Rancho Charnvee Golf Club

I'm a bit sunburned after a day of golf.  There is no golf course up here near the resort, but my friends had arranged a golf outing at Pak Chong.  Its about half way between Bangkok and the resort and one of the regular stops for our golf group.   Pak Chong is a favorite destination for affluent Bangkok residents who own homes near Khao Yai National Park.  In fact, there are some people whose homes have encroached on park land and is now the subject of seizure and destruction by the current government.  While the tourists head to the beaches, many of these rich and famous Thais head to the mountains where the weather is cooler and they can get some solitude from the madness we call the city of angels.

Clubhouse facilities are very good, with a very spacious locker room, a couple of restaurants, and a pro shop.

Rancho Charnvee Golf Club is a fabulous destination for golf and a holiday stay.  What other golf course has a boat in the lake, which you must carry, off the tee on the first hole?  There are horses and stables on the property and trails around the golf course where one can ride. Accommodations are both luxurious and varied.  Two bedroom villas are available for 20,000 baht per night, but smaller hotel rooms are available for those of normal means.  Private home lots are available and there are several in the 20+ million category.  The Golf club is intended as a facility where one can host meetings, have a wedding, or just relax for a few days.

First Tee - mandatory carry over water to the fairway

Play some golf and watch the local riders with their horses

Oh, did I tell you about the airport on the property too?   Yes, this resort has its own airport and landing strip for private planes.   To tell you the truth, I've never seen a private airplane here in the LOS - but according to my Thai friends, there are many private planes and pilots, its just that we don't normally see or meet them as they hang out with their own 'circle of friends', which we are typically not part of.  You know.... the same people who own million dollar cars, etc.

Fly in for 9 holes in the afternoon?

Didn't have a great day at the links...it was expected as I've not played in 3 weeks and haven't been to the driving range in a long time.  Hit the ball well, but couldn't putt or chip worth a darn.  Working out in the gym really helps the power and ball striking, but one cannot play well without a short game and putting.  I just have to get out more and play!  I did manage to post an 89 from the white tees.  

Golfing life editor about to tee off...yep, the shaft does bend forward before impact!

Directions:  I've embedded a map of the resort from google maps.  I've found that the easiest way to get to the course from Bangkok is to look for the 68km marker from Saraburi.  You will need to make a U-turn before connecting to hwy 2235 as it is accessible on the Bangkok inbound side of the road only.  From there, its about 5-7 minutes to the course.

As of this post, standard rate green fees are 1,300 baht plus 450 baht for caddie service on weekdays.  Weekends are higher at 2400 baht.   This is the link to the latest fees:  http://www.charnveeresortkhaoyai.com/golf-course/#

In summary, this is a wonderful course that is not too difficult but is scenic and fun.  Not exceptionally long from the white Tees and the caddies and facilities are excellent.  I play there often and its worth the drive up as you can play another great nearby course, Mountain Creek, the next day for something a bit more challenging.

Playing golf during the rainy season

If you are in Thailand during the rainy season (like now), there is a good likelihood that rain may come into play during your round.  What might start out as a hot day might be host to a sudden rainstorm in a relatively short time.  The good news about rain storms in Thailand is that they seldom last very long.  It would not be unusual for a storm to end in 30 minutes or less, after raining buckets of water during that brief period.

To prepare for this kind of weather, here is what I recommend that should be included in your golf bags this time of the year.

dual canopy umbrella from Mizuno

An Umbrella.  Without saying, an umbrella for golf in Thailand is a must all year round, but during the rainy season, its a necessity.  Make sure that its strong and if possible, have a post and materials that are non conductive.  I like the umbrellas that are wind resistant, which have a vented upper portion that opens to relieve the pressure of a sudden gust.

A raincover for your golf bag.  These can be purchased cheaply at most golf shops in Thailand.  Some are as simple as large plastic bags, but the better ones are made so that access to pockets and clubs can be accomplished with relative ease during a downpour.  A wet bag takes a long time to dry off and most bags are not waterproof!

Towels.  You can't have enough towels, especially dry towels, during a wet round.  You will find your grips will need to be wiped down often as well as your hands and face.  I usually carry one large towel and 4 or more smaller towels (about 15 X 30 inches).  Keep them in plastic bags in your side pockets until you need them.  For those living here, Makro or the weekend market has towels for sale at decent prices.

The Aqua Dry Bucket from Callaway

A rain hat.  Many golfers just use a regular hat in the rain.  In Thailand, that hat can be soaked in just a few minutes and become a heavy, wet, mess on your head.  A good, breathable hat is recommended and forget the mesh...it will leak like having no hat at all.

Zero Restriction Stealth 1/2 sleeve

Rain clothing.  I am mixed on this one, preferring shorts on almost all occasions.  With shorts, I find that while my legs may be wet, I can wipe them off quickly and feel comfortable in a hurry.  With rain pants, it takes a while to put them on, take them off, and I tend to overheat in them.  I do recommend a lightweight,  rainproof, breathable, short sleeved windshirt.  I especially like the Goretex windshirts made by a variety of companies.

Shoes.  If you can, purchase water resistant, breathable, shoes.  In most cases when the rain is not too heavy, water resistant is enough and it will keep your feet and socks dry.  When it gets really heavy and there is high water, even waterproof shoes will be useless when you have to dunk your entire foot into the water.  Just make sure you completely dry your shoes before taking them out next time or they will rot and smell horrible.  If a golf course offers shoe rentals, it might be a wise expense to rent a pair if there is a chance of rain or if you think you are going to get your shoes wet.  This is especially important if you are playing the next day or two as part of a tour.

These are supposed to be 'rain ready' ..by HJ Glove

Extra gloves.  Your gloves will get wet and likely no longer provide any traction if they get soaked.  Its important to carry a least 2-3 gloves for the round and keep them dry until you absolutely need to use them - then quickly put them away to keep them as dry as possible.  I haven't found a glove that performs as well when wet despite the claims of them being 'all weather'.  

Plastic zip lock bags.  Use these for your phone, wallet, or other things that you want to keep dry.  They are cheap and can be easily packet in any pocket.

Playing in the rain is rather pleasant in Thailand.  Its usually cooler and most of the courses are in pretty good shape.  When it does get heavy, most courses will make you seek shelter at one of the many food/drink huts located throughout the course.  Many golfers just take a break, have a drink, and wait for the storm to end.   For me, I know its time to quit when my balls leave a rooster tail during my putts.  Until then, its a bit of fun in the land of smiles.

A very important note, which I saved for last, is that the danger of being struck by lightning on a golf course is very high during thunder storms.  Thailand if often subject to violent thunderstorms during heavy rain and its not advisable to be in any open area during such a storm.  At the first sign of lightning in the area, I recommend that you should cease play immediately and seek the safety of one of the shelters on the golf course.  Some golf courses, like my club, will send vans to evacuate golfers if they think there is potential danger to those playing on the course.  Better to live and play another day than to be a crispy critter with a golf club in your hand.