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 One
of the world’s leading tourism destinations, Thailand
is a land of secrets and surprises for everyone to discover and
enjoy. Visitors who love challenging, adventurous outdoor activities
will find much to satisfy their desires here; and if Golf
is high on your list, then it is definitely for you, because the
Kingdom is renowned as Asia’s most popular golfing destination.
Golf has been played in Thailand
for almost a century, with games recorded at the Royal Bangkok
Sports Club as early as 1905.
The first recognized 18-hole course, the Royal Hua
Hin, was built by a Scottish engineer in 1924. It became known
as The Railway because
of its proximity to the aristocratic seaside resort’s charming
and historic rail station. There are now nearly 200 Golf
courses scattered throughout the Kingdom, the majority being
in and around the popular tourist destinations, Bangkok,
Pattaya, Hua
Hin, Phuket and Chiang
Mai. Many of them were designed by famous players like Jack
Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Pete Dye, Robert
Trent Jones and many others.
 They
have sophisticated modern layouts, a wide diversity of topographical
challenges with the finest grass. These are some of the most attractive
courses in Asia, with excellent facilities, memorable signature
holes, consistently and painstakingly maintained to keep them in
top-class condition. Spacious, welldesigned clubhouses with airconditioned
changing facilities, restaurants,
bars and rooms for post-tournament
functions ensure that golfers begin and end their game in style
and comfort. Some courses provide massage
and sauna facilities, others have accommodation in landscaped villas
and apartments for really keen golfers. Many have practice areas,
usually with a pro to tune up your game. You can also rent a golf
cart, hire clubs and shoes, and buy souvenir hats and polo shirts
at the pro-shop.
 Most
importantly, each course has its caddies, and it is mandatory to
employ one. These brightly clad ladies in smart uniforms and straw
hats are Thailand’s secret
weapon in making Golf such good fun.
They know lots about the course, smile readily, and can probably
read putts far better than you. Greater Bangkok
has many excellent courses spread throughout its area, mostly within
a 30- to 60-minutes drive. The popular seaside courses of Pattaya
and Hua Hin are two hours’
drive from the city, and the island of Phuket
also has a superb array of layouts with views of the ocean. If you
prefer broad, green spaces, jungle terrain and mountains, the courses
near the northern cities of Chiang
Mai and Chiang Rai, Nakhon
Ratchasima in the Northeast, or Kanchanaburi
and the River Kwai in the West will surpass your expectations. Apart
from Golf, Thailand
also offers a host of many other great and interesting aspects and
activities to discover, to experience
and to enjoy. Special programmes and activities
have also been finetuned to appeal specifically to honeymooners,
families and young travellers, as well as Sports
and special interest holidays such as health and wellbeing packages.
For active visitors, there are lots of water Sports
on offer on the beautiful inland waterways or along the 3,000 kilometres
of coastline.
Thailand’s white beaches
and enchanting islands have something for everyone– superb
diving, snorkelling,
island-hopping, whitewater rafting,
sailing, windsurfing, fishing and
more. Visitors can also take pleasure in Thailand’s
many national parks
found in all regions of the country and enjoy hiking
or trekking on foot, mountain
biking or elephant-back riding, nature-walking, bird- and butterfly-watching
and star-gazing. International car rental firms provide a comprehensive
range of self drive or the fly and drive holiday packages tailored
to those traveling in groups. Many visitors also love to go trekking
and camping in the northern forests, the high plateaus in the Northeast
or the rainforest of southern
Thailand. And these days, more and more travellers are enjoying
the possibilities of touring the country on two wheels. Thailand’s
local culture, traditional arts and the diverse ways of life of
the people are a fascinating discovery, and you can enhance the
experience through personal contact by joining the homestays in
rural huts or on river barges as ecosensitive alternatives to hotels
and guesthouses. Many visitors discover deeper interests on their
travels in Thailand, and they
can pursue them in many different forms, from Buddhist meditation
classes in a forest monastery to lessons in Thai
cooking at a five-star hotel.
For visitors who seek a healthy lifestyle in more luxurious surroundings,
the Kingdom is home to many world-class spas
and modern beauty centres. Thai spas
offer variety and value in a blend of Western leisure concepts and
traditional Asian well-being therapies. With world-class products
and excellent service complemented by the friendly and caring nature
of the Thai people, a visit to any spa
is always a memorable experience. There are day spas for those with
limited time; luxury and relaxing spas in hotels
and resorts for a truly rejuvenating experience, destination
spas for a full revitalisation of body
and mind, and medical spas for holistic and preventative treatments.
Also, the Western world has now discovered the benefits of the age-old
skills of Thai massage, where manipulation
of muscles and limbs, pressure points and stretching yoga positions
provoke an exhilarating feeling of well-being. Visitors can enjoy
relaxing massages on the beach, in
their hotels and at establishments throughout the country. After
the spa, let’s join a fun session learning
to cook popular Thai dishes, and eating them, too, or better
still joining a culinary journey to taste the Kingdom’s distinctive
regional cuisine. Thai food has gained
tremendous popularity due to its high nutritional value and its
harmonious blend of flavours. The use of aromatic herbs and spices
adds to the healthy properties of Thai dishes as well as providing
wonderful taste sensations. Without doubt, Thailand
is a paradise for shoppers, with
Bangkok rapidly becoming the most
popular destination in Asia for buying just about anything from
brand-name fashions and watches to Thai
handicrafts. The range of choices is mind-boggling, and you’re
sure to find some great bargains. Shopping
and browsing is made easy in the numerous air-conditioned malls
and department stores. The famous Weekend
Market at Chatuchak is
a fun place to browse among stalls crammed with clothing, plants,
antiques, furniture, books, decorative items and pets. But if Golf
is uppermost in your mind, there can be no better place to bring
the family for a holiday than Thailand.
Be warned, though: while you’re out on the course they will
have so many things to do and so many interesting places to visit,
you might find yourself giving up some golfing
time to join them.
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