Mountain Creek Golf Resort and Residences

I had a chance to play at Mountain Creek Golf Resort & Residences this week.  The resort is located about two hours northeast of Bangkok on Route 1 AH2 and is in Nakorn Ratchasima province.  A large sign in bold white letters announces the entrance to the property from the highway.  From there, its about another two kilometers before you reach the guarded entrance gate to the resort.  Follow the guard's directions or you might end up back on the highway like I did and have to re-enter the main gate again.

As for the golf course itself, it's a superbly designed with 27 holes over three courses (Hillside, Valley, and Creek).   Designed by Seve Ballesteros, the fairways are narrow with specific landing areas for tee shots.  The design incorporates the generous use of doglegs, and elevated greens are on most holes.  It's also quite long at the tips (3781, 3834, and 3671) but there are five sets of Tees which makes the course as challenging as one is willing to bear on a given day.  This is a straight ball hitter's course and with the thick trees, brush, and grass lining the fairways, bring plenty of balls otherwise.  

Bridge to the Island Green #7 on Valley Course

The Seve signature hole with the "S" shaped bunker

The greens were not in great shape on the day I played.  It looked like many had been recently sanded.  Some of the greens are tired and sloping, making it a challenge for a close approach shot.  

I would rate this facility among the top 10 most difficult courses in Thailand.  You need your A game to score well and need to be on your A game throughout the round as there are no 'easy' holes to recover.  It's a golf aficionado dream for learning how to play a tactical round as shot placement is critical for many holes.  My male caddie was helpful and experienced.  Big numbers lurk everywhere so listen to the caddie and so don't take it too seriously if you play here for the first time.  

There are some downsides for having this kind of course however.  Its location is odd.  Its a bit far from Bangkok, not really close to Khao Yai, and in an area where there are other golf courses and resorts with equal or better amenities.  As a result, I think the number of rounds being played is really low as I did not see any other golfer in the resort except myself that morning.  It was as if I had the entire place to myself.  The staff was friendly and helpful.

Maybe it was mid-week, but even the drink and snack concessions on the golf course was closed.  That meant no drinks or food for the round except for a trip back to one of the clubhouse restaurants.  I was unprepared for this and needless to say, by the second nine I was starting to feel the effects of dehydration.  Chose not to eat at the resort after my round.  My father once told me something that I have verified to be true almost all of the time.  Never eat at a large, but empty restaurant.  Find the one that is the most crowded as that is the place with the best food.  If I am their only customer for the day, how long have they had the ingredients around waiting for customers?  

To sum up the trip.  Great golf course and well-executed resort construction and design.  A real jewel.  Unfortunately, its location and venue has resulted in a low number of rounds and golfers and the golf facilities like the clubhouse are showing some age.  Maybe better operations management and marketing would help, but I think its simply that the resort is just too technically good to be appreciated for this area, and if it were located in some place like Pattaya or Bangkok, it would get more traffic from strong golfers who are seeking a golf course with some 'teeth' to play.  But its present venue is too punishing for casual golfers and they won't drive so far out of their way just to play this course when there are so many others in the area to choose from.  

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.  

New Travel insurance for Tourists

TAT has implemented a new insurance program called "Thailand Travel Shield" in conjunction with a number of reputable Thai insurance carriers.  Looking at the plan, it seems like a great way to get insurance coverage for those traveling to the LOS and those that are here on extended stays who travel in and out of the country and stay no longer than 60 days at a time, .  This is especially useful to those whose medical coverage do not extend overseas (i.e. medicare) and do not have supplemental coverage that deals with out of country illnesses.  

It offers trip interruption,  baggage, and comprehensive life and medical coverage.  Click on this link for he details of the plan:  http://www.tourismthailand.org/ThailandTravelShield/.  In some countries, travel restrictions prevented travelers from getting insurance, but this program offers local coverage for visitors to the kingdom.  

The premiums vary in cost from 650 baht to 12,000 baht depending on the length of coverage.  For the top end coverage, you have 1 year of  coverage (but you can't stay longer than 60 days on each individual  trip) for up to 2,000,000 baht for loss of life, accidents, or sickness. The medical costs in Thailand are very reasonable, but can add up quickly if you have a complicated problem that prevents one from returning to their home country for treatment.  

Off the golf course, If you are into active activities like renting a jet ski, riding a rented motorbike or car, or sports like Thai boxing, it makes sense to get some kind of accident coverage.  The way some buses, taxis, and cars drive here in the land of smiles, a bit of insurance can prevent a whole lot of misery and financial loss.  Also, you can never tell when a stray golf ball or some other kind of mishap will pop up.

You can apply for the policy coverage online before your trip.  I know that I am seriously considering the annual coverage and think readers of this blog might consider something that is right for themselves before their next trip over to the land of smiles.  

Caddies - Tipping in Thailand

Always tip your caddies in Thailand.  I say this without reservation and unless you got that 'caddie from hell' that didn't know a golf ball from a tee and punched you out verbally on the 5th hole, please leave them a fair tip.  I've  had a caddie who was working her first day and her first real golfer was yours truly.  It was not a pleasant experience, but she received a small tip anyway because I knew the circumstances around which she had to work.  I've also seen instances where golfers that had a bad day on the course take their anger out on the caddies by leaving them no tip at all - blaming them for everything. 

But for most golfers, the caddie experience in Thailand is unrivaled in its friendliness and service and they want and expect you to leave some kind of tip.  So, how much?

Most golf courses retain a portion of the caddie fees you pay for their services.  That is why you do not pay the caddies directly, but instead are issued a coupon which they keep to redeem their wages.  While the stated caddie fees sounds like a fair amount for a day's work, they don't get to work everyday.  When they are not doing caddie work, such as on slow days, they must work on the golf course pulling weeds, sweeping pathways, and doing other general maintenance with no salary.  If they are part of a large and popular golf course, they might be part of a pool of 300 or more caddies and may only get to caddie a couple of times a week.  A lot of who gets to work depends on their seniority and ratings by their customers.  They are responsible for cleaning their uniforms and providing their own food during the work day.  

I speak Thai fluently and enjoy conversing with my caddies as we make our trek of 3-4 hours around the course.  Its a great way to improve one's Thai language skills and get to know the person behind that smart uniform and hat.  I've also developed friendships with many caddies over the years at my club and it makes a round of golf more fun when you can joke around a bit too.   A tip:  Don't always pick the youngest and best looking caddies, instead look for the older, more seasoned caddies with the face that has shown some time in the sun (The younger and prettier caddies are usually more interested in their face than your golf game).

Most good caddies have worked on their golf course for many years.  Its not uncommon for senior caddies to have 10-15 or more years of service.  They know their courses extremely well, especially the greens.  I don't know how many times I have sworn a putt should have broken in one direction only to find out that my caddie was right all along.  After all, they've seen that darn put hundreds of times before with other stupid golfers like me....it always breaks right dummy!

How much do you tip?  I would say at the time of this posting, a least 50-75% of their fees and that in some cases would just make them whole after the golf courses deduct their share and their cost to come to work.  If they are really good, then your heart and enjoyment of the day should be the guide.  They work hard in the boiling sun, hauling your bag, and putting up with your bad shots with a big smile around the course for the entire day.  I would say that is a lot for a few hundred baht so please tip generously!

St. Andrews 2000 golf and country club

When I am asked which course is my favorite in Thailand, I usually respond by giving a list of courses instead of just one because there are so many great courses to chose from.  But in recent times, a course that is always on that list is St. Andrews 2000 in Rayong.  People who play this course usually either really like the course or hate it. I'm one of those that really like it and feel its one of the courses in Thailand you should experience at least once.

Those that hate the course are usually golf course purists or beginners that have not yet developed the distance or skills to navigate the course.  Those that love the course are often golfers that like something unusual and challenging and are tired of the same traditional course layouts where many of the holes fall into a predictable pattern.  Its a challenging course and previously a HCP 18 was recommended.  My personal view is that if you can hit the ball pretty straight, have decent distance, and a decent short game around the greens, you will enjoy this course.  If you are a beginner still learning to play the game, its likely that you will not like anything about this course except the beautiful vistas and views from many holes around the course.

St. Andrews 2000 is part of a golf complex named St. Andrews Village which contains two other courses, Rayong Green Valley, and Silky Oak.  You can book 'stay and play' packages directly from them and they are currently offering a promotion (see right image) where you can play any combination of two courses on two days, stay one night, and have an ABF too starting at 2600 baht per person, double occupancy.  Works out to about $79 USD per person.   A really great deal for such quality courses and accommodations. 

The GLT Review of the course

St. Andrews 2000 is a links styled golf course.  But as most people who have played links style courses know, without a lot of wind, the golf course loses much of its main defense against low scores.  Thailand is not always blessed with a lot of strong wind on the eastern part of the gulf, so perhaps the designers thought by adding some usual features, they could make this course more difficult.  These features include two par 6s, dual fairways, lots of bunkers, smaller elevated greens, and some long mandatory carries.  Some purists may call these 'gimmicks' but I think it takes it out of the 'cookie cutter' class of golf courses so often seen around the planet and puts in a fun element.

GLT editor posing for a shot at the real Swilcan Bridge 

on the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland

Obviously inspired by the Old Course at St. Andrews, there is little resemblance except for the name and the style of design.  The Old Course is very flat and next to the sea where there is almost always a strong breeze.  The 2000 course is quite hilly, and while there is a breeze, its mostly mild.  Due to its hilly conditions, golf carts are required.

The reception area

The key to playing St. Andrews 2000 is hitting the ball straight.  With the many elevated fairways, bunkers, uneven fairways, and small greens, those who cannot hit the ball straight are going to have big numbers, no matter how long you can hit the ball.  For example, look at hole #1 below.  The tee shot is to a 'U' shaped gully to a smallish green.  Not long, but drives off the fairway will get you into a lot of trouble.  There is going to be either an uphill or downhill or uneven lie for the second shot unless your shot placement is perfect.

Hole #1

In the next example, we look at the first Par 6 on hole #4.  The perfect shot is long over the little lip that extends from the rock ridge on the right.  But if you hit it too short, there is a water hazard behind that rock formation.  A good shot would be just on the very edge of the rocky edge.  Hook it left and your dead.   That tee shot is going to be followed by three other long shots, including a water carry, to the green.  Fun, Fun, Fun!

The first Par 6 tee

This next hole is nicknamed the lady hole.  Click on the photo below to see the obvious reason for the name.  Its shaped like the hour glass figure of a woman!  Fun hole, but drive it long and straight or end up off the elevated fairway with a very long second shot to the green.

The Lady Hole

Challenging  par 3 17th hole.  

Be careful, a bad downhill putt can cause your ball to roll off the green!

The photos above shows the beautiful vistas and views from the course.  Its very well maintained and the caddies are good.  It helps to speak a bit of Thai, as most are not too proficient in English even though they may know the course well.  Hand signals are wonderful aids in communicating your needs.  

I've included a copy of the scorecard below.  A map from their website is also provided.

Score Card for St. Andrews 2000

Food and Service:

Food and drinks are available on the course and in the complex.  There is a Japanese restaurant as well as Thai food.  The locker and clubhouse facilities are nice, but not opulent like at some other high end courses in the area.  You will be comfortable and well taken care of.  Prices are mid range as at most courses of this class.   

Map to the course:

If you are staying in Pattaya, its about a 20-30 minute drive from the center of town.  From Bangkok, I would allocate at least two hours and take the motorway towards Pattaya and then take the Rayong turnoff before getting into town.  

Would love to hear your personal comments on this course.

Golfing Life Thailand is Back!

After taking a bit of a personal break, Golfing Life Thailand is back.  The GLT editor was a bit pre-occupied as he had to make a couple of extended trips back to California.  I am happy that I can again start reporting on the interesting courses I've played and some of the developments for the golfers here in Thailand.

In May, there was a coup e'tat in Thailand when the military took over the country due to the escalating violence from prolonged political demonstrations.  There was martial  law declared, curfew hours, and other restrictions on the gathering of large groups.  Those restrictions have all been lifted country wide and there has not been any violence since the takeover.  In Thailand, coups are unlike their counterparts in other areas of the world.  When the soldiers come out, they are greeted with flowers, snacks and cold water.  Tourist take 'selfies' with the troops and tanks and everyone is smiling.  In this coup, there was no bloodshed nor was there even one single shot fired by the military.

Sure, there were anti-government protesters, but those were very small and over quickly due to the lack of support plus the massive show of force by the military.  Things are so quiet now that its hard to even find a soldier unless they are on a corruption clean-up or law enforcement mission.

This video shows how most of the people reacted in Bangkok during the weeks after the coup and not the exaggerated main stream media reports where the reporters outnumbered the protesters. 

In fact, for many of us residents here in Bangkok, life is better now after the coup than before.  Many others seem to agree as a recent Dusit poll has shown that 85% of the Thais think things are better now than before the coup.  With their actions and policies to date, the junta seems to be truly benevolent and appears to have the best interest of the country in mind.   I can personally testify that Thailand is not only safe, but its a great time to come visit to take advantage of the bargain rates at the hotels and many golf courses around the country.

So with all that as a backdrop, I will be posting more and trying to give you an idea of what to expect when you get here to the land of smiles.

TAT organizes Special Golf Promotion for Hua Hin Area

A GOLF FESTIVAL!

Looks like TAT is organizing a great event for those that are going to be in the land of Smiles in August and September.  Some great golf courses in Hua Hin for as little as 1000 baht ($33 USD) per person.  Great area and some of these courses are world class.  Play some golf and then hang out on the beach, and then have a wonderful seafood dinner...all for a bargain price.  

Link here:  http://www.tatnews.org/time-tee-tat-organise-hua-hin-cha-golf-festival-2014/

Website here:  http://www.huahingolffestival.com/

I have a couple of nights that I can use at the Hyatt Hua Hin due to CC points.   It looks like a great way to spend a couple of relaxing days with B and Marina when I get back to the LOS next month!

Golf Around Pattaya

Inspire Magazine's video on Golf around Pattaya:

Tiger and Stevie Split

I remember the first time that I met Steve Williams.  I was working at the World Golf Championships at Harding Parking in San Francisco as a shuttle driver.  We were giving rides to the players and their caddies from the clubhouse to the driving range, which was about a ten minute walk away.  Naturally with the heavy bags and the need for crowd control, we were given access to a private back pathway which only the shuttles were permitted.  Steve was one of my passengers during one of the early rounds, and later on, so was Tiger Woods.

My ride with Stevie was memorable because he had come out before his boss and was heading up to the driving range.  Tiger was still in the clubhouse doing whatever he was doing so Stevie sat in my cart waiting near the driving range.  A celebrity in himself, we all chatted with him to get some insight into the #1 golfer in the world at the time but his answers were pretty standard.  But I did get to ask one question which had always been an interest to me due to my interest and connection to Thailand.  I asked Steve if Tiger could speak Thai, with a Thai mother and all.  He told me that he thought that Tiger could speak a few words, but mostly only with his Mother but was not at all fluent since his mother spoke pretty good English.  Steve came across as a real, down to earth kind of guy that I would trust completely in a dark alley or battle field by my side.  You could also tell he was pretty self confident in himself as well so he will do just fine in his life after Tiger Woods.

I didn't get to speak with Tiger when I drove him to the driving range because he was riding together with the commissioner of the PGA.  Tiger was telling him how he was getting treatment for his back problems back then from someone in Las Vegas.  Soft spoken and respectful, they continued their small talk until we got to the driving range and the calls of "Tiger", "Tiger", "Tiger", started to get louder.  With arrival, Tiger joined Stevie at the driving range and started  to work.  Neither of them will ever remember me, just one of the thousands of golf fans and volunteers that their lives have crossed, but I do remember them.   Unfortunately, they are not working together any more as of this week.

Yes, Tiger and Stevie did win that particular tournament...in sudden death against John Daly, who unfortunately missed a three foot put on the 17th hole in OT.