Golf quarantine: Latest government plan gets green light

 

File photo for reference only
 

Plans for 14 day quarantine at Thailand's many golf courses have been given the green light.

 

A notice under the name of Dr Kiatphoom Wongradit of the Thai public health ministry appeared in the Government Gazette yesterday, reported Daily News. 

 

Foreign golfers and their dependents would be allowed to quarantine and play golf as a means of "exercise" at golf courses. 

 

All CCSA, the Covid steering committee, regulations and measures would need to be followed, said the announcement. 

 

Fees would be paid directly to golf courses. 

 

Previously Thaivisa has reported that potentially thousands of golfers - mainly those from South Korea - wanted to come and spend possibly months in Thailand practicing golf. 

 

The Thai authorities had been prompted to the idea from officials at the South Korean embassy. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

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I am all in on this great idea!

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Previously Thaivisa has reported that potentially thousands of golfers - mainly those from South Korea - wanted to come and spend possibly months in Thailand practicing golf. 

They would want to play many courses not be stuck at one course for fourteen days .

2 minutes ago, keith101 said:

They would want to play many courses not be stuck at one course for fourteen days .

You must not be a golfer.

Playing the same course is no problem better then sitting in a hotel room for 2 weeks.

Some complexes are 27 or 36 holes so it is a great option.

They can play many other courses after the 2 weeks.

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

You must not be a golfer.

Playing the same course is no problem better then sitting in a hotel room for 2 weeks.

Some complexes are 27 or 36 holes so it is a great option.

They can play many other courses after the 2 weeks.

Green Valley along with the others  there might be ok .

Will this operate on the same lines as an ASQ. COVID tests, room service meals, nurse on site etc. Caddies self isolating as well. Use a Tourist visa? Many details missing as usual.

5 minutes ago, Jesse123 said:

Caddies self isolating as well.

 

I was wondering the same, since caddies come in close contact with the golfer.

 

A friend of mine currently is in covid prison, and when the hotel technician had to tune his TV, they came in Hazmat suit and  put him in another room for the time it took to do that, so why a golfer would be different

I spent 15 nights in ASQ back in July. 

I’m soon to travel again and return to Thailand a few months later. 

 

I’m not a golfer (I haven’t played for 3 years) - but, this could be an interesting option instead of sitting in a room all day. 

 

I wonder what the cost comparison is to a regular 45,000 baht quarantine hotel. 

 

I wouldn’t mind paying 45,000 baht for a Golf Course Quarantine hotel and maybe play golf every couple of days just to get out and about.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Jesse123 said:

Will this operate on the same lines as an ASQ. COVID tests, room service meals, nurse on site etc. Caddies self isolating as well. Use a Tourist visa? Many details missing as usual.

With all the Golf Club Staff having to self Isolate and be tested, there will be a massive problem finding enough competent Health Workers to oversee all the testing required.

There have already been a serious breech on just a few ASQ facilities in Bangkok by Health Workers, and anybody stupid enough to believe they will be safe chasing a little white ball around a field is deluded.

Another crazy scheme ( which on the surface appears to be ok ) that hasn't been thought out properly. They've overlooked one very important factor. Any golf course/resort used for this scheme will have to be closed to Thais, Thai residents and anybody else who wants a game of golf, as they shouldn't be able to go into an area that is being used for quarantine purposes. The golf courses and resorts will reject the scheme once they realise they will lose their local clientel. I already know of 2 courses that want nothing to do with this scheme for this very reason.

Never learned to play - perhaps this is the time? Except of course no instructor allowed!

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I spent 15 nights in ASQ back in July. 

I’m soon to travel again and return to Thailand a few months later. 

 

I’m not a golfer (I haven’t played for 3 years) - but, this could be an interesting option instead of sitting in a room all day. 

 

I wonder what the cost comparison is to a regular 45,000 baht quarantine hotel. 

 

I wouldn’t mind paying 45,000 baht for a Golf Course Quarantine hotel and maybe play golf every couple of days just to get out and about.

 

 

 

it's likely to be very overpriced for accommodation and golf, they never miss an opportunity to fleece foreigners 

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I’m not a golfer (I haven’t played for 3 years) - but, this could be an interesting option instead of sitting in a room all day. 

 

I have such a feeling that some important details are missing from the OP,  for example, that you get locked up 14 days in a hotel on the golf course, and after that get to play.

 

You have stayed in Covid prison before, so you know how strict they were there. I  don't believe golfers would be different.

Caddies will be dressed in hazmat suits.  

I hope the government is also investigate the option for all the men who like to practice their bubbel massage routine, during a proper quarantine of 14 days. ????

Whenever, I hear of these grand ASQ ideas, I think of only one thing.....Grabbing at straws and looking for money.

 

The next ASQ destination should be aimed at families.

 

"The Great Beachfront Villa ASQ Holiday"

Come to Thailand and quarantine in your own beachfront villa.  We will include all of your pre ordered groceries and food so you can cook and quarantine in leisure. Enjoy your days swimming in your own pool with the family or even in your private paradise locations beachfront ocean.  Our Covid medical staff will come and check on you daily for a low fee. After 14 days of the full Thailand Quarantine Villa experience you will be relaxed and refreshed so that you can continue on spending your wonderful holiday and money to help out the Thai economy to regain its number 1 position in tourism.

Pie in the ski idea;  for all the stated reasons above and many more.

 

Will never get off the ground with any momentum. 

 

All it does it open up the COVID risk factor to the other golfers in the group and everyone else servicing these golfers.

On 12/9/2020 at 6:55 PM, TigerandDog said:

Another crazy scheme ( which on the surface appears to be ok ) that hasn't been thought out properly. They've overlooked one very important factor. Any golf course/resort used for this scheme will have to be closed to Thais, Thai residents and anybody else who wants a game of golf, as they shouldn't be able to go into an area that is being used for quarantine purposes. The golf courses and resorts will reject the scheme once they realise they will lose their local clientel. I already know of 2 courses that want nothing to do with this scheme for this very reason.

Yes you a right for 18 hole courses but where they have 27 holes or even 36 holes , 9 or 18 holes could be reservered for quarantine guests. Also it is not esential to have a caddie or even a golf cart.

On 12/16/2020 at 2:36 PM, Thaivisa Golf said:

Yes you a right for 18 hole courses but where they have 27 holes or even 36 holes , 9 or 18 holes could be reservered for quarantine guests. Also it is not esential to have a caddie or even a golf cart.

not entirely correct. On a 27 hole course ( provided those in quarantine are restricted to the same 18 holes, e.g. holes 1-18 ) outside clientele would only be able to play 9 holes ( 19-27 ) either once or multiple times. The same scenario would apply for a 36 hole course.

 

Where the whole plan comes unstuck and hasn't been thought through properly is the pro-shop, the club house & locker rooms. With the players that are in quarantine having access to all 3, nobody else would be able to utilise them because they would unwittingly be a part of the quarantine area. Therefore players who are not quarantined would not in the right minds go to those golf courses under any circumstances, and as I said I already know of 2 courses that refused to be used as part of this poorly thought out plan for the reasons I've outlined as they prefer to look after the existing clientele.