Welcome to the latest issue of the Asian Golf Nation, the source for news breaking information about golf in Asia. In addition, unique golf playing tips for South East Asia's tropical environment, announcements of golf travel promotions, and our latest tournament offers are all parts of this newsletter.
Asian golf tourism is on the increase again. This month we see the Asian Golf Tourism Convention come to Chiang Mai making Thailand the first country to have hosted this prestigious event multiple times. Then just one month later Thailand Travel Mart will be held with golf tour operators from every country being invited for free. Finally, in August the 2nd edition of the Thai Golf Travel Market will be staged in Pattaya where 200 buyers will get to experience first-hand what playing golf in Pattaya is all about. Stay tuned for their reports.
Not to be outdone, Vietnam has seen a 35% year-on-year increase in rounds played by golf tourists with Golfasian Vietnam leading the way at over 100% year-on-year growth. Vietnam's central government has seen the economic advantages of golf tourism and has completely changed their stand on expanding/approving new golf courses. Currently there are 40 courses open for play, another 40 under construction, and an additional 40 with approved licenses yet to be started. Most all of the new projects are located along Vietnam's extensive coast, making them ideal premium golf course and 5-star golf resort sites. Links golf anyone?
By 2025 there will be well over 100 courses in Vietnam for golf travelers to select from. Let me know if you want to get over to Vietnam to see yourself what the entire buzz is about.
I wish all golf travelers a great golf season ahead. The golf, culture, and beauty of Asia continue to be perfectly suited for unforgettable golf experiences. Tailor-made itineraries fitting your specific needs, expectations and budgets are our specialty. Drop me an email with your request; you will be surprised at the possibilities.
As always there are lots of golf developments around the region, so sit back and enjoy this edition of the Asian Golf Nation.
Do you know what Thais do when they want a relaxing holiday away from the normal hustle-and-bustle? They head 2 hours east of Bangkok to Thailand's largest national park. The Khao Yai area sports many wonderful boutique resorts and private villas. Fortunately, some of Thailand's golf hidden gems are located in the area too. Mountain Creek Golf Resort is one of the best and they have recently completed playability upgrades to all 27 holes, expanded their facilities to better cater for visiting golfers' needs, and appointed an experienced international management team. I was there last month and the whole set-up is very impressive.
Hua Hin, Thailand
Black Mountain, Hua Hin
Severe drought in the area is affecting play at most of the area courses. Black Mountain, Banyan, and Sea Pines seem to be the only courses with enough water to keep green. Speaking of Black Mountain, the Par-3 course is now closed and construction on the new 9 holes is in full swing and on target to finish late this year. I'm looking forward to seeing Black Mountain becoming a full 27-hole facility.
Danang, Vietnam
Danang Golf Club, Danang
Bangkok Airways begins four times a week non-stop service from Bangkok to Danang and what once was an 8 hour transit journey will be cut down to 1.5 hours. This will facilitate much better access to Danang and avoid the unreliable domestic connections currently needed via Saigon or Hanoi. It also opens up new multi-destination golf tours such as the Bangkok – Danang 2 Destination Golf Package. Now everyone can play great golf and experience great nightlife and shopping all on one easy trip.
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Lotus Cam Ranh, Nha Trang
Down the coast in Nha Trang, earth works are in full swing at the new Lotus Cam Ranh Golf Resort. The 27-hole golf course is located along the Long Beach area of the Cam Ranh Peninsula, very close to the airport and part of a new area being developed with luxury resorts and high end residences. The accelerated project schedule calls for the first 18 holes to be online in early 2017. Once open this 3rd course will greatly enhance the Nha Trang golf destination. With some of the best year-round weather in Vietnam, Nha Trang is already a tourist mecca for watersports and other leisure activities.
Desaru, Malaysia
Els Club Desaru Valley, Desaru, Malaysia
Have you never heard of Desaru or thought it is some kind of desert? Well just the opposite. Location on the eastern side of Peninsula Malaysia, Desaru is one of the newest coastal golf courses to be developed. The resort can be easily reached by land from Johor or Singapore. Two new golf courses are just about ready for play. The Els Club Desaru consists of Troon managed courses designed by both Ernie Els (Desaru Coast) and Vijay Singh (Desaru Valley). We visited the site last week and as you can see in the picture, the first course is good resort track that plays in a pine forested valley while the second layout will feature a championship 18 that will test players of all levels. The Els Club Desaru Coast has an ultra-modern clubhouse perched about the course. Area resorts include Datai, Aman, Westin, and Anantara, all premium 5 star properties. The courses should be on par with the award winning The Els Club, Teluk Datai in Langkawi and raise the bar for golf in Malaysia. I look forward to the course opening in the next 3-4 months.
On behalf of my husband and I, we would like to congratulate you on another wonderful event. We enjoyed the games, the on-course challenges and meeting new friends from around the world.
The team were amazing organising the transport and getting everyone off to a great start at each course.
I congratulate you on the changes you are making to the handicap system and also making the guys play from the tees further back. For most guys they like to play the full course especially the A graders. I think this will also keep the results within a proper margin making your job much easier and hopefully less disgruntled competitors because of the high point scores that came in.
We had a wonderful time and will be back next year. Have a great year.
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Hi, my name is Craig Philpott. I am from the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. I travelled to Hua Hin with 4 mates from Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane. I have played golf for approximately 30 years. My handicap is 4 at the moment. I am a member of Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane. Nudgee is a members' course but open to guests as well.
This was my first time to Thailand. We selected Hua Hin so we could watch a member of our club, Scott Hend, play in the Thailand Classic, which he duly won so we now have to return next year! Three of the members on the trip have known Scott for quite a few years so this was a cause for much celebration.
My first impression of Thailand was "how good is this". We were picked up by Golfasian at Bangkok airport and transported straight to our hotel at Hua Hin in a very comfortable vehicle. Check-in was swift and I was in my room within 10 minutes of arrival. Next morning we enjoyed a very good breakfast before heading to the front of the hotel ready for golf. The Golfasian driver was waiting for us and we were on our way. We played Sea Pines first and I would recommend this course to anyone. It's a very good course with great views out to sea on the first, second and the last few holes. Played Banyan and it was everything I had been told it would be...
Only an hour's flight from Bangkok, Phnom Penh is not only easy to reach but it also offers a very unusual golf vacation.
Currently there are only around seven golf courses in the country, dwarfed by its neighbour Thailand that has over 230 course, but Phnom Penh has four golf courses all close to the city.
Cambodia however is recovering from the terrible Pol Pot regime of the 70's, and although you cannot forget the horrors of this period, there is definitely a new Cambodia arising, partly helped by the number of tourists pouring into this relatively small country.
When you land at the modern international airport you immediately sense this capital city is getting its act together.
Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club is a private members' club and part of the Grand Phnom Penh International City. The golf course is located 20 minutes northwest of Phnom Penh and on the way to the airport. With little development away from the city, the air and climate tend to be fresher and well-suited for golf.
Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club is designed by Jack Nicklaus. The 7,914 yard course is one of the best maintained in Phnom Penh with immaculate fairways and manicured undulated greens. The fairways are very wide, but significant earth-moving and mounding are featured around all the greens. The course is also relatively exposed, so wind, especially late in the day, can play havoc on a good score.
The Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra overlooks the magnificent Mekong River. This luxury Phnom Penh hotel welcomes golfers looking for superior accommodation and convenience. The 12 story colonial-style hotel is close to key attractions including local markets, shopping, and entertainment areas. There are 4 on-site restaurants featuring international and Asian cuisines. After golf, guests can relax at any of the hotels 3 bars with an extensive drinks list and snacks. Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra Hotel is an excellent choice for Cambodia golfers.
Be one of the first to explore one of golf's best up-and-coming destinations. Visit the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and site of the Angkor temples; Siem Reap. Golf at the top golf courses in the location and in between learn about and experience the ancient Khmer sights and culture. Experience this once-in-a-lifetime exotic golf package with all of the comforts!
Whatever Thuy Trang, Vietnam's golf tourism dynamo, lacks in stature she makes up in business skills and success.
For the past five years, since establishing Golfasian Vietnam, Trang, 35, has been the driving force behind Vietnam's rise as a major golf tourism destination in Asia.
She and her 11 other staff – seven in Ho Chi Minh City and two each in Danang and Hanoi – built the business to exceed $US1 million turnover in 2014, a mark they surpassed in the first quarter alone in 2015.
Royal Golf & Country Club: Course will be closed on 25, 27 and 30-31 May for tournaments and from 6 June - 15 July will be undergoing coring greens on some holes.
The Royal Gems Golf and Sports Club: Course will be undergoing major greens renovations. Holes 9-17 will be closed April - June and holes 1-8 and 18 will be closed July - September. All 18 greens will be ready for play again in October.
Windsor Park & Golf Club: Course will be closed on 4, 11-12, 18 and 24-26 May for tournaments and will be undergoing coring greens on 9, 16, 23 and 30 May.
Hua Hin
Banyan Golf Club: Course will be closed from 15 - 20 May for a tournament and from 13-14 and 16-17 June for the Centara World Masters Golf Championship.
Khao Kheow Country Club: Course A will be closed for maintenance during 9 May - 16 June and course C will be closed for maintenance during 20-30 June.
Laem Chabang International Country Club: Course will be closed on 13 May and 10 & 23 June for tournaments. Course will be undergoing coring greens on 16 May.
Pattana Golf Club & Resort: Course will be closed from 23 - 28 May and on 5 and 19 June for tournaments.
Laguna Golf Phuket: Course will be undergoing top sand on green during 2 - 6 May, verticut on greens during 16 - 31 May and further maintenance during June.
Loch Palm Golf Club: Course will closed on 18 May for a tournament. Course will be undergoing coring greens on 4 July.
Phuket Country Club: Course will be closed on 14 May for a tournament and undergoing maintenance during 7 - 8 June.
Swimming Pool Property Development From Award Winning Builder
This project is the 8th created in Hua Hin by its multi award-winning developer and follows on from the outstanding success of previous builds here in the beautiful seaside town of Hua Hin, Thailand. Built on 33 Rai of land set in idyllic countryside, the development is ideally situated just 10 km from the centre of Hua Hin, 4 km from the bypass, 7 km from the beach and central to Hua Hin's numerous golf-courses and amenities.
A development of 66 Pool Villas, built in 4 different designs, and all promoting healthy outdoor living, with large terrace areas and beautifully landscaped gardens. Included in the sales price is a Furniture Package with a retail value of 700,000 Baht
The 5th, 6th and 7th developments by the same developer all sold out within just 12 months from their launch date, which we believe is testament to their high end construction, finishing and customer care.
These 3 bedroom, luxury garden pool villas offer a wonderful lifestyle choice, with total privacy and exclusivity.
Golfasian, Thailand's largest Inbound Golf Tour Operator, has been bringing clients to Thailand for amateur tournament golf since 2012. In the following year, for their Amateur Golf Weeks the venues were expanded to include Cambodia and Vietnam.
Although the company has been providing Asia golf packages to clients throughout the world since the late 1990s, including transport, accommodation and golf, a gap in the market was recognised for a 5-star offer with an additional element... competition. Importantly, the tournament play would be run along professional lines with sponsorship, branded shirts, caddie bibs, sophisticated score keeping using the latest software, plus marshalling (in co-operation with course staff), rules officiating and of course prizes; all overseen by Tournament Director PGTAA qualified Mark Penfold, who has over 10 years of experience in the industry.
Your first instinct will be to bring your own golf clubs on your trip. But have a think about how much easier it would make things to hire a set and save on luggage. In Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin Golfasian is in a position to hire you a full set of nearly new Taylor Made clubs including the options for steel or graphite shafts of every stiffness.
We get many compliments about the clubs with some clients even asking if they can buy them during their holiday, certainly considering switching brand on their return home.
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.
Golfasian has a full schedule of trade shows and roadshows during the next few months.
You can find us at the following events
June
26 - 29
IAGTO North America Golf Tourism Convention (USA)
November
14 - 17
International Golf Travel Market (Mallorca, Spain)
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Khao Yai, Thailand
Danang, Vietnam
Desaru, Malaysia
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Cambodia
Singapore
