TRIP INFORMATION

• It's best to have you're tour organised by a reputable specialist. They have the contacts and the best prices. With a lot of hard work and phone calls you might get close to their price. Try explaining left hand golf clubs over the phone in a foreign language. Let them make all the bookings and you just need to sort out things at your end - who's going and have they paid? Tell them where you would like to stay, although they may have some better ideas. It's best to err on the side of the more expensive places to keep everyone happy. It should come out under US$200 per day for a 4**** star hotel with breakfast, transportation, green fees, caddies and carts and a few tours and other extras thrown in. You will still need money for tips, meals, drinks, bets etc. Recommended for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos is APPTGOLF - Anphong Tourist and Trade in Ho Chi Minh City. In Thailand try Thai-Ger Line Golf who are located in Pattaya. They may be able to put you on to someone for Myanmar. They are also very good for local green fees, club rentals  and transport.​

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• If there are only a few of you going it may work out cheaper to organise yourself on the internet. It would still pay to get someone local to book the tee times as they get the best prices.​

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• There will be a van, driver and guide waiting for you when you arrive at the airport and you will be well looked after for the whole trip. Drivers and Guides are very useful with their local knowledge and will be keen for you to have a good experience. Use them for restaurant recommendations and all sorts of daily items like your laundry which will quickly mount up. Don't forget to give them a good tip at the end. Get a decent sized drinks cooler and they will have it full of icy cold beers waiting for you after the 19th at the clubhouse. The trip back to the hotel is one of the best parts of the day. 

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• Book with a decent airline so you get plenty of baggage allowance for your clubs. Hire clubs are outrageously expensive and never hit the ball as well as your clubs  do.​ One of those big bags which fit all of your clubs plus your clothes is the best  way to go. You should be able to get a decent price on your airfares as you are buying in bulk.​

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• Another option with the clubs is to get some telescopic ones. You can get an iron with adjustable loft as well as telescopic putters, fairway woods and drivers. Not as good as your normal clubs but they are good quality and don't take much getting used to. Very handy for travelling and you could combine a motorbike loop with a golf trip.

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• A good number of golfers is 8 so you can have two foursomes and all fit in the van comfortably with your gear. It is also important to have a group where everyone gets along well and is on the same page. One wrong person can spoil it for everyone, even themselves. 

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WHEN - 

• SE Asia is very hot from April to September and carts make life a lot easier as do umbrellas for the greens. It is also the rainy season although showers don't usually last that long.  

• March - May is burning season in northern Thailand and Luang Prabang (Laos) which makes life unpleasant.

• October to May is cooler but December to February is high season when prices go up and courses will be busier.

• August to October is typhoon season in Vietnam. June to September is typhoon season in the Philippines, although they can appear any time.

• The Andaman Coast (Phuket) is dry from November to March while the Gulf of Thailand   has it's dry season from January to August.

• The best months generally in most places would be October - November but check on it. The individual itineraries will tell you when the best time is. But like every trip in this   website - go when you want.

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HIGHLIGHTS - 

• Championship courses and facilities

• Fun with the caddies

• On course refreshment bars

• Not having to drive after the 18th or the 19th

• Group Dinners

• Exciting nightlife

• Bonding with your mates 

• Winning the comps

• Winning the bets

• Great golfing memories

• Side trips to local attractions

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COSTS - 

• Not a cheap holiday but great value considering what you're getting for it. Hotels, courses, meals, drinks are much cheaper than in the west.

• Vietnam can get a bit expensive especially for drinks (even water) around the course.

• Many of these courses are probably a lot tougher than what you are used to at home and you may find yourself going through your supply of balls more quickly than anticipated.   Not to worry, often there are cheap golf ball shops just outside many golf courses. Get  your driver to pull over so everyone can stock up. They have been scavenged from the course next door and a lot have only been hit a few times. Also they are washed and often sorted into bags of the same brand.

• If you do find yourself running out on the course you can usually buy them on the black market from the greenkeepers. Caddies usually carry a few balls and tees as well if you get desperate.

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TIPS -

• Take a lot of golf socks

• Take a lot of golf balls

• Take your own clubs

• Take your umbrella, more for the sun than the rain. And they're expensive to rent. Necessary for standing on the greens when it's really hot.

• You can get special putting balls in Thailand that roll more freely on the greens. Not sure if they're "golf legal".

• Always take a change of clothes and have a shower after the game - you'll be very sweaty. The course will provide towels, toiletries and lockers.

• Organise your driver to get your washing done. Just give him all of your sweaty clothes at the end of each day. It will be much cheaper and a lot less hassle.

• Get your driver to fill up an esky full of beer and ice for you each day while you are out playing.

• Hang on to some smaller notes to tip your caddy each day. Your driver will let you know what a reasonable amount is.

• Don't forget to offer to buy them food and drinks out on the course.

• Courses have shoe cleaners where you come of the course. 

 

UNIQUE - 

• The Royal Gems Bangkok is a replica course which has 9 famous signature holes from around the world on the front nine. Including The Road Hole from St. Andrews and the Par 3  Island Green 17th at TPC Sawgrass. The back nine is a replica of the back nine at   Augusta National including the famous Amen Corner.

• BRG Kings Island near Hanoi requires you to grab your clubs and hop on a boat to get to the clubhouse. The entire island is devoted to golf.

•  Wangjuntr Golf Park (3 courses) out of Pattaya needs to be seen to be believed. It is quite the experience and you'll probably need a lot of balls in your bag. Play Highland first - the first tee is on the snack bar roof.

• And this is only the tip of the iceberg of some memorable championship golf courses.  Many of them by famous designers. 

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ACCOMMODATION - 

• Usually good value 3 - 4 **** hotels in the nightlife areas. Sharing a twin room is best and you will need to pay a single supplement to have your own room. Most hotels come with breakfast and Vietnam wins the honours in this department. Many have swimming pools  and other features. Most are on Booking.com if you are making your own bookings and   you should be able to get with free cancellation (read the fine print). Or you should be going through an agency if there's a group of 8 or more. 

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EATING - 

• Recommendations on local specialties and where to get them.

• Restaurants and night markets with local colour.

• Ask your driver and guide for recommendations.

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NIGHTLIFE - 

• Will be outside your door.

• Which bars, best place for live music or entertainment and little known places.

• Once again the driver and guide should have a few ideas.

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FITNESS LEVEL -

• Reasonable, it's a lot harder than many people expect especially in the hot season. Carts are compulsory on many courses and recommended when it's really hot. There are kiosks every third or fourth hole on most courses where you can get drinks and snacks. It's nice to see if your caddie wants something. And when it's really hot you'll need an umbrella just for the greens. The caddies are good at keeping you hydrated and cool. And doing all the work.

• A tee time between 11 and 12 seems to work well. Time for sleep or to do something for the early risers and the 18th flows into the 19th and the rest of the night quite naturally. Like a really good groundhog day.

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SOUVENIRS -

• Golf hats from the Pro shops, Ball markers, Shirts, Umbrellas, Life Membership at the Nullarbor Links, make up your own golf shirts to commemorate the trip.