Amazing Thailand Golf Holidays
Stuart and Gary visited Thailand for the first time recently to better understand the resorts, hotels and golf courses in Bangkok and the surrounding resorts of Hua Hin and Pattaya area. It is safe to say that they had an amazing time and we wanted to share their trip with you along with some general hints and tips...
Thailand has long been a country that GolfKings have wanted to develop golf holiday packages in. Working in conjunction with our local agents and the tourist authorities, we enjoyed a whirlwind 6-day itinerary that encompassed viewing and staying in hotels within Hua Hin, Bangkok and Pattaya alongside viewing and playing some incredible golf courses along the way. Bolted on was a greater cultural understanding of the country as well as ticking off some of the must-see sights in Bangkok.
We arrived at Bangkok Airport and immediately transferred to Hua Hin to begin our trip. The transfer time is just under 3 hours. We purposely structured the trip in this way because of our schedule but for a golf trip, our recommendation is to spend your first 3 nights in Bangkok. Here you can rest, recover and discover all the sights and sounds of Bangkok before transferring to Hua Hin fresh and ready to enjoy your stay.
Hua Hin
What surprised us most was how far Hua Hin stretches along the coast! The beach stretches over 4.5km and point to point, it can take around 20-25 minutes via taxi. Understandably with its size, there is no shortage of incredible places to stay, play and visit within the Hua Hin region.
Hua Hin is a lower-key resort, it has an abundance of restaurants, bars and café’s all offering a great selection of Thai and international cuisines. If seeking a livelier night scene, you can also find this in Hua Hin with a pedestrianised zone with wall-to-wall bars to choose from. However, in more general terms, Hua Hin is a couples resort with plenty of places to visit and a couple of night markets, with the Tamarind market being a highlight.
Dotted along the coastline are a selection of resorts to suit every taste and budget. You can check out our recommendations HERE.
Hua Hin really comes into its own when it comes to golf. Most of the courses are accessible within a 30 minute transfer from your hotel. We provide you with private transfers to and from the courses. The driver will even help you check in at the golf courses and ensure everything runs smoothly.
The best golf courses are without a doubt Pineapple Valley (formerly known as Banyan) and the 27 holes at Black Mountain. These are simply must-play courses.
However, they are ably supported by other very good courses including Springfield Royal, Majestic Creek, Palm Hills and Lake View which offer a better price point and a very enjoyable golf holiday experience.
Sea Pines Golf Club and Royal Hua Hin are two very unique golf courses. Sea Pines is the only course in Hua Hin that has holes that run beside the sea and from this perspective, it offers something different. Royal Hua Hin was the very first golf course in the area and if playing here, it is all about the golfing history and heritage of golfing in Hua Hin. Both are recommended if seeking something a bit different from the more modern championship designs.
Bangkok
The sprawling metropolis of Bangkok is home to approximately 14 million people. Don’t be daunted by this however because the must-see and touristic zones are very easily accessible and you can tick off all the major sights in a couple of fun-filled days.
The major zones in our opinion are Silom and Sukhumvit. Both are buzzing with life. Full of restaurants, bars and shopping. Perfect for people-watching.
Bangkok is very clean and safe as a city, and it has a fantastic atmosphere throughout. There is a great train network called the BTS (Bangkok Transit System) and using this, you can access all parts of the city with ease.
The famous riverside of Chao Phraya is also a site to behold with all of the water taxis and commercial boats using the river. It is well worth jumping in a water taxi to take in the wonderful cityscape from the river!
We recommend taking one of our local tours to encompass Chinatown, particularly in the evening. Chinatown is an overload on the senses, it must be sampled and one of our local tours can give you the best experience with recommendations on where to eat and where to visit without the need to worry about reservations or transport!
Be sure to see the Grand Palace and visit one of the many stunning temples too during your stay. Lumphini Park is the largest public park in Bangkok and it is well worth a walk round too.
One of the best-kept secrets in Bangkok are the surrounding golf courses. There are some must-play golf courses that will really elevate your trip. If staying 3 nights, we recommend 1 day of golf because the courses are THAT good. Our recommended courses are Alpine Golf Club, Thai Country Club, Nikanti, Windmill and RG City Golf Club. They all offer a different test and enjoy a polished members club feel with the courses in impeccable condition.
One of our top tips about golf in Bangkok is to make a morning and afternoon of the golf game. Traffic can be busy so we recommend departing Bangkok pre-rush hour, enjoy a relaxed breakfast and practice before your round and then a nice lunch in the clubhouse before heading back into the city to beat the evening rush hour traffic.
Pattaya and surrounding area
An easy 90-minutes transfer from Bangkok, it is easy to see why Pattaya is so popular. The resort is located directly by the beach and has a plethora of restaurants, bars and its renowned nightlife scene and famed “Walking Street”.
However, our programme doesn’t include any hotels in the centre of Pattaya, we feel that it is a resort to dip in and out of as you wish but that it is best to stay in a nearby standalone hotel resort for the best possible experience meaning that you are close to the very best golf courses.
Pattaya is awash with amazing golf courses. Our favourites included all of the Siam Country Club courses and Laom Chabang which are must play in our view. Combine these with staying at the stunning 5-star Andaz Resort Pattaya on Jomtien Beach.
It is entirely possible to experience all 3 areas of Hua Hin, Bangkok and Pattaya within your itinerary but you do need to be prepared for some driving time. It is 2 hours 45 minutes between Hua Hin and Bangkok and then a further 90 minutes onwards between Bangkok and the Pattaya area.
Handy Tips for golfing in Thailand
Caddies are compulsory. All of the caddies are woman, and you are assigned 1 caddie per player. They do a fantastic job and add a lot to your experience of golfing in Thailand. The caddie will drive your buggy, ensure your clubs are clean, help you with local course knowledge and give you those all-important reads on the greens. However, if you would prefer not to have this, they will also just happily ensure that your round is as enjoyable as possible. Many of the caddies play golf themselves and have a great understanding of the game which makes for a great fun round of golf. Recommended tips for a caddie is 400-500 Baht which is around £10.
Buggies in some courses are not compulsory. In our view, they are essential given the heat. You won’t regret it.
There are no “buggy bars” on the golf courses but instead, they have snack and drink pavilions every 3-4 holes so you can buy what you need.
Many of the clubs have great showering and changing facilities. We recommend taking a change of clothes and freshening up after your game before heading to the bar for a well-earned drink and post round de-brief on the clubhouse terrace.
Can you stay half board or all-inclusive in the hotels?
The general board basis is bed and breakfast throughout Thailand. This is because the local cuisine is varied and plentiful, not to mention amazing value for money too!
You can walk out from most of the hotels in Hua Hin and Bangkok to a multitude of restaurants, bars and markets. If staying in the Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach, there are amazing onsite a la carte restaurants or you can take a transfer into Pattaya itself for around 400-500 Baht.
The cost of eating and drinking in Thailand is generally speaking very cheap in comparison to Europe and the USA. We highly recommend sampling the local cuisine and immersing yourself in some memorable restaurants.
What flights are there to Bangkok?
Undeniably flying directly into Bangkok is the best option. Out of London there are three options as we write this including British Airways, Thai Airways and Eva Air. Or you can choose to connect in the European hubs including Amsterdam and Paris or use Emirates via Dubai – there are plenty of easy ways to make it to Thailand.
Thailand is a wonderful golf holiday destination. Very unique and we recommend booking a twin centre to include a Bangkok city stay along with squeezing in a round on one of the amazing courses surrounding Bangkok.
Everything we offer in Thailand is entirely tailormade and customisable – speak to us today and we can put together your dream Thailand golf trip!
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