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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.
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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, Roboert 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 empoly 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.
Golf arrived in Thailand during the reign of King Rama V one hundred years ago. It was first played by nobles and other elitists of high society but since then, things have certainly changed. Over the past decade or so, the popularity of golf in Thailand has escalated; played both by local Thais and visiting foreign tourists and expatriates.
Meeting to the recent needs of an average of 400,000 foreign golfers coming to the Kingdom annually, golf in Thailand has turned into a huge local industry with new courses constantly being churned out. Golf alone is annually bringing an income of 8 billion baht into the local economy. The amount of golf currently being played in Thai is so colossal that the country has rightly been given the nickname ‘The Golf Capital of Asia’.
Thailand offers over two hundred courses which are rated as of the highest world standard. Many of them have been designed and created by some of the classic names in the golfing world such as Nick Faldo, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, and Greg Norman.
There are an abundance of reasons why golf in Thailand has become so huge. First, if you compare the cost to most golfing countries in the world, Thailand’s golf courses offer membership and course fees at absolute minimal. * * * The general low cost of vacationing in Thailand itself, making the country ideal for cost-efficiency minded tourists.
- Cost-effective: Thailand is great value for the greenback, especially in regards to accommodation, golfing, shopping and dining.
- Weather: Thailand has three different seasons. They are: hot season: March – May, Rainy season: June – October, Cool season: November – February. The best time to visit Thailand is during the cool season but anytime of the year is great. The climate, at most times of the year is hot and humid, Thailand’s hot lightly-breezed weather is just about ideal for golfers who don’t have a fascination for wind and cold.
- Golf Course: Many of the golf courses in Thailand have been designed by top names in the game such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman and they are located in delightful locations.
- Geographical Diversity: Golf courses in Thailand are situated in a numerous different locations such as in the mountains or at the sea. Many of these courses can also boast beautiful surroundings, nestled in the misty mountains of the north, parked next to exotic white-sandy beaches or on the fringe of idyllic waterfalls. Thailand,
- Infrastructure: The Tourism Authority of Thailand fully supports golfing in Thailand and so the guaranteed standard is high.
- Accommodation: Five-star accommodation in Thailand is far cheap than anything in a developed Western country. Thailand is well-appreciated around the globe as a haven for an excellent array of 4 and 5 star hotels, again available for a fraction of the cost of what you would pay in a developed country.
- Thai People: Thais are known the world over for their friendly laid-back and friendly nature.
- Cuisine: All the major cities also have a wide selection of international restaurants. Thai food has climbed the ladder in regards to popularity and is now one of the world’s favourite cuisines. Thai food is obviously tastier and far cheaper than in Europe or The US.
- Culture & Customs: Thailand prides itself in that the country has never colonialized, so holding on to its original beliefs and ways of life. Many foreigners enjoy coming to Thailand just to join in a couple of the customs such as Songkran and Loy Krathong.
- Things to do: Besides just playing golf, there is a lot more recreation possible in Thailand. There is shopping, spa, swimming, sunbathing, nightlife and trekking etc.
Being the small country it is, makes traveling to your course of choice convenient. You can be rest-assured that that by car or plane, you are never more than a 90 minute trip away from a 5 star golf course.
Besides its stunning islands and bustling cities, Thai people are also world famous for that one and only ‘smile’, one that is now synonymous with Thailand. One can expect to be greeted everywhere with a Thai smile which will brighten the day and warm the heart. Thailand isn’t nick-named the ‘Land of Smiles’ for no good reason.
People come to Thailand on a golf tour to experience the beauty and excitement of Thailand first hand while enjoying the golf courses. Thailand is every golfers and nature lover’s dream come true. Thailand has some of the best golf courses in the world situated in beautiful South-East Asia. There are a large variety of golf tour packages to choose from.
Johnny Walker Classic: This tournament has turned into one of Asia’s leading golf tournaments attracting a whole bunch of golfing stars including the likes of Tiger Woods.
The Honda LPGA: This tournament started in 2006 is part of the LPGA’s your program.
| Information Source : Tourism Authority of Thailand |
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Introduction