11 reasons why Thailand is a great place to visit and play golf
- Value for money
For any visiting tourist, Thailand provides great value for money. From the wide choice of hotel accommodation and golf, to shopping in the local markets or world-class department stores and shopping malls, to the wide array of eating choices and nightlife, for the quality provided, Thailand offers tremendous value for money.
- Weather
In the cool season from November to February, Thailand has fantastic climate. Light breezes, constant sunshine, great conditions for a golfing holiday. Even in the summer months when it gets a bit warmer, golfing conditions are still acceptable.
- Golf Courses
With many courses being developed by leading professionals such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman, Thailand offers a great game of golf. In addition, a number of courses have been designed by famous course architects such as Pete Dye and Robert Trent Jones together with leading Japanese architects. There are over 200 courses located throughout the country, with a number of new high quality courses opening every year, ensuring a huge choice for the visiting golfer.
- Destination Diversity
Thailand is a beautiful country and offers a number of totally different destinations to play golf. From the bustling capital of Bangkok to the beautiful mountainous countryside of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai; from the stunning beaches in Phuket and Koh Samui to the bright lights and amazing nightlife of Pattaya; from the quieter seaside town of Hua Hin to the waterfalls and stunning scenery of Khao Yai; Thailand has a location for everyone.
- Infrastructure
The tourism industry is fully supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Moreover, support for golfing in Thailand is one of the top priorities of the TAT. What this means is that there is excellent information, infrastructure, and regulation, all of which assures the travelling golfer of a high quality holiday.
- Caddies
An integral part of playing golf in Thailand, caddies provide exceptional value-added service. Greeting you upon arrival at the clubhouse, they will take care of arrangements before you tee off. Guiding you around the course with a constant smile on their face. They will give you distances to the green, mark balls and give you the lines of your putts, and as an added plus, help keep you cool and refreshed.
- Accommodation
No matter where you are in Thailand, you’ll find accommodation to meet your budget. From impressive five-star hotel and resort properties to small Thai style bungalows, Thailand is truly set up to cater to the tourist market.
- The Thai people
The Thai people are known to be some of the friendliest in the world. Always with a smile on their face — it’s called the ‘land of smiles’ for a good reason. Thais are very welcoming towards all visitors.
- The Food
From local Thai dishes to cosmopolitan cuisine, it is truly amazing. There is a huge variety in choice with the local cuisine, and a wide selection of international restaurants for those who prefer a bit of something closer to home.
- Culture and Customs
Thailand is a unique country with its own identity unrivalled in any other part of Asia. As a predominantly Buddhist country, it is steeped in amazing culture that you will unlikely find anywhere.
- The Choices Outside Golf
There is so much to do outside golf you will be spoilt for choice. From visiting the amazing temples and shrines, to the local night markets and street stalls selling everything imaginable, Thailand is truly a tourist magnet. Stunning beaches, beautiful waterfalls and mountains, international style shopping malls, world-class spas, boat trips to idyllic islands, elephant trekking, and the list is endless.
CLIMATE
There are two important aspects to take into account: the first being the weather, and the second being the difference between the ‘high’ season and the ‘low’ season. This determines how busy the golf courses are.
Thailand has a tropical climate featuring three distinct seasons. In most areas,
the hot season extends from March to May; the green season from June to October and the cool season from November to February.
It is mild and very sunny during the cool season with humidity being considerably lower than other times of the year. Average temperatures during this time of the year range between 35.5° Centigrade (96° Fahrenheit) to 16° Centigrade (62° Fahrenheit) with clear skies and light breezes. This provides great golfing conditions. The cool season is the peak tourist season and accommodation and the golf courses can be extremely busy, especially in the more populated areas.
During the hot season, which begins in March, day-time temperatures can reach 40° Centigrade (104°Fahrenheit). However the increase in temperature is quite gradual so conditions remain quite pleasant. At the peak of the season, hot, dry weather prevails throughout Thailand.
The best time to play golf during should be early in then morning, or after lunchtime, hence avoiding the hottest part of the day.
The country is subject to two tropical monsoons, namely the hotter southwesterly monsoon from May to September and the cooler northeasterly monsoon from late October to early March. Temperature and climate vary accordingly. Mean annual temperatures are between 25° - 28° Centigrade (77° - 82° Fahrenheit).
Most rain falls during the green season from May or June to about October when the southwest monsoon prevails. While intermittent showers or thunderstorms occur at various times of the day, it is perhaps the driest monsoon period of any country in Southeast Asia with plenty of sunshine. Thailand's eastern seaboard is affected by the cooling northeastly monsoon.
September is by far the worst month and is certainly not recommended for golf. Throughout the rest of the rainy season, both the amount and timing of any rain is unpredictable. There are periods without any rain, and even when it does rain, showers tend to be intermittent. There is less sunshine during this period, and temperatures are quite warm.
Text Copyright Mark Siegel, Golfasian Co., Ltd.
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