Can You Just Play Or Do You Need To Be At A Goodish Standard

[dean999]

Hi all,

My friend plays golf and i have never even hit a ball.

I want to take him to a golf course on his first ever trip to Thailand. Most likely we will be in Pattaya.

He is only coming for two weeks so he doesn't really want to drag his clubs from the UK, just to play once or twice. Obviously i don't have any.

My questions are -

1. Can we hire clubs?

2. Can we just turn up and play or because i'm at a zero standard, i'll need to join an instructor or something?

3. What are the rough costs?

If anyone knows a website i can find this info out, that would be better. There is probably a lot of things i need to know and haven't a clue where to start.

Please don't think i'm just going to turn up and upset people, i would like to take it up as a hobby.

[Upnotover]

1) Yes you can hire clubs at most courses, 700 Baht or so.

2) If you've never hit a ball then don't go to a golf course until you've at least spent some time at a driving range - there's plenty around Pattaya. If you turn up and try to play you'll just ruin your day and waste your money.

3) Roughly 1500-2000 all in (per player), excluding club hire.

Probably a better bet for your friend would be for him to go with an organised group (there some that advertise on this forum).

[dean999]

1) Yes you can hire clubs at most courses, 700 Baht or so.

2) If you've never hit a ball then don't go to a golf course until you've at least spent some time at a driving range - there's plenty around Pattaya. If you turn up and try to play you'll just ruin your day and waste your money.

3) Roughly 1500-2000 all in (per player), excluding club hire.

Probably a better bet for your friend would be for him to go with an organised group (there some that advertise on this forum).

Thank you for the reply.

I think a driving range would probably be a better idea. My mate will be happy just to wack some balls and have a cold beer. Plus we wont be getting in anyones way. Yeah ok, I mean me.

That price you have put down seems pretty cheap. I had a quick scan through that thaigerlinegolf.com, expensive.

[richard_smith237]

Why not try Both?… Driving Range and Golf course…

You don’t mention where you are… But if in Bangkok, take your friend to All Star Driving Range. IMO it’s the best driving range in Bangkok with good facilities, you can eat, have a beer etc…

If you can make contact with the ball and it goes roughly in the direction you want it, you’ll be fine on a golf course if you play midweek (weekends are generally busier with competent golfers).

Even if you are not that good and holding up a group behind, you can simply pick up the ball and place it near your friends (i.e. Texas scramble).

You can enjoy a beer and a chat round the course.

One of the most enjoyable rounds of golf I played recently was with my wife. I was playing terribly, but we had a cool box with wine and just chilled out on an empty course in Khao Yai (Kirimaya).

If your friend plays golf, definitely take him to a decent course in Thailand – Prices vary.. you will usually pay about B600 for club hire, B200-B300 for caddy fee (+ B300 tip for the caddy at the end of the round), green fee’s vary and range from about B1200 to B3000 depending on course. Carts are compulsory on some courses and usually cost between B600 and B800.

Courses here tend not to be as strict as the UK. Dress codes seem not to exist, you can play in trainers if you have no golf shoes etc…

Thaigolfer.com has some good information on the courses. Additionally you can also find some 'packages' on the internet and from hotels which include transport and club hire but these are usually fairly expensive.

[SolarGolf]

I think some driving ranges in Pattaya charge around 1000THB per hour for lessons. Also there is a small par 3 course by the Asia, which only charges around 300 or 400 THB per player. Not sure they rent out clubs though. If you're looking for a full sized course that is good for beginners then I find the Navy course is quite good for that. Wide open and one of the cheapest in the area. It is about 40 minutes away by car though. It is marker #13 on this map of golf courses around Pattaya.

[Upnotover]

1) Yes you can hire clubs at most courses, 700 Baht or so.

2) If you've never hit a ball then don't go to a golf course until you've at least spent some time at a driving range - there's plenty around Pattaya. If you turn up and try to play you'll just ruin your day and waste your money.

3) Roughly 1500-2000 all in (per player), excluding club hire.

Probably a better bet for your friend would be for him to go with an organised group (there some that advertise on this forum).

Thank you for the reply.

I think a driving range would probably be a better idea. My mate will be happy just to wack some balls and have a cold beer. Plus we wont be getting in anyones way. Yeah ok, I mean me.

That price you have put down seems pretty cheap. I had a quick scan through that thaigerlinegolf.com, expensive.

The price is based upon one of the cheaper courses (Pattaya Country Club for example; 1100 undiscounted green fee, 250 caddy, 250 shared cart, 300 caddy tip), playing midweek and making your own way there. Other courses are a lot (x2, x3) more expensive and the organised groups will have some cost for the transport included. You can check all the prices on the Pattaya Sports Club website.

[LarryBird]

pick a time to play when the course isn't busy.. this is usually in the afternoon sometime.

[dean999]

Thank you all for the replies.

More than likely we will be in the Pattaya area. I did say that at the start.

There's some really good info in your posts. I think Richard_smith237 had a very good idea. Driving range first and then if I'm doing ok, go on the course. I'm normally a pretty quick learner, you never know i could be a natural.

Thank you all again.