No handicap as South Koreans swing through Thailand's 'golf quarantine'

By Sangmi Cha and Hyun Young Yi

 

Heo Kwang-eum, who is among the first group of South Korean tourists to arrive in Thailand under a "golf quarantine" programme amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, plays golf during his 15-day quarantine at the Artitaya Country Club in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand February 25, 2021. Heo Kwang-eum / Handout via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - At six in the morning, Heo Kwang-eum tees off another day in Thailand in coronavirus quarantine - literally. He's one of dozens of South Korean visitors spending two weeks in isolation playing golf at a resort an hour north of Bangkok.

 

The 66-year-old businessman is one of the first group of 41 Korean travellers to arrive in Thailand under a 'golf quarantine' programme devised by the Thai government to boost its ailing tourism sector during the pandemic.

 

At the Artitaya Country Club, the visitors were tested three days after arrival last week, and face at least two more tests before they can exit quarantine. With bars and other resort facilities closed, there's no prospect of a gathering for Heo and other visiting golf fans to thrash out the missed birdies, bogeys and shanks of the day, but spirits remain high.

 

"It's a huge golf course here," said Heo, speaking in his room before a packed lunch break to refuel before heading out for his second round of the day, playing off a handicap of 10.

 

"Think of 41 Koreans golfing as you roam around the course, served by over 100 employees. It's like emperor's golfing," said Heo, kitted out in a hot pink golf shirt and shorts in a more subdued shade of pink.

 

At six in the morning, Heo Kwang-eum tees off another day in Thailand in hotel quarantine - literally. He's one of dozens of South Korean visitors spending two weeks in isolation playing golf at a resort an hour north of Bangkok. Megan Revell reports.

 

Heo said other countries should also adopt the Thai campaign and boost tourism by cutting days of confinement and allowing people to take walks or jog within a boundary.

 

"It's extremely hard to go golfing in Korea these days because of COVID," said Heo, due to spend another month in Thailand on business after completing quarantine. "Here it's a golf paradise."

 

The 2.49 million won ($2,240) price of the package - paid for by the golfers - is reasonable comparing with the cost of a 14-day isolation period spent cooped up in a regular hotel room, Ku Jung-keun, general manager of the Artitaya Country Club, told Reuters.

 

"The golf quarantine offers three safe (coronavirus) tests and time to enjoy golfing. Doctors provide daily health check-ups for the guests, too," said Ku.

 

The next group departs in two weeks, the golf club's Seoul operations director Hong Soon-bong says.

 

"We have around 100 rooms available for up to 150 people. We are receiving three times more inquiries (than in usual periods) about the package," Hong said.

 

"Since the COVID outbreak last February, our company reported little to no sales," he said. "It was very difficult, but we came to hope again through this opportunity."

 

(Reporting by Sangmi Cha, Hyun Young Yi, Minwoo Park and Daewoung Kim; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-25

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

I feel bad for the caddy who will have to follow you in the hot sun dressed in plastic all afternoon, just to hand you the right club.

28 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

I feel bad for the caddy who will have to follow you in the hot sun dressed in plastic all afternoon, just to hand you the right club.

My understanding is no caddies for quarantined golfers - and none shown in the video 

Does the package include golf fees?

Now where are the liberals dissing the Koreans for wealth inequality and caddy lives matter? The difference from The 2.49 million won ($2,240) and a regular quarantine could be going to help the poor Thais not some fancy fat cat golf course. Ignore the rest of this I have said enough.

 

42 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

I feel bad for the caddy who will have to follow you in the hot sun dressed in plastic all afternoon, just to hand you the right club.

 

I feel sorry for the golfer as the 2.5 PM air pollution has been off the charts in Nakhon Nayok all week. I'm surprised he can even see the green. ????

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The 66-year-old businessman is one of the first group of 41 Korean travellers to arrive in Thailand under a 'golf quarantine' programme devised by the Thai government to boost its ailing tourism sector during the pandemic.

Excellent, keep them away from the rest of the public, 

New Leaf Wellness on Samui is doing a 'Detox in Quarantine' where their guests can detox before they arrive.  Hilarious! I'd rather be on a Golf course even if I was just running or walking around it better than being cooped up in a Hotel I guess. 

41! That is almost 35 seconds worth of tourist arrivals in 2019 with 40 million visitors! Wow! ????

2 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

I feel bad for the caddy who will have to follow you in the hot sun dressed in plastic all afternoon, just to hand you the right club.

A great cushy job for anyone. Beautiful surroundings and if you like golf and play too what a great lurk for a caddie.

If you are managing a golf course in Thailand you should be vigorously pursuing this revenue generating

opportunity.  I am jealous that this was not available when I came over and spent 15 days in a Bangkok hotel .

 

Having said that I would still need to see the fine print like if the price is all inclusive or are there additional costs for golf . Trust but verify ????. 

 

Once you have customers on site you might want to offer weekly specials to those that have cleared quarantine .

 

Looks like it is actually possible to golf without a caddie in Thailand .

And all the staff mentioned in the article,are they in the bubble or just go home to their families every night ?

3 hours ago, FitnessHealthTravel said:

New Leaf Wellness on Samui is doing a 'Detox in Quarantine' where their guests can detox before they arrive.  Hilarious! I'd rather be on a Golf course even if I was just running or walking around it better than being cooped up in a Hotel I guess. 

I always viewed playing golf as a pleasant stroll in the outdoors ruined.

5 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

I feel bad for the caddy who will have to follow you in the hot sun dressed in plastic all afternoon, just to hand you the right club.

I'm glad you feel bad, and not badly. Seems you know the difference, A+ in English

5 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

I feel bad for the caddy who will have to follow you in the hot sun dressed in plastic all afternoon, just to hand you the right club.

You obviously know little or  nothing about caddies or golf in Thailand,as most caddies sit in a cart driving the golfers,and only get out at the same time as the golfer to give him a club,as for being dressed in plastic,your dreaming,,i think you have been watching too many Star Wars movies,there's a lot of Space Cadets in them.

22 hours ago, webfact said:

No handicap as South Koreans swing through Thailand's 'golf quarantine'

By Sangmi Cha and Hyun Young Yi

 

Heo Kwang-eum, who is among the first group of South Korean tourists to arrive in Thailand under a "golf quarantine" programme amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, plays golf during his 15-day quarantine at the Artitaya Country Club in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand February 25, 2021. Heo Kwang-eum / Handout via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - At six in the morning, Heo Kwang-eum tees off another day in Thailand in coronavirus quarantine - literally. He's one of dozens of South Korean visitors spending two weeks in isolation playing golf at a resort an hour north of Bangkok.

 

The 66-year-old businessman is one of the first group of 41 Korean travellers to arrive in Thailand under a 'golf quarantine' programme devised by the Thai government to boost its ailing tourism sector during the pandemic.

 

At the Artitaya Country Club, the visitors were tested three days after arrival last week, and face at least two more tests before they can exit quarantine. With bars and other resort facilities closed, there's no prospect of a gathering for Heo and other visiting golf fans to thrash out the missed birdies, bogeys and shanks of the day, but spirits remain high.

 

"It's a huge golf course here," said Heo, speaking in his room before a packed lunch break to refuel before heading out for his second round of the day, playing off a handicap of 10.

 

"Think of 41 Koreans golfing as you roam around the course, served by over 100 employees. It's like emperor's golfing," said Heo, kitted out in a hot pink golf shirt and shorts in a more subdued shade of pink.

 

At six in the morning, Heo Kwang-eum tees off another day in Thailand in hotel quarantine - literally. He's one of dozens of South Korean visitors spending two weeks in isolation playing golf at a resort an hour north of Bangkok. Megan Revell reports.

 

Heo said other countries should also adopt the Thai campaign and boost tourism by cutting days of confinement and allowing people to take walks or jog within a boundary.

 

"It's extremely hard to go golfing in Korea these days because of COVID," said Heo, due to spend another month in Thailand on business after completing quarantine. "Here it's a golf paradise."

 

The 2.49 million won ($2,240) price of the package - paid for by the golfers - is reasonable comparing with the cost of a 14-day isolation period spent cooped up in a regular hotel room, Ku Jung-keun, general manager of the Artitaya Country Club, told Reuters.

 

"The golf quarantine offers three safe (coronavirus) tests and time to enjoy golfing. Doctors provide daily health check-ups for the guests, too," said Ku.

 

The next group departs in two weeks, the golf club's Seoul operations director Hong Soon-bong says.

 

"We have around 100 rooms available for up to 150 people. We are receiving three times more inquiries (than in usual periods) about the package," Hong said.

 

"Since the COVID outbreak last February, our company reported little to no sales," he said. "It was very difficult, but we came to hope again through this opportunity."

 

(Reporting by Sangmi Cha, Hyun Young Yi, Minwoo Park and Daewoung Kim; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-25

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

5 hours ago, 10baht said:

Now where are the liberals dissing the Koreans for wealth inequality and caddy lives matter? The difference from The 2.49 million won ($2,240) and a regular quarantine could be going to help the poor Thais not some fancy fat cat golf course. Ignore the rest of this I have said enough.

I get your point. But it's as though you have an issue with people being outspoken about the poor or disadvantaged? And that only those that do are liberals?

 

But I do also get how liberals focus on appearance of being PC without much improvements in policy.

7 hours ago, 10baht said:

Now where are the liberals dissing the Koreans for wealth inequality and caddy lives matter?

 

Happy to oblige & point you in a better direction. 1. You assume there are caddies, which is unproven as already stated by another member.

2. The economic inequality gap in South Korea is clearly visible to anyone who's ever visited. Almost 38% of their workforce earns less than KRW 12 million (those earning 100 million won or more) make up 1.4% of the labour force.

HOWEVER, I wouldn't say this topic applies here except you just felt the need to diss "the other side". I also think not all golfers are multi-millionnaires (in US$, Euro, Swiss Francs, GBP) and some may have saved up for this.

3. Your post could be interpreted that liberals care about everyone in society and research & retain facts - thanks for the compliment, accepted.

41 tourists.  Nice to see Thailand is bouncing back ????

 

Only 39,999,959 tourists to go.... 

 

 

12 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

I feel bad for the caddy who will have to follow you in the hot sun dressed in plastic all afternoon, just to hand you the right club.

Don't feel sorry for the Caddy , quite simply. NEVER REQUIRED , it's hardly a must , joke to be honest , coz there is no skill involved .

10 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

I'm glad you feel bad, and not badly. Seems you know the difference, A+ in English

sorry - but you should google it before correcting another poster's grammar 

 

Feel bad is the grammatically correct version when describing that you don't feel well physically or emotionally. "Feel," like all other sense verbs, can double as an action verb or a "linking verb," where it connects the subject with a clause describing the subject.

 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/do-you-feel-bad-or-feel-badly#:~:text=Feel bad is the grammatically,a clause describing the subject.

Once again TAT coming up with an original initiative for tourism that will likely now be followed by other countries. They didn’t get tourism numbers up to nearly 40,000,000 per year boosting the economy by 10-20%  by being average.

Amazing Thailand.

 Caddies: For Mida Golf course: Quote: [Caddy is available but please inform ahead if the customer need.]

 

Which implies.. caddies are not provided, but if you need a Caddy arrangements can be made. I imagine these arrangements involve paying extra for a caddy who will also isolate (quarantine) for two weeks at the same time or some such similar arrangement (not with you of course, so mongers don’t get excited !)

 

 

 

On 2/26/2021 at 9:19 AM, jingjing99 said:

($2,240) price of the package - paid for by the golfers - is reasonable comparing with the cost of a 14-day isolation period spent cooped up in a regular hotel room

 

The price listed is about 68,000 Baht - which is reasonable... I’d pay that and I hardly like golf !!!

 

Unfortunately there is very little information on the Golf Quarantine and it looks primarily set up for Golf Tourism and not people like myself who would return to Thailand and use the golf quarantine instead of regular ASQ. 

Books seems to be over fixed package dates etc..

 

Mida Golf course is the only one which has information: 90,000 baht.. which is a little too high IMO.

 

On 2/26/2021 at 3:04 PM, Mr Dome said:

Happy to oblige & point you in a better direction. 1. You assume there are caddies, which is unproven as already stated by another member.

2. The economic inequality gap in South Korea is clearly visible to anyone who's ever visited. Almost 38% of their workforce earns less than KRW 12 million (those earning 100 million won or more) make up 1.4% of the labour force.

HOWEVER, I wouldn't say this topic applies here except you just felt the need to diss "the other side". I also think not all golfers are multi-millionnaires (in US$, Euro, Swiss Francs, GBP) and some may have saved up for this.

3. Your post could be interpreted that liberals care about everyone in society and research & retain facts - thanks for the compliment, accepted.

No, I think liberals are 2 faced , shallow, and hypocrites, who will always be willing to use other people's time and money to further an agenda that is for the most part not real.

On 2/26/2021 at 1:46 PM, Solinvictus said:

I get your point. But it's as though you have an issue with people being outspoken about the poor or disadvantaged? And that only those that do are liberals?

 

But I do also get how liberals focus on appearance of being PC without much improvements in policy.

I am sorry, you are correct. Not sorry about the PC liberals but for thinking the good guys don't care,

Some inflammatory posts and the inflammatory replies have been removed:

 

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

On 3/3/2021 at 4:19 PM, 10baht said:

I am sorry, you are correct. Not sorry about the PC liberals but for thinking the good guys don't care,

I consider myself progressive and at the moment I'm disgusted with liberals and their petty concerns about gender and stuff like cancelling Mr. Potato head. What they are doing is dividing everyone (I think it's on purpose by the wealthy) but I consider it an infringement on personal liberties also.