a very clever idea, Moreover, how about if the whole project expands to popularize Vietnam’s central highlands coffee producing region? After that Norman could plan another golf course next to his coffee factory. Has anyone heard anything about a Norman-designed golf course in Dalat?
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Pattaya, Thailand
Siam Country Club’s fourth course will officially be named Rolling Hills. The new Brian Curley designed track is scheduled to open on the auspicious day of September 9, 2019.
The back nine holes have been grassed, and shaping of the front nine is well underway. One hole features two greens and another hole has a greenside hazard named the “wall of death.” I will leave it to you to figure out the meaning.
Once opened, Rolling Hills is destined to be another premium course and, an excellent addition to golf in Pattaya.
I can't wait to get out for a test round and tackle the death wall.
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Belitung, Indonesia
What you say you never heard of Belitung? Well join the club, neither did I. Built on a remote and former British (not Dutch) controlled island around halfway between Singapore and Jakarta in the Java Sea, sits Asia’s newest golf course. Black Rocks Hotel & Golf Club is a Ron Fream designed course that takes its name from the unique granite rocks that shelter this island and line the mangrove forests where the golf course meets the sea.
From above the course is as impressive as they come. At sea level, more time is needed for the course to mature and the fairways and greens to grow in. For those wanting to get off the beaten golf tourist track, love white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise water, then Belitung might be the place for you.
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GOLF DESTINATION REVIEW: Siem Reap, Cambodia
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A personal destination review from Win Zaw, Golfasian Cambodia GM.
I have been visiting Siem Reap in Cambodia for many times and always love to return and enjoy the warm hospitality and its cultural sights. Siem Reap is an amazing destination, boasting the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Wat. It is the crown jewel of Cambodian Heritage, constructed by Khmer Kings in the 12th century to honor the Hindu and later the Buddhist religions.
There are many ways to experience this wonderful destination apart from visiting temples. Jump on rickshaw ride to explore the mysterious temple grounds or visit the stilt houses and floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. Don’t forget to try the delicious Khmer Cuisine at Ma Hob Restaurant, one of the highlights in Siem Reap.
There are 3 international standard 18-hole courses each with their own variety and challenges for everyone from amateurs to professionals. Phokeethra Country Club hosted the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic and 2010 Cambodian Open. Major renovations in 2018 have brought up the course standards to those set when first opened. World-class Faldo designed Angkor Golf Resort is the best golf course in Cambodia and by a wide margin. The six-time major winner, Nick Faldo himself, received a blessing from local monks and then opened the golf course in December 2007, his first golf course in Cambodia. The Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club was the third international standard golf course to be opened in Angkor Wat. The $150 million US dollar course took 1 year to construct and is located only 6 kilometers from the center of Siem Reap town.
Be one of the first to golf in Cambodia while visiting Angkor Wat! In between sightseeing, you will have time to play at the best golf courses in Seam Reap!
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Angkor Golf Resort
The world-class Faldo designed Angkor Golf Resort is the best golf course in Cambodia and by a wide margin. The six-time major winner, Nick Faldo himself, received a blessing from local monks and then opened the golf course in December 2007, his first golf course in Cambodia. The Angkor Golf Resort brings Cambodia squarely onto international golf destination map.
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Phokeethra Country Club
The Sofitel-managed Phokeethra Country Club is one of the best courses available in Cambodia. The golf course hosted the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic and 2010 Cambodian Open.
Major renovations in 2018 have brought up the course standards to those set when first opened.
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FEATURED GOLF ACCOMMODATION
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Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa
If what you're looking for your golf holiday is a conveniently located hotel in Siem Reap, look no further than Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa. In the heart of the city center, the hotel's strategic location ensures that golfers can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest. For sightseeing options and local attractions, one need not look far as the hotel enjoys close proximity to Angkor Shopping Center, Royal Independence Garden, Royal Garden.
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Cambodia - Vietnam Golf & Culture Trip
Now is the time to explore two exotic Asian countries. Play golf at the best golf courses in Cambodia and Vietnam and in between rounds study the ancient history and cultures of these two Asian Tigers.
In Siem Reap you will find one of the wonders of the world, the temple complex of Angkor spans four centuries, tens of kilometers and has endured for a millennium. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam's largest metropolis and its undisputed capital of commerce. See for yourself why this Asian powerhouse is growing leaps and bounds.
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Special for Golfasian Newsletter Subscribers:
DO YOU LOVE GOLF?
DO YOU HAVE A HANDICAP?
ARE YOU OVER 35 YEARS OF AGE?
IF YES, YOU CAN PLAY ASIA’S BEST TOURNAMENT FOR AMATEUR GOLFERS – THE THAILAND WORLD MASTERS
BOOK BEFORE 15 APRIL & GET 5 BONUS ENTRIES INTO THE MAJOR PRIZE DRAW VALUED AT USD $20,000
What You Get:
* 6 nights luxury beachfront accommodation
* Golf at Asia’s Best Courses with Caddies & Cart
* Welcome Dinner, Gala Dinner, 19th Hole Functions with Beer & Wine
* Full Tournament Treatment with Goodie Bag, Daily Prizes
* Lucky Draw & Grand Prizes
* All ground transportation - sit back and let us do the work!
* VIP treatment for a WHOLE week
* Sound like your thing?... Get excited & Get GOING!
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Trang
General Manager
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Bill
Assistant GM
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Huong
Director of Operations
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Sophie
Golf Travel Consultant
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Lan
Danang Operations & Contracting
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Lisa
Golf Travel Consultant
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Khoa
Golf Travel Consultant
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Min
Reservation & Customer Service Executive
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Sandy
Reservations & Operations
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Tracy
Reservations & Operations
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Sam
Reservtions & Customer Service Excecutive
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Lucky
Customer Service Rep
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Tony
Customer Service Rep
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Hanh
Accounting Manager
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Nhu
Accountant
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Check out the Black Mountain Teaching Facility with Ian Morgan. View Video Here.
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Golfasian is now offering rental clubs to golfers travelling to Vietnam's Central Coast.
Due to popular demand and in an effort to make the golf holiday travel experience easier, Golfasian is now offering a wide variety of golf rental sets for both ladies & men in Danang, Vietnam.
Contact us today to reserve rental clubs for your next Danang golf holiday.
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BEST OF OUR BLOGS
What Makes Nikanti Golf Club an Unusual Golf Course?
It seems like the golf architect Pirapon Namatra (Ope) of Golf East listened quite a lot to Tina Turner’s famous song ‘Break every rule’ when he designed Nikanti Golf Club, Asia’s first 18 hole, par 72 golf course comprising three six-hole layouts each with two par-threes, two par-fours and two par-fives.
Thailand’s 291st golf course was opened in May 2014. The Nikanti Golf Club is almost adjacent to Suwan Golf Club.
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GOLF TIPS
Getting Out of High Lipped Thailand Bunkers
Have you ever faced a high lipped greenside bunker like those at Chiang Mai Highlands Golf Club or worst yet one of those humongous fairway bunkers at Siam Country Club Plantation Course in Pattaya? Most Thailand golf holidaymakers in this situation open up their sand wedges, hit as hard as they can, and either skull the ball clear over the green or worse, leave the ball in the face of the bunker in an even more demanding uphill lie. In both cases the result is surely one of frustration.
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Update Your Personal Information
Want to change your preferred email address where you receive our newsletters or complete your profile with your name and travel preferences?
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GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCES & CLOSURES
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Thailand
Bangkok
- Alpine Golf and Sports Club: Course will be undergoing coring green during 9-11 April.
- Kiarti Thanee Country Club: Course will be closed until May 2019 for renovation.
- Lam Luk Ka Country Club: Course will be undergoing verticut and coring fairway during 1-5 April (A Course) and 9-12 April (B Course). Course will be closed on 15-16 April for Songkran.
- Lotus Valley Golf Resort: Course will be undergoing coring green on 22 April.
- Nikanti Golf Club: Course will be undergoing annual coring greens during 1-8 April. Course will be closed during 14-17 April for a tournament.
- Thai Country Club: Course will be closed during 1-9 April for annual maintenance and 13-16 June for a tournament.
Hua Hin
Pattaya
Phuket
- Laguna Golf Phuket: Course will be undergoing green verticut and topdressing during 16-17 April, 29-30 April, 28-28 May, 10 June and 24-25 June. Course will be closed during 13-19 May for the Singha Laguna Phuket Open.
Kanchanaburi
Chiang Mai
Khao Yai
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Vietnam
Danang
- Ba Na Hills Golf Club: The Ocean Course (B) will be undergoing coring green during 6-9 May and 8-11July. The Dunes Course (A) will be undergoing coring green during 27-30 May and 22-25 July. The Nicklaus Course (C) will be undergoing coring green during 22-25 June and 12-15 August. Course will be holding the Vietnam World Masters on 12 September.
- Laguna Golf Lang Co: Course will be doing greens aeration during 8-17 (front nine) & 15-27 (back nine) April. Course will be holding the 6th Laguna Golf Club Championship during 17-18 April and the Banyan Tree Belt Presentation by Titleist during 21-23 June.
- Montgomerie Links Vietnam: Course will be undergoing coring green during 9-11 June.
Dalat
Hai Phong / Halong Bay
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City
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Indonesia
Bali
- Bali National Golf Club: Course will be closed during 22-23 June, 14 September and 14-15 October for tournaments.
- Handara Golf & Resort: Course will be closed on 20 April, 30 June, 20 July, 18-19 August, 19-20 October, 2 November & 14 December for tournaments.
- New Kuta Golf: Course will be holding the 4th Bali Senior Open during 2-3 April and 27 April for the Club Championship.
- Nirwana Bali Golf Club: Course will be closed until 31 July 2020 for major renovation.
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Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Johor Bahru
Kota Kinabalu
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Cambodia
Siem Reap
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ABOUT US / CONTACT GOLFASIAN
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TAT No.: 14/00515
VNAT No.: 79-302/2011 / TCDL-GP LHOT
© Copyright Golfasian 2019. All rights reserved.
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