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Go to
Phuket Golf Courses for a Description of individual courses and links
to their websites
The
island of Phuket has some of the country’s best courses, including the
Blue Canyon, host to the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994 and again in
1998.
Golf
is one of the most popular sports in Thailand. The game arrived in the
county a century ago and was quickly taken up by the elite and the
fashionable. Among the first sponsors of the game were the armed
forces and government institutions, which built and continue to own
some of the finest courses in the county.
 About
350,000 visitors are believed to have played golf in Thailand in 2002,
generating an expenditure of nearly 6.2 billion baht. The Tourism
Authority of Thailand is planning to raise these figures to one
million golfers, generating an estimated 18.45 billion baht by 2007.
In 2004 alone, the plan is to attract 400,000 golfers. Who will
generate an estimated 7.1 billion baht, an increase of 14.29% over
2002.
There are over 200 high standard golf courses
nationwide, many of them championship standards. The world’s top
designers have made a significant contribution. Jack Nicklaus, Robert
Trent Jones Jr, Pete De Gar Player and many others have perfected
modern layouts, using the best grasses and latest techniques.
The result is some of the most attractive courses in
Asia, with excellent facilities, memorable signature holes and regular
maintenance to keep them in top-class condition. Every course has its
caddies; it's mandatory to employ one caddie for your round. They are
Thailand’s secret weapon in making golf such good fun. These brightly
clad ladies, in smart uniforms and straw hats, know lots about the
course, smile almost all the time, and very good at reading putts.
There are at least a few courses in or within easy
reach of all major cites. Most of the newer courses offer
accommodation on site or nearby, plus recreational facilities for the
whole family.
For the more adventurous, there are older, natural
courses in remote areas around the courses in remote areas around the
country owned by the Royal Irrigation Department, the Electricity
Generation Authority of Thailand, all offering good value. So for
golfers who not only appreciate a challenging
course, but an exotically different one too, there is
an extraordinary choice.
The best time to plan a golfing trip is the cool
season, from November to March. From April to October it is hot and
wet, but even in the rainy months the downfall usually comes in the
afternoon, and for only a few minutes. Most courses have good drainage
systems, and the rains should not interrupt your game for long. At
some facilities you may need to book ahead, through your club or your
hotel, and advance booking is recommended for weekends. Greens fees
continue to be very reasonable, as are the fees for caddies. |
