Golf Tours / Packages

[los_omm 0]

I am an avid golfer and I am plannning a trip to Pattaya to enjoy my two favorite activities....beautiful asian women and fabulous golf. Do you boardies suggest using one of the many golf tour packages that include golf and room etc... or is it easy enough just to find ones way to Pattaya and arrange your own golf? Thanks for the help.

[wobbly_1 18]

Try this or look for Doghaus' posts

 

http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19281

[doghaus 4]

Hi Los Omm

 

Your query reminded me that I should write an article about How to Organise Golf in Pattaya! A number of golfers have asked the sort of question you raised. I have published my comments about this on the Pattaya Wiki at the following link Organising golf in Pattaya

 

This should retain the article for all to view and for other to edit and comment upon.

 

Here is a copy of the article. Hope this helps!

 

Organising golf in Pattaya

 

There are a number of options for the golfer who wants to play golf in Thailand.

 

A packaged holiday or golf tour

 

You can buy a complete holiday package that includes flights, transfers, accommodation and golf. These packages are offered by tour operators in your country of residency and will be fully bonded by the Aviation Authority to protect the traveller in the event of failure of the operator or the airline. My company, Solar Golf Ltd, offers fully inclusive packages from the UK to Thailand that are ATOL bonded. Solar Golf Website These packages can be booked by individuals, couples or groups. For larger groups, we can tailor-make a package for any of the golf destinations in Thailand. We also run a number of fixed itinerary tours during the golf season for couples or individuals who like the company of other golfers. These tours often include activities and excursions for the non-golfers and days when we are not playing golf.

 

A packaged golf holiday is the easiest way to come golfing in Thailand. All the organising is done by the tour operator and you pay in your own currency before departure. You also have the peace of mind that a competent operator will have local representatives in Thailand who look after all the local arrangements and deal with any problems or emergencies. This is not necessarily the most expensive option. Although the operator will be making a profit on the holiday you will benefit from the fact that we negotiate rates with airlines, hotels and golf courses in advance and these will generally be lower than the prices that an individual can get. There are exceptions during low season when hotels and golf courses have special deals but these can never be predicted in advance and you still have to make your own bookings and transport arrangements.

 

Buy your own flight and buy a package from a tour operator in Thailand

 

This differs from the package tour described above in that you buy your own flight and then buy the rest of the package from a golf tour operator in Thailand. This is likely to save you a bit of money because the operator does not have to incur the cost of an Aviation Authority bond. Also, you can buy the ticket from a discount travel agent who may offer better rates than the package tour operator has negotiated. This option is usually cheaper during the off-peak periods when the last-minute fare deals are at their lowest levels. The tour operator will generally offer you a complete package that starts on arrival in Thailand. From that point onwards you should expect the same package and services that you would get with a flight-inclusive package tour. Solar Golf organises flight exclusive golf holidays and tours and we take payment either in the UK before departure or by transfer to Thailand in local currency.

 

If you are buying a package from a local golf tour operator, it is worth checking out a few points before making your booking:

 

Take up references with other golfers that have used the company. A reputable operator will be happy to give you these.

 

Make sure that the local staff speak English - especially if the company is not run by an English speaker. There are also some golf operators who specialise in looking after German and Scandinavian clients.

 

Check out that they know the golf courses in the Pattaya area. I have encountered a bus load of Koreans parked outside our hotel with a driver who didn't have the slightest idea how to get them to the golf course.

 

Booking golf as you go

 

If you don't want to have an inclusive package, it is perfectly feasible to organise your own hotel and travel and then to book golf whenever you want to play. There are 3 ways you can book up your golf in Pattaya.

 

Option 1. Do it yourself! If you like hassle, you can book your own tee times and then rent a taxi to take you to and from the golf course. Whilst some golfers go for this, I would not recommend it. If the courses are busy, the first booking that will be "lost" is a once off group of farangs. There are no risks in pissing off someone who is unlikely to return! You also have no guarantee that the taxi driver knows where the golf course is. Naturally, he will tell you he knows it like the back of his hand until he sets off down Sukhumvit and stops at every garage to ask directions! Do it yourself is, in my opinion, a high risk route for those of you that like an adventure!

 

Option 2. Play with one of the bars in Pattaya. There are a number of bars in Pattaya that organise golf days. They are generally associated with the Pattaya Sports Club or another club that has discounts negotiated with the golf courses. You have to join the relevant sports club to enjoy the discounts on green fees. Pattaya Sports Club The bars will usually play 2 or 3 days a week and they run a competition each day. In addition to your green fee and caddy fee you will pay the bar a competition entry fee and a few hundred baht for transport. Playing with the bars is a good way to enjoy competitive golf and to play in company. The groups can vary from as many as 70 in high season to just a carload from a smaller bar in low season. There are a few downsides to playing with the bars. You have to make your own way to and from the bar – they wont collect you from your hotel. Transport to and from the course can be in an air-conditioned mini van or in the back bench of a member’s 10 year old pick up truck or anything in between! Also, the larger bar groups can suffer from slow play and many of the golfers are too competitive for visitors who just want a friendly round in good company.

 

Option 3. Have your golf organised by a local golf tour operator. There are a number of golf tour operators based in Pattaya who can organise your golf days. Solar Golf provide a complete package which includes booking your tee times, collecting you from your hotel, transport to the course, escorting you to the locker room, organising your caddies and making sure you are on the first tee. After your golf, we collect you from the course and transport you back to your hotel. We have English-speaking staff and all our vehicles are air-conditioned cars or mini vans. Solar Golf only uses the better courses in the area – Laem Chabang, Khao Kheow, Phoenix, Burapha and the 2 Legacy courses for example. Our golf groups usually vary from a four ball during low season up to a maximum of 48 golfers on any one course. We do not exceed this number because we like to keep the pace of play moving. Prices vary according to the number of golfers and the level of the course e.g. from 1550 baht for 6 players at Khao Kheow to just over 3000 baht for Laem Chabang with 2 golfers .

 

You can book golf with Solar Golf by telephoning us in Pattaya on +66 400 35030.

 

In the final analysis, there are many ways to get on the golf courses in Pattaya. Whichever you choose, you will have great fun and some unforgettable days!

 

Retrieved from "http://www.pattayatalk.com/wiki/index.php/Golf"

[jfg 1]

One thing to remember if you do book a golf tour its same as booking a holiday everything taken care of , watch out your not into hotel that charges guest fee as you wont be able to change [4 pickup ,room pre-paid]

[doghaus 4]

Good point jfg.

 

We usually try to book couples into the non-guest friendly hotels and the single blokes into guest friendly. In general, I would advise single guys to go for one of the good 3 star hotels that we offer. Most of the 4 and 5 stars charge a joiners fee. I had one customer who booked a tour with another operator and was booked into the Woodlands. They charged him 1000 extra per night for joiner fee and additional person in the room. He was not a happy bunny!

 

Doggie

[Bob4you 0]

Solar Golf gets my vote. They are first class, honest and don't leave you hanging. The Residence Gardens is hard to beat whether you are single or with a wife, and if 2 guys wanting to have a experience to send home about book one of the 2 bedroom units, 2 master bedrooms, same size private bath, courteous attention and never a joiner fee no matter how many people join you.

[doghaus 4]

Thanks for your vote Bob.

 

I support Bob's recommendation for the Residence Gardens. We are including the RG in our golf holiday packages for 2006/07. You need to book early with RG - it is a popular stop for the regulars who play golf and enjoy a bit of fun.

 

Doggie

[softrabbit 3]

I have booked tee times directly from the golf course and then negotiated with a taxi on the day I played( Sometimes you need to do that with three different ones in order to get it right).So far I never had any problems.

 

However if you want to have it organised for you,then I as Bob4 you strongly recommend Solar golf services. They are reliable, punctual, really good organizors and

most of all they can put you together with other golfers and a lot of fun is quaranteed.

[jfg 1]

When in Pattaya I tend to play out off golf bars like the Bunker but only 2-3 times a week, guys that come for short trip like to play every day and have everything organised, so good to hear about Solar and will recomend it when asked, sounds good

[doghaus 4]

Thanks for that JFG.

 

We also do some short breaks that you and other golfers might be interested in. For next season, we are offering:

 

3 days/2 nights at Mission Hills in Phuket

 

3 days/2 nights at Santiburi on Koh Samui

 

A round at Alpine in Bangkok and a round at Lamlukka with an overnight stay.

 

Details will be on the website soon.

 

We also organise group trips to other parts of Thailand. Kanchanaburi and Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai are popular.

 

Doggie