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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.
The year is already moving fast as we already change seasons from winter to spring. For many of you, this means it’s time to dust off the clubs and start practicing. In Asia, the weather is already warm, so what better way to start your golf year than to hit the links here for some early rounds.
The main golf courses, especially in Pattaya and Chiang Mai, are clearing out as golfers from cold destinations who winter there head home. Further north, the weather in places like Danang and Hanoi is spectacular. Add to this great availability of prime mid-morning tee times at top courses, and you have the framework for a fantastic golf trip.
On our side, it's the start of our main tournament season. March will see us host two Hua Hin events, including our first ever professional tournament.
The inaugural Amari Hua Hin Skins match is being plaid March 10-16 and features prizes for every single hole. What better way than to play the field in a pair’s matchup and hole-by-hole instead of having to struggle with one aggregate score over four days. I am looking forward to seeing the winners emerge.
The week after (March 17-14) is the PGA’s of Europe sponsored World Club Pro-Am. Thirty hand-selected teams are competing for best in the world bragging rights, and pros play for cash prizes of US$120K. The event not only will be a golf shootout, but the participants are sure to have a great time. Anyone, what to wager on the winning score? My vote is for 12 under par!
If you are interested in joining either or both of these fantastic golf events, then drop me a line. Just in case we get a last-minute cancellation I can try to fit you in. Otherwise, be sure to check out the Centara Masters in June and Vietnam World Masters in September. The Centara is our flagship event with 400 players from 30 countries registered and the Vietnam event is great for those who want to golf in Vietnam's central coast. Of course, any club golfer is welcome to join as a great week of golf, and many laughs in between are guaranteed.
While some say that Asia's incredible golf courses and bright sunshine are the main attractions, I beg to differ. To me and as a resident of Asia for the past 30 years, it's the rich cultural experiences together with very friendly locals encountered along the fairways that often leaves the fondest impressions. Just consider your caddie experiences, and you will know what I mean.
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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Phan Thiet, Vietnam
Anyone who knows a bit about Vietnam golf history is familiar with Phan Thiet. The resort town was pretty much the ‘only golf resort game in town’ when the Nick Faldo designed Ocean Dunes was in operation with its own Novotel golf resort. As much as it broke my heart when the course was paved over for housing some years back, Phan Thiet always held great nostalgia and fond memories in the minds of Vietnam’s old hands. Now like a dream come true, Phan Thiet may be coming back onto the Vietnam golf scene as starting this quarter Greg Norman breaks ground on another championship course. Once completed and together with Sea Links G&CC (who has been running the whole time on its own), Phan Thiet may make it to comeback destination of the year. Stay tuned!
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Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Thailand’s historical town of Kanchanaburi already has 11 golf courses in and around the banks of the River Kwai. Add one more course to the list with the opening of Blue Star Golf Course. Not to be confused with Blue Sapphire (can’t the owners think of any more original names), Blue Star is more akin to a miniature version of Grand Prix. The locally designed course is hilly and challenging. It’s a bit tricked up in parts, but they make good use of the old mining lakes to create interesting holes and routing. Blue Star needs another season or so to grow-in and provide top playing conditions. In the meantime, green fees are cheap, and the beer is cold, so if new courses are your cup of tea, Blue Star may be worth a look.
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Yangon, Myanmar
SE Asia’s last country to be developed and up-and-coming golf destination just added another course to its lineup. Located 15 minutes from the Yangon International Airport and adjacent to the military-owned YDGC 36-hole complex, lies the Dagon Golf City & Luxury Golf Estates project. Formerly an old fish farm, the site is scattered with small lakes that frame many of the holes. Significant earth moving and lake bed dredging was used to provide mounding which lines many of the fairways and define the green complexes. Paspalum grass on tees, fairways, and greens is new to Yangon but should make for decent year-round playing conditions in Myanmar’s mostly tropical weather. Things aren’t quite as first class, but they are close. Dagon Golf City is worthy of a play for anyone interested in golf in Myanmar.
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GOLF DESTINATION REVIEW: Hanoi, Vietnam
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A personal destination review from Mark Siegel, Golfasian's Managing Director.
After visiting Vietnam over 100 times, I still find fascination with Hanoi and its surrounding areas. Not only is Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and the country’s second largest city, but it’s also the only major Vietnamese’ city with a distinct change of seasons and a great place to escape the heat of most other parts of SE Asia. The best golf weather in Hanoi is in Fall (September to November) and Spring (March to May) when it is cool with less humidity.
The city itself is a blend of old and new. French designed buildings are everywhere, and these days Hanoi is dotted with cafes and co-working spaces that house many of the world’s digital nomads.
The mountains outside town also make for some spectacular scenery and are perfect for golf courses. My favorites include Vietnam’s original 18-hole course at Kings Island, now with its newest Kings Course opened for play and Stone Valley Golf Club. The latter reminds me of Ha Long Bay on land.
Speaking of Ha Long Bay, when I do visit Hanoi with first-timers, a side trip to one of the world’s natural wonders is always a highlight. Plus, the journey is even better these days with a stop at the excellent FLC Ha Long Bay Golf Club. Be sure to have a handy spare phone battery, the selfies at the course will surely require a phone re-charge.
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FEATURED GOLF COURSE AND HOTEL
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BRG Kings Island Golf Resort, Kings Course
BRG Kings Island Golf Resort is a 54 hole golf resort in the outskirts of Hanoi. The golf resort lies on the shores of the Dong Mo reservoir 36 kilometers from Hanoi. At only 45 minutes drive from the capital, King’s Island is high quality and convenient choice to include in any North Vietnam golf package. Access to the course is by boat, or car in the case of the Kings Course. The island golf complex situated site comprises 350 hectares of land and 1,500 hectares of waterfront.
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Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi
Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi is a colonial style hotel with excellent customer service and modernized décor.
The hotel has a perfect location for golfers, as golf courses are not far and everything worth seeing in Hanoi is close.
For a 5-star Hanoi hotel, Moevenpick is an ideal choice for golfers and golf groups alike.
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Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City Golf Package
Start and golf in Hanoi; the capital of Vietnam. Afterward, move south and golf in Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam's economic gateway. Play the best golf courses and explore these two famous cities. Each Vietnam golf course combines different challenges to make this a memorable Vietnam golf tour.
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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 MAR & 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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Troy
Director of Operations
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Bua
Operations Executive
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Bell
Operations executive
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View
Operations Executive
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Faii
Hua Hin Operations
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Win
Phuket Operations
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Aon
Customer Service Rep
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Joy
Airport Representative
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Game
Customer Service Rep
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Bao
Customer Service Rep
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Hong
Customer Service Rep
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Joe
Customer Service Rep
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Noi
Customer Service Rep
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Noom
Customer Service Rep
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Nop
Customer Service Rep
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Pong
Customer Service Rep
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Chaiya
Customer Service Rep
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Rasri
Customer Service Rep
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Sawet
Customer Service Rep
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Soda
Customer Service Rep
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Sombat
Customer Service Rep
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Surapol
Customer Service Rep
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Wichai
Customer Service Rep
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Vichi
Customer Service Rep
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Moo
Customer Service Rep
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Nikom
Customer Service Rep
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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
Double the Fun with Leisure & Play With a Vietnam Golf Holiday
For those who enjoy treating themselves to nature’s beauty, historical culture, and even a little golf while on holiday, Vietnam is the unanimous choice. The tranquil beaches of https://www.golfasian.com/golf-holidays/vietnam/danang/; the historical pathways of Hanoi; the rocky islands of Ha Long Bay, there isn’t a part of this country that isn’t worth exploring. And when you combine that with a game or two of golf, you know you’re in heaven...
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GOLF TIPS
Drain Putts in Thailand?
If you can do only one thing to improve your enjoyment when golfing in Thailand, the making more putts would be what I suggest.
Thailand golfers face more putts than any other shot.
I have taken the time to master putting in Thailand and I was able to cut 3-4 stokes off my score in the process.
Here is how I did it...
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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
- 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 11-15 March (C Course), 18-29 March (D Course), 1-5 April (A Course) and 9-12 April (B Course). Course will be closed on 15-16 April for Songkran.
- Muang Kaew Golf Club: Course will be closed on 11 March.
- Nikanti Golf Club: Course will be undergoing annual coring greens during 1-8 April.
- 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 closed during 4-8 March for the PGA Tour China Series and during 13-19 May for the Singha Laguna Phuket Open.
- Red Mountain Golf Club: Course will be closed on 20 March for a tournament.
Kanchanaburi
Chiang Mai
Khao Yai
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Vietnam
Danang
- Ba Na Hills Golf Club: Course will be hold a tournament on 30 March.
- Laguna Golf Lang Co: Course will be holding the 13th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final during 17-22 March. Course will be doing greens aeration during 8-17 (front nine) & 15-27 (back nine) April.
- Montgomerie Links Vietnam: Course will be closed on 30 March for the Mercedes Qualifier Tournament. Coring greens will be taking place in May.
Dalat
Hai Phong / Halong Bay
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City
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Indonesia
Bali
- Bali National Golf Club: Course will be closed in the afternoons of 15-16 March and during 22-23 March 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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