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PARADISE FOR LADY GOLFERS
Among
Thailand's growing
number of travel
accolades, Thailand is
rapidly emerging as a
'Golfing Paradise for
Ladies', not just
because of its wide
range of international
courses and facilities,
but also thanks to all
those other pluses that
ladies enjoy - fabulous
spas, world-class
cuisine, lots of
value-for-money
shopping....
Plus there's little
discrimination here.
Ladies are very welcome.
Clubhouses have changing
facilities for ladies,
spas and beauty salons,
pleasant 19th
hole refreshment areas,
and often a lively
karaoke room. You don't
even have to be a member
to play at most clubs.
It's purely economic
- can you afford to
play? Not that it's too
difficult, with green
fees averaging around
$30, and never exceeding
$100. Invariably ladies
are welcomed with open
arms. "Most courses are
pleased to see our
ladies group," explains
long-time UK resident
Penny Whalley, "probably
because we play very
early mid-week when they
are usually empty."
Things may get even
better. The March
edition of PGA
Magazine focuses
strongly on women
golfers, highlighting
moves by US professional
associations to
encourage more women to
play golf, primarily to
fill up the more than
14,000 golf courses
across the USA.
How does this effect
Thailand? Well, the
marketing gurus plan to
use high media profiles
to create role model
equivalents of Tiger
Woods -- such as Anika
Sorenstam, Michele Wie,
Grace Park and even
young Thai-Korean Aree
Song -- to attract more
ladies into the golfing
world. Add to this
better golf equipment
for ladies, designer
clothing, innovative
teaching methods and you
have a package whose
benefits will
undoubtedly trickle down
to Thailand.
So why is Thailand so
popular for golf? First
and foremost we offer
sunshine golf all year
round in a pleasant
tropical climate. That's
a big attraction for
golfers freezing in
Scandinavia and Canada,
or snow-bound in Korea
and Japan. Little wonder
that charter planes full
of eager golfers are big
business between Seoul
and Bangkok or Chiang
Mai between November and
March.
There are more than
100 international
standard golf courses in
Thailand, lovingly
designed by legendary
names like Robert Trent
Jones Jr, Jack Nicklaus
and Pete Dye, and
concentrated around the
major tourist
destinations of Bangkok,
Phuket, Pattaya, Hua
Hin, Chiang Mai and
Kanchanaburi. Ideal for
holiday golf!
All have luxurious,
air-conditioned
clubhouses with quality
changing facilities and
restaurants, pro shops
to buy souvenir clothing
or rent clubs, golf
carts to make playing
easier and keep out of
the sun, precious drinks
huts every couple of
holes... and phenomenal
caddies.
Caddies are
Thailand's best-kept
golfing secret.
Mandatory, 95% of them
female, they ensure the
smooth running of
Thailand's golf courses.
Lady golfers need never
feel alone while happy,
smiling caddies in their
straw hats and bright
uniforms usher them from
tee to green. Along the
way they measure
distances, help select
clubs, read putts with
uncanny certainty and
keep your score.
However, it is the
little graceful touches
that make them so
beloved. "They smile
when my game is not
good, offer me drinks,
produce a chair when the
game is slow, and keep
me cool with a fan
between shots," says
Mrs. Whalley. All this
for an incredible fee of
about $8!
THE THAILAND AMATEUR
LADIES GOLD ASSOCIATION
(TALGA)
The superb
facilities for lady
golfers can trace their
beginnings back to 1978
when various clubs
bonded together to form
what is now the Thailand
Amateur Ladies Golf
Association (TALGA). Its
prime objective was to
raise the standards of
ladies golf in Thailand
to be able to compete
internationally. In
doing so, they focused
attention on golf
facilities for ladies,
encouraging standards to
be raised at courses as
well.
TALGA's dynamic
President RaeVadee T.
Suwan has just returned
from China, where
Thailand came creditably
third in the 26th
Queen Sirikit Cup,
Asia's international
amateur team
championship for ladies
that was initiated in
Thailand. Always willing
to promote ladies golf
in Thailand, she says
visiting ladies can
check the TALGA website
for information on where
to play or train, or
contact the TALGA office
for assistance.
LEARNING TO PLAY
Where can you learn?
Driving ranges and golf
courses usually have
professionals to teach
beginners (and help
players improve their
game). Prices vary
depending on the
programme , but average
$25 an hour for one on
one or shared with lady
friends. Few offer
special courses for
ladies, although Kim
Inglis, CEO of
Golfthink, offers a
one-day ' Lady on the
Links ' that includes
lunch, a spa treatment
and 9-hole playing
lesson, or his
getting-you-started
20-hour 'Ladies Think
Golf Programme' at a
mere $500.
The easiest place to
start is your local
driving range. Notice
boards usually list
contacts for the
instructors, or the pro
shop will put you in
touch with its head
professional. Ranges can
be huge super complexes
such as All Star and
Sports City, described
as department stores
with driving ranges
given their extensive
facilities, restaurants
and shops, including
opportunities to test
drive new equipment.
Others are much
simpler, like Sukhumvit
Soi 18, traditionally a
bastion of Japanese and
Korean golfers -- ladies
in the daytime, the men
at night. "About 90% of
our customers are
non-Thai," says Mrs
Gaew, the range manager.
"We even have specialist
Japanese and Korean
instructors to
facilitate the learning
process." Website
www.thaigolfer.com
lists and grades the
main driving ranges. Try
one near you!
Best of all is to
learn at a golf school.
Leading the way is
Heartland Golf Schools,
under the direction of
Tony Meechai, a
charismatic US PGA
instructor who even has
his own regular TV
reaching spot. HGS has
schools in 11 locations,
mostly in Bangkok, with
31 professionals
teaching on 21 different
training programmes . To
date they have handled
almost 8,000 students,
80% of whom were
absolute beginners.
"Heartland Golf
Schools are from the
USA, but here we are
using Thai resources and
professionals to make
learning affordable to
everyone," explains Pro
Tony. Prices vary from
programme to programme ,
although lessons average
about $200 for 10
sessions.
For levels of
beginner through
advanced, programmes
include private lessons
(one on one), group
classes, Superstar
courses for juniors and
playing practice on the
golf course. HGS also
works in conjunction
with Royal Springfield
Golf Course to offer two
and three-day
residential courses at
its golf village in Hua
Hin.
While HGS does not
have special programs
for ladies, the school
at All Star offers
morning ladies'
orientation courses.
"More ladies are
learning golf these days
because of the social
atmosphere at many
driving ranges, where
they can learn with
their friends," Pro Tony
adds. HGS also believes
golf should be fun.
Their introductory
courses more resemble
giant aerobic dance
classes than the
traditionally sedate
instruction.
Sometimes it is easy
to learn by yourself,
particularly if you own
the golf course. Suchada
Yuvaboon of the Rose
Garden Country Club was
always too busy to play
golf. When she retired
two years ago, she
astounded her friends by
appearing on the driving
range to take golfing
lessons.
She now plays nine
holes regularly most
mornings. "Asian ladies
don't like to be in the
sun," she explains, "so
I tee-off at 6 am and
can finish 9 holes
before breakfast. But I
play with two balls, so
I have an 18-hole
score!"
ENJOYING A GAME
Ready to play? With more
than 100 delightful golf
courses at your
disposal, choose one and
off you go. Bangkok and
Pattaya have the highest
concentrations of
courses, but there are
18-hole layouts at all
the major travel
destinations, some with
accommodation, all of
varying degrees of
difficulty and price.
Beginners should seek
advice from their pros
about more user-friendly
courses, possibly ones
that are not too busy
where you are less
likely to be intimidated
by urgent male golfers.
For ladies living in
Thailand, golf is more
fun if you join a
regular group. You also
get discounted group
green fees. Best known
is the Bangkok
Cosmopolitan Ladies
Golf, which was founded
in 1969 and plays every
Tuesday morning at
various courses around
Bangkok. It offers
regular, friendly and
competitive golf for
ladies of many
nationalities, but
stresses the social
side.
Most groups are
mixed, with active
ladies sections, such as
the Golfer's Cocktail
Lounge or Bangkok
Wanderers. Some are for
specific nationalities,
such as the Scandinavian
Society Bangkok or the
British Women's Golf
Group. For Mrs Fiyumi
Watanabe, who has been
playing golf in Bangkok
for over 30 years, the
golf section of the
Japanese Association is
popular with Japanese
ladies, although she
also recalls another
small group, aptly named
Tok Nam, made up of
Japanese housewives.
Groups are also
active outside of
Bangkok. The trick is to
find them. Shenanigans
Pub in Pattaya runs the
Shenanigans Very
Friendly Golf Society,
which costs nothing to
join. It has so many
lady members that they
now organise Ladies
International
Tournaments during the
year, with trophies,
cocktail parties and
heaps of fun. Diana
Group Driving Range is
also planning a ladies
tournament. Pattaya
Sports Club provides a
very popular golfing
outlet for residents and
visitors, men and
ladies.
GOLF TOURS
With many golf
destinations, visitors
should decide what they
want from their golfing
vacations. Japanese
ladies prefer Bangkok,
with plenty of excellent
Japanese restaurants and
good shopping;
Scandinavians have
fallen in love with
peaceful Hua Hin;
Koreans are coming via
charters to Chiang Mai
and Pattaya, where
prices are more
competitive; and Britons
enjoy Pattaya for the
seaside and nightlife.
Bookings through the
Internet are growing,
especially with many
golf packages on offer.
Optical retailer Jelaine
Chu and her Singaporean
friends have become
experts in getting good
Internet deals for
Thailand. "We like to
play in Chiang Mai
because it is not
expensive. There's good
food, shopping, nice
weather, lots of service
and massage."
Managing Director
Parichote Sukriket of
World Splendour
Holidays, one of the
major golf tour
organisers, cautions
against using the
Internet as many courses
don't have the facility
to use it properly yet.
"You cannot guarantee
tee-off times through
the Internet, or arrange
the ancillary services."
Instead he recommends
using professional
agents like World
Splendour Holidays, who
provide an all-in
service, including
transfers, tee-off
times, equipment rental,
even golf tuition.
For the moment,
Parichote notes few if
any in-bound ladies golf
groups. Mostly it is
couples and mixed
groups. For his company
Pattaya is the most
popular destination with
19 good courses to
choose from, not too
expensive and plenty to
do after golf. However,
Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi
are beginning to come up
in the popularity
stakes.
Coco Golf has been
organising golf tours
from UK to Thailand for
the past 12 years,
usually mixed groups of
couples from UK golf
clubs on two-week tours.
Favourite destinations
are Pattaya and Chiang
Mai, because there are
plenty of activities ...
and the price is right.
A typical 12-day tour to
Chiang Mai costs around
1,000 pounds, inclusive
of flight,
accommodation,
breakfasts, transfers
and 6 rounds of golf.
"I tell my clients
that it is cheaper to
fly to Thailand and play
golf than a similar
vacation in England or
Europe," says Coco
Golf's Simon Rolstone.
"And it is a lot cheaper
to eat out here as
well!"
LOTS TO DO
The great thing about
golf in Thailand is
there are so many other
exciting indulgences.
Thai cuisine has to be
one of the most
appetising in the world,
while many Western and
Asian cuisines are also
available, frequently to
highly authentic
standards. Exciting
nightlife is now
tailored more towards
couples and single
ladies, with pubs and
clubs, discos and
theatres . And you can
always get a great tan
to annoy your friends.
For Asian ladies who
prefer to be whiter than
white, Thailand is one
of the region's top
cosmetic capitals, with
a wide range of
whitening creams. Or
spoil yourself in a Thai
spa, where body and
beauty treatments
combine in
over-indulgent
pampering.
Bangkok is also the
shopping centre of Asia,
with everything from
designer clothes to
fabulous local
handicrafts, all at
inexpensive prices. For
the ardent golfer,
department stores like
Central and the Emporium
or popular Thaniya Plaza
have extensive golf
selections of top brand
equipment from Ping and
Callaway to Honma and
Mizuno, or fashionable
designer golf outfits
from Nike and Bally.
Better book your
flights now, ladies.
Golf Thailand is waiting
to serve you.
Contact information:
Web sites:
www.thaigolfer.com
www.siamgolfbiz.com
Developed by golfers for
golfers. Offers
information on golfing
in the kingdom.
www.GolfOrient.com
for golf tours to
Thailand, information on
golf courses, golf club
membership purchases,
golf tournament, golf
news and golf links.
e-mail :
GolfAgent@golforient.com
GolfAgent offers golf
clubs and golfers
unlimited,
round-the-clock Internet
access. Golf Internet
users are able to book
tee times at a selection
of golf courses in
Thailand.
Tel:/Fax: (66 2)
616-8417
Web site:
www.babadoogolf.com
A multilingual web site
providing information on
golf courses
and accommodation in
Thailand. Also takes
online reservations.
USEFUL REFERENCES
GOLF BOOKS
Thailand Golfer's
Guide
by Michael Gedye
Renowned golf writer
Michael Gedye has now
settled in Thailand and
has produced this
excellent description of
the country's great golf
courses.
Complete Guide to
Golf in Thailand
Published by Thailand
Tatler
Directory and
descriptions of major
golf courses in
Thailand.
DRIVING RANGES
All Star Golf Complex
518/5 Ramkhamhaeng 39
Rd., near Laos Embassy,
Bangkok 10310
Tel: 0 2934 8000
Sports City
20/262-4 Moo 9
Prachachuen Rd,
Nonthaburi 11120
Tel: 0 2575 0078/85
Web site:
www.sportscity2002.com
Sukhumvit Soi 18
108 Soi 18 Sukhumvit
Rd., Bangkok 10110
Tel: 0 2258 0985
GOLF TUITIION
Web site:
www.heartlandgolf.com
Heartland Golf Schools,
both Thai and English
version, with
descriptions of
programmes and contacts
of all 11 schools.
www.golfthink.com
Golf Think has tuition
for ladies and men,
provides comprehensive
information on Golf in
Thailand and arranges
Golfthink Vacations.
GOLF GROUPS
Web site:
www.tga.or.th/thailadiesgolf/
Official website of the
Thailand Amateur Ladies
Golf Association (TALGA)
www.shenanigans-pattaya.com/golf.htm
Shenanigan's Very
Friendly Golf Society,
Pattaya, with ladies
section.
www.pattayasports.org
Pattaya Sports Club.
Click onto golf section
for further info.
www.geocities.com/bwgc_2000/
Bangkok Wanderers Golf
Club
www.sss.or.th/golfladies.htm
Scandinavian Society
Siam. Ladies golf
section.
www.jat.or.th
Japanese Association of
Thailand. Has golf club.
http://pwc.thaigolfer.com
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Bangkok Golf League
www.bourbonstbkk.com/golfing.html
Bourbon Street
restaurant arranges
contacts with Golfer's
Cocktail Lounge, Bangkok
Wanderers, American
Embassy Golf Association
and many other Bangkok
clubs. It's a meeting
place for golfers.
GOLF VACATIONS
Web site:
www.cocogolf.co.uk/
Coco Golf organises
weekly tours from UK to
Thailand
www.worldsplendour.co.th/
World Splendour Holidays
one of Thailand's
leading golf tour
specialists for groups
and individuals. It is
also the authorised
agent for golf tours to
Spring City in Kuming,
China.
www.phuket-golf.com
Information on Phuket
golf courses and golf
packages
www.golforient.com
Based in Phuket, Golf
Orient specialises in
arranging tailored
vacations in all golfing
centres in Thailand
www.thailandgolf.hostway.net/
Thailand Tee Off Service
offers golf vacations in
key destinations through
agents in those
destinations
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