My Thai Golf-Banyan is bursting with brilliance

Banyan GC is only a 10 minute drive from the centre of Hua Hin. There's a terrific view across the course as you head along the final approach road. That view disappears when you arrive at your drop off point behind the Clubhouse and Locker rooms.

Having had that glimpse of what's in store you get the urge to find that view again. That 'drop off' area does make you feel as though you're hemmed in by concrete with buildings on three sides but there's a pathway alongside the Locker room that leads to the Restaurant and Bar, both of which are built in elevated positions
overlooking the course.

Follow that pathway and the panorama will just burst out infront of you. On my first visit this signalled a sharp intake of breath from everyone around me, followed by various cries of 'wow', 'fantastic' and 'awesome!'  

The experience is similar to one of those old movies set in the desert, where the oasis is visible for a few seconds and then it disappears. Then within seconds it's reappeared, only this is no mirage.

Banyan is definitely for real and amazingly it's only been open since 2008. That fact surprises most people because it looks like it's always been a golf course. The architect, Pirapon Namatra, a leading golf course designer in Thailand has excelled at Banyan. Everything appears so natural. A brilliant lay out.

Just like at Black Mountain the adrenalin starts coursing as the excitement of playing a top course takes hold.

The locker rooms here, like the majority of top Thai golfing venues, are immaculate and so spacious, giving the whole set up a five star feeling.

Golf Carts are not compulsory at Banyan but if you opt for one, which most visitors do, theirs are all fitted with GPS, a nice little extra.

Now it's out to the first tee but not before a short trip to the practice green. Five minutes there is always well spent because the greens here do take some reading, as well as always being a 'tad' rapid, as my pal Chris once put it.

The first hole is a wonderful dog-leg par four. If ever you needed reminding that the next four hours were going to be extremely demanding then that hole will focus your mind on the challenge ahead.

Many of the holes here have raised tees which allow you see most of what lies ahead, which does help. Ofcourse you will also have the services of a very knowledgeable caddie plus your onboard GPS so all you need to do is concentrate on hitting it straight. Sounds easy doesn't it! I can assure you it's not.

Following your game make your way to the Terrace Restaurant or to Mulligan's Pub for a well earned cold drink. Then take in that view again. It is special.

The big question is 'Banyan or Black Mountain?' The jury is out. They are both outstanding venues.

To find out more about Banyan Golf and Banyan-The Resort go to www.banyanthailand.com

Just 79 days to take off now. I will be playing at Banyan again in February, at least twice. How lucky am I?

My blog goes North next week when I take you on a four day mini tour but we'll be back reviewing more courses in Hua Hin soon.

My Thai Golf-The lure of Black Mountain

The first time I played at Black Mountain was in February 2012.

After a 25 minute drive from Hua Hin through some very rural Thai countryside we reached the entrance and headed toward the Clubhouse about a quarter of a mile away.

I saw a golf course to my left and pointed it out to my pals.
A excited voice from behind me said, 'this place looks awesome, look at all that water and bunkers!'
Our Thai driver had heard the conversation and piped up, 'just the Par 3 Course'.
That comment stunned the mini bus into silence. Eight of us were gobsmacked!

I have played that Par 3 course twice now and what a test it is.
Don't avoid it-play it if you get the chance. You won't be disappointed.

The Par 3 course even has it's own bar and changing area which is great if you are only playing that course. There is a drop off and pick up area and caddies are sent down from the main clubhouse to pull your golf bag on one of their trollies. You don't have to book unless you are a big party.

You enter the clubhouse by driving into an underground car park where a team of very smartly dressed caddies are waiting to take your golf bag. There is a lift to the top floor where there are the most amazing views across the Black Mountain course with the 'black mountain' in the background.

I was immediately taken back by the superb landscaping and magnificent manicuring that was all around me.

That was the moment when I knew I had arrived somewhere special. I couldn't wait to get out and play.

You should go and browse in the Professional's Shop but be warned! It's not easy to resist buying at least one memento. Every item of clothing bears the unique BM logo to show off when you get home, and there is some choice in there.

The plush locker rooms include both hot and cold splash pools.

The warm up practice area and range are well worth visiting before you make that first meaningful drive. Your caddie will drive you there.

Then it's off to heaven.

I have a tip-Listen to everything your caddie tells you. It's no good just blasting away and living in hope of finding a good lie. These caddies are as good as you will find anywhere in Thailand.

It's your caddie's job to help in every way they can so that you can fully enjoy the experience of playing arguably Thailand's top course.

There's lots of water out there and loads of bunkers. A massive challenge to relish for any golfer, irrespective of ability so if your caddie suggests laying up then assume they are right.

The feeling of striking a solid iron shot from these fairways is something to savour.

The greens are always fast and true.

Expect to three putt sometime during your round and don't be disappointed if it happens more than once. Just take a deep breath and have a good look around you. Soak up the scenery and once you remember where you are, pinch yourself. It's no use getting wound up in these surroundings.

Some people are lucky enough to own Villas or apartments that overlook the course. Some of these can be rented on short or long term leases. Imagine waking up to a view like that every day.

The 18th is a par 5 with a gradual incline to a green that sits just below the bar and restaurant. There's always a gallery, all watching your approach shot and how many putts you take.

The food here is very tasty whether you opt for Thai or European cuisine and after playing a course like that your first beer tastes so good. Just find a good vantage point and take in the scenery. If you aren't coming back for a while then take a long look so that you can remember as much as possible.

Every one of the 18 holes are firmly etched in my mind and I'll be back there in just 84 days.

Bring it on! 

To find out more about Black Mountain Golf Club and nearby accommodation visit their website which is www.blackmountainhuahin.com

More on Hua Hin's array of fantastic Golf courses will feature in future blogs from me. You can find out where I'll be next week by following me again on Wednesday 30th October.

My Thai Golf-Can I afford it?

It appears that my blogs have stirred up a considerable amount of interest in playing golf in Thailand.

Such has been the interest that several of you have emailed me seeking some vital information.  The questions asked have actually pre-empted a blog that was already in the planning stage and as a consequence I have brought the publication date forward a couple of weeks.

The topic of the emails is basically cost and the big question 'can I afford it?'

The answer is an emphatic 'yes'. Read on and then I suggest you start planning your trip.

I've worked out some approximate costings for you all based on 11 nights in a 3 star Hua Hin boutique hotel and playing six rounds of golf, to include all transportation to and from courses.

The model I have used is the Hua Hin Golf Villa which I know particularly well and would recommend to anyone. Hua Hin Golf Tours are based at the Hotel and they look after all your golfing needs.

My costings are for a high season vacation which will reflect the most expensive period. Therefore you can expect that a visit taken at any other time of the year would work out cheaper.

High season in Hua Hin, and Pattaya, the two main golfing destinations, runs from November through until March.

To begin with though, you need to consider your flight and where you'll be flying from.
Do you prefer to fly direct or will you want a stop off?
If it helps direct flight time from London is 11.5 hours.
The only UK airport where you can fly direct to Thailand is from London Heathrow.
There are some excellent one-stop options from Birmingham and Manchester as well as Heathrow.

Flight costs in high season range from £460 to £650.

There are a number of ways of getting from Bangkok International to Hua Hin.
A single bus fare is £6.
Hotel transfer in an air conditioned mini bus will cost £60.00 one way, divisible by the number of passengers.
A taxi for 2 will cost £40 each way.

Eleven nights accommodation is broken down as follows;
Single occupancy- Prices depend on room choice and can vary from £30 per night to £50 per night.
Therefore from £330-£550 for one person

Twin or double occupancy-Prices vary from £35 to £50 per night.
Therefore £350-£550 for two people.

All the above costs include breakfast, whether it be for one or two persons.
Visit www.huahingolfvilla.com


A round of golf can also vary in price, depending on venue, between £50 and £90.
These prices include hire of a buggy, caddie fee, caddie tip and transport.
Taking an average that includes two top venues you van expect to pay £400 per person for 6 rounds.

So for the single traveller, or the single who is part of a group, an overall cost of around £1350.00 is a very reasonable approximation. Add on the cost of other meals and general expenditure and you'll have the time of your life for less than £2k. Fantastic value and guaranteed sunshine.

There are more expensive packages in 4 and 5 star hotels or cheaper options in local guesthouses and apartments. All easily found by doing a bit of internet research.

If you do need any advice please email me direct on mythaigolf13@gmail.com


I am also on twitter @mythaigolf

..............93 days to go.

My Thai Golf-Arranging the 2014 Tour

If you are travelling half way around the world to play golf then there's quite a lot of stuff to consider.
Dates, Location, Flights, Accommodation, Tee reservations and Transport are the key areas to focus on.

Now if there's just two of you then it is relatively easy to arrange.
You could plan and execute the whole tour without assistance if you wanted to, such is the power of the internet that it's all at your fingertips nowadays.

Now put yourself in my shoes.
Next February, around the 16th, there will be a coming together of around 28 of us.When we all arrive at our base camp it's a bit like one of those wildlife films where all the Turtles turn up on the same beach at roughly the same time to dig a hole in the sand.
In both cases it usually takes a couple of days for the full complement to come together.

For my tour group you can replace the digging with the downing of a few beers by the pool and catching up on events since the last tour. Some of us don't see each other from one tour 'til the next.

They all come to renew great friendships and to play in the prestigious Thailand Trophy.
In 2014 our Tour Party will consist of golfers from Leicestershire, Merseyside, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Surrey, Latvia, Sweden, Thailand and Laos. Quite a diverse group with ages ranging from 40 to 77.
Handicaps range from 5 to 23.

A couple of practice rounds to acclimatize are followed by four rounds of single stableford on four challenging courses.

Full handicap allowance, daily prizes but all the prestige going to the best player over the four days.

[2013 Top Four are above]

The competition is fierce with the four leading scores going out together on the last day which now has it's permanent home at Black Mountain GC, the current number one Golfing venue in South east Asia.

Where else could we hold the climax to a competition as strong as this one?

It's a fantastic golf course and perfect for the big climax, with a stunning clubhouse and bar overlooking the 18th green.

There is no way that I could pull this all together on my own.

I set the dates, co-ordinate the flights, provide all the updates, organise the golfing calender and manage all the competitions and prizes.

I leave everything else with Hua Hin Golf Tours, in particular their Golf Director Ian Lewins.
This guy is exceptional in everything he does and he is so ably supported by a great team.

When you come down to breakfast Ian is there checking on everyone's welfare and finalising arrangements for the day.

An hour or so later you arrive at your venue and Ian is standing by the first tee welcoming everyone.

Then return to the Hotel from your day's golf and guess who is there to greet you?

Hua Hin Golf Tours are a very slick organisation, thanks to Ian's leadership.

They provide airport transfers, all transport to and from the courses and they negotiate all Tee Times.
You can choose where you want to play and leave it to them.
Everything runs so smoothly which allows me to relax and enjoy my holiday as much as anyone else.

As for the Hua Hin Golf Villa, where do I start? It's a boutique hotel with well appointed and spacious rooms. Everyone is so friendly and all the staff are so willing to please.

There's a lovely, quiet pool area adjacent to the large dining area where all guests mix and exchange their golfing stories. It's five minutes walk from the beach and a five minute tuk-tuk ride from the centre of town.
see www.huahingolfvilla.com

More about Hua Hin and it's golf courses will follow. I will be there in 101 days.[I'm still counting!]

My Thai Golf-Counting the days again.

Here we go again.
It's the first day of October and the trigger in my brain has fired off it's annual message telling me to start counting the days until I am playing golf in Thailand again.
Every year it's the same as the build up gathers pace and I start my ritual of crossing the days off on the calendar.

My flights were booked eight weeks ago but the excitement didn't start then. Okay so maybe it did, just a little bit, but that was back in the middle of our summer and we have had a warm one.

The excitement has really started now though. September has passed and I am a little more focused.
My head keeps spinning as pictures of all my favourite Thai haunts keep forming in my mind's eye.

Arrangements are different next year.

It won't be my usual arrival in the first week of February.
I'll be there on the 17th of January to be precise, and this time Mrs.'mythaigolf' will be with me on her first ever Thailand holiday.

We are dividing our time equally between Hua Hin and Koh Samui with a few days touring in between.
I know she will love it all.

Then, around 6th February, the first wave of my tour group arrive at our hotel in Hua Hin.
Mrs.'mythaigolf' will be treated to a few late nights with the lads before she flies home to the delights of the English winter, and work.

Meanwhile lucky old me will stay on in Hua Hin to oversee and compete in ten days of highly competitive golf which includes four rounds of Stableford on four different courses. There will be around 30 of us all attempting to win the prestigious, and 10th, Thailand Trophy.

I've told you all before that I'm hooked on Hua Hin.
There is something so special about the place. The golf courses are awesome and they're all within a short drive of the town, and what a fantastic selection they have.
Black Mountain, Banyan, Springfield, Majestic Creek, Palm Hills and Sea Pine to name a few.
We'll play them all.

They also have the oldest course in Thailand, Royal Hua Hin GC, which is adjacent to the central railway station. It is a gem. A very challenging 18 holes with some dramatic views over the town.

The town of Hua Hin isn't big but it's full of fantastic restaurants that produce wonderful food at very reasonable prices.

Every evening, as you walk down any of the main streets, you can soak up the exhilarating atmosphere created by a global gathering of tourists tucking into great food and thoroughly enjoying themselves. I love it.

I can't wait to go and eat at the night market again. The buzz there is brilliant.
My favourite restaurant is called 'Bird Chilli'. Don't ask me why they call it that!
While you are waiting for your food try one of their Long Island Teas. Hmmmmm!

Then after your meal why not visit a proper Golfer's Bar. The King Bar is a thirty second walk from the centrally located Hilton Hotel. Your host, Billy, a fanatical Liverpool FC supporter, loves to see new faces. His bar has become a 'home from home' for Tour caddies on their holidays so the walls are bedecked with some fantastic golfing memorabilia. Billy also does all the best sport on his three screens so you won't miss a game. My group refer to The King Bar as Tour HQ.  It's a great place to meet.

So we come back to the reason why I go on an annual golfing pilgrimage to Thailand.
Just take a look at this breathtaking view from the clubhouse of Santiburi GC on Koh Samui.
Now if that's not reason enough!
Quite tempting isn't it?

I am not wishing the next 108 days away but I cannot wait to get back out there.