Yves Loynel

Jim,
a few comments on the Hua Hin golf courses:

Nichigo: that was a good way to start our golf tour with this very nice course. A little disappointment was that no other food but industrial noodles were available on the course (don’t they produce fruits in Thailand?). Also the club house is not at par with what we are used to in Thailand, although acceptable.

Rachaburi Royal: Very nice course, both challenging and pleasant. It does deserves you “hidden gem” statement. The club house facilities were closed when we finished the game which was not a problem since we had to drive to Hua Hin anyway but would be a concern otherwise.

Palm Hills: nice course (although a bit dry), easy to score. Very good facilities and service. A good spot for laid-back tourists

Black Mountain: The design of the course is challenging and the maintenance perfect. Greens were just impossible to play for the bogie players we are (too steep and fast). The caddies were great (mine – Bee – had an amazing English for example). The food & drink booths are strangely located (inaccessible if you walk actually). Overall I found the place sad with not a single flower on the course (an achievement and somewhat a shame in Thailand). Said otherwise the golfing challenge not compensated by the environment. Certainly a good championship course but in the end, it was not fun .

Banyan: That was our preferred, some kind of perfect compromise between the two previous: great design and infrastructure, challenging but playable, extremely charming with a real signature hole (#15), well managed (no slow play unlike other places we experienced in the past like Lake View). My only reserve is that carts are mandatory whereas we prefer to walk but which the caddies let us do on the course anyway so it is not an issue. I cheerfully recommend the place.

The hotels were just perfect, your staff excellent also we had a very good time. Note there was a glitch with the pick-up to the airport but khun Ake could make it in time in the end, so your team reacted very well when I called to worry about the delay. Snow and ice in Paris this morning. Back to real life !

Yves Loynel
France, Jan