Fore Man

Hi all,

I am somewhat of a golfing novice, and i am looking to purchase a golf mat to practice at home, i was wondering if anyone could recommend any good ones.

Thanks in advance for your help

Go to the best retail golf shop in your city and ask to buy the same hitting mat that is typically used at driving ranges. They are about 4 feet square and made of very durable nylon with a thick rubber base. There are tee holes placed along each side, so you can rotate the mat and use a new part of it as it gets used. I paid about THB 10K for mine in Chiang Mai and it has worn like iron. Oh--and keep it under cover and out of the sun.

Any golfer looking to make improvements in his or her swing, or perhaps a beginner looking for a teacher will benefit from visiting the San Sai Driving Range. The range is located on the Mae Jo Road (Hwy 1001) on the left side as one heads north from the Superhighway. There are several small businesses operating at the range but in IMHO none better than Genius Golf Academy, headed by a Thai PGA pro named Jeerakit Teeraputtikulchai (Khun Gai). Khun Gai is the most patient teaching pro I have ever worked with and will work with you until you are both completely satisfied that you have made the changes or improvements sought...without trying to gouge you for more money than the initially agreed price. I have discovered that golf teachers around here--especially the farang ones--are a bit like some dentists back in the States...always looking to extract more of your hard-earned money for additional services whether or not they are really needed...or drawing out lessons and expecting another cash injection before moving on. Khun Gai and his academy are morally head and shoulders above their peers in this regard. He negotiates one reasonable price at the start with his students and after that there is no regard for how many actual lessons are needed to do the job. He is a completely patient instructor and works with you until you master his teachings no matter how long that may take. He works well with all ages, sexes and skill levels--from children, women, brand new golfers, seasoned duffers looking to move their game to a new level, and older players with their typical limitations...and then tailors the instruction to match. The academy also has several excellent golf training aids that most local pros lack and these have proven to be valuable in accentuating and reinforcing important swing thoughts that must be mastered. The man has rebuilt my ugly swing into something that I am now able to confidently take to the course with a strong expectation of playing well. I only wish that I had started with them a lot sooner than I did.

If any TV reader is interested in learning more about the academy, its pricing structure or other details, please send me an email and I will be glad to discuss such topics with you. I have no financial interest in this firm and am simply offering my recommendations to any TV readers who are seeking a good teacher in the CM area.

FYI information and reference, Genius Golf Academy has a bilingual website at: http://www.golfcm.com/en/index.html

Good luck with your game!

Like an earlier poster, I live in Chiang Mai too, and although I have only experienced road rage once (him, not me), it scared me into a revised way of thinking and driving.

I was motoring along on the airport freeway, a divided four lane highway with limited access. My speed was around 90 kph and I was in the inside lane...there was traffic immediately ahead and also next to me in the adjacent lane. A chap in a beat-up rice rocket tried to force his way around me, but there was no room to do so; whereupon he decided to tailgate me...and I mean the distance involved could be measured in a handful of centimeters. I gradually slowed down, signalled to turn left, found an opening inthe outside lane, and exited off the freeway to go to my destination, which was the Airport Central Plaza shopping mall.

This taligater then dangerously cut across from his inside lane to follow me. When we were stopped, waiting for a red light at a main intersection, this man got out his car, which was by then a few vehicles behind me, stalked up to my driver's side door, and started shouting at me. I have heavily tinted windows and I don't think he could see my farang face. When I declined to lower the window, he slammed both open palms into my window glass as hard as he could and stalked off to his car. I am a military combat veteran of three overseas conflicts and this indeed shook me up. Thank the Lord this testosterone-fired idiot didn't have a gun...or equally so, that I didn't either, as I might have used it. My genteel retirement in Thailand might have been prematurely ended had either of us been armed.

My wife (who was not with me at the time) told me later that there are definitely young hotheads out there who become totally enraged if you impede their progress or inconvenience them on the roads. She explained that driving in Thailand is a system of merging and cooperating, and not governed by the black and white right-of-way rules of the road in the West. She also said that Thailand operates on a ME FIRST asumption in the minds of most drivers...especially men of all ages, who simply will do any trick, regardless of how stupid or life-threatening it may be, to get ahead of you.

Subsequent to that incident, I became a lot less arrogant and quit asuming that "I have the right to this lane and my position in it" and began letting overtaking vehicles get around me. I do this as soon as it is safe to do so.

Better be safe and not bound up in the Thai legal system if you are involved in a road incident that was sparked by rage. Better yet? It's a whole lot better to keep your car dent-free and to be healthy and alive when you return home after your excursion!

I was also under the impression that during the low season, particularly this low season, prices had tumbled....but was sadly mistaken. I attempted to book a tee time at Northern ______ Golf Resort in Chiang Mai Province a few weeks ago. Five area golf courses have agreed to charge a low season rate of THB 800 plus caddy fee (which varies from course to course, but never more than THB 250). Northern ______ was one of the courses advertising the special rate. When my Thai wife called, she was told that '"the THB 800 greens fee is not correct, and if your farang husband wants to play here, the lowest price will be THB 1,050 plus caddy fee". This immediate unwillingness to offer the rate that is being advertised around the province at participating courses surprised me. With the plummeting level of tourism coupled with the already dismal Thai economy, one would have to assume that any golf course--particularly one located far outside of town--would not brazenly turn away business. Yes, it's only THB 250 difference involved in this example, but what I believe we experienced was a case of an employee who was not well-briefed on rates in effect and who was not willing to stick her cute little nose out to save me that THB 250. When we asked to speak to a manager, there was none handy to talk to us. It will be a cold day in Hades before I attempt to play there again.

I don't think that Thai tourists are staying in boutique hotels in Europe for 800 or 1,900 baht per night.

No, but they don't get charged double because of the colour of their skin in Europe . Foreman's experience is another reason why the Thai tourist industry is biting the hand that feeds. It really is quite nonsensical.

Thai tourists are generally charged at least 5 times more in Europe than farang in Thailand. Let's not even get started on the double standards in wages.

What are you going on about!!!

I know a lot more Thais in Thailand with money, than I know Farangs with money.

Dont kid yourself that all Thais are poor. The rich here are very, very rich

And double standard charging, as you put it, based on whether or not you are Thai, is simply wrong and offputting.

You took the words right out of my mouth, JacknDanny; as another argumentative poster hinted at, why should I mind paying double tariff if I have the funds to do so? No, it is not an ego trip on my part (as was also hinted) and yes, the point being that Thailand needs to treat its foreign guests with more respect, regardless of the size of their wallets and bank accounts. I travel all over the world in my business and the only place that I am scammed because of a lack of local nationality is in the LOS...it may happen elsewhere, but dual-pricing structures are not published nor evident). It was embarrassing when a family of foreigners came to stay with us a few months ago...we took them up to Doi Suthep and my wife paid everyone's lift tickets to use the tram. As we were stepping aboard the car, the ticket booth operator came running over, demanding in a hostile manner that we had to fork over additional money for the Farangs. Yes, the fare difference was not inordinate, but what kind of sad impression did that register on our visitors? They later reported similar rudeness when they visited Phuket, and I doubt they will spend their hard-earned money to visit Thailand again. Many posters here miss the point entirely and absurdishly. We are not bashing the Thai people but are discussing why tourism numbers are plummeting. All I ask is that TV members keep an open mind nd focus on the relevant topic.

I don't think that Thai tourists are staying in boutique hotels in Europe for 800 or 1,900 baht per night.

You may have missed the point of my post, friend. This is about tourism to Thailand and why it is dropping.

I can add a fresh perspective on the rampant anti-tourism movement that seems to be infecting Thailand and its people. Today my Thai wife attempted to book 3 hotel rooms at a modest, 'boutique' style hotel in Chiang Rai for two nights--six room-nights all told--so my golfing buddies can try out the area courses next month. We have used this same hotel three times in the past three years and we were always able to negotiate a fair rate, even if it was slightly higher than the standard Thai price. Today, my wife was blatantly told that since a Farang was included in each hotel room, the price would rise from 800 baht to 1,900 baht. Even after we explained that all 3 men are long-term residents and have Thai driver's licenses as well to prove their status. It was as if talking to a brick wall. They wouldn't budge and I listened carefully to my wife--she was patient and polite.

So it is not just the BiB and the government that are hurting Thai tourism. The PM ought to seriously consider pleading to all Thai tourism operators that the old double standard for pricing has gone far enough and is definitely affecting tourist attitudes. Nobody appreciates racism and unfair practices...causing foreign tourists to vote with their feet. I doubt that we treat Thai tourists the same in Europe, Austral-Asia and North America. Even if this hotel suddenly caved-in on its pricing policies, I would shun them like the plaque....enough is enough. I'll pay gladly more money to stay a better quality hotel that does not insist on separate pricing depending on one's citizenship. And indeed we found a few hotels in Chiang Rai that meet this category. PM me and I will reveal the name of the miserable hotel to you in private.

hi.

i am thinking about living in pattaya for a year , playing golf everyday (M-F) and trying to get my handicap down into the mid to high teens.

i live in bangkok now and never pay over 1,000 for green fees and caddy (and sometimes, on sport day, less).

problem is green fees seem higher in pattaya .

then again, other things may be less .

what courses in pattaya would you recommend and do you know if annual/lifetime memberships are available.

thx

i appreciate it

jack

I lived in Pattaya and even bought land at a local course (and sold it later). I found Pattaya courses too expensive (those worth playing), all way oversubscribed, and too hot most of the year (51 weeks out of 52). There were too many greedy locals, too many transients (the source of much petty larceny and other crimes), too many drunken hooligans about, prices too high for everything, and too much traffic. So...we moved to Chiang Mai and never looked back. I live on a golf course up here and play all the area courses, the most expensive of which is THB 1,600 in the peak of the high season; in the low season, we play almost anywhere for THB 800 plus caddy fee. Some smaller/shorter courses charge even less (Hang Dong and San Sai). We have a few courses that sell lifetime or annual through 5-year memberships. This can bring the green fees down in the THB 400 area and pay for the membership costs over time in savings. Give Chiang Mai some consideration. The weather is tons better, the people are a lot friendlier, there is a lot less crime up here and prices are reasonable. Some of the better golf courses are simply beautiful, beckoning you to play the well and bring your handicap down. Mine came down from 42 (really) to 14 in two+ years. And we don't have the congestion that Pattaya has...except in the downtown area and around the university. One of the best kept golfing secrets in Thailand is located 2 hours away up in Chiang Rai too. Your sanity, health and pocketbook will all be better off up in the Lanna Kingdom...and so will your golf.

"The story over here goes along the lines that BG placed the towel in her hand bag as a prank".

I truly wonder if this was an innocent bar prank or perhaps a well-planned and fully coordinated ripoff operation with selected off-duty policemen. It's happened elsewhere, and certainly is not out of the question. What was the behavior and demeanor of the Australian customers leading up to the incident? Loud, profane and surly or simply enjoying an evening on the town? Could be that the bar management had nothing to do with this but now its blown all out of proportion.

Some quotes snipped for brevity purposes by poster

His property, his bar, only the owner can press charges as it's his property.

How did the police know it was stolen? she might have payed $60 for one earlier in the evening, that is what Steve sells them for remember..

Someone reported it, that's for sure.

It stinks, he could go down to the police that he pays anyway and said she purchased it, easy and cleared up.

He chose to drag her through the legal system, way to go Steve.

If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

It seems to me that Steve Woods is certainly aware of this and may well have attempted to clear up the mess with the BiB; after all he knows this kind of publicity is bad for his business and for tourism in general. Perhaps he did go to the police to try to clear the lady and they rebuffed him...with something uttered like "stay out of this Farang bar owner". But if Steve did this, he isn't about to allow his name to get plastered all over the media or he knows his days as a businessman in Phuket or anywhere else in Thailand will be numbered. I think it is unfair to accuse Mr. Woods without full possession of the facts in the case and what may have transpired behind the scenes. In the end, the lady will be sent home with a fine and a foul odor in her mouth of Thailand and its people, and perhaps newfound understanding that an Aussie bar in Phuket isn't exactly what it seems. Shame on that.

The moral of this story: travel to a country rife with corruption and nefarious characters that staff its national police and you'd best watch every little innocent-looking thing that you do while a 'guest' here. This includes how you respond to police and other authorities while in their custody. As we all are painfully aware, Thailand is not such a friendly country to tourists with its rampant overcharging, racist practices and incidents such as this one. And as a race they cannot handle loss of face in any small way, no matter how poorly it reflects on their beloved Kingdom. I enjoy living here, but have learned that there are irrefutable rules that must be followed. Caveat Emptor all.

I can certify that today BKK Bank assessed the THB 150 fee...someone said on an earlier post that this bank had ceased the surcharge. NOT TRUE.

For several years already I have been using the ice>Link from Dension in my car in Switzerland and am happy with it. The steering wheel controls for the radio/Cd player are used in the same way as if the iPod were a multi-CD player. This is the Dension site:

www.dension.com/index.php?pageID=42

--

Maestro

Thanks, Maestro. I looked up that website and it appears that they have discontinued all Ice/Link products for the Ipod. Too bad as I am sure it was a product of good quality and dependability.

All TV readers: I answered my own question. There is a product called Xcarlink made in Shenzen and distributed by a Thai working out of Bangkok named Khun Piak. He responded to my initial email and explained that the Xcarlink works with all Fortuner models except the Navigation-equipped radio.

Here is a link to their Thai website. Sorry, no English translations available.

http://web.mac.com/itualek/iTuaLek_%3A_Xca...stallation.html

I agree that คับข้องใจ would be the best term to display a typical Farng's frustration....as opposed to anger or showing your temper...that is the distinction that is important to a Thai. They will readily appreciate the term คับข้องใจ and perhaps you won't be type classified as a hot head.

I've been searching for a non-FM transmitter solution to connect my IPOD to my new Fortuner. I know there are excellent cable solutions available in other countries (RP, South Africa) that allow one to do this easily, while still maintaining control of the IPOD using the steering wheel controls and charging it as well. These adapters allow the user to manipulate the IPOD using the radio controls too, which means you never have to fumble around with the IPOD while driving. The adapter device provides a plug-in connector that is inserted into the rear of the radio unit and does not interfere with the CD player operation (as some solutions do). The IPOD end of the cable is fed back through the fascia or an unused switch plate and connected to the IPOD's standard power port. From there, one has to decide where to stow or mount the IPOD when in use and when not in use.

I began my search in TV and didn't find any detail there....does anyone know of such a solution that is available in Thailand? Better yet, in Chiang Mai?

Have read all your comments so far and if I havent replied directly, then thanks for your comments. We've taken them all onboard and will look at addressing them in the next week or so.

I do want to mention, many of the courses offering big discounts are the lower end courses. Our focus on the site is to attract people wanting to play the better golf courses that are usually members only, such as Thai Country Club, Alpine and Blue Canyon. As you can imagine, it's quite a hard job trying to keep up with the golf courses latest rates, especially during low season such as now. However, hopefully the site will become much more useful to more expat golfers during high season, and as mentioned, those that are wanting to play the better courses.

Keep your comments good and bad coming - most appreciated.

Great golfing!

From this aspect you are doing us a great service...as I have often wanted to try a few upmarket courses as these are all well away from my locality. I came across a a bit harsh in my original post and certainly didn't mean to be. I think you can find a good niche in this oversubscribed market if you can keep up with your course research and consistently bring good deals on those high-end courses we all would like to play.

That particular ring road is also called Highway 108.

NIce website; it's well done and chock full of excellent graphics and course information.

My only real substantive comment is that your site reflects 'walk-in' rates that are not accurate...they are higher than their actual costs. For example, I play regularly at Royal Chiang Mai and their current walk-in rate for weekdays is THB 1,000. I know...I just played there and paid THB 1,000 including the caddy fee (but not her tip). I am not a member and have no special pricing deals...I simply asked the gal in the pro shop how much a round of golf would cost me and she told me THB 1,000. Last year, RCM offered booklets of 10 coupons for greens fees during the off-season, priced at THB 10,000; this year they will simply sell each game at THB 1,000 through 31 Oct. Your site pegs that 'walk-in" rate as THB 1,400 and then you offer to save golfers money by charging them THB 1,300 as a reduced rate. Your displayed walk-in rate is 40 percent higher than it really is, but naturally you are free to charge what ever your market will bear for your site's services. It seems a bit like false advertising though to portray the course pricing in such a way to make your potential clients pay THB 300 more than necessary.

This makes me wary of your site's pricing for all other golf courses in Thailand as well...could I get a better deal by doing my own booking? I suspect so. Please bear in mind that you are offering service for expats who already live here (by and large) who are quite able to do their own price comparisons and in many cases have articulate Thai wives to do this for them.

The low season brings with it some tremendous deals in golf and you are doing a disservice to expats by failing to show the true costs this time of year.

Better do some serious updating or you will lose credibility fast and be quickly be dismissed as an on-line scalper.

Anyone know how to combine all the pictures in this thread into one entry or an album? There is an interesting assortment from the humble to the extravagant. Might make a nice album for reference.

you can most certianly count me out for that task seeing as i cant even figure out how to rotate a pic

Pretty easy, but I don't think you can create an album directly from this TV site. For each photo you wish to save, open (i.e., expand) the photo first by clicking on it, then right-click on the expanded picture and select 'Save As'...you can then give a name to the photo and later import them into PowerPoint or any other photo album software. Creating a PowerPoint album would be a snap and wouldn't take all that long; you could even copy and paste each expanded photo directly into PowerPoint...creating New Slides as you move along.

ok so im off then 24,000 feet sorry im wrong, bring on the insults.... i deserve it.... dont know why i thought 24000/3 = 8000 sqm

well here are some pics i just took of the model the origional pics were just a sliver of the house

No need for insults from anybody...it's a simple math error. For future reference you can divide square footage by 10.76 to derive square meters. In your case, that equates to 2,230 sq. meters...one heck of a big home. Absolutely stunning. You must be the single largest employer in your area to care for the place! Congratulations!

Our recently completed home in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai. 1,100-sq.m., 4-ensuite BR, 7-baths, fitness center, library/music room, office, indoor golf driving range & putting green, TV/Karaoke room, dining room, Euro & Thai kitchens, separate maid & gardener/driver's quarters, two storage rooms, pool, sala...lying on a 477-TR lot overlooking a lake. More than we needed but it's a comfortable place to live in.

I have Microsoft XP professional .Trying to open XLS files & can't.Help please.

You need Excel to open .xls files

Regards golf memberships: check out Summit Green Valley located 10-km north of town off of Hwy 107 in Mae Rim municipality--they have different types available. A popular one is good for 5 years and runs around THB 50K...you still have to pay green fees but they are greatly discounted. GVCC is a U.S. country club style course laid out in a broad valley but littered with water hazards. Even so, it is very playable as the fairways are wide and generally without heavy rough except on certain holes where OB balls will certainly be lost.

Mae Jo Golf Course, located behind Mae Jo University, offers annual memberships which also grant you discounted green fees (pay THB 5,000 annually and get about THB 600 discount off every game). This is a gorgeous 18-hole layout that winds its way through fruit orchards and rolling hills. It's much more of a challenge than other local courses due to its narrow, twisting fairways and highly contoured greens.

The best course of all of them IMHO is CM Highlands located 45-minutes east of the city well past San Kamphaeng municipality. I don't have their pricing structure but it is considerably more expensive; in the end you get what you pay for though as CMH is really a superb and scenic course situated in up the Mae On hills.

On the way to CMH (above) is Alpine's newly-acquired and renovated 18-hole course, which originally was known as Chiang Mai-Lamphun Golf Course. I have not played the renovated course, but have heard from others that they did a good job; it is also quite pricey too now. The course is laid out generally in a rolling, wooded valley area containing mostly mature (tall) hardwood trees and several water hazards. I am quite sure that they sell memberships as well.

There is a nicely laid-out and decently maintained 9-hole course adjacent to the airport that is operated by the RTAF called Stardome. There is an excellent driving range there as well. They also offer memberships but the course tends to get oversubscribed during peak months. This is true of any CM area golf course--lately we have been overrun with Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese tourists...arriving by the planeloads and delivered to the local courses by the busload. Unlike the USA or perhaps in Europe, your local membership will not get you a prime tee time slot, as the higher-paying tourists get the best pickings.

Lanna Golf Course is one of the older venues located just north of the city, also on Hwy 107, but I understand they no longer accept new members. Just as well, as I find this 27-hole course either too busy (it is cheap) or plagued by poorly maintained/roughly textured fairways.

Well to the north of CM is a lovely course called Royal Chiang Mai (Rom Luang in Thai). I believe they also sell memberships but am not familiar with pricing. It is similar to Green Valley--but perhaps more beautiful and containing some winding, hilly fairways in its 18 holes.

The last course located near to CM is called Hang Dong. It's a low budget, poorly-watered 9-hole course with mostly hardpan fairways, but their 135-yard par 3 no. 8 offers an island green, a luring challenge. Very similar to Hang Dong is the oldest course in CM, Gymkhana, located roughly midway between the downtown area and the airport freeway. I don't believe memberships are available now, but it is cheap. Sadly it is not a great golf experience either--just an inexpensive one that doesn't require a lengthy drive to get to it.

There are several other full-service courses further away from the city--particularly in the direction of Lamphun and Lampang that are operated by the Gassan Group. Memberships are available at these courses as well, but unless you live close to them I would not recommend them for membership and only for occasional play. They can be quite a challenge due to placement of water hazards along with several holes which require lengthy tee shots over ponds and small lakes to reach the fairway.

How do Thais work out what Thai characters to use for a farang name?

For instance, how would my name (DAVID HOWDEN) be written in Thai, and how would that have been arrived at?

Try this: เดวิด หาวแดน I am no expert though and this needs to be edited by a better-trained writer of Thai. There may be necessary tone marks that I missed. To understand how it was arrived at, you need to take a lesson or two in reading Thai characters and tone marks. For a good start look at: http://thaiarc.tu.ac.th/thai/thindex.htm

I had a quite expensive Canon. I think I was responsible for ruining the print head by using refill ink. A new print head costs 2,500 baht. I always hated multi purpose printers but have changed my mind. My local computer shop has a variety of different brand printers. I bought an HP F4280 for about 2,500 baht. It scans, copies and prints amazingly well. It has a one year warranty and if it quits after a year, I'll happily throw it away and buy a new one. The black ink cartridge supposedly prints 200 pages and costs 550 baht. I am still using the original cartridge and it shows to be still about 3/4 full.

I also had to replace my print head on my Canon (S600) because I used generic ink, not specific Canon-brand cartridges. The repair shop asked me right away what ink I had been using as they see this problem over and over. When this S600 dies again, I will replace it...that is a particular dilemma I am facing because I want wireless printing using a WiFi router and very few models seem to be available to accommodate this type of connection.