Thailand’s golf courses face huge loss in revenue due to COVID-19

 

 

With over 250 courses across the country, Thailand’s golf vacationers normally bring in vast amounts of revenue. 

 

Golfers vacationers tend to stay at the top hotels, like to play at the best clubs, spend in the pro shops, and eat in the fine dining restaurants too.

 

However, with many borders closed and automatic 14-day quarantine periods required, it will be sometime before the international golf vacationer returns.

 

Some say the golf industry might as well write off 2020 completely.

 

Therefore, your local golf club will need to survive on any business from their existing members, locals and expat customers.

 

We have already witnessed incentives such as reduced green fees, and free carts. 

 

However, clubs will need to create non peak rates, tournaments and maybe even encourage schools to take lessons, just to keep the income ticking over.

 

They will also be carrying large stocks in the pro shops, so expect to see with special offers on polo shirts from the top brands.

 

However, the international golf vacationer is very familiar with playing golf in the tropics. And as Thai superstar Thongchai Jaidee often states, “Our secret weapon are the 25,000 caddies who make a golfing holiday in the land of the smiles very unique and enjoyable.’ 

 

The top golf courses will then be hoping that come December when hopefully international flights will be allowed to land in Thailand, that the Korean, Japanese, European and Australian golfers will return.

 

Hopefully common sense will prevail and in 2021 clubs will keep their rates the same all year round. Especially as I don’t think golf vacationers or expats will have the budget to pay high season rates for now.

 

 

 

Honestly, 90% of the caddies have no clue what they do and worsen your game-play. 

4 hours ago, Shuya said:

Honestly, 90% of the caddies have no clue what they do and worsen your game-play. 

If you are an expert then don't listen to them.

Tell them on the first hole to just drive the cart and be quiet.

I would rather play without caddies and save 600bht......do usually have a good laugh with them though.....find that some of them, especially if they have worked at the course you are playing on for many years, are very good at reading putts.

I will not shed a tear for a few of those courses in the BKK area that charge non-Thais a higher rate. Not to name names, but it sounds like scmheen malley. 

1 hour ago, Mavrix said:

I would rather play without caddies and save 600bht......do usually have a good laugh with them though.....find that some of them, especially if they have worked at the course you are playing on for many years, are very good at reading putts.

Most would rather not have caddies, optional caddy would be best. I have zero sympathy for the golf courses, more expensive than falangland, makes no sense apart from greed

Join the Club

Thailand golf courses have become overly reliant on tourists, not only for sheer numbers, but for the higher green fees as well.

 

Having said that, it would seem that Thailand golf courses are actually LUCKY that the COVID hit mostly during the low season.  The high season (Nov-Feb) will determine whether many of these courses survive.  There's typically not many tourists this time of year (not in Chiang Mai anyways) and the courses are forced to give discounts to the the locals, Thai and expats alike.  Many great deals out there right now, which I welcome.  

2 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Thailand golf courses have become overly reliant on tourists, not only for sheer numbers, but for the higher green fees as well.

 

Having said that, it would seem that Thailand golf courses are actually LUCKY that the COVID hit mostly during the low season.  The high season (Nov-Feb) will determine whether many of these courses survive.  There's typically not many tourists this time of year (not in Chiang Mai anyways) and the courses are forced to give discounts to the the locals, Thai and expats alike.  Many great deals out there right now, which I welcome.  

Around Pattaya some courses are offering reduced green fees, but to Thais only.

A few sport day promotions about, but the obsession with compulsory and single-use carts makes it expensive.

In my experience, the majority of caddies that have worked at least one season are usually very good at knowing the course: distances, putt direction, water locations and watching the ball flight. I know that there are a lot of cheap charlies out there that would rather not have a caddy, but I for one think that they are best thing about golf in Thailand. I like the fact that they repair club and ball divots and rake the bunkers. I can do these things myself, but I can afford to have a caddy who does these things. It's a win win situation. And as a bonus, sometimes you get a caddy who's a real babe.

Yet another industry in LOS decimated by the army afraid to loose its grip. Spending my summer in the states as usual and been really hard to get on courses here plus rates up across the board as it’s an obvious safe outdoor activity.  Two steps backwards one step sideways Thailand. 

13 minutes ago, bronzedude said:

In my experience, the majority of caddies that have worked at least one season are usually very good at knowing the course: distances, putt direction, water locations and watching the ball flight. I know that there are a lot of cheap charlies out there that would rather not have a caddy, but I for one think that they are best thing about golf in Thailand. I like the fact that they repair club and ball divots and rake the bunkers. I can do these things myself, but I can afford to have a caddy who does these things. It's a win win situation. And as a bonus, sometimes you get a caddy who's a real babe.

And a massage after

Golf in Phuket has never been cheaper All clubs doing "specials" OK it was very expensive before but now it's just soo good. Championship courses for Baht 2000 inc buggy, green fee, caddy.food pack and voucher for pro shop 2-500 baht!

 

Get in!!!

2 hours ago, phkauf said:

I will not shed a tear for a few of those courses in the BKK area that charge non-Thais a higher rate. Not to name names, but it sounds like scmheen malley. 

I've played on a lot of courses in and around Bangkok and have NEVER been exposed to dual pricing. Difference in member, guest and non-guest prices, yes, but no non-Thai rate.

20 hours ago, Shuya said:

Honestly, 90% of the caddies have no clue what they do and worsen your game-play. 

A huge exaggeration you've made. All because you can't putt.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Most would rather not have caddies, optional caddy would be best. I have zero sympathy for the golf courses, more expensive than falangland, makes no sense apart from greed

You got that right!

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Join the Club

Yes, Join the Club LOL. Are they so hard pressed to find news that they have harp on about one business after another that are doing it tough. Everyone is doing it tough. We get it and we know exactly why.

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

Thailand golf courses have become overly reliant on tourists, not only for sheer numbers, but for the higher green fees as well.

 

Having said that, it would seem that Thailand golf courses are actually LUCKY that the COVID hit mostly during the low season.  The high season (Nov-Feb) will determine whether many of these courses survive.  There's typically not many tourists this time of year (not in Chiang Mai anyways) and the courses are forced to give discounts to the the locals, Thai and expats alike.  Many great deals out there right now, which I welcome.  

I am ready to get back to playing teaching my son. Please PM me the lower end deals.

The majority of golf courses here are owned by one institution. I think they will be jus fine. ????

25 minutes ago, eyup said:

Golf in Phuket has never been cheaper All clubs doing "specials" OK it was very expensive before but now it's just soo good. Championship courses for Baht 2000 inc buggy, green fee, caddy.food pack and voucher for pro shop 2-500 baht!

 

Get in!!!

I saw something about Blue Canyon looking reasonable, then they added in caddie and cart, which then makes it around 2500.  

 

What courses are having some all in deals?  I wouldn't mind getting in some decently priced rounds here.

18 minutes ago, steelepulse said:

I saw something about Blue Canyon looking reasonable, then they added in caddie and cart, which then makes it around 2500.  

 

What courses are having some all in deals?  I wouldn't mind getting in some decently priced rounds here.

Blue Canyon (Canyon or lakes) is 6000 for a 4 ball including  buggie caddy beer and snacks after 7000 for a 5 ball on lakes No residence requirements needed Laguna is 6000 4 ball green fee and caddie only (residents only) Loch Palm 1500 green fee buggie caddie food parcel and voucher Tuesdays 4 balls only and Red Mountain 2000 on Wednesdays Mission Hills also have deal but not as good as BC and LP/RM  Try Also Phuket expat golf society and Divots golf society

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by eyup

4 hours ago, fulhamster said:

Around Pattaya some courses are offering reduced green fees, but to Thais only.

 

That's because they know cash cow mug farang will play anyway

5 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

A huge exaggeration you've made. All because you can't putt.

That's who 'gimmees' were designed for.  

 

For me, caddies are one of the best things about Thai golf, 99% will do as asked and many will save you shots with a good read.  Cute newbies not so much so 'up to you'.... 

15 minutes ago, Cranky said:

That's who 'gimmees' were designed for.  

 

For me, caddies are one of the best things about Thai golf, 99% will do as asked and many will save you shots with a good read.  Cute newbies not so much so 'up to you'.... 

the thing is it isn't really "up to you" as it's compulsory to have a caddy, if it was optional people like you that need a caddy can still use one

I would rather stick to minigolf, just incase the golfball hits a caddy and he/she tries to take me for 500,000 THB. 

I have no sympathy at all for the greedy owners of Thailands golf courses. With land and labour so cheap, golf here should be as cheap as chips. As it stands, it's ridiculousely expensive, even compared to UK prices where land and labour are dear. As for the compulsory happy caddies, although a lot are pleasing to look at and some of them know their job, they aren't cheap after you've paid the tip and anyway, I'd personally rather pull my own trolley around the course. 

7 hours ago, bronzedude said:

In my experience, the majority of caddies that have worked at least one season are usually very good at knowing the course: distances, putt direction, water locations and watching the ball flight. I know that there are a lot of cheap charlies out there that would rather not have a caddy, but I for one think that they are best thing about golf in Thailand. I like the fact that they repair club and ball divots and rake the bunkers. I can do these things myself, but I can afford to have a caddy who does these things. It's a win win situation. And as a bonus, sometimes you get a caddy who's a real babe.

I agree with most of what you say. However, those of us who prefer not to use them aren't all "cheap charlies". To some of us it's the difference between playing or not. On the odd occasions I play, I use the navy course at Sattahip because it's reasonably cheap. Even then, you have to use a caddy. 

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

the thing is it isn't really "up to you" as it's compulsory to have a caddy, if it was optional people like you that need a caddy can still use one

If you read putts as well as you read English you'll need two caddies.  It is OPTIONAl which caddy you choose - a cute useless one or a gnarly old bat that knows every blade of grass on the greens. Up to yoooo

16 minutes ago, Victornoir said:

This kind of remark explains why the caddies fight to serve the Koreans and Japanese, and drag their feet when the farang arrives.

 

Especially if he's British...

Utter nonsense.  Asians are the worse tippers out there - I've seen several times incandescent caddies on the receiving end of a twenty baht tip

1 minute ago, Cranky said:

Utter nonsense.  Asians are the worse tippers out there - I've seen several times incandescent caddies on the receiving end of a twenty baht tip

 

to use the general term 'asians' in this context is ill informed. fr example, the japanese dont have a culture of tipping and would be less likely to tip, however the chinese do have a culture of tipping so would be more likely to.