kiwifamily

Nice simple instructions to follow mate, if you can work on getting a swing like that (Dougherty I think) you'll be well on your way to being a good golfer!!!

Let me know how you get on with your club buying.

By the way i looked at the Mizuno's for sale. It's a very old model and for the price I'd look around a bit more.

Cheers

Chris

Nice one I dropped them an email.

Just thought I'd share a cool video I found on the net showing golf swing instruction.

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-perfor...fect-golf-swing

They described it in a way I felt was very easy to grasp.

Hey mate, best bet if possible wold be to get your mate off 1 or the pro giving you lessons to advise on shaft flex. If you have a constant smooth swinging which is not overly fast you possibly could go for regular shafts. My thought is with your height and assuming arm length you would probably generate quite a bit of torque on a standard shaft. You won't be doing any harm with a stiffer shaft. If anything it should make you hit straighter although too stiff would promote a fade or worsen a slice. Remembering though 99% of golfers start with this problem due to out to in swinging.

Golfbidder do actually send overseas as long as you pay shipping costs and prepay for all goods. Not sure about Thailand but email [email protected] mention Chris Heenan has told you to contact him and he might be able to help you out. Would help your cause if you could get a couple of other friends etc wanting to purchase at the same time as then the shipping costs are shared.

Goodluck mate and let me now how you get on. By the way clubs are really well priced in Singapore if you were heading that way. All the good brands and I even know a good 2nd hand shop there.

Cheers

Chris

e all the advice, and will consult with a friend of mine who plays off 1 before making a purchase.

Chris, thanks. Golf bidder looks interesting but note that they only ship to Europe, if they do ship further abroad I could not find any mention of it. It seems to make sense to buy good used clubs rather than cheap new ones, that I'd probably have to throw out in a year or two.

I also found a shop on the 2nd floor of Thaniya last night called B2B which will extend a shaft for 200Bt a piece, they say it takes them about 1-2 hrs to do a full set (they have a staff of four working there). So was thinking if I can find a decent set of used clubs here (with forged irons) I could always get them adjusted to suit.

I am getting conflicting advice regarding the flex needed, some say that a stiff shaft is less forgiving and when starting out it may be better to opt for a regular flex and adjust when I finally take the plunge and throw a lot of money at "my proper set" later on down the track.

What do you think?

Hey Quicksilva, welcome to the most pleasurable/frustrating/enjoyable game you will find.

You've been given some good advice already but I think I can add a few bits of advice to help you make the right choice.

Firstly being tall doesn't always mean you need longer than standard shafts. I am 6ft 3" play off a 5 handicap and use standard length/loft and lie clubs. There are so many factors that affects this rather other than being tall i.e long arms,wide stance or arched back. It is sometimes just a loft and lie adjustment that maybe needed which is much easier and cheaper.

I do agree totally that steel shafts are the best to have. You probably will need a stiff shaft due to the torque generated in being so tall. Unless you really wind up which I wouldn't suggest s300 or rifle 6.0 shafts would be a good option.

I would suggest purchasing a forged cavity set of irons not cast(kennex). Forged irons are made of a much softer metal which can be easily adapted if you did need your clubs loft and lie changed plus they have much more feel.

One thing I would say is be careful buying asian clubs as I'd imagine like myself you've probably got big hands. Asian grips are generally thinner than standard grips and this will cause you problems with your hands having to turn over too much to get the club square on impact. I actually have 2 extra wraps of tape under my grips to thicken them up. But don't go as far as jumbo grips they are too heavy and umbalance the club.

I use to work for this company in the Uk www.golfbidder.co.uk I'm not trying to plug it but this is a bloody good website to have a look at for quality secondhand golf clubs. Trust me when I say conditons are great and would say you'd get a really good set (condition 6 are fine) for your money.

Keep an eye on the auction part of the website as you can pick up some great buys. I often buy off there and sell back in NZ.

I honestly would say DO NOT SPEND 250 PDS ON A SET OF KENNEX IRONS.

Heres a couple of options I would suggest for you to have a look at. Not sure where you are from but Ebay in the states or UK is another good option.

http://www.golfbidder.co.uk/product/256504...Zoid_MX-20.html

http://www.golfbidder.co.uk/product/252472...n_Edge_CFT.html

http://golfbidder.co.uk/product/256913/Cob..._SS_Forged.html

http://golfbidder.co.uk/product/257464/Ping_i3_Oversize.html these are 2 degree upright might be spot on for you.

Anyway wish you the best of luck and feel free to email any questions you might have. Hoping to be living and working in the golf industry in Thailand next year. Maybe 2nd club salesman!!

Cheers

Chris

p.s still have contacts at golfbidder so give me a shout and i should be able to get you some discount on any purchases.

Thanks guys,

There is a guy selling a Mizuno set in the classifieds for what seems to be a reasonable price that I may take a look at.

Do you know whether it is possible to get shafts extended here? I am assuming that I may not be able to find long shafts in the shops but might be able to get shafts extended by an inch at a shop somewhere, if I buy used. (am thinking better quality at lower price)

I found an article on this here, but don't fancy doing the job myself.

I'll check out Thaniya Plaza tonight to see what they have on offer. As for Central they really are cheeky, I just saw exactly the same set in Emporium listed at the same price i.e. it was not on sale at all!

Thanks everyone that passed on there advice. I hope to be in Chiang mai and starting some kind of venture early next year. I know there will be lots of hurdles but hopefully I will be able to tap into some of the market.

Just one other idea I'll throw at you for your advice

If I was to offer Hotel guests (possibly in Bangkok and/or Chiang mai) day to day golf rounds where I supplied all top quality equipment transport booking etc would there be a market?

Just thinking rather than targeting the golf tourist, I could target the businessman/ holiday maker with time on there hands.

I realise you can hire clubs etc from the course but it may feel too much trouble for a one off game for the traveller to organise.

Appreciate any thoughts.

Once again thanks for reading my post

Cheers

Chris

i know many golfers that come from the uk to play here. some groups, some individual. All of them do it themselves.Thats the internet for you.Ther reall is no need to book a package as it takes a few minutes on line to sort out hotels and flights.Most courses in chiangmai are very quiet and dont need pre booking.

The way to go would be to get cheap flights , hotels and discounts on green fees, but the internet has made these deals available to everyone.

Hi ya Jim,

Mate I frequently travel with clubs on different flights and have never once been charged to do so. Some Airlines may if you are carrying excess luggage. It usually states on the Airlines websites but generally you are allowed 1 allocation of sporting luggage.

I have stopped off in Singapore a few times and bought clubs to sell back in NZ to make a bit of coin. Have even had 3 sets of irons in 1 bag. And when heading back to NZ for good from the UK I had all sorts stuffed in my golf travel cover.

Anyway goodluck and hope you get everything through without penalty!!!

Cheers

Chris

Hey,

sorry for the enormous snooze factor of this topic, but I was wondering when you travel abroad on a flight, does your club bag count in your overall weight allowance?

I seem to remember for large sporting items (snow board for example) that there is a separate check in and it doesn't count.

My golf travel bag is huge and I can fit loads more into it - is that a good way of sneakingly going over weight with no penalty.

OK, back to sleep.

Cheers

Hey Bendix, thats a helpful bit of info cheers. Are there any requrements as to how many countries must be visited a year etc?

We are looking at moving to Chiang mai early next from NZ so will definitely look into this. Also wondering if it would be valid for a family rather than an individual?

Have you been living in Thailand long?

We're looking forward to giving it a go.

We have been there a few times but moving the family there is going to be a challenge. Any tips would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Chris

I'm not sure if this has been covered before (perhaps on the Visa sub-forums), but I've recently discovered this little gem. It's open to people who travel frequently around APEC countries (most of Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Philippines etc) and basically negates getting a visa for those countries in advance. It also gives a usual 90-day automatic right of stay in that country and, i believe, no restrictions on the number of times it can be used in year.

Best of all, you can use the diplomatic channels at immigration, so no queueing.

All for NZ$150 for three years if you're a Kiwi.

Greetings all, am in need of some advice from golfers within Thailand. I am a 34 yr old mad golfer and have been working in the golf industry for going on 15 years. From becoming a qualified greenskeeper in New Zealand to working for an online golf sales company in London. My passion is golf and I have am looking for a new venture in the industry. I have a relative whom is property developing in Chiang mai and is trying to encourage me into getting into the golf tours industry there. We have just invested in a condo in Chiang mai as a first step to relocating from NZ with our young child.

Looking online there seems to be a few competitors about, some well established some not. Has anyone on here booked trips through online golf tour companys in thailand? How was it?

Most importantly do you think there would be room for another player?

Any advice, tips or general info on golfing oin thailand and business set up problems encountered anyone can provide would be much appreciated!!

Kind regards and happy golfing

Chris Heenan

Greetings all, am in need of some advice from golfers within Thailand. I am a 34 yr old mad golfer and have been working in the golf industry for going on 15 years. From becoming a qualified greenskeeper in New Zealand to working for an online golf sales company in London. My passion is golf and I have am looking for a new venture in the industry. I have a relative whom is property developing in Chiang mai and is trying to encourage me into getting into the golf tours industry there. We have just invested in a condo in Chiang mai as a first step to relocating from NZ with our young child.

Looking online there seems to be a few competitors about, some well established some not. Has anyone on here booked trips through online golf tour companys in thailand? How was it?

Most importantly do you think there would be room for another player?

Any advice, tips or general info anyone can provide would be much appreciated!!

Kind regards

Chris Heenan

p.s Has the Golf equipment industry improved much in the past 5 yrs? Found it hard to track down golf stores when there last and found it quite expensive compared to Singapore etc.