LukDod

The following link provides the common rates for the area courses, for the month of July. The rate list is updated monthly... http://www.pattayasports.org/golf/Golf_Rate_and_Tel_July.xls

Earlier this year, on a motorcycle trip through Issan, I used my Thai drivers license in a number of parks and sites...and always rec'd the Thai price. In one park...a natural hotsprings...with a small geyser, I was charged 40-Bt and the grungy 5-backpackers ahead of me each paid 250-Bt. It brought glee to my heart....

Others have given you the info you need to apply for a Thai license. If you have to take the written test (there are 2 tests, one auto, one motos), then pay attention to the hour pre-test presentation, even though it's in Thai. They will show pictures of road signs which can be easily identified by you. I recall youi need 60 or 70% correct to pass. If you pass then you will take the driving test...one for cars, one for motos...both on the same track. Also some of the test questions will seem strange...so note the following: -it is legal for a moto to drive on the sidewalk if traffic is congested! (true) -a moto can carry only 2 people (1-driver & 1 passenger).._OR_ the driver an a 50kg package (true) [funny, but I've never heard of the latter law being enforced, but it's the law!!]

Opinions? YES!! Forget that site! They want you to pay _exhorbitant_ fees for a IDL fees ($50/1-yr, $70/2-yr, $99/3-yr!!!...and it may well be a fake!!)...when an IDL (actual name is Intern'l Drivers Permit , not 'License') should cost you no more than $10 (and _never_ more than $20), from a local a Auto Club agency, regardless if it's a 1-yr or 3-yr license. If you obtain an IDL in the States..see this link: http://www.ineed2know.org/IntlDriversPermit.htm Note, IDL's issued in Thailand are valid for only one year...see this link for details: http://geocities.com/bkkriders/law/idp.html And note... an IDL is _not_ valid for use in the country in which it was issued.

I've never actually clocked the distances....but the course is NE of SriRacha approx 10-km's

http://www.speedbandits.dk/

Re-posted from Secrets, with permission: I've been to many Pattaya golf tournaments in the years I'd previously visited and now that I live here, but I've NEVER been to any tournament, like the AEROGATE INVITATIONAL that offers so much for such a small entry fee!!! The 2nd Aerogate Invitational 2007 golf tournament is to be held on Friday, January 12th, at the Pattaya Country Club. Rules (the fine print): Medal singles play, maximum handicap 36. Entry restrictions:: As this is a fun tournament, any currently registered and/or ex-professional golfers are barred from entry. Handicaps: Recognized handicaps are IPGC/PSC/Bangkok golf groups affiliated with theTG/R&A/and official USGA or R&A handicap. Multiple handicap issues will be resolved by the tournament committee. All non-IPGC or non-PSC handicapped golfers are required to provide proof of their current handicap at the time of course registration. Anyone without proof of current handicap will play off scratch. R&A/USGA and local course competition rules apply. Entry fee ot 1,500-Bt includes: *Green and caddie fee *A hole-in-one chance, on the nominated 3-par hole, for a new Toyota Fortuna SUV. *Any hole-in-one on any other 3-par hole - prize provided by Pattaya Country Club *Golf shirt, cap, towel, a sleeve of golf balls and a drink insulator. *Coupons for 300-Bt worth of on-course drinks & snacks. *Evening buffet *Trophies, Prizes, Lucky Draw and Evening Buffet will commence at Pattaya Country Club at approximately 6:00pm. *Prizes for nearest the pin, longest drive, nearest the line and lowest card of the day *If transportation is needed, you must indicate at the time of entry. Free transportation to/from the course, departing at 8:30am from the Sugar Shack (Soi 13/3 -aka Pattayaland-1) and returning to the Sugar Shack after the event. Prizes: Tournament Overall Winner (trophy and a high quality prize). Other place prizes for men and women winners. (Note: the sponsor has yet to determine the full prize list) Entry Fee & Registration: Submit entry forms and total entry fee to Tom Cooper at the Sugar Shack, no later than Sunday, January 7th. Tom is usually there between 2pm - 10pm; he will have entry forms if needed. Entry fee is non-refundable in the event of non-attendance and/or late registration at the course on the day of the event. ***Entries are limited and will fill-up fast...surely long before the January 7th closing date*** ****Addendum.... I played at the 1st Aerogate. The hole-in-one prize was a Lexus SUV worth 4.2M-Bt, but as the insurance cost the sponsor (the CEO of Aerogate) about 350,000-Bt, he decided to reduce his expenses and this year offers the Toyota Fortuna SUV as the hole-in-one insurance was _only_ 125,000-Bt.!! While many of the prizes have not yet been selected, for comparison, last year's prizes for each division were 1st prize a $1000-US cell phone, 2nd was a set of Calloway clubs, etc., etc.; Lucky draw had Calloway golf bags, etc. Surely, whatever prizes will be offered, they will be nice and far superior to any other non-professional bar or PSC tournament in Pattaya. This tournament is unlike any other in Pattaya...where you might be charged high fees of 2500-3500-Bt and get far less!! But, this tournament is subsidized, at a _significant_ cost by Aerogate.

Amen....Peter is a very upright guy who dealt honestly and fairly with his customers. It the Thai (Jum) that created the problem...for the clients, Peter & his family. It's sad to read posts from those that didn't know him, are uninformed and LEAP to conclusions. But such posts speak volumes of the character of the poster.....

FWIW...and my 2-satang.... I believe the US has devalued the dollar in order to help reduce debt. Imported goods far ourweigh the amount of exports. Devaluing the dollar makes US goods more attractive to foreign buyers, hopefully helping our out-of-kilter balance of trade. From various reports, there seems to be a consensus that the Thai's _may_ let the Baht drop as low as 35-Bt to $1-US...but will support the Baht from dropping any lower than that. Even at 36:1 it's surely curtailed some of my fun...

This may be helpful to those who leave Thailand for a while and want to maintain their current AIS-12Call number. FWIW: I reside in Thailand but make few calls, yet receive many, and those I do make are of short duration. Initially I was on the regular program whereby you buy a 300-Bt card and receive an additional month's extension. Yet, I rarely made 300-Bt worth of calls in a month. So I learned of AIS's 'nung nung' (sp?) program. This program provides that you receive a month's additional extension for every 100-Bt you add to your existing balance. Unlike AIS's regular program, where calls are about 1-bt a minute, the 'nung nung' program charges calls a premium of 5-Bt/minute. On a average month, on the 'nung nung' program I probably make 100-150-Bt worth of calls. I usually buy the 300-Bt cards to add time and each one provides 3-additional months . My current expiration date for the balance and my phone number is Jan 4 2008!!! This approach may not be economic for those that constantly make phone calls. This is much cheaper tham obtaining a 1500-Bt card from telewiz, as someone earlier posted, and the full amount can be used for phone calls.

Richard is good and is popular with many farang low and high handicappers. I had and still take some lessons from Richard, but as he charges 700-Bt for a _half-hour_ lesson...and spends some of the time wanting to just chat rather than teach. None-the-less he's a good instructor. I've begun getting lessons from Khun Chakat...a Thai instructor, who is fluent in English, at the Pride Driving Range (on Sukhumvit at Central Rd). I like his teaching methods. ChaKat gives hour lessons at 700-Bt and he will also do 1/2-hour lessons at 400-Bt. I prefer the latter. His mobile is 086-329-4439. Chakat doesn't teach every day...call for an appointment.

I'd suggest "All Season Travel" which many Pattaya locals use...including myself. Located on South Rd (Pattaya Tai), on the opposite side of the street from Friendship Market. Excellent service, speak English. They also produce the tickets for a number of other travel agents in Pattaya. Re: R/T's...I use to get R/T tix BKK-USA...with an open return. 1-year open cost an additional $50 and $25 for a 6-month open return. That was a few years back...prices may well have changed.

Laem Chabang...cart mandatory and only 1-player per cart. Phoenix...last I heard they were asking 75k-Bt for a years membership.

Another voice head from... I already had a landline...which _doesn't_ go through a switchboard (this is important and unfortunately common in hotels, some condos, etc.) I ordered a 512/256 ADSL connection from TTT phone company. They have an office in Carrefour. Bought a router (you don't want to use their 'free' modem or any modem..potential security probs). Did a self-install. They said my acc't would be actviated 7-days after I ordered the service ..and it was. Problem with DSL is that is is often s-l-o-w during the day; okay early mornings & late night. I use to have DSL in the States and regularly obtained up to 1500kbs...but Thailand still has a long way to go to build up their infrastructure and reliability! YMMV

No, the prices will be the same....unless the farang has too much disposable income and is clueless doesn't _negotiate_!! Negotiation is a national sport in Thailand, as well as many other countries...and alien to many western cultures. Some will use a Thai friend or GF to make the initial contact and get a price and use that as a benchmark. Some do well by shopping around, comparing prices for similarly equipped condos in like locations (i.e. beach front, inland, etc). Further, I'm of the opinion (worth nothing) that condo prices will not escalate due to the new restrictions on houses/land. I imagine that the current overbuilding and stronger Baht will cause just the opposite. Many realtors are indicating that the market is currently very slow...some say it is dead.