doghaus

Some courses will rent blades. As Sailfast has already posted, Solar will sort out clubs for you and prices are lower than renting at the course. Doggie

I am staying there right now in one of the superior rooms. It costs 14,000 per month plus the utility costs - about another 1500 last month. Here are the pluses and minuses in my opinion. Pluses Good sized room Airconditioning works well Good location - on the baht bus route. I rent a motorbike anyway. Well furnished No hot water problems Unlimited wireless internet access for another 1500 per month Satellite TV - Sophon. Not as good as UBC but adequate Nice coffeee shop Full size fridge Quiet Minuses Small swimming pool Rooms are not always cleaned daily No in room safe - safety boxes at reception Have to pay one month plus one month in advance I would recommend the place for the price. Doggie

Lv2play Just give me a call when you get to town and I can fix up a few lessons for you. I know there is at least one other beginner who wants to learn so you wont be alone. I have sent you a PM. Doggie

Owl You are very welcome to join us for golf. I have sent you a PM with my mobile number - just give me a call when you hit town. We can organise rental clubs for you. Look forward to meeting you. Doggie

Important - registration date for Golf Festival changed to 27th February Some customers have booked a party at FLB on Sunday 26th February so we are changing the registration date for the Pattaya Golf Festival to 27th February. Please be at the FLB between 2000 and 2100 to register and pay for your golf. We will be having a warm up round at Phoenix on 27th February. If you would like to play in this, please either PM or call me and I will sort out the transport. Doggie

Golf Festival Road Trip Here are two suggestions for the road trip on 7th to 9th March. Option 1 A 2 day trip to Bangkok playing Alpine and one other Bangkok course. The programme can include some night golf which is fun. My suggested programme would be: 7th March - drive to Bangkok and check in to hotel. Shopping and a run around town in the afternoon and evening. 8th March - Afternoon tee time at Bangkok Golf Club- front nine in daylight and play the back nine under floodlights. 9th March - Morning tee time at Alpine Golf Club and return to Pattaya in the late afternoon. Option 2 7th March - fly from Pattaya to Phuket. Check in to Mission Hills Resort. Evening trip to Patong. 8th March - 18 holes at Mission Hills 9th March - Tee off at Mission Hills around 0830, play 18 holes and then fly back to Pattaya in the early afternoon. Mission Hills Phuket To give some cost estimate, the Bangkok programme will cost about Baht 12,000 per golfer for single rooms. The price for twin share will be around Baht 10,000. That would include transport, 2 nights bed and breakfast accomodation at the Chaophyapark Hotel in one of their Executive Deluxe Rooms. The Phuket option will be more expensive because of the cost of the flight and the fact that Mission Hills is a first class resort. I would estimate around Baht 26,000 for single accomodation and 18,000 for twin share. I need to know how many people are interested in the road trip and which package you prefer. It only makes sense if we have at least 8 people. Please either post your response or email me at sales@solargolf.co.uk. Solar

Suprice Burapha Monday if you are up 4 it. Call me over weekend. Doggie

Good news Big fella. Just give me a call when you get into town. Doggie

Hi Suprice I haven't heard from you yet. I hope you have not disappeared beneath a sea of pussy! I have some golfers in town from 28th January onwards so you are very welcome to join us. Hope to hear from you on the number I sent you. Doggie

Hi Guys Steve O is spot on. We always have the RideHer Cup in the first week of November so I am aiming for Monday 6th November for the 2006 RideHer. I will also be organising a programme of extra golf days around the RideHer and possibly a road trip. If you guys are booking flights, please try to get to Pattaya at the latest in time for the RideHer registration party on Sunday 5th November. I hope to start the golf programme the preceding week so that you can have a few warm up rounds before the main tournaments. I look forward to meeting y'all again. Doggie

No problem joining for part of the programme guys. Just pm me and I will send you my phone number. Done for mucman. Doggie

No problems if your wife and you play in the golf competitions. We have at least another two couples who will be playing. Not compulsory for the wife to join in the evening activities. Look forward to meeting up with you. Doggie

Blazer You are spot on with your comments about a PGA certified instructor. Some of the golfers have met the pro that works with us - Jeremy. He has to attend regular courses and sit exams to keep his teaching pro certificate. Quite a few of the boardies have had lessons from him and he ran a clinic for the RideHer Cup fortnight. Jeremy is happy to do either individual or group lessons. He is in his late 20's and was a tour pro in the USA before coming to Thailand. He plays a few Asian Tour competitions but most of his time is spent either teaching or organising golf programmes. If you want some bugdettary prices for tuition, work on between 1500 and 2000 baht for a lesson on the range. The price depends how long you want the lesson. Some pros charge more and some less! A teaching round with a pro will cost around 5000 to 7000 baht depending on the pro. You get what you pay for! I have been thinking for a while that it might be a good idea to have a beginners golf week in Pattaya. As long as there are 6 or more people, Jeremy can put together a programme of range lessons and tuition on the golf course. The more people, the lower the cost per person. We have another teaching pro in Bangkok, Noo, who will come to Pattaya if we need an extra teacher. If there are guys out there that are interested in a beginners week, just post a reply and we will get the ball rolling. Jeremy is based in Thailand so we can work out some dates as long as there is a general consensus on when you guys will be in town. We can also arrange lessons in Bangkok. We have an arrangement with one driving range and I am now working on a deal with a hotel that has a driving range on site. If you want more info then just PM me. Doggie

Dralion One of the big advantages that we have in Thailand is that most courses don't need you to produce a handicap certificate to play. Having said that, you need to be able to hit the ball now and again so you don't make a complete arse of yourself. If you want a bit of advice, here would be the sort of programme I would recommend for a few days golf in Pattaya. Day 1. Go to the driving range in the gounds of Cabbages and Condoms at Jomtien. It is just across from the Asia Hotel. Get a lesson from the pro there - Neville is a good teaching pro and not expensive. Then hit some more baolls after your lesson and do a bit of putting Day 2. Have another lesson and hit some balls on the range. Then go and play the par 3 course at the Asia Hotel. Play 18 holes there - it wont take more than a couple of hours Day 3. Time to hit the golf course proper. For a first round in Thailand, I would recommend you play at Siam, Pattaya Country Club or mavbe Phoenix. They are close to Pattaya and not the toughest courses. Day 4. Go back to the range for another lesson and tell the pro what parts of your game need the most attention. Then go play the Asia Hotel par 3 again. Day 5 onwards. Get out on the golf course and have fun! A lot of boardies will tell you to join the Pattaya Sports Club - this gives you discounts at a lot of courses. I would hesitate to recommend that you go out with one of the groups from the bars that organise golf. This might put a bit too much pressure on you because the others in your group will be experienced golfers who might lack patience. You would be better going out with a few of the members of this board who are usually only too happy to have a new golfer out with them. I will be in Pattaya for most of the next 2 months so just PM me and I will email you my phone number. If we have some golfers going out I will make sure I hook you up with some guys who you would enjoy playing with. I can also arrange for you to play a round with a teaching pro if you want. This is money well spent in my opinion because there is a big difference between hitting a ball on the range and playing on a golf course. Hope this helps. Have a lot of fun. Doggie

Slobbert The only rule on our golf tours is have fun! We enjoy a drink and a laugh on the golf course and none of us take the competitions seriously. Unless it is a game between Dungheap and myself for 100 baht. I look forward to meeting you in February! Doggie

Martin and Keith Thanks for volunteering to hold the registration and for your sponsorship of the Texas Scramble. Much appreciated and I am sure the guys will show their appreciation by dropping a few bob in FLB during the festival. Hope to see you both playing on the golf days and maybe you would like to join the road trip. I am sure that Moulee can look after the shop while you are away. Doggie

RB We can sort you out with rental clubs. It will be cheaper than renting at the course. Just let me know nearer the time which days you would like to play. Sorry to hear about the dental work but you can always try holding the clubs in your hands! See you there. Doggie

Be great to see you Suprice. If you are on a tight budget, I suggest you cut back on the shagging and save your money for golf! Look forward to a game. Doggie

Pattaya Golf Festival Update - 14th February[/b] There is just over a week to go before the start of the Pattaya Golf Festival. There are already some golfers in town and we have 6 players going out on Thursday and Friday this week. Looks like there is some serious practice taking place! Here are more details about the programme that starts on 27th February. Dates - 27th February to 10th March The programme will start on 27th February with a practice round at Phoenix followed by registrations for the competitions at FLB that evening. Monday 27th February - Practice round at Phoenix. Transport will leave Pattaya at 0930 with tee times starting at 11.12. Entry fee is 2000 baht including transport, green fee and caddy fee. Buggies are extra charge. We are planning to have our golf pro join the groups to give you some coaching on the course. To book a place on this day please pm or telephone me. [/b]Registration evening at 8pm at FLB. We will be taking entries for the golf competitions between 8pm and 10 pm at FLB. Please make sure you bring the money for the entry fees for the competitions you would like to participate in. A round of golf on most days costs about the same as a bar fine and tip but lasts a lot longer! Even the day at Laem Chabang costs less than a bang with a decent go-go stunner! Tuesday 28th February - The FLB Texas Scramble at Khao Kheow. Prizegiving and party after. FLB are sponsoring a team Texas Scramble or Ambrose. You can enter a team of 4 players or take pot luck and we will draw teams from the individual entries. Transport will leave Pattaya at 0900 for a 10.49 start at Khao Kheow. The entry fee of 2,200 baht includes transport, green fee, caddy fee, buggy share, prizes and a party at FLB that evening. FLB golf day parties are legendary - we have to party hard to keep up the form! Thursday 2nd March and Friday 3rd March - The Catz Individual Stableford Trophy This will be a 36 hole event played over 2 days at Burapha and Phoenix. There will be a prizegiving and party at Catz a GoGo on the Friday evening. Not to be missed if past history is anything to go by. Transport will leave Pattaya at 0845 on Thursday and 0945 on Friday. The entry fee is 4,400 baht which includes transport, green fee, caddy fee, buggy share, prizes and a party at Catz that evening Sunday 5th March - Pairs Stableford at Laem Chabang Choose your partners for a pairs Stableford competition! Transport will leave Pattaya at 0930 for a 11.00 tee time. Entry fee is 3,400 baht including transport, green fees, caddy fees and a buggy per player. Monday 6th March - Ryder Cup match at Legacy Mountain Shadow. We are trying to arrange for the guys we played in Chiang Mai to come down for this event. If not, we will make up the teams according to the regions eg Europe vs Rest of World. Transport will leave Pattaya at 0930 for a 11.05 tee time. Entry fee is 2,000 baht including transport, green fees and caddy fees. Buggies are extra charge. Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th March - Road Trip I have offered the option of either a trip to Bangkok to play Alpine or to Phuket to play Mission Hills. No takers yet so I won't be booking anything until I get some responses. Friday 10th March - Skins competition at Eastern Star. Gambling is illegal in Thailand so you can make some pretend "wagers" on the course! Transport will leave Pattaya at 0900 and we might detour into Bang Chang on the way back! Entry fee is 2,000 baht including transport, green fees and caddy fees. Buggies are extra charge. Martin and Keith are sponsoring the registration evening and the Texas Scramble at Khao Kheow. Thanks to both of you for this. Catz have sponsored the 2 day Stableford Trophy - thanks to Robert and Robin for their support. I have advance bookings for some of the events for over 20 people so make sure you get to FLB on 27th to book your place. I look forward to meeting both old and new friends. Doggie

Here are details of a great tournament taking place not far from Pattaya in early January. Royal Trophy - Europe vs Asia One for the record books – the cream of Europe taking on the elite of Asia in a clash of the continents that is certain to capture worldwide attention. For two days in January 2006, some of the finest players from Europe and Asia will put regional pride and team honor on the line in a spectacular new event that guarantees all the excitement and glamour of big-time match play golf. In the Royal Trophy, two teams of eight players – each captained by a legend of the game – will square off in the first edition of an annual showdown that will soon be drawing comparisons with the Ryder Cup for its passion, drama and sporting theatre. The Teams of Europe and Asia will be confronted, face to face in a passionate, unique and spectacular series of matches captained by living Legend – Seve Ballesteros and one of Asia’s most respected golfers. From tee to green, thousands of spectators and millions of TV viewers will watch the Teams of Europe and Asia go toe to toe in four-ball, foursomes and singles – the first shots in a rivalry set to last for decades. The first edition of this history making event will be held in Thailand. The Royal Trophy – Europe vs Asia Golf Championship will generate tremendous excitement and your CONTINENT will need you to come to support and cheer for them ! Unlike the real RideHer Cup, this is a match up between the top tour pros from Europe and Asia. It would be fun if a bunch of us went along to watch the event and cheer on Europe. If anyone is interested, I can get a corporate package organised and then we can travel by coach or mini vans. Let me know asap if you are interested and I will work something out. C'mon Europe! Doggie

I am delighted to let all the FLB Golfers know that Thailand has won a top tourism award. The award was presented by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators on Thursday night in Gran Canaria in front of over 1000 delegates and the golfing and Spanish media. There should be a feature going out on The Golf Channel in Asia very soon. I will keep you posted when I have transmission dates. The award was accepted by our friend Jeremy Paulson on behalf of the Thai government and yours truly was there to hold his jacket. This should be a major boost for golf tourism in Thailand so get your tee times booked early. I will post a few pictures of JP with the award as soon as I get time. The bad news is that he lost his luggage somewhere between Las Palmas and Washington so the trophy is missing in action! Now where have we heard about trophies going missing before. I wonder if Deuce has a relation working in the Las Palmas baggage handling! Here's a copy of the press release. More information at IAGTO website Thailand voted Emerging Golf Destination of the Year Contact: Callum Mackie - Solar Golf Ltd United Kingdom Tel: +44 1628 415635 Fax: +44 1628 415636 Email: callum@solargolf.co.uk Thailand was recognised tonight by the global golf tourism industry as the Emerging Golf Destination of the Year, voted for by IAGTO’s specialist golf tour operators. The presentation was made during the 6th IAGTO Award Ceremony that took place in Gran Canaria on 8th December in front of an audience of 1000 golf tourism professionals from 45 countries. The Ceremony takes place each year on the last night of the International Golf Travel Market; the global trade show for the golf tourism industry. This year the IAGTO Awards were staged in the spectacular 16th century Santa Ana Plaza in the Gran Canarian capital of Las Palmas. On receiving the Award, Jeremy Paulson, the Golf Ambassador for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said "Over the last 10 years Thailand has established itself as the top Destination in Asia for golf. Thailand is very proud and honoured to have been awarded the Emerging Golf destination of the year by IAGTO. We thank all of the tour operators who voted for our country and we look forward to welcoming the world’s golfers to Thailand." Golf has been played in Thailand for almost a century with games recorded at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club as early as 1905. The first recognised 18-hole course, the Royal Hua Hin, was built by a Scottish engineer in 1924. There are now nearly 200 golf courses scattered throughout the Kingdom, the majority being around the most popular tourist destinations - Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Thailand’s stunning courses are designed by famous names like Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Pete Dye and the legendary Robert Trent Jones. These are some of the most attractive courses in the world with excellent facilities, memorable signature holes and modern maintenance. Every course has its caddies and it is mandatory to employ one for your round. They are Thailand’s secret weapons for making golf such good fun. Predominantly ladies, these brightly uniformed caddies know everything about the course, smile almost all the time and can read putts like a pro. The combination of incredibly picturesque golf courses, favourable year-round weather, great value for money and inimitable Thai hospitality combine to make Thailand an amazing golf paradise. Notes for Editors: The awards are voted for by IAGTO's specialist golf tour operator members which now number over 240 from 38 different countries. Each operator was asked to nominate what they considered to be the best performing golf destinations this year. The following criteria are considered: Customer Satisfaction Quality of Golf Courses and Accommodation Value for money Support from Suppliers, Tourist Boards & Airlines Professional Conduct of Suppliers Accessibility to Tee Times The top 10 nominees for this year's Award were, in alphabetical order: British Columbia, Canada Canary Islands, Spain China Costa de la Luz, Spain Costa Rica Cyprus Malaysia Mexico Thailand Turkey Previous Emerging Golf Destination of the Year Award winners are: 2001 - Costa Brava 2002 - Dubai 2003 - South Africa 2004 - Italy 2005 - Las Vegas, USA END. 8th December 2005 Further Information: Carlton Carugati - General Manager IAGTO, 1 Trafalgar House, Grenville Place, London NW7 3SA, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 8906 3377 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8906 8181 Email: ccarugati@iagto.com Website: www.iagto.com/awards Media Contact for information about golf in Thailand Callum Mackie Solar Golf Ltd United Kingdom Tel: +44 1628 415635 Fax: +44 1628 415636 Email: callum@solargolf.co.uk

Hi Kgk As Hub has mentioned, we can organise golf for you and your friend when you are in Pattaya. If we have other golfers in town, we can fix up for you to play with them or we can introduce you to one of the golfing groups. Ken Ince is our local golf guide. If you send me a pm with your email address, I will send you more details. Hope to hear from you. Cheers Doghaus

OK Dungheap. I have had that 100 baht for 3 years so it has broken my heart to lose it - especially to you. Things would have been different if I hadn't 3 putted at the par 3 16th for a bogey after sending a magnificent drive straight at the pin. My unfortunate miss had nothing to do with your partner having a sneezing fit as I was trying to sink the putt on the way back. Great day - pity the bugs were not out though! Doggie

Bertie Most of the courses in the area have good drainage and rcover from a soaking within a day. Some of the older courses like Siam or Navy don't have such good drainage. I have played Khao Kheow and Phoenix during rainstorms and they were both OK. I am in BKK now and will check the situation this weekend. Watch this space but I am not worried. Doggie

Hilly I took Monte off the entry list because he had not confirmed. We have one slot open at the moment - this is held for one of the wait list members. There may be more no-shows on the 6th. MM has some guys who have been into the bar and asked to be on the wait list so they have first refusal. Doggie. Surprice You are right about the web site. Web master is OK with code but his geography is crap! Springfield is one of my all time favourite courses though. Doggie