Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Sub-forum for discussion on golf in Hua Hin and Thailand.
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skip111
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Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by skip111 »

Hi I am coming up to HH in september to play golf, I have played most of the courses around HH and fell in love with a few of them ( Bk Mountain and Banyan ) are right up there , but i was wondering if there was a best kept secret one not too far out of town that someone knows about that we could play on ....Thanks :D
JW
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by JW »

Dragon hills - just over an hr out and Krang Kachan (1hr away) are both gems. :cheers:
Ropes
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by Ropes »

[quote][/quote]
My favourite course and again about an hour or so's drive from HH is Royal Ratchaburi and for half the price that you would pay in Hua Hin.
You will not be disappointed.
lomuamart
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by lomuamart »

Ditto the above three recommendations. Another close to Royal Ratchaburi is Panarangsi. I've never played it but all the golfers I've asked say it's worth an outing as well. Military owned and again very good value as are all these courses.
If you're going up that way, you might want to consider an overnight stay in the area (Dragon Hills isn't too far from the Ratchaburi courses) and get two of them in. The associated hotel at Dragon Hills is very good value and decent enough although it's in the middle of no-where so you'll have to make your own entertainment if you don't venture out. The restaurant is excellent and the beer cheap!!
For contact details see http://www.tourismhuahin.com/golf-huahin.php
I think Kaeng Krachan is around the 800THB mark in the low season for green fee and caddie, the others are in the region of 650-750 for the same. If you play KK, play the C course (Mountain). It's awesome. Combine that with either the Lake or Valley 9.
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by lomuamart »

My above post whetted my appetite so I went and played Panarangsi. It's an excellent course and I'll definitely play it again. 600 THB for green fee and caddie.
It's a good length - over 6,300 yds off the white tees. Mostly tree-lined with quite a bit of water and a great lay-out. Some of the holes are tough. I thought the condition was excellent. The ball sits up on the fairways and the greens were true and not too fast. The course has had a lot of rain recently so were soggy. We played preferred lies.
The clubhouse was adequate and the food good, plentiful and cheap - as was the beer!! If you want equipment, the pro shop is fantastic value for pretty much everything. There were some sports shirts on sale at 500THB for two. People at the course were friendly and visitors made welcome.
Took us about 1.5 hours to get there. For anyone who makes the effort, you'll not be disappointed. I'd steer clear of weekends and probably Fridays as well as I reckon it'll get busy with the military and I bet 6 balls are allowed.
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by T.I.G.R. »

We've played all four courses mentioned above and the advice is very good. All are in good condition, a good test of skill and fun. Dragon Hills has a nice Hotel. which we stayed in once. it was simple but clean and cheap. It didn't look like anyone was in it but the four of us. Has a restaurant as well.

The Nicklaus nine at Kang Krachan is really nice and lots of fun. The other two nines are great as well but Nicklaus is the more modern one.

I really like Lakeview but it seems not many of the HHAD members like it that much. A & B are in a park-like setting and with all the rain we've had recently it should be in good shape. C & D are pretty tough if you're an old guy but I still enjoy the challenge. I think it's very pretty as well. Springfield for me is just O.K. but I do like their Nicklaus nine as well.....tough but pretty to look at.

The new Army course south of town is nice looking too but we've never played it....I'm waiting for the trees to grow up.

If you play by yourself and would like some company on the Ratchaburi courses I know a guy in Petchaburi who plays them with his wife and some friends, I could send you his email.
Anudderhacka
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by Anudderhacka »

Hi, My three mature aged friends and I, will visit HH during mid February 2013. Could anyone inform me if the courses offer special rates i.e. sports days and if so what are the rates and which courses on which days.

We are going to Golf three days in Bangkok and about ten more in HH and are looking to keep the costs down if possible :P

Thanks in anticipation.
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by JW »

Hi,

I am afraid you wont be getting any sports days in mid Feb, either in Hua Hin or Bangkok (more chance Bangkok I think), you are here right in the busiest time when getting a tee time isnt that easy to be honest. You could use the courses a few hrs north -

Royal Ratchaburi - travel from BKK, play and stay night
Dragon Hills - play and stay
Panarangsi - play and stay
Krang Kachan (play on way home)


If your not interested in nightlife you could stay in Ratchaburi for 3 nights and hit all of those courses and to be honest you would play 4 really great courses and it shouldn't be to busy.

if you want anymore info let me know. :thumb:

Best
JW
lomuamart
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by lomuamart »

Anudderhacka,
Your best bet would be to contact the courses when you arrive. Most of the details are here - http://www.tourismhuahin.com/golf-huahin.php
As JW has said, you probably won't get Sports Day rates in February, but the Ratchaburi courses will only set you back 640 - 800 THB for green fee. Caddie, 250 THB. Kaeng Krachen will be around 1,700 if you combine the Nicklaus (C) course with either A or B.
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by PJG »

Many Bangkok courses have sport days year round but they are very busy those days 'cos they are cheap. When busy are also very slow as you will have to wait behind 5 and 6 ball groups who rarely let others through!!!! Welcome to cheap golf in Thailand
Anudderhacka
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by Anudderhacka »

Thank you to all who have responded. The news is a little disappointing, but nevertheless, we're coming. :P

Is there a group of golfers (similar to the one in Pattya) who enjoy a beer and golf regularly in HH, that would welcome an extra four ball?
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by russ »

not a secret now haaaaaaaa played dragon hills last week lovely all for 600 inc caddy
JW
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Re: Golf courses: any best kept secrets?

Post by JW »

Reckon ity would be much easier for you to have someone organise your golf and transport if you decide to have a few days away I would recommend a friend called Roger Smith, his company can be found here http://www.gtaasia.com/index.php.

Cheers,

JW
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