Asian Golf Travel Nation - August 2012

Bangkok has something for everyone; shopping, dining, accommodation, entertainment and nightlife, and golf. 

Bangkok is a golf lover's paradise. There are many excellent golf courses nearby and, in fact, Bangkok boasts the highest number of world-class golf courses of any city in Asia. Some golf courses like Alpine, Amata Spring, Bangkok Golf Club, Navatanee, Royal Gems, Suwan, and Thai Country Club played host to PGA tournaments. Others like Ayodhya Links, Ratchapreuk, Riverdale and Royal Gems City remain undiscovered waiting for the next professional event.

Bangkok golf courses offer good value for money especially on weekends when green fees are lowest. Also, most golf clubs offer a high service level with well-maintained fairways, elaborate facilities, modern clubhouses, and fine restaurants. Bangkok golf tours and holidays are very popular and include short breaks, multi-destination Asia golf packages and stand-alone golf holidays. Indeed, since most travelers visiting Asia transit through Bangkok it makes for a good layover of a few days golfing at the beginning and/or or end of any trip.

Bangkok is now the hub of international golfing and offers the perfect combination of golf, city and leisure.

[Read the entire Bangkok Golf Review]

Suwan Golf & Country Club is in the countryside west of Bangkok. The drive from Bangkok goes through several rural villages that add to the course’s uniqueness. Surrounding fruit orchards, rice fields, palm trees, and lotus ponds make Suwan Golf have a tropical-Thai character which is most appreciated by both golf professionals and golf holidaymakers alike.

Major General Weerayudth Phetbuasak, still active in the Thai army, was brought in by the management of Suwan to design this Thai masterpiece. Imported Paspalum grass is used in fairways while the already excellent greens were re-built in 2009 using the newest strain of ultra-dwarf Bermuda; Mini-Verde. Putting surfaces are now among the best in Bangkok, even rivaling the lightning fast speeds found at championship courses like Alpine or Thai CC.

[Read more about one of Bangkok's Best Golf Courses]

Renew and recharge at Bangkok's best five-star address for golf, business or pleasure, The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok. Situated in the heart of Bangkok's prime shopping, restaurant, and entertainment area, and with the added convenience of the sky train and the subway mere steps away, you will be instantly transported to all that Bangkok has to offer.

Revel in the exhilaration that is Bangkok and then retreat and unwind in our deluxe accommodations. The 363 deluxe guest rooms and suites showcase contemporary stylings and feature Westin brand comforts, including the renowned Heavenly Bed®. Executive Suites provide butler service and Club benefits, ideal for the discerning traveler requiring an intuitive level of service.

[Read more about one of Bangkok's Best Hotels & Resorts]

The Best of Thailand Golf Expedition covers four top golf destinations. This golf package is an excellent for first time Thailand visitors wishing to combine the best golf with Thai culture & history. Soft adventure and non-golfer activities are included. Play golf and explore each Thai destination all in one golf holiday package.

[Best of Thailand Golf Expedition Detailed Itinerary...]

The Phuket Amateur Golf Week 2012 teed off with sunny skies and the event went down to the wire with just 3 stableford points separating the top three players over 4 rounds. Each July golfers from all over the world converge in Phuket for the Golfasian Thailand Amateur Golf Week. This year was no different with golfers from UK, Singapore, Australia and Germany testing their skills on the Phuket championship courses.

[Read the entire Phuket Amateur Golf Week July 2012 Review]

Hello Jim,

I am writing you from the Chiang Mai hotel.

Just to tell you that everything is perfect at the moment.  

In Bangkok the hotel was perfect, in the middle of the new town. Alpine and Thai golf courses are the best at the moment follow near by Santiburi in Chiang Rai. But more quality in Alpine and Thai. The Bangkok guide is very good, his English is perfect!

The hotel in Chaing Rai was perfect too, although it was raining a lot. We have visited the Golden Triangle and some tribes with the guide. Also the white temple and the night market.

The hotel in Chiang Mai is very nice. Tomorrow we will play Highlands golf course. We hope the weather will be here better than in Chiang Rai!

The flight to Chiang Rai was ok too, thank you for choose emergency exit seats!

Thank you again for all, we are very happy in Thailand!

I hope to write you again in Phuket. Everything is PERFECT.  

Best Regards
Antonio
Spain July 2012
[Read more golf travel testimonials]

Bangkok, July 25 -- Thailand will remain Asia's market leader in golf tourism because other countries can't match the kingdom's "secret weapon" – the Thai people and especially golf course caddies – according to the largest dedicated inbound golf tourism operator in the region.

Mark Siegel, whose company, Golfasian, will this year bring 6000 international golf tourists to south-east Asia, mostly to Thailand, told a group of visiting Asian golf journalists the kingdom would stay ahead of rival golf destinations because of the special way visitors are welcomed. [Read the entire Press Release]

Angkor Amateur Open - August 2012
Date: August 03 - 05, 2012 | Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia [Find out more]

Pattaya Amateur Golf Week - October 2012
Date: October 20 - 27, 2012 | Location: Pattaya, Thailand [Find out more]

Chiang Mai Amateur Golf Week - October 2012
Date: October 27 - November 02, 2012 | Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand [Find out more]

Hua Hin Amateur Golf Week - March 2013
Date: March 03 - 09, 2013 | Location: Hua Hin, Thailand

Pattaya Amateur Golf Week - March 2013
Date: March 10 - 16, 2013 | Location: Pattaya, Thailand

Golfing Options off Phuket

Often clients golfing in Phuket ask about other options off the island which is bit limited but they can be found.

The Santiburi golf course on Koh Samui is an option but with only one course its hard to recognise this island as golf destination.

At one point in 2009 it looked like Krabi was going to be a good alternative but sadly the recession put an end to both a Nicklaus and a Montgomerie project. There remains only one course on Krabi called the Pakasai Country Club which has a good nine holes, but the not so good second nine. [Read the entire article]

Other golf stories can be found at the Thailand Golf Zone where there are over 500 other original articles dealing exclusively with golf in Asia and golf travel.

I would love to hear about any golf tips that any of you may have developed for getting the maximum enjoyment from your golf trips, and can incorporate some in future articles. Therefore if you have any golf tips or suggestions you would like to share, please let me know by dropping me an email.

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You may think when playing golf in a hot country that the ball will fly far and run a long way on the sun baked ground, but in fact this often not the case.

In Europe we usually expect the ball to run up to 50 yards but because of the strong grass and watering the ball often stops where it lands. Also when the weather is very humid the ball does not travel quite as far, so it is often a good idea to take an extra club for your approach to the green.

[Read more Golf Tips Articles]

If you have any other questions regarding golf tips to help you with your game email us at [email protected] and we will reply in upcoming newsletters

For more golf tips visit www.golfthink.com

Golfasian has a full schedule of tradeshows and roadshows during the next few months.

You can find us at the following events:

• November 30 - September 06, 2012 - Vietnam Golf Fam Trip (Ho Chi Minh City & Danang/ Hoi An, Vietnam)
• November 12 - 15, 2012 - International Golf Travel Mart (IGTM) 2012 (Algarve, Portugal)
• April 29 - May 02, 2013 - IAGTO Asia Golf Tourism Convention (Pattaya, Thailand)

Arrange an appointment with Golfasian at one of these exhibits.

• Licensed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), License No: 14/00515
• Recommended by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO)
• Member of Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA)

Golfasian Co., Ltd.
Unit 1105, 29 Bangkok Business Center
Soi Ekamai, Sukhumvit 63 Road
Klongtan Nua, Wattana
Bangkok 10110 Thailand

Toll Free US/Canada: 1-866-550-2284

Golf Hotline Thailand: +66 (0) 81 987 3170
E-mail: [email protected]
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