TEE OFF IN THAILAND
Tee off in Thailand - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Tee off in Thailand | |||||
| By: John Digby, Issue 45 – Summer 2011 | |||||
| (Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, Thailand) | |||||
| THAILAND HAS A LOT TO OFFER VISITING GOLFERS, EVEN AWAY FROM THE POPULAR BEACH DESTINATIONS OF PHUKET AND SAMIU. OUR GOLF WRITER JOHN DIGBY TEES OFF IN CHIANG MAI AND HUA HIN. | |||||
| Teeming rain, thunder and then a bolt of lightning drove the day’s last golfers from the course as we arrived in the early evening at Chiang Mai’s Highlands golf course, one of the best in Thailand. But then it was summer and the rainy season was in full flow. The next day dawned bright and warm, a perfect morning for golf just outside this northern city about a 60 minute flight from Bangkok. For golfers, Thailand has much to offer, even away from Phuket and Koh Samui. Both Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, a coastal town two and a half hours drive south of Bangkok, have stunning courses and plenty of luxury accommodation. Hua Hin, with 12 courses, is especially popular with city dwellers from Bangkok and is ideally situated for stopovers for Australians flying to or returning from Europe. It’s where Thailand’s much revered royal family has a summer palace and where the king and queen spend a great deal of time. Both areas have many courses which are easily accessible. The best of nearly a dozen in the Chiang Mai area include Chiang Mai Highlands, Alpine, Royal Chiang Mai, Green Valley and further north close to Chiang Rai, the Santiburi Golf Club. Opened five years ago, Highlands is set in hills outside the city, with great views from every hole. Its elevation, tranquility and cool climate make it a special place to play golf. With a choice of five tee boxes, each hole offers a challenge to players of all levels, especially with more than 100 fairway and greenside bunkers. The large, undulating greens and plenty of water make this 6,500m plus course tough for most golfers. Watch for the spectacular finishing hole, across water and uphill to the green at the end of over 500m. The Alpine Golf Resort is nestled in a valley between the mountain ranges in the heart of the San Kamphaeng forests and has recently been redesigned. There’s lots of water, especially on the back nine. The ninth has a double water carry and watch for the tricky island green at the par three 15th, even though it rates 18 on the card. Royal Chiang Mai is a links-style, par 72, championship course designed 15 years ago by five-time Open winner Australian Peter Thomson and partner Michael Wolveridge, while Chiang Rai’s Santiburi, set in rolling foothills, is another great course from Robert Trent Jones Jnr, with several long dogleg holes. Golfers are also spoiled for choice at Hua Hin, where the best courses include Black Mountain, Banyan and Springfield. Black Mountain is perhaps the best golf course in Thailand and has been voted as the 4th best in the Asia-Pacific region. Opened in 2007 by a Swedish entrepreneur, it has been getting good reviews ever since. Measuring over 6,600 metres from the black tees, it provides a stern test for all levels of golfer from each of its five tee boxes. Banyan is the newest Hua Hin golf course, open in October 2008. The 6,600 metre course has spectacular mountain views from most holes. The greens are fast but receptive. The signature 15th hole is a downhill 135m par three with panoramic ocean views to Sing Toh (Tiger) Island in the Gulf of Thailand. Hole 12, a par five monster, is over 550m uphill, making it almost impossible to reach in two shots. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Springfield has been the venue for many major championships, including The Thai Open. Twenty-five minutes from Hua Hin, it is kept in great condition and the 6,300 metre layout has views of The Gulf of Thailand. | |||||
| DETAILS | |||||
| CHIANG MAI | |||||
| THE CHEDI | |||||
| Formerly the British Consulate, The Chedi, on the banks of the Mae Ping River, has only 52 rooms and 32 suites, but behind its modern exterior there’s a great amount of open space. Each of the contemporary rooms and suites gives the feeling that you are in a secluded resort rather than a city hotel. The consulate building has been turned into The Restaurant, which has full Thai, Indian and international cuisine. The Chedi is also well-known for its spa. Located 15km from the airport means the hotspots of Chiang Mai, including the night markets, are only minutes away. Rates: deluxe room from THB6,600 per night (about A$223) | |||||
| gmhotels.com | |||||
| CHIANG MAI HIGHLANDS GOLF AND SPA RESORT | |||||
| The best golf course in Chiang Mai, less than 30 minutes drive from the city, has 19 five-star individual resort rooms, 17 for couples and two larger rooms for four people. The rooms are built around a small lagoon or in the adjacent rainforest area close to the new 12-room health spa, which includes a swimming pool and overlooks the golf course. The indoor-outdoor restaurant, also with course views, offers Thai as well as western food. Rates: double rooms from THB6,500 (about A$219) per night | |||||
| chiangmaihighlands.com | |||||
| HUA HIN | |||||
| LET'S SEA HUA HIN AL FRESCO RESORT | |||||
| Hua Hin with neighbouring Chaam, a coastal resort area three hours drive from capital Bangkok, is home to hotels run by most of the world’s major groups, including Courtyard by Marriott. Let’s Sea, though, is a luxury boutique property of about 40 rooms which all face onto a120-metre long swimming pool. The recently-opened hotel, which has a very modern design, also includes a spa. Its restaurant, one of the best in Hua Hin, was opened eight years ago, and was running six years before the hotel followed. Rates: Studio pier room from THB6,303 (about A$212) per night | |||||
| letussea.com | |||||
| BANYAN GOLF CLUB | |||||
| If you want to stay out on one of the courses around Hua Hin, Banyan, only a short drive from town, offers four very exclusive and comfortable suites with infinity water features. Built and decorated Thai-style, adjacent to the clubhouse, they offer stunning views over the golf course and distant Burmese mountains. Rates: Club Suites from THB4,000 (about A$135) per night excluding golf. | |||||
| banyanthailand.com | |||||
| DETAILS | |||||
| Useful internet sites include: | |||||
| Highlands:chiangmaihighlands.com | |||||
| Alpine: alpinegolfresort.com | |||||
| Black Mountain: bmghuahin.com | |||||
| For Thailand golf tours visit: | |||||
| golfasian.com | |||||
| teed-up.com | |||||
| golfinakingdom.com | |||||
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