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Asian Golf Nation - September 2010

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Dear Travel Partners & Golf Travelers,

Black Mountain Golf Club - Hua HinWelcome to the September 2010 edition of the "Asian Golf Travel Nation", the source for news breaking information about Asian Golf. In addition, unique golf playing tips for Indochina's tropical environment, announcements of golf travel promotions, and our latest subscription offer are all integral parts of today's newsletter.

Most of the world's summer holidays are over and it is now back-to-school time for the kids. Leafs on trees will start to change colors, the days will become shorter, and the weather will start to turn cold soon. This is time for the last golf rounds of the year and time to start making this winter's golfing plans.

In Asia, we are in the midst of the "green season" with daily afternoon showers being the norm across the region. The golf courses are wet for sure, but all remain open for play, still have low season prices in effect, and due to the lack of visitors quick sub 4 hour rounds are common. Really hard to beat in fact!!

Nevertheless, with fewer visitors, this is a good time for us to catch up on things, update our tours for the high season and inspect all of the area golf courses and hotels.

I was in Vietnam two weeks ago and found Dalat Palace, Van Tri, Montgomerie Links, and Danang Golf Club in particular to all be in excellent condition. Over in Thailand, Mission Hills Phuket has tried laying new grass, but the grass changeover has been a failure and is now stopped after only 6 holes. While in Phuket, Red Mountain continues to woo visitors and easily steals the award for best Phuket golf course, if not best in Thailand. Blue Canyon may be more challenging, but visitors prefer Red Mountain due to the on course scenic beauty and off course facilities and service standards.

With that, I invite you to read on and hear what's new in golf around the region.


Now for the golf news from around the region:

Thailand*
Chiang Mai HighlandsChiang Mai:
Jim is up north again and played the new Chiang Mai Inthanon Golf Resort. The golf course is a 1 hour drive from the Chiang Mai hotels about halfway to Doi Inthanon - 50 kilometers away. It is an interesting and challenging design, though the conditions are a bit rough, the caddies very new, and hardly any English is spoken by the staff. The club house is fair though the locker rooms are very basic. For those with the proper expectations it is fine. Golf holidaymakers coming from afar will probably be better off playing the other more established courses like Chiang Mai Highlands and Alpine Chiang Mai.

Vietnam
*Dalat PalaceDalat: Dalat is a beautiful town high in the mountains north of Saigon. On my recent visit I was able to sleep with the window in my hotel room open and was surprised to wake up to cool 15 degree temperatures. The French knew the area was a jewel long ago and used Dalat as a cool weekend retreat from the hot humid Saigon city. The Dalat Palace Golf Club recently changed ownership and I am glad to see that the new management is even more committed to further improving the golf course. With non-stop flights from Danang, Dalat makes a perfect 2 centered golf destination in combination with the Vietnam Golf Coast. As a bonus the new Royal City Dalat courses is progressing and the first nine should be open for play by years end. Stay tuned for the makings of the "Vietnam Golf Highlands".

Malaysia
*Karambunai Golf and Country ClubKota Kinabalu:Looking for a new golf destination this year? Kota Kinabalu, on the island of Borneo overlooks the South China Sea and is a vibrant and green state of dramatic coastlines, drifting wetlands, and lush mountainous countryside. Kota Kinabalu is also home to the four best golf courses in Malaysia and definitely offers a truly unforgettable golfing experience.

In the city, just close to the waterfront, there is the Sabah Golf and Country Club, a 27-hole championship golf course designed by Graham Marsh (same designer as Burapha in Pattaya Thailand). Then there is Kinabalu Golf Club (1933), the oldest golf club on the island. The other two golf courses Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club, and Karambunai Golf and Country Club, each have their own on-site 5* resort facilities.

Why not check out the 2008 award-winning best up-and-coming golf destination as named by the International Golf Travel Writers?

Remember if you want to get regular updates about golf in Indochina, then sign-up for uninterrupted email delivery of this newsletter. In addition, all persons signing up will automatically receive the latest "Thailand Golf Insider Tips" special report.

Also, GOLFASIAN have secured special deals with over 100 golf courses and 800 hotels throughout Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia to offer the very best promotions for the rest of 2010 and 2011. No matter what your budget or how small/large your group Golfasian will be glad to organize your golfing holiday.

Please contact the Asian Golf Experts at info(at)golfasian(dot)com.

Until the next newsletter, happy golfing!

Mark Siegel
Managing Director of Golfasian

 

* Featured Golf Course - Riverdale Golf Club Bangkok

Lam Luk Ka Country ClubDesigned by Jonathan Morrow and Al Tikkanen and like Red Mountain, their other high-profile Phuket golf course, Riverdale Golf Club is destined to become one of the most celebrated Bangkok Golf Courses. Riverdale may not at first glance look the most menacing test of golf you've seen. However, the golfer is in for a surprise.

The landscape includes several large lakes which were dredged to create the hills that surround the golf course and frame most of the holes. Beyond the perimeter though there's not much to look as it is predominantly comprised of factories and small villages. But once you've fired your opening tee-shot at the gently sloping downhill opener, the challenges and considerable charm of these immaculately groomed links will quickly assert themselves. [Read More]

* Featured Resort - Banyan Resort & Golf

Banyan Resort & GolfBanyan Resort & Golf, Hua Hin, Thailand, is an exclusive resort designed and built to the highest standards. Set in a beautiful landscaped environment, the resort offers a choice of private pool villas and villas with a Jacuzzi.

The luxurious villas feature stylish Thai decor and furnishings, and modern appliances. Resort facilities include Lemongrass Restaurant & Bar and the Splash Pool Bar & Playground. [Read More]

* Golfasian Announces 2011 Amateur Golf Series

Phuket Amateur Golf WeekGolfasian is launching a 4 event amateur golf series for 2011 for golfers from around the world. The events will be marketed and sold via Golfasian's global network of golf tour operator partners.

As a pioneer in the golf tourism industry, Golfasian promotes the Thailand golf product to individual golfers who want the best value-for-money unique golf experiences, with personalized service, privacy and simplicity. Now Golfasian is branching out into the lucrative amateur golf market to address the needs of golfers who want the same level of personalized value-for-money service, but also prefer to tailor their golf travels around a structured and competitive amateur golf event. [Read More]

* Golfasian Appoints Ian Morgan as General Manager

Phuket Amateur Golf WeekGolfasian has appointed Ian Morgan as its General Manager. Ian has spent the last three and half years in Phuket as the Sales & Marketing Director of The Yorkshire Hotel & Spa in Patong Beach.

Ian has played Professional Golf for eight years which included playing in tournaments around the world and one year as a teaching professional in Denmark.
He then started his own travel firm in England which specialized in golf holidays worldwide and his company was the official tour operator for the low cost airline JET2. Ian can be contacted at ian(at)golfasian(dot)com or at +66 (0) 2 714 8470

RSS Best of the Blog thailandgolfzone.com

Best Place For A 'Quiet and Peaceful' Thailand Golf and Beach Holiday?

Hua Hin BeachHua Hin is the winner here, with Phuket's north and west coasts posting an honorable challenge. Until recently the golf in Hua Hin was mostly 'so-so' quality, though that has changed with some of newer venues which are up to world class standards.

Banyan Golf Club won the "2009 Best New Golf Course in Asia" award, while Black Mountain Golf Club, only 2 years old, was voted as the second best Thailand golf course, just behind Thai Country Club. Both courses are located in the foothills above Hua Hin, which make for spectacular après golf views from the clubhouses overlooking vast and fertile valleys below.

Read more about the Best Place For A 'Quiet and Peaceful' Thailand Golf and Beach Holiday?...

Other golf stories can be found at the Thailand Golf Zone where there are over 450 other original articles dealing exclusively with golf in Asia and golf travel.

I would love to hear about any golf tips that any of you may have developed for getting the maximum enjoyment from your golf trips, and can incorporate some in future articles. Therefore if you have any golf tips or suggestions you would like to share, please let me know by dropping me an email.

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RSS Golfing Tips - How To Get Out of the Sand

4 Swing Keys To Trim Your Golf ScoreGolf at the best of times is 70 percent mental and 30 percent physical; and in the sand its even easier because you dont even have to hit the ball to get it out !!

Normally there are only two reasons why at times we can't get the ball out of the sand: Once you make contact with the sand you don't follow through, or perhaps you took too much sand that resulted from hitting too far behind the ball.

Most golfers don't swing hard enough in bunkers to let the sand propel the ball out of the trap. Feel like you are pounding the sand and accelerating the club head through the shot to improve your bunker play. When I am teaching students in the bunker I get them to firmly hit the sand and make sure they follow through, this will get the ball out every time assuming the lip of the bunker isnt high.

When you enter the beach, remember these points

  1. Get your feet firmly into the sand to give yourself a stable base.
  2. Aim about 45* left of the target / pin.
  3. Play the ball about middle of your body.
  4. Aim about 1- 2 inches behind the ball.
  5. Your backswing should follow the line of your body, so you will "cut the ball out of the bunker"
  6. When you are following through, get the sense "of throwing the ball out with the sand ". You will do this by burying the club in the sand on the downswing and follow through. This will compress the sand and the ball will be lifted out by the sand.

If you have any other questions regarding golf tips to help you with your game email us at [email protected] and we will reply in upcoming newsletters

For more golf tips visit www.golfthink.com

* Meet Golfasian at these Trade/Roadshows

-Golfasian has a full schedule of tradeshows and roadshows during the next few months.

You can find us at the following exhibits:

  • September 8-10 - Thailand Travel Mart + (Bangkok)
  • November 15 - 18 - International Golf Travel Market 2010 (Valencia)

Arrange an appointment with Mark Siegel, MD of Golfasian, at one of these exhibits.

* About Us & Contacts

Golfasian Co., Ltd.

GolfasianIf any reader would like to suggest a topic to be covered or better yet contribute materials, photos, or even commissions an article please contact me by e-mail, I welcome the help.

 

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  • Recommended by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO)
  • Member of Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA)

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Golf Holidays in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam

 
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