Welcome to the February 2009 edition of the “Asian Golf Travel Nation”, the source for news breaking information about Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia Golf. In addition, 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.

First of all, get set to win a chance to play with the Asian Tour golf professionals. Together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), GolfAsian will be hosting 3 groups in the next months Singha Thailand Open 2009 Pro-Am. The event will be held on Mach 1 at the Laguna Phuket Golf Club and just prior to the Asian Tour sponsored tournament. See our special Thailand Open offer for more information and a chance to play in this prestigious event.

Last month, I played all of the Chiang Mai golf courses with a large group from India, and what a trip it was. First of all the weather was on the chilly side; which impressed all of the visiting Indian golfers who expected, hot and humid. However, what stuck the group most was the quality and value-for-money of golf in Chiang Mai. The winter cool and dry conditions assured that everyone was able to get good roll-out on the fairways and transformed the putting surfaces into some of the best in Asia. The low green fees and hotel rates made the trip the least expensive high quality Thailand golf destination.

Chiang Mai Highlands and Alpine Chiang Mai were the real stand-outs. Highlands retains its best in Chiang Mai status and is getting better and better as it matures. Greens are fast and receptive, fairways are close-cut and well defined, and the overall service & club operations are second to none. Alpine retains all of the positives from the old Lamphun course like wide mature tree lined rolling fairways, 2 island greens, and many great dogleg holes but also adds new greens, fairway grasses, and a great modern club house. It plays to over 7700 yards from the tips, which makes it the longest course in the north of Thailand.

If you are up north, be sure to include a round, at both venues, you will not be disappointed. Moreover, if you have not yet been golfing in Chiang Mai, give it a try, you will be impressed at the quality and value-for-money. Take a look at some of our Chiang Mai golf packages and you will see what I mean.

Over in Cambodia, a third PGA rated golf course, the Siem Reap Lake Golf Resort opened last month in Angkor Wat. The new course has generated allot of interest as the Cambodia golf destination is rapidly becoming one of the hottest in Asia. Combined with Siem Reap’s two other golf courses; the Angkor Golf Resort and the Phokeethra Country Club, Siem Reap is attracting more and more Cambodian golf holidaymakers.

On a sad note, Mission Hills Khao Yai is no more! This great Jack Nicklaus course is officially closed. There is rumor that it will re-emerge soon under a different name and new ownership, lets hope so!

Have you heard of our latest specialized golf tour? The Thailand-Vietnam-Cambodia Golf Trail is fast becoming the worlds most talked about golf tour. Announced just 6 weeks ago the golf trail makes it now possible for golf enthusiasts from around the world to play the premier courses in three of the Asian Tiger countries.

Moreover, the Thailand-Vietnam-Cambodia golf trail is especially popular in these credit crunch times. Not only is it now possible to golf at the best golf courses in 3 countries, but trail costs are much more economical than other similar quality golf tours around the world. Stops on the trail the trail include Thai Country Club in Bangkok, the Montgomerie Links Vietnam, and the Angkor Golf Resort. This winter why not enjoy premium golfing at a fraction of the costs that you would expect to pay elsewhere? For more information contact Golfasian at [email protected].

Remember if you want to get regular updates about golf in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, then sign-up for uninterrupted email delivery of this newsletter. In addition, all persons signing up will automatically receive the latest “Thailand Golf Insider Tips” special report.

Until the next newsletter, keep practicing and I hope to see YOU in the region this winter!

Mark Siegel
Managing Director

Chiangmai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort opened in late December 2005. The course features lush paspalum fairways and tiff-eagle greens. The greens, lush, quick, smooth and true are a pleasure to roll your ball on. The bunker styles are typical of a Schmidt-Curley design, deep and severely penalizing to the errant shots but beautiful to the golfer’s eye especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Golf course conditions of this quality are only attainable with the use of the best equipment and experienced professionals with a passion for the game.

The approach areas around the green complexes often feature closely mown areas giving the golfer many options of playing either a chip-and-run, pitch shot or even putting the ball up onto the green surface. Imagination is a terrific asset when trying to get up and down at Chiangmai Highlands.

The design offers a combination of memorable holes presenting challenges for every part of your game and is the type of design you never tire of playing. As you play Highlands you will quickly realize you are truly experiencing the best of golf in Thailand. For more about the Chiangmai Highlands golf experience, visit www.chiangmaihighlands.com or [email protected].

 

Asian Golf Professionals Frequent Visitors to Thailand in 2009

Asian golf professionals would do well to brush up on their Thai language skills, as the tour will be making several golf stops in Thailand during 2009 with the season beginning and ending in the Kingdom and more events along the way.

Great Thai golf courses and weather, combined with world class accommodations and famous Thai hospitality have apparently charmed the Tour into coming back again and again, much as it has for growing numbers of international holiday golfers and travelers.  Perhaps the tour bosses have also developed a taste for jasmine rice, tum yum gung, pad thai and som tam?

The Asian Tour Qualifying School kicked it all off January 06 – 09, with 1st Stage events at Bangkok’s Lam Luk Ka Country Club plus two Pattaya area clubs: Rayong Green Valley and St. Andrews 2000.  The latter two courses also held the Q School’s Final Stage a week later.

Continue reading about the “Asian Tour In Thailand”…….

Other Thailand golf stories  can be found at the Thailand Golf Zone where there are over 433 other original articles dealing exclusively with Thailand golf travel.

I would love to hear about any golf tips that any of you may have developed for getting the maximum enjoyment from golf in Thailand, 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.

Even though your golf course may be covered with ice and snow, it's not too early to start planning your practice strategy for your trip.  In fact, this is a great way to pass some idle time and stimulate your enthusiasm for your coming tropical golf holiday.

On the first day of any golf holiday, most golfers want to and go out and hit a full bucket of practice balls, smash their first drives and pick-up from where they left off last season. That won't help your game much; in fact, it can be counterproductive.

Take it easy.  Many golfers are dormant for two or three months before their golf holiday, and the muscles and tendons used in the golf swing lose their tone and elasticity.  Golfers with a history of back problems should be particularly cautious; make sure you stretch and loosen up before you play your first round.  And don't let your back get too tired because that's when it can go out.

Relax and enjoy the early games without overdoing the physical part, and don't worry about your score the first few times out. My suggestion is to drive with your 3 wood, or at least choke down if you use your driver. Then slowly, you can build confidence before attempting full swings.

What you can work on in your early rounds is your short game; the short game can be practiced and your touch fined-tuned without your time off affecting your chips and putts.  Practicing your short game for a half hour or so before your first few games of your golf holiday will also produce immediate and positive results.

Chipping and pitch shots and putting can be honed close to all clubhouses where you will find great practice facilities at each golf course. Working on your putting before your first round can be particularly beneficial; that's especially true for long approach putts that require a certain feel.

 If you concentrate on your short game in the beginning of your golf holiday, you'll be way ahead of your fellow competitors and enjoy your holiday golf that much more.  One final thought as you prepare for another safe and fun golf holiday:  Let's not forget how fortunate we are. There are many thousands of other golfers who can't be playing golf during this winter due to innumerable economic hardships.