Thailand Golf - What Expats and International Visitors Really Think 

 

 

With all the recent discussions on whether Thai caddies should be compulsory, well over 2/3rds of golfers polled in Thaivisa’s Golf in Thailand Survey just published, actually agreed that Caddies do enhance their round of golf.

 

Golf had to take a step back at the start of the global pandemic, but now people are realizing that being out in the fresh air is not only a lot safer than staying at home, but also provides great exercise while still adhering to social distancing.

 

Over the past few weeks, thaivisa.com’s Golf in Thailand forum, have been conducting their own major survey, which has provided them with a current snapshot of golf across the country. The survey is published today on line.

 

Over 472 golfers who regularly play their golf in Thailand, took part in this independent survey, which was held over three weeks September 2020.

 

The good news for local courses, was that 37% agreed that they would still take up club membership, which confirms loyalty to their golf clubs.

 

54% confirmed that the regularly tipped their caddie between 300-500 Thai Baht, roughly between US$10-15 a round.

 

Before the pandemic over 48% polled said they played golf at least six times a month, and another 28% played at least three times. 

 

A Countrywide Concern!

 

Perhaps of more concern to Thailand’s golf industry however, was that 67% polled had noticed that golf clubs were charging different rates for locals and foreigners. And a further 52% agreed that golf in Thailand was more expensive than elsewhere.

 

Golf in Thailand has received over 85,000 views since its launch in mid-July. It provides online information, local and international news, promotions and offers, and has over 140 of the top courses listed with comments and reviews from golfers here and overseas.

 

Thaivisa Golf's Mike Bridge said: ‘Thailand is the most popular golfing destination in Asia, so we wanted to create an online source to help provide expat golfers resident here in Thailand up to date information on prices, course conditions and reviews.

 

"Naturally once the country re opens its borders, Golf in Thailand will also become the No1 source for golf vacationers wanting to play golf in the land of the smiles.”

 

To view the full results of this survey please go to: https://newscontent.thaivisa.com/2020/09/23/special/golfsurvey.pdf

 

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With all the recent discussions on whether Thai caddies should be compulsory,!!!  LOL you hear these discussions everywhere

many questions in this poll missed the point, and the answers to some is misleading.

 

for example the question about the costs - there are two situations - playing at your own club or playing for a green fee.

 

when playing for a green fee, the cost in Thailand is comparable or cheaper than in Europe for comparable course quality - many courses in Europe just can't keep up with tending to roughs, mowing the fairways and offer rather spartan club house comfort, not to mention rare driving ranges offering grass.

 

But then playing at your home club with a membership is MUCH MORE expensive in Thailand. this point has to be addressed, together with compulsory caddies and compulsory carts.

 

other points would be etiquette and course rangers/marshalls. playing 5 balls or 6 balls (!!!) isn't acceptable and slow players need to be told to let others pass.

Edited September 24, 20205 yr by tgw

Way it's going I think all golfers will be told they need to use two caddies each next

is there anything in this country not infected with thainess ? i tried to play golf here once before and when a 19some showed up at the t block i had a little bit of a head shake.

 

this thai way can do sure sure.

 

and it costs more here too ? hahaha please thailand get a grip on reality. 

 

 

In my opinion courses in Phuket are too expensive.

The courses are ok and all are not outstanding compared to Mission Hills in China . Ok MH is expensive but we don’t mind paying for something if you get good value . 
The greens are generally pretty rough in Phuket  and like my back yard compared to Aus .

We play in Aus about four times a week , maybe Thailand once in a blue moon .

50 minutes ago, tgw said:

other points would be etiquette and course rangers/marshalls. playing 5 balls or 6 balls (!!!) isn't acceptable and slow players need to be told to let others pass.

The fact is that any course marshall would not have the nerve to approach a 5-6 ball, tell them to pick up the pace, and split up to 2, 3-ball, let alone to demand that they let faster groups play through. Foreigners would usually have no problem letting a faster group play through. Locals, on the other hand, look at it as an insult, and tell the faster group to go around them. 

 

53 minutes ago, Winniej said:

In my opinion courses in Phuket are too expensive.

The courses are ok and all are not outstanding compared to Mission Hills in China . Ok MH is expensive but we don’t mind paying for something if you get good value . 
The greens are generally pretty rough in Phuket  and like my back yard compared to Aus .

We play in Aus about four times a week , maybe Thailand once in a blue moon .

Red Mountain I agree was expensive at THB6,000 for green fee. Now in Covid they charge THB2,600 all in so lets hope they keep prices reasonable for the near future. Course standard looked good to me last week.

 

And who won the prize. ? You did not ask for my email 

On 9/23/2020 at 1:49 PM, Thaivisa Golf said:

Thailand Golf - What Expats and International Visitors Really Think 

I can just imagine.

Thai courses tend to overrate themselves as to their desirability. As I have played courses as diverse as St. Andrews Old Course, Bruntsfield, Pine Valley, Oakmont, Barnbougle, Banff, Millbrook, Royal Selangor and all the courses of the Melbourne sandbelt, IMO I can make the comparison.

I don't mind paying 1000 baht for a round and cart, plus caddie tip. 2000 - 4000 baht? Forget it, you're not that good.

Edited September 24, 20205 yr by Lacessit
addition

2 hours ago, LNKDES1 said:

The fact is that any course marshall would not have the nerve to approach a 5-6 ball, tell them to pick up the pace, and split up to 2, 3-ball, let alone to demand that they let faster groups play through. Foreigners would usually have no problem letting a faster group play through. Locals, on the other hand, look at it as an insult, and tell the faster group to go around them. 

 

Locals will allow faster groups to play through, even farangs, BUT your caddy needs to ask them if it's ok to play through. In the 15 years I've been playing golf in Thailand ( Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok & Chiang Mai ) we've NEVER been refused. You need to realise that the Thai players are so focused on the gambling they are involved with they are completely oblivious to others on the course. Since moving to CM, I've played in mostly 5 or 6 player groups, admittedly in carts ) and our average round takes 4 1/2 hours. It takes the same amount of time for a group of 4 walking to play a round here, so I don't understand the complaints at all about groups of 5 or 6 players unless they are all walking.

I play in Isaan and I’ve never seen dual pricing. Where does it occur at golf courses. As for price, it’s much cheaper up here than in the UK. I also find the caddies great fun and often highly entertaining. Would be a lot less fun without them.

11 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

Locals will allow faster groups to play through, even farangs, BUT your caddy needs to ask them if it's ok to play through. In the 15 years I've been playing golf in Thailand ( Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok & Chiang Mai ) we've NEVER been refused. You need to realise that the Thai players are so focused on the gambling they are involved with they are completely oblivious to others on the course. Since moving to CM, I've played in mostly 5 or 6 player groups, admittedly in carts ) and our average round takes 4 1/2 hours. It takes the same amount of time for a group of 4 walking to play a round here, so I don't understand the complaints at all about groups of 5 or 6 players unless they are all walking.

Well Tiger, consider yourself lucky. When our caddie reluctantly asks if we can play through, we're told to go around. This has happened way more times than not, but then I've only played here for 9 years. Carts are mandatory on our course (Grand Prix in Kanchanaburi). Never played in Phuket or Chiang Mai, but certainly in Pattaya and Hua Hin. So you play in 6-balls? Personally, I find that tacky.

31 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

Locals will allow faster groups to play through, even farangs, BUT your caddy needs to ask them if it's ok to play through. In the 15 years I've been playing golf in Thailand ( Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok & Chiang Mai ) we've NEVER been refused. You need to realise that the Thai players are so focused on the gambling they are involved with they are completely oblivious to others on the course. Since moving to CM, I've played in mostly 5 or 6 player groups, admittedly in carts ) and our average round takes 4 1/2 hours. It takes the same amount of time for a group of 4 walking to play a round here, so I don't understand the complaints at all about groups of 5 or 6 players unless they are all walking.

As a single, walking, I have outpaced a six ball that were all in carts. The office lady ran me out in a cart two holes ahead of the group starting on the first tee. After 12 holes, I was five holes ahead of them. They were considerably younger than me.

 

My worst experience was at Hang Dong in Chiang Mai, in a three ball. We got stuck behind 8 Thais who refused to budge, the round took us 6 and a half hours. I didn't go back there for a long, long time.

I realise the etiquette of golf here is different to Western countries. Almost like proving a negative. However, I do have to bite my tongue when Westerners take on the same level of ignorance, which would get them thrown off courses in Australia.

35 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

Locals will allow faster groups to play through, even farangs, BUT your caddy needs to ask them if it's ok to play through. In the 15 years I've been playing golf in Thailand ( Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok & Chiang Mai ) we've NEVER been refused. You need to realise that the Thai players are so focused on the gambling they are involved with they are completely oblivious to others on the course. Since moving to CM, I've played in mostly 5 or 6 player groups, admittedly in carts ) and our average round takes 4 1/2 hours. It takes the same amount of time for a group of 4 walking to play a round here, so I don't understand the complaints at all about groups of 5 or 6 players unless they are all walking.

I do not really understand your reasoning. On the other hand, I think it is quite short-sighted. If you are to abide by the international golf rules, both pedestrians and golfers in cart are approved, so I do not really understand your statement there. Many people play golf precisely because it gives them the opportunity for a pleasant sport in a pleasant environment with pleasant social gatherings, while you get out and move yourself for a couple of hours. You miss most of this by driving around in a golf cart (unless your definition of pleasant socializing is just sitting next to a caddy). Furthermore, if we continue to adhere to international rules, the game itself will take exactly the same amount of time, regardless of whether you walk or ride a golf cart. What can differ is the time for movement between the holes and then it is mainly dependent on the design of the course.

If they charge different rates for people just because they are not Thai that is racist and I will not support such stupidity anywhere.  So, no golf for me in Thailand....

Questions were poor and an opportunity missed to explore the optional caddy elephant in the room and expensive golf here for year round golf

Not a golfer so no real interest in fees, costs, caddies etc, but when I worked in Batam the guys would come across from Singapore Friday night on the ferry, play golf for two days, have a hotel for 3 nights and go out on the beer for 3 nights and go back Monday AM AND they sAID it was cheaper than just playing golf in Singapore. I can believe it.

1 hour ago, Parsve said:

I do not really understand your reasoning. On the other hand, I think it is quite short-sighted. If you are to abide by the international golf rules, both pedestrians and golfers in cart are approved, so I do not really understand your statement there. Many people play golf precisely because it gives them the opportunity for a pleasant sport in a pleasant environment with pleasant social gatherings, while you get out and move yourself for a couple of hours. You miss most of this by driving around in a golf cart (unless your definition of pleasant socializing is just sitting next to a caddy). Furthermore, if we continue to adhere to international rules, the game itself will take exactly the same amount of time, regardless of whether you walk or ride a golf cart. What can differ is the time for movement between the holes and then it is mainly dependent on the design of the course.

One can have fast people walking, and slow people in carts. When someone on this thread works out what on earth you are talking about, please let me know.

20 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

One can have fast people walking, and slow people in carts. When someone on this thread works out what on earth you are talking about, please let me know.

I have done it my self, if that is accepted. It is exactly what you are saying. If you are driving a cart or not is not the main reason to if the ball is fast or not. 

I used to play golf in Bangkok, very badly, every Friday, I quite enjoyed it.

We used to tee-off at dawn. Even so, it was just too bloody hot & humid to really enjoy it, by the second hole I would be drenched in sweat at 7am???? ????

5 hours ago, mr mr said:

is there anything in this country not infected with thainess ? i tried to play golf here once before and when a 19some showed up at the t block i had a little bit of a head shake.

 

this thai way can do sure sure.

 

and it costs more here too ? hahaha please thailand get a grip on reality. 

 

 

It's the Thai-way or the highway!????

1 hour ago, Jaxxper said:

Not a golfer so no real interest in fees, costs, caddies etc, but when I worked in Batam the guys would come across from Singapore Friday night on the ferry, play golf for two days, have a hotel for 3 nights and go out on the beer for 3 nights and go back Monday AM AND they sAID it was cheaper than just playing golf in Singapore. I can believe it.

Wasn't it a similar thing for the Japanese coming to Thailand for the cheap golf. Is golf in Thailand still that cheap?

4 hours ago, Jaxxper said:

Batam

Batam has some nice courses and agree price is much lower than SG ...

- There’s excellent as well as average caddies. If a specific caddie helps your game you can reserve ahead of time. 4 golf clubs tournament last

group to come in. make the putt we win miss it all tie. Never played the course I’m average golfer play 4 times a month. Never played the course putt was up and and bent left.. asked the caddie where .. she said here I said you sure yes,, we won

- 5 ball ok as long as keeping pass 6 ball to many. Waiting too long for me 

has an adverse effect on my game, 

- Walk vs cart ., walking you concentrate more on the game .. Unfortunately for me at 66 I can walk 9 but 18 is a bit wearing me down. 

- Raye seem good and depends what you compare. China $150 USD round   At average course Thailand has it beat...

- Rates .. many courses have residents rate and other... so locals get a discount nothing wrong with it...

- Golf no matter your handicap is a great way to get away from daily BS.

 

Enjoy!

 

"With all the recent discussions on whether Thai caddies should be compulsory, well over 2/3rds of golfers polled in Thaivisa’s Golf in Thailand Survey just published, actually agreed that Caddies do enhance their round of golf."

 

Nice double speak . Apples and oranges .  Ask the question if golfers would prefer caddies to be optional to give a clearer representation of the reality. 

 

what a  lovely advertorial

A post referring to a caddies extra activities has been removed along with the replies. I suggest that posters avoid this type of comment in future ….

16 hours ago, TEFLKrabi said:

I play in Isaan and I’ve never seen dual pricing. Where does it occur at golf courses. As for price, it’s much cheaper up here than in the UK. I also find the caddies great fun and often highly entertaining. Would be a lot less fun without them.

You don't see it because it's not openly advertised.

Do you really think the Thai groups are paying the same as you ??

 

And, unusually, some courses in the Pattaya area actually did advertise the Thai rates (all in Thai) but then denied it when we tried to pay the same rate. The Thai rates were about 50% less