OOB

I emailed them an enquiry on 12th Dec 2009 and am still awaiting a response. Kind of says it all...

Grab a kangaroo wioe it's arse and slap it

I have no idea what this means, but it probably adds credence to the bestiality songs about Australians...

There are policies that will cover however they obviously need to be in force before conception.

Please contact Thai Visa Brokers for details Here

I'm intrigued as to how you would generate a quote for such an eventuality... I'm assuming the questionnaire would request details on frequency, ingress preferences, typical state of inebriation etc?

More than one in three officer involved shootings involve unarmed people.

Google "unarmed shot by off duty officer" ... but since the topic is the unfortunate demise of a farang here in Thaiand and does not involve any police officers other than those apprehending the shooter, it is a moot point.

My condolences to the family of the victim.

yes jd, precisely, thank you. This has nothing to do with police, since interestingly enough, the shooter was not a cop. Lets do try to keep it remotely on topic. thanks

Remove the cop from the equation then. To assert that drive-by executions of seemingly innocent bystanders is as prevalent in the UK as it is in Thailand is complete and utter unsubstantiated rubbish. If this is 'off-topic' please feel free to delete this post along with the original nonsense assertion that similar shootings in the UK occur daily.

Can you imagine if that happened in the US or England?

Yes .. on a daily basis.

Please can you point me to one of the daily 'police shoots innocent tourists' news items from the US or England...or indeed anywhere in Europe, North America or Australasia?

Thanks...

I'm sure Glenn at Croston House would be more than happy to take it off your hands.

http://www.crostonhousechildrenshomethailand.org/index.html

So 68viewings and not one offer

What a pity

OK - I'll get the ball rolling...

I'll give you 1,000 Baht and would pick it up from anywhere in Chiang Mai city.

Hi - I'm not BKK based, but will answer what I know...

Was wondering does the golf courses here requires a handicap card to play? No - I have read of one or two requesting handicaps but I don't think you'll have any problems anywhere. They are businesses, and quite frankly 24 is OK compared to some of the locals I have seen!

How much is an average 18 holes green fees + buggy in Bangkok? Again, I don't know golf in BKK so well, but in Chiang Mai and Pattaya, I'd budget for 2000 Baht (high season but with residence rates). In Hua Hin and Phuket the better courses are north of 3000 Baht.

Is it compulsory to obtain a caddie? Yes - universally in my own experience (although I have seen the odd Korean carrying their own bags).

Weekday prices cheaper than weekends? Yes - and low season cheaper than high.

Since I only moved here alone, is it possible to join in any 2 balls or 3 balls group in the golf course itself? It's possible to join, but I'd not say it's possible to join any group. Best bet is to call the clubs directly and have them facilitate something for you - they know their audience and which of their regulars are friendly.

Don't know any friends that plays golf here. Otherwise, is there a blog site where golfers find partners for weekdays or weekends? In CM there are two, in Pattaya there is the huge Pattaya Sports Club and various spin offs. I'm sure they are there in BKK too...try searching for Bangkok golf societies (or similar).

Last resort...Does the golf courses here allow me to golf alone? Maybe on a non-peak hours during weekdays? Yes they generally will and as you say, quiet periods are best. If they can't sell a 3 or 4 ball, a one ball is better than nothing.

Played Inthanon full 18 yesterday, that is going to be some course (facilities still under construction) and compares very well with all the other "top" courses around the Chiang Mai area- perhaps I should keep this quiet though.

I only played the nine a few weeks ago, but I agree, it's a cracking track. They said membership would only be 20,000 Baht...but I think they are starting to realise just how nice a course it is!

Whether they can keep it in such good condition is the big question for me though...

Yes I agree it is probably not the most ideal location for such a club. I also think Chiang Mai is sort of a big mens club, at least for farangs. My personal situation is that I have little in common with the majority of farangs here. I recently moved to an area where there are almost no farangs and due to the inconvenience of travel I rarely see farang friends from my old neighborhood. I no longer drink alcohol, though I drank a whole lot for most of my life, so I do not frequent bars. I do not like soccer, and although I am busy with certain charity volunteer things I have free time, am not anti-social and would like to talk to people . I am with you in that I do not care much for mobile phones or ironically even the internet, though I am writing this here so obviously I see it has its uses.

Were the club to get popular, would it not be full of people the majority of whom, you have stated you have little in common with?

I see the value in trying to use your vacant real estate, however if you want to talk to people with shared interests, surely joining (or starting) a special interests group would be better than an open house?

If Lanna have truly offered 250k in cash to buy it back....I'd rip both their arms off.

I'm not really pro or anti caddies, but here's an interesting fact...

My cost per game at CM Highlands (10 year membership and four games a week) = 140 Baht

The cost for having somebody pull my clubs around per game (incl tip) = 550 Baht

I have a great regular caddy and enjoy her company. I'm not totally convinced however that the service offered is worth 114,400 Baht per annum...

Well there is a simple solution.

And you have my admiration, playing the same course four times week for 10 years would bore the pants off me.

I feel three days a week is ample to take in the lesser courses in the area...

I'm not really pro or anti caddies, but here's an interesting fact...

My cost per game at CM Highlands (10 year membership and four games a week) = 140 Baht

The cost for having somebody pull my clubs around per game (incl tip) = 550 Baht

I have a great regular caddy and enjoy her company. I'm not totally convinced however that the service offered is worth 114,400 Baht per annum...

What about arrogant, drunk, sex crazed and cheap charlie Brits?

The ones that really get me are the idiots that have been here for so long that they start talking like a bar girl....

Thanks for the answers! It seems a clear choice. However, with the 30-40% increase in value, it seems I might gain by bringing a new set into the country each time I go back to the states, eh?

TallTravel

Only if you have buyers... My preference would be to not return to the States and keep the airfare!

Blue Sapphire with 36 holes has a promotion until November 30th. They charge 900 baht incl. unlimited play and good rooms with 2 in each room. A and B are both in reasonable good condition while the greens at C and D have just been called. It is a very interesting golf course with plenty of water everywhere. Nothing for beginners however.

Nichigo could be another alternative with their 27 holes. I have not played it for a while so do not know anything about prices or the condition. The layout of the course is however great. Their rooms are ok.

I stayed at Nichigo a few years ago. The golf course is excellent, but the rooms left a lot to be desired. They were in real need of a complete makeover. I'd want to check the rooms before I committed to a booking there...

Why would you not simply get a 90 day tourist visa each time you visit (extend-able here I believe although it's many years since I've done it) and save all the effort?

You are effectively coming as a tourist, so why make things more difficult than they really are?

Highlands Chiang Mai is not a place to enjoy. Run to pander to Thais not for farangs who are treated as 2nd class citizens. Poor management and even worse service. You will be better going elsewhere.

In my opinion it is the best run course in the North (recently selected by Asian Golf Monthly as the third best course in Thailand) and is extremely foreigner friendly. Perhaps you could elaborate on what you consider to be poor management and how the service you received was bad?

To better qualify your post it would also be helpful if you could name which other courses in the North of Thailand one would '..be better going..' to in order to receive better service and encounter better management?

If there's anyone in there! That place is seriously run down these days through almost non-existent management it seems to me. It used to be a great place to practise.

So with a 50% rate off, what does that make the cost of a khuntan round? A most amazing course, and one that i'd love to play in the winter.

The range is poorly maintained, but the Gassan group sales office is manned.

During October green fees were 700 Baht all in on Weds and Fridays with the GO card. The flyer I have shows hotel+green fee at 50%, but it does not list the price. It does not explicitly say anywhere that green fees (without hotel) are discounted beyond October.

Roastlamb - polo shirts are acceptable here and indeed everywhere else I have ever played in Asia and Europe.

Does anyone know what the '100 Baht membership' at Gassan is?

I have been told it is open only to Thais and not foreign residents, is this correct?

Iain

It is open to foreign residents also (I have one). Up to end Oct 2009 it gave significantly discounted rates at Lake City and Khuntan. Up until end Feb it offers 50% rates on green fees + hotel packages. Not sure if it still offers only discounted green fees though.

Best bet is to go down to the Gassan driving range (on super highway near 121 turn off) and visit the sales office there.

Don't you know that gambling, except for the lottery, is illegal in Thailand?

Funny - I recently went racing in Chiang Mai and was able to place all sorts of wagers legally with the on course tote...

Buy or rent?

If buy, try www.jasminehomes.co.th

If rent, then don't bother with any of them.

We rented through Chiang Mai House (link in earlier post). Whilst I sort of agree with the sentiment of your post (that agents are unnecessary), I felt that they added a reasonable amount of value to me for zero (direct) cost. Now they were not great, but they did all of the following for me...

1) Found us 3 suitable houses to view the morning that we went to see them.

2) Negotiated the BKK based owner down to the amount we wanted to pay.

3) Gave us the keys to the (vacant) property on receipt of deposit thus allowing us to move items in early.

4) Arranged for UBC and ADSL to be (re)connected at the property in advance of us moving in.

5) Resolved a couple of loose ends subsequently, such as previous tenants not paying off the phone bill.

We surely could have driven around Chiang Mai and identified properties ourselves, contacted the owners to arrange viewings etc and then dealt with all of points 2-5. However, since it cost me nothing, I was more than happy to move that burden onto a third party.

The Highlands rate is for residents. The headline rate for visitors remains 2500.

RoastLamb - I think you'll be able to play all courses here in polo, shorts and trainers. Rentals available at most clubs, I believe. At Highlands I heard they are good quality branded clubs...

Not according to my 2008 edition 'Golf Map Thailand'.

It is listed as 1,600 Baht weekday and 2,200 Baht weekends (other courses on the map are explicitly shown as members only).

Phone listed is 02 379 3716-7.

HTH!

For those that were interested in memberships, I finally plumped for Highlands. 10 years is currently offered at 200k (+ 9k per year subs). Play there three times a week and it works out at less than 200 Baht a round. It's also transferable (at a cost).

I probably won't update this any more, but those with an interest in local golf please feel free to PM me.

Good golfing, OOB.