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Dear Golf Travelers,
Innovation is an ongoing concept in Asia, and our October newsletter is full of information and surprises. New course openings, unique golf playing tips for South East Asia’s tropical environment, golf travel and tournament updates, and our latest subscription offer are all topics in this month’s Asian Golf Nation.
Time is flying fast. It is already the last quarter of 2019 and the high season is just around the corner. Good golf days in the northern areas of Europe and the USA are behind due to fewer daylight hours and lower temperatures. With the first cold spell comes the planning of winter holidays to warmer Asian golf destinations. Luckily, while October is the wettest month of the year in SE Asia, November through March is the best time for golf.
We have completed our 2020 high season rate survey, and the good news is that green fees and hotel rates remain stable or lower! Thailand is suffering from a general tourism decline, though it still the most popular Asian golfing destination with Hua Hin and Chiang Mai the best value-for-money and Pattaya and Bangkok being great choices for buddies and shorter golf breaks.
Vietnam is the second most popular and fastest-growing Asian country for golf holidays. Danang is leading the way and is the best Asian golf destination! The only limitation is winter tee times which are already getting full for the January – March season.
Cambodia is also coming onto the radar screen with Phnom Penh being my new favorite spot for short visits. Other requested golf destinations include Singapore and Malaysia. Indonesia is far behind, and I only wonder why and what is going on there these days.
We have some excellent multi-destination and multi-country packages so you can sample the best Asian golf destinations in one trip. Also, our full 2020 tournament schedule is available to facilitate advanced planning.
By the way, Brian Curley, one of the principals of Schmidt-Curley Golf, designed all of the new courses mentioned below. Thank you to Brian for bringing such excellent golf to SE Asia!
These days, everyone is looking for that special golf trip, and I believe that quality experiences don’t have to be expensive to be great. Our team understands that matching your interests and budgets in of the golfing destinations we serve is what matters most, and we are committed to creating a trip that works for you!
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 and tailor-made proposal. One of the Golfasian expert golf travel consultants is always available to help you 24/7.
Happy Golfing,
Mark Siegel
Managing Director
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GOLF NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION
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Pattaya, Thailand
Thailand’s newest course is in its final stage of completion. Siam Country Club, Rolling Hills is all new construction and the fourth Siam Country Club course in Pattaya.
Located near to the Old Course and Waterside Course, Rolling Hills designed by golf architect Brian Curley will be an excellent addition to golf in Pattaya.
The opening plan for the new parkland course is early next year, with trial play starting shortly. I can't wait!
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Quang Binh, Vietnam
The second course at FLC Quang Binh is open for play. The Ocean Dunes links-style course is an excellent addition to the already completed Forest Dunes course on the same site. The clubhouse and resort are under construction and together with the third course should open in 2021 or 2022. Meanwhile, temporary facilities are set-up to accommodate golfers looking to get over to this emerging destination. The massive 2,400 hectares site has six kilometers of beachfront, provisions for ten golf courses, and will be one of the greatest golf developments in Asia, if not the world when completed. Only Mission Hills in China would compare to the planned development scale.
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GOLF DESTINATION REVIEW: Vung Tau
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A personal destination review from Gary Dixon, Golf GM at The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip.
Having been a PGA Golf Professional for over 30 years I have been very privileged to have traveled the world experiencing some of the best that the world has to offer in Golf Courses both as a Touring Professional and as a Club Manager. My new appointment at the Bluffs Ho Tram Strip finds me again at one of the most beautiful seaside locations you will find in Asia rich in local Vietnamese culture and history.
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and The Bluffs Ho Tram Golf Course is in my opinion one of the finest Stay and Play experiences on earth with something to do for everybody! Set along the beach line which is known as Ho Tram Strip which is the coastline between Long Hai and Binh Chau in Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province (about 120 km south from Ho Chi Minh City).
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FEATURED GOLF COURSE & RESORT
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The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip
(exciting links style Greg Norman course)
The Greg Norman-designed Bluffs Ho Tram Strip golf course is located 80 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on the southern Vietnamese coastline. It takes around 2 hours to reach by a mix of highway and local roads from Ho Chi Minh City. The Bluffs Ho Tram is a unique links-style par-71 golf course on a rugged site often accompanied by strong onshore breezes.
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Grand Hotel Saigon
Grand Hotel Saigon is one of the oldest Saigon hotels dating back to 1930. Completely refurbished in 1997, the District 1 location is ideal for golfers wanting to take in Ho Chi Minh City nightlife, restaurants, and shopping centers. All guest rooms are large and provide amenities. The hotel has a swimming pool, rooftop bar and fitness center for golfers inclined to get some extra training between rounds of golf in Saigon.
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Saigon - Vung Tau Golf Package
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam’s economic capital and the city with the best nightlife, dining, and entertainment. You will play the top Saigon golf courses and stay at your preferred hotel. In addition, an exciting link style Greg Norman course in Vung Tau will be a good choice for your last round to end the trip.
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Special for Golfasian Newsletter Subscribers:
We invite you to the 2nd Amari Hua Hin Skins Golf Week
from 21-25 March 2020
BOOK BY 30 OCTOBER AND RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT OFF THE TOURNAMENT PACKAGE!!
What You Get:
* 5 nights city center accommodation
* Golf at Hua Hin's Best Courses with Caddies & Cart
* Welcome Drinks, 19th Hole Functions with Beer & Wine
* All ground transportation - sit back and let us do the work!
* VIP treatment throughout the event
* Don't wait - sign up before it's full!
Traveling in a group of 10 or more? Contact us at [email protected] to secure your special deal.
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Meet Troy, Director of Operations at Golfasian:
Troy, Golfasian’s Director of Operation, joined Golfasian in 2013 and is in charge of all ground operations, ensuring golfers are picked up on time and well looked after.
Troy has been working in the Thailand tourism industry since 1987 and has been intensively engaged in tour services and travelled all over Thailand by all modes of transport from boat, bus, plane to trains with groups of tourists for the past 40 years. This field experience gives Troy the opportunity to create unique travel itineraries that fit all requests.
Troy enjoys the challenge to run daily activities, including transfers, tours and large-scale golf tournaments. With great team work, the Golfasian operations team always makes sure high quality service is delivered.
Troy played a major role in shifting the Golfasian operations process from analog do digital and thereby improving efficiency and decreasing human errors.
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Golfasian Expands Golf Holidays to Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (September 20, 2019) – Golfers can now indulge in a golf holiday to Sri Lanka with Asia’s largest golf tour operator, Golfasian (www.golfasian.com).
As part of an ongoing expansion and increasing requests from return customers, Golfasian is now offering Sri Lanka as an additional golf holiday destination to choose from in Asia.
Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian ocean has just been named Number 1 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s ‘Best Islands in the World’.
“No matter how many images one looks at or video clips one browses through, the actual experience can never be matched. A small island perhaps, but the enormity of its diverse, complex, exotic cultures, hydraulic civilization, ancient temples, bustling towns, delectable cuisine – home to the internationally famous Sri Lankan crab, its climate – its higher elevation chill and sun kissed beaches, journeying along meandering roads and dusty gravel tracks within its national parks – the experience is always ‘new’ and it makes this island a ‘giant’,” said Pascal Orczech, Golfasian’s Director of Business Development.
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Golfasian is now offering rental clubs to golfers travelling to Asia.
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 various locations in Thailand and Vietnam.
Contact us today to reserve rental clubs for your next Asia golf holiday.
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GOLF TIPS
8 Do’s & Don’ts When Golfing In Thailand
1. Given that you’ll be out on the course for at least four hours do make sure you put plenty of sunscreen on. It’s also advisable to wear a hat or cap. The Sun when golf in Phuket can be the strongest compared to all other Thailand golf destinations.
2. Although golfing in Thailand is relaxed, don’t expect to be allowed onto the course wearing inappropriate clothing. Do wear a collared shirt with slacks, Bermuda shorts, or a skirt (provided you are a lady). Mock collars (aka Tiger Woods) are also accepted at all Thailand golf courses.
3. Do listen to your caddie - and listen very carefully! Thailand boasts some of the best trained and most savvy caddies in Asia. Find a knowledgeable one and reserve her for perhaps a repeat round (though it may be a privilege only afforded to rounds booked by members of through golf tour operators).
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BEST OF OUR BLOGS
Golfing Thailand as a Single
My name is John Billington. I live in Aukland, New Zealand, which is the largest and most populace area in the country. I am a member of Titirangi Golf Club, a course designed by Alastair McKenzie on his trip south to design Royal Melbourne. I have played golf in most continents and especially on the McKenzie courses in California (including Cypress Point). I was a scratch handicapper but at 66 years I am now playing off a respectable 7.
I have been travelling to Europe for sailing holidays regularly for the past five years and transit through Asia. I started using Golfasian to arrange golf holidays in Thailand. It worked seamlessly for me with transport etc and because they tended to join me up with other groups I met many interesting people from all around the world whom I would not otherwise meet: Russians, Swedes, Germans, Dutch, Swiss, Scandinavians, and golfers from all over Asia; fascinating!!
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Update Your Personal Information
In an effort to serve you better, we want to make sure we are not crowding your Inbox and only sending you the most personalized and relevant information. Can you please update your preferences through the link below? We know your time is precious, and this won’t take more than 30 seconds!
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GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCES & CLOSURES
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Thailand
Bangkok
Hua Hin
Pattaya
Phuket
Chiang Mai
- Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai: Course will be closed during 11-15 November for a tournament.
- Mae Jo Golf Club: Course will be closed on 23 December for a tournament.
- Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club: Course will be undergoing spraying of weeds during 25 July - 15 October. All areas under repair will be marked as GUR (ground under repair) and players will be able to drop their golf ball on good grass as the course will be spraying only half of the fairway at one time.
Khao Yai
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Vietnam
Danang
- Laguna Golf Lang Co: Course will be holding the Laguna Lang Co Invitational during 1-2 November.
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City
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Indonesia
Bali
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Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Langkawi
- The Els Club Teluk Datai: Course will be closed on 12 October for a tournament. Course will be undergoing maintenance on the back nine during 14-20 October and the front nine during 21-27 October.
Johor
Kota Kinabalu
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Cambodia
Siem Reap
- Angkor Golf Resort: Course will be undergoing light verticut and top dressing on the fairways during September. Course will be closed during 25-27 October for the Angkor Intl. Team Championship.
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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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