Bangkok Golf

The Bangkok area is a golfing paradise with more than 36 golf courses to choose from. However, on our retirement budget and with both of us golfing we try to be selective to those courses that we consider reasonable. Generally the courses we choose have green fees ranging from 400 - 900 Baht which in U.S. is $12 - $26. Add to that the normal Caddy fee of 220 Baht which is U.S. 6.50, and afterwards if they have done a good job then we tip them up to about 220 Baht. So all in all it usually averages about less than $30. U.S. each. Which isn't at all bad considering that you're able to walk the course and have a caddy to hand you your club selection, clean your club after your shot, repair your divots, carry your umbrella, mark your ball on the green, clean it, and replace it. Give you guidance on reading the green, and on especially hot days as you're standing there you discover a nice breeze on your neck only to find she is standing there fanning you. Most of the caddies know the courses very well, and when you hit an errant shot and it heads into the trees and you loose site of it...not to worry, as she will usually walk right up to it and point it out. They really are amazing. And, even though it is hot out you will find them covered from head to toe, as they do not want to be exposed to that much sun. They prefer lighter toned skin and do not want to get dark. Opposite from the thinking of most westerners as they want the darker tanned skin.

There are some other differences as compared to golf in the U.S. Here most everyone walks the course. And they can have up to a max of what they call a 6-ball which basically means a 6-some. Imagine if you will, 6 golfers and 6 caddies. Your own gallery at every tee box and on the green! One would think with that many golfers that it would take forever to play a round. But it doesn't. Play moves right along and it goes surprisingly quick. As you walk down the fairways and look around at the course it appears to be a giant park with lots of people out for a leisurely stroll.

Another little quirk is when you play the Par 3's. These are what they call "Call Hole." Once everyone is on the green the caddies look back at the group that is waiting on the tee box and if that group wants to call then one of the caddies will signal. At which time everyone walks off the green. Their balls have already been marked by the caddies. You stand off to one side or behind the green allowing the group behind you to tee off. Now, again imagine the gallery that has assembled. There are not only 12 people on the tee box, but there are 12 people standing around the green. Hmm...talk about pressure! Once the group tees off they begin their trip up to the green while your group walks back onto the green to finish the hole. Sometimes the group behind is up by the green before everyone has finished. So now, we have 24 people on and around the green. What a party! Feels like you're playing on tour.

One other thing about the golf courses...like Thailand, there is food everywhere. The golf courses are no exceptions. Every couple of holes there is always some type of stopover for either a snack, or even a quick meal. Especially around the par 3's when it sometimes can get backed up. This presents the opportunity to get a quick bowl of noodle soup, or rice dish with a curry of some sort. Additionally there are plenty of other types of food ranging from fried chicken drumsticks, to hard boiled eggs, to sweet snacks along with a variety of drinks including ice cold Singha beer. You might even see a small stand set up selling small clear plastic bags of golf balls, usually 6 to a set. These are balls that have been retrieved from the water hazards which there are always plenty of. The balls are retrieved by hand. It's not unusual to see Thai men in their colorful straw hats in the lakes with long bamboo poles that they use to retrieve the balls from the bottom. This in itself is an art to watch.

After what usually is a four and a half to five hour round you find yourself back at the clubhouse which are usually quite massive and large. All have both men and ladies locker rooms where you can shower and change into fresh clothes. Some even have on site massage parlors. After refreshing and depending on the time, you can sit in the clubhouse or outside on the covered terraces and have a cold beer and more food! What a way to end a round of golf!

Golf here is to enjoy, relax, and have a good time. Unlike the U.S. where we tend to ride carts with GPS systems that keep track of you and tell you when you're a few seconds or minutes behind and ask you to pick up the pace. And if the GPS isn't enough, there are plenty of course Marshall's that are ever present to make sure you play in the allotted time. Here it doesn't matter if you shoot a 115 or an 85 just as long as you enjoy. Enjoy, and relax...or as the Thai's would say Sabai, Sabai.