My Thai Golf-What a brilliant idea-Part Two

Our five day tour to the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi continues;

Day Three-
For me Remembrance Day [11/11] will forever bring back memories of our trip to Kanchanaburi in 2012. So many Allied Soldiers and civilian labourers died building the Death Railway for the Japanese in 1942-43. Ofcourse there were many survivors who have all had to carry the burden of witnessing such evil cruelty for the rest of their lives.

Today is the 12 November 2013. I've been giving a lot of thought over the last few days, not only to those brave souls that died in such desperate circumstances, but also to those who endured that living hell and made it home, only to live on wondering why they had been spared.

To truly understand what some of the Allied POWs were put through you have to visit Hellfire Pass, about an hour's drive north west of Kanchanaburi. Here over 400 lives were lost excavating rock and soil so that track could be layed in a cutting some 75 metres long and 17.5 metres deep. Prisoners used basic tools, working around the clock, to complete this stretch which was literally hacked out of the side of small mountain. All soil and rock had to be carried away from the site using baskets. The heat must have been unbearable with so little air under the thick canopy of trees. Daytime temperatures regularly exceeded 35C and a lot of work was done during a particularly heavy monsoon season.

Hellfire Pass got it's name because at night those working above the cutting could see down into what they considered to be the jaws of hell. What they could see was in fact other prisoners working by oil lamp at the the rock face at the bottom of the Pass. Note the tree now growing in the middle of the Pass.[see below]

In 1988 the Australian Government built the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum as a testament to those who died and those that survived. The plaque below can be found in the Pass. The museum is by the car park.

If you visit Hellfire Pass don't make the mistake that we did. We should have gone into the museum first before venturing down the 300 steps that take you to the bottom of the Pass. We would have understood more and we could have hired some headphones from the museum that would have allowed us to stop at each of the viewing platforms that are built amongst those 300 steps, and listened to the commentary that describes each part of the construction. We would also have known what to expect and bought extra water before our trek.

We had no idea what we were doing when we headed straight down those steps in a searing 40C heat.
Thankfully our driver, Simnot, decided to accompany us and when he realised how desperate we were for water he virtually ran back to the top and fetched a load. A schoolboy error on our part.
Just so pleased Simnot came along.

We had walked down to the cutting once. A journey that many POWs made more than once every day for weeks on end and without Simnot to rescue them.

Earlier that day, on the sound advice of our Hotel manager, we had been to Saiyok National Park, a few miles north of the pass. The River Kwai runs through the park and presents you with some dramatic photo opportunities, particularly from the suspension bridge that was recently built there.

Many local people live on houseboats moored along the river.

Other houseboats travel up and down the river pulled by motor boats.
You can take your own journey on one of these houseboats.

 This fella looked like he was doing a bit of fishing from a moving houseboat. Very brave!

Water pours into the river from mountain streams creating stunning waterfalls.

It really is a beautiful part of Thailand.

After Hellfire Pass we were all drained. What a day.

Day Four-Nichigo Golf and Country Club

The drive from Pung Waan Resort to Nichigo was about 30 minutes. The course was in great condition with some very challenging holes. There are 27 holes on the complex so three sets of nine holes. Plenty of water to negotiate but undoubtedly the most difficult part was the greens. They were very quick and virtually unreadable, even for my caddie. No wonder, as I discovered later, she was only 14 and this was her first full round as a caddie.............and she got me!
I might have putted better if one of the local monkeys had caddied. We had quite a following and all after food for their young family.

JC decided after 14 holes that his trek down 300 steps at Hellfire Pass the previous day had got the better of him and he was most keen to get back to the clubhouse for a lie down. Despite our concerns he insisted that we carry on playing and his caddie drove him away.

To our surprise as we walked off the 18th green there was JC sat in the terrace bar with beer bottle in hand, smiling and waving. Another empty bottle was on the table. What an amazing recovery!

The view from the clubhouse terrace at Nichigo is magnificent.

That evening we ate at CR12, a fabulous restaurant alongside the floating one we'd been to earlier in the trip.
The CR12 was by far our best eating experience in Kanchanaburi.

Day Five-Bangkok

Simnot drove us the 90 miles to Bangkok and dropped us off at the Rembrandt Hotel around lunchtime.
What a great choice of Hotel for your last night in Thailand. I just wish I'd spent more time there.

Would you believe that of all the golf tours I have arranged to Thailand in the last ten years this was my first night sleeping in the capital. The Rembrandt is excellent and I would go back any day.

Our determination to thoroughly enjoy our final night of the holiday lead us to the Queen Vic Pub and onward to Soi Cowboy. The rest is a blur as was the flight home the following day.

All our thanks go to Ian Lewins for making our last five days so memorable.


 By the way I'm still counting-It's now 65 days to lift off.

Next week we are on a mini tour again.

My Thai Golf-What a brilliant idea-Part 1.

Prior to going on our 2012 Thailand Golf Tour to Hua Hin, our oldest tourist JC [now 76], told several of us all about his desire to visit the River Kwai to pay personal homage to all the allied soldiers who died whilst building the Thailand-Burma 'Death Railway' for the Japanese in World War Two.

Safe in the knowledge that Hua Hin is only a two and a half hour drive away from the Kwai, JC did bring the subject up several times once we arrived at our base, the Hua Hin Golf Villa. One way or another he was quite determined to go on this trip.

'Mr. Hua Hin Golf Tours' aka Ian Lewins also managed to get his ears burnt by JC on the subject so without saying a word to any of us he initiated some research on our behalf. With just seven days left of our holiday Ian approached us with what we perceived as a brilliant idea.

His proposal was that the three of us that were left [me, Chris and JC] take a two day historical/cultural visit to the Kwai to include two further days playing golf with our final night at a top Bangkok Hotel before flying home. A total of five nights with transportation in a luxury mini bus with our own driver for the duration.

What an opportunity! Our own personalised tour combining both golf and history without the constraints that come with an organised Coach excursion. We all jumped at the offer and Ian finalised the itinerary.
That trip is now firmly etched in my memory.

Kwai Tour-Day One-23rd February 2012
Our driver [Simnot] picked us up at 8.30am and drove to our first venue, the Royal Ratchaburi Golf Course 75 miles north of Hua Hin, a one and a half hour drive.

Royal Ratchaburi GC opened in 1988. It's referred to in several articles that I have read as a 'hidden gem' and now that I've played it, I fully agree. Plenty of water and bunkers, rolling fairways and some very undulating greens mean that you really need to think your way around here.

Have you ever had that feeling that your being watched? It happened more than once during our round.

It was a bit like having your own gallery following you.

An hour after leaving Royal Ratchaburi GC we arrived at our hotel for the next four nights, the Pung Waan Resort, situated right on the banks of the River Kwai, and two miles from the town of Kanchanaburi, the tourist centre for the region.

What a superb setting this resort hotel has.

After a quiet night we headed into day two and the onset of our cultural experience.

Day Two-24th February 2012
We left Pung Waan Resort at 9am and ten minutes later Simnot found a parking spot close to the Kwai bridge in Kanchanaburi, the same bridge that you will often see depicted on postcards and photos.

A local Guide Book seller talked me into buying one of his books for 200 baht. I was sceptical at first but I'm so glad I did as it proved to be £4 very well spent. That book contained an excellent historical insight as well as dispelling all the myths that had formed in my mind over the years through watching the film 'Bridge on the River Kwai' atleast 30 times.

We walked across the current bridge with all the other tourists and looked along the river to where the original Kwai bridge once stood, before it was bombed and destroyed. It was not blown up by Alec Guinness in Burma.

At the JEATH Museum, just a short walk away, you'll find a section of the original Kwai bridge and the museum itself is built on the site of that bridge.

JEATH stands for Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland and represents the nationalities of the prisoners of war forced to work on the construction of the bridge on the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi.

There is a steam locomotive at the museum entrance
with an inscription on it which indirectly tells the reader why the building of the Thailand-Burma railway was so crucial to the Japanese war effort.










I found it quite poignant to discover that the locomotive had been constructed in GB in 1921. Then twenty two years later it was being used, along with many others, by the Japanese in their quest for victory in south east Asia against Britain and her allies.

Move on some sixty seven years after the end of World War Two and there I was taking a picture of a train crossing the Kwai bridge and heading in the direction of Burma.

Our next stop was the Don Rak War Cemetary, also in Kanchanaburi.

In this cemetary lay the bodies and remains of 6982 British, Dutch and Australian prisoners of war, who all died building the 415 Kilometres [260 miles] of 'death railway' between Thailand and Burma.

The cemetary is beautifully layed out and immaculately kept. It was so peaceful there as we wandered amongst the headstones. What a fitting monument this small piece of Thailand is to so many brave men.

By luck we discovered a hard backed register hanging on an outside wall of the Groundsman's Office. This book held details of every soldier buried in Don Rak Cemetary. If you go there looking for one particular grave I suggest you seek out that register because it will direct you to straight to the grave you want to see.

We spoke with an English lady who had come to visit the grave of her grandfather and to delve into the history of the Death Railway. She found his grave.

I know we all felt very humbled by our visit to Don Rak that day.

Opposite the cemetary is the Death Railway Museum and Research centre. This is an interactive museum that tells the story of the 'Death railway' using models, pictures, first hand accounts and video footage.  It is superbly constructed providing a walk through experience that shouldn't be missed.
Entrance fee is a mere 100 baht [£2] and it's worth every penny.

Later that evening we returned to the bridge and ate at the floating restaurant.

Then it was back to our Hotel to reflect and to prepare ourselves for day three.
I'll be recounting days three, four and five next week.
There you have it. A blog in two parts either side of Remembrance Sunday. Quite fitting I reckon.

For more information about Kanchanaburi go to www.visitkanchanaburi.com

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.