Welcome to the latest issue of the Asian Golf Nation, the source for news breaking information about golf in Asia. Can you believe it's the last month of 2016? I don't know where this year went to as things have been non-stop since January.
I hope this newsletter finds you in great holiday spirits. Are your plans arranged for the holidays with family, or perhaps is an Asian golf tour to celebrate Christmas or New Years in the tropics on the cards? This month we're gearing up for the busiest time of the year in golf and are ready to host golfers like you on the world's most enjoyable golf courses. We hope to see you here soon!
As in the past, this newsletter contains original and news breaking stories on the state of golf in Asia as well as provides useful golf course information, unique golf playing tips for Asia's tropical environment, and special golf travel promotions.
Thailand's #1 ranked course just got better. The West Course at Black Mountain Golf Club, is open for play. This new nine features excellent green complexes every bit as good, if not better, the original 18. Take a look at this photo and you will see what I mean. In fact it is so good that all of our 2017 tournaments will include a round on the Black Mountain West Course.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Alpine Chiang Mai Golf
Speaking of new nines, Alpine Chiang Mai Golf Resort also expanded to 27 holes this month. Timing could not be better as the additional capacity is perfect to accommodate the peak season golfers in Northern Thailand over the next 3 months. Together with the already expanded 27-holes at Chiang Mai Highlands, these 2 tracks are hands-down the best golf courses in Chiang Mai.
Haiphong, Vietnam
Vinpearl Hai Phong
Vietnam's north is getting another 5-star golf complex.
Vinpearl Golf Hai Phong is located on Vu Yen Island, 10 minutes from Hai Phong, the third largest city in Vietnam and 120 km from Hanoi. The 36-hole IMG designed layout opening in 2017 will be comprised of the Lakeside and Marshland courses.
The Lakeside Course will feature water on 12 of the holes while the Marshland Course plays through open wetlands in a links-style arrangement of holes. Grass grow-in is underway and as soon as Hanoi's winter is over, the Vinpearl facility is sure to attract many golfers.
Bogor, Indonesia
Lido Golf Club
US President elect Donald Trump is licensing the Trump brand to the Lido Golf Club and entire Lido Lakes Resort area. Currently under renovation by Ernie Els, 36 holes will be developed within a spectacular landscape and with quality and challenges never before seen in Indonesian golf. Lido will be Trump's first golf development in Asia as well as Ernie Els' first course design in Indonesia. A new extension to the Bogor toll road will provide direct access to Lido, reducing the drive time from Jakarta to 75 minutes. Lido is located in Bogor City and is 45 minutes from the main Bogor golf course area. The Trump course, Trump resort, and new carriageway are scheduled for completion in late 2017.
LAST CHANCE!!! Book By 31 December 2016 and receive
– 1 Hour Thai or foot massage voucher per person
– ฿ 5000 resort credit to spend as you choose at Centara Grand – per room
In March 2017 we have our two biggest events in the golfing calendar, the Amari Hua Hin Golf Week and Amari Pattaya Golf Week. Each event sees a field of 120 people from around the world play the best golf courses in each destination. While the tournaments aren't until March 2017, we have 50 players already booked, with most people taking the free room upgrade from the Amari Hotels. Book your position now and don't miss out on a great week of golf!
We have 12 group tours throughout the year and details of these events can be found on the Asia Golf Week website.
If you would like to book one of our events, or have any questions, please email us at [email protected]
Hi, my name is Gary. I am an Australian, originally from New South Wales, but now very comfortably domiciled in Perth, Western Australia with a wife of 35 years marriage and two grown up kids!
I have played golf since my father stuck a golf club in my hands when I was about 10 years old. At 61 years old now, I guess you could say I am a long-term golfer. I have been a member of private golf clubs since a junior, and a member of my current golf club, Melville Glades for the last 22 years. My current handicap is 4... hard earned at my age! I also happen to be the President of the club and have been on the Club's Board for the last 5 years. Melville Glades is a parkland golf course in the Perth metropolitan area and will celebrate 50 years of operations in 2017. We have in excess of 1,100 members with member competitions every day of the week. Oh, we also have a mob of around 200 kangaroos that live on the golf course which is a very special experience for our members and visitors.
Paul Tweedie from Scotland speaks to Golfasian's John Carter about his recent golf holiday experience in Hua Hin. Let us know if you would like to take part in this series, we would be delighted to speak to you. [Watch the entire interview online]
Danang, Vietnam
Danang, Hoi An, and Hue are connected to each other by modern coastal roads and tunnels. Together they make up the Vietnam's Golf Coast. Vietnam's recognition as an up-and-coming golf destination is no secret, but the Vietnam Golf Coast ups the ante even further.
Da Nang or Danang dates back to the early 14th century when the area was settled as a small village in central Vietnam. In 1954 with the division of Vietnam into the North and South, Danang became part of South Vietnam, and in 1965 was the location of the first landing of US forces in Vietnam when it was aptly coined "China Beach". Nowadays, this same area is home to one of Asia's best beaches, many world-class resorts and Vietnam's best golf courses. For example, the Montgomerie Links Vietnam and the Danang Golf Club are constantly ranked among Asia's leading golf clubs. It is no surprise then that some refer to this area as the Vietnam Golf Coast. [Read the complete review]
BRG Da Nang Golf Resort (Danang Golf Club) opened in 2010 and immediately leapt to fame being recognized as one of the 15 best new courses in the world by USA GOLF magazine. Da Nang Golf Resort has been awarded a number of awards, amongst them the 2011, 2012, 2013 best golf course in Asia by the readers of Asian Golf Monthly as well as the 2012 Best Golf Course in Vietnam by USA Golf Digest and the 2014 IAGTO Diamond Award.
Pullman Danang Beach Resort sits on My An Beach. The beachfront property is only 5 minutes from downtown Danang and 15 minutes from the Danang Airport. The hotel features a long pool corridor, day spa- and health club. The rooms are contemporary styled modern with light colors. Two Danang golf courses are within 10 minutes from the Pullman Danang Beach Resort.
The Vietnam Golf Trail is a Golf Lifestyle Experience™ journey and includes Hanoi, Halong Bay, Danang/Hoi An, Dalat, Nha Trang and Saigon. All of Vietnam's top golf courses from north to south are included in this Vietnam golf package.
Golf highlights include Danang Golf Club, Montgomerie Links and Ba Na Hills on the Vietnam golf coast, Van Tri Golf Club in Hanoi and Saigon's Long Thanh Golf Club. The award winning Dalat Palace Golf Club in the temperate highlands of Dalat and the spectacular Vinpearl Golf Club on its own private island are two of the other featured golf stops.
Those golf travelers who want to re-trace the Ho Chi Minh Trail will enjoy the stops at China Beach and Chu Chi. Others who want to learn about Vietnamese civilization will be fascinated by Halong Bay and Hoi An, both UNESCO World Heritage sights.
Luxury Resale Villa Next to Black Mountain Golf Course
3 bedroom pool villa on large plot in high end development loaded with features
This magnificent villa is situated on one of the most beautiful private resorts in Hua Hin, Thailand. Only 2 hours' drive south of Bangkok, 15 minutes' drive from downtown Hua Hin and next to the Black Mountain Golf Course, rated one of the best in Asia with Black Mountain Water Park and now the new International school only 2 minutes away. The villa offers a beautiful European interior design with stunning custom-made furniture to suit the style of the house and an 8m high ceiling. Please follow the link to look at the long list of features and stunning photos of this unique property.
Of all the variables that determine a golf ball's performance compression may be the most mysterious. You'll know it as a number on the ball, usually 90 or 100. If you see slow motion videos of balls impacting the club face you'll see it as the ball deforming or "mushing". The ball launches as this compression releases.
Generally, professional advice says the faster you swing the less compression you need but there are way more issues to consider namely spin speed generated, feel, control, etc but let's leave that to Phil Mickelson.
Whilst all of us know that Thailand has a tropical climate which can make playing golf a challenge, you can escape the heat and play in perfect conditions. In the "winter" months of December to March Thailand's mountainous north has a significantly milder climate and temperatures can drop to the low 80s even high 70s. This morning at 7am, under a clear sky, the temperature at Chiang Mai Highlands was a relatively "chilly" 66 degrees when perhaps a light sweater was necessary to make things comfortable. Understandably lots of you are escaping the winter at home, but some may seek it out in Thailand.
I would love to hear about any golf tips 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.
Golfasian has a full schedule of trade shows and roadshows during the next few months.
You can find us at the following 2017 events.
January 25 - 27
PGA Show (Orlando, Florida, USA)
May 7 - 10
Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) (Danang, Vietnam)
June 25 - 28
IAGTO North America Golf Tourism Convention (Miami, Florida, USA)
December 11 - 14
International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) (Cannes, France)
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Hua Hin, Thailand
Haiphong, Vietnam
Bogor, Indonesia
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