Isaan - The Heartland
By Matt under CC BY-SA 2.0 (the real one)
eSIM Thai📱Laos N/A
Marker Map
Course Info
Insurance
Flights
Tours
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Itinerary -
Bangkok 2N / 1C
Pak Chong 1N / 1C
Khon Kaen 2N / 2C
Udon Thani 2N / 1C
Nong Khai 2N / 1C
Vientiane 6N / 4C
= 16N / 10Courses
Highlights -
Isaan food and culture
Famous -
That Luang - the National Symbol of LAO PDR
Visa -
THAILAND -
60 days on arrival for most countries and extendable for another 30. Sometimes only 15 days at land borders.
LAOS -
30 day visa on arrival for most countries at the border for US$20 - US$42. Best to bring US$ with you and some passport photographs.
Airports -
Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)
Fly in and out of here
Wattay International Airport (VTE)
Fly from here back to Bangkok or you could catch the train.
About -
Fly in and out of Bangkok. Stay in the Khao San Road area on the riverfront with a pool. Plenty to see and do here the first night while you're getting acclimatised.
Play the Royal Gems - a replica course. The front nine is made up of famous signature holes from well known courses around the world. The back nine is the back nine of Augusta.
Have a beer or two in Patpong, check out the museum then celebrate with a night out on Sukhumvit Road.
Have a sleep in. Eat a big hangover brunch before hitting the road to Pak Chong. Settle in to your new resort by the river. Have a dip in the pool. Head out to the Night Market or straight across the river to the amazing Waterside House.
Another relaxed wake up and breakfast. A bit under an hour to the course. Today it's the exciting Panorama Golf and Country Club. Part of the course makes its way through virgin forest and the other part is on a bluff overlooking the whole Khao Yai Valley. There are two swimming pools so don't forget our bathers. You'll have an hour in the van to enjoy those icy cold beers on the way to your next hotel. Often this is the best part of the day.
Na(kho-n Rat)chasima (abbreviated to Korat) is one of the larger cities in Thailand. Spend the night seeing it's Night Market and Night Life before a well earned sleep. Pop into the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) on Pho Klang Rd by the Siri Hotel for a drink and see if any of the old Vietnam Vets are still around. They serve meals here as well and have been doing so for well over 40 years.
Early star today, you'll need to be on the road by 9ish. It's two and a half hours to the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club. This championship course is on the Asian tour.
A couple of nights in Khon Kaen where you'll be staying in 5***** luxury in the middle of the nightlife area. The other course you'll be playing here is nearby Dancoon Golf Club. It features water on 10 holes including the signature par 3 island green.
Have a rest day as you travel up to Udon Thani which was a major USAF air base in the Vietnam war between 1964 and 1976. It was responsible for much of the bombing of North Vietnam and Laos. These days you will find a lot of ex-pats living up here.
Stay in the centre of town where you will have a pool and be in walking distance to the large Night Markets and bar areas. Play Royal Creek Golf Club and Resort which was formerly a rice paddy and requires a few spare balls.
En-route to Nong Khai play the Victory Course which is a surprisingly high standard course for one that is really off the beaten track. Pop into the local Rum distillery for a taste after the game. Have a rest / sightseeing day and a couple of nights in this wonderful riverside town before crossing over to Laos.
Cross the border and get set up in your next hotel. Also with a pool. There is a great selection of restaurants and bars down along the Mekong River. It's the best place to catch the sunset as well.
You have 4 courses to play here. One of them being a twilight round. All courses here are quite new and impressive.
After a wonderful week getting to know Laos and her friendly laid back people it's time to head to the airport and fly home via Bangkok. Have an extra few nights there on the way through if you like. If you haven't had your fill of golf there's another twenty or so courses there to pick from.
Stay -
Chillax Heritage Hotel Khaosan*** 2N -
Near Khao San, Bangkok - Pool
or
Ramada by Wyndham Bangkok Sukhumvit 11****
Just off Sukhumvit - Pool
Ban Mai Vintage 1N -
Pak Chong - Pool
Romyen Garden Palace**** 1N -
Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) - Pool
Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid***** 2N -
Khon Kaen - Pool
Charoen Hotel*** 2N - Udon Thani -
Pool -
or the Centara Udon **** -
Pool
Asawann Hotel *** - or Amanta Hotel 2N -
Nong Khai
Mali Namphu Hotel***½ 6N -
Vientiane - Pool or
Le Charme Vientiane Hotel *** -
Pool
Courses & Suggested Tee Times -
BANGKOK -
The Royal Gems Golf City - Dream Arena - 12.00pm
They envisage having 63 golf holes here one day making Bangkok a true golfing capital. The attraction at the moment is the replica course. The front 9 holes are replicas of famous holes around the world such as the Road Hole from St Andrews - The Postage Stamp from Royal Troon - the Sawgrass island green - the par 5 from Bay Hill Florida and the Church Pews from Oakmont. This should warm you up and get you ready to take on the back nine at Augusta. It is a lot of fun and adds a new dimension to the game. Every time you watch the Masters you'll be reliving your round.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA -
Panorama Golf and Country Club - 11.00 am
Great course, very scenic, part of the course makes its way through virgin forest and the only hole you can see is the one you're on. Another part of the course is located on a bluff with outstanding views of the Khao Yai Valley. There is an interesting shot on the 10th where you have to hit over a valley and across a hill to a blind green. The course is kept in tip top condition.
KHON KAEN -
Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club - 12.30pm
This land was once the waste disposal area for the Singha Brewery. So it has plenty of water. It is a major fixture on the professional Asian golfing circuit. It is a beautiful course that makes its way past 9 lakes and other natural features. Water comes into play on 16 holes. It has a nice balcony for the 19th.
Dancoon Golf Club - 12.00pm
Opened in 2008 and in 2010 hosted the Asian Seniors. Nice course that is good value, pretty flat and easy to walk. Water features on 10 holes with the par 3 11th island green being the signature hole. Good facilities and a restaurant.
UDON THANI -
Royal Creek Golf Club and Resort - 12.00pm
Built on a former rice paddy it has a lot of manmade water hazards. Including the signature par 3 8th which has an almost island green resembling the famous hole at Sawgrass. Extra balls will come in very handy here. Carts are compulsory.
NONG KHAI -
Victory Park Golf & Country Club - 11.00 am
Opened in 1997. International championship standard course that has had extensive work done in order to attract pro tours again. Out of the way gem.
VIENTIANE - Suggested playing order
Lakeview Vientiane Golf Club - 11.00am
Only 20 minutes to get out to this course which has been transformed to one of the courses with the highest standards in Vientiane. Keeping in line with its name each hole is framed by manmade lakes as well as steep bunker complexes and undulating greens. A lot of trees have been planted as well.
Long Vien Golf Club - 4.00pm - M, W, F Twilight Golf
27 hole and one of the best courses in Vientiane. Situated in a special duty free zone so grab a bottle or two while you're out here. East is lakes and forests and West is more open with bunkers and undulating fairways. Caddies are all male.
SEA Games Golf Club - 11.00am
This course was designed for the 25th South East Asian Games held here. It is a challenging 27 hole course and has a lot of water. It's not as good as Long Vien so you may like to play the other 9 there and play the whole round in the daylight.
One of a kind gorgeous location with views of Nam Ngum Lake about an hour north of Vientiane. The view from the 10th is quite stunning. It is quite hilly so you may want a cart. Water comes into play on 13 holes. 8 holes have doglegs. This was the first international standard course in the country. Get an early start so you've got some time to enjoy a few at the 19th taking in the breathtaking views over the lake.
Eat -
Night Market - Pak Chong
Night Market - Korat
Night Markets / VT Namneung Vietnamese - Udon Thani
Sindad - Lao BBQ and other dishes / Pyongyang Restaurant (North Korean) - Laos
Sundowners -
Amorosa Bar - Arun Residence
Nong Prajak Public Park overlooking the lake, bars and restaurants - Udon Thani
Sky Bar - Nong Khai
Riverfront / Patuxai Park - Vientiane
19th, 20th etc -
Sukhumvit
Waterside House - Pak Chong
VFW / Dokmai Cafe Pub and Restaurant - Korat
Alfresco balcony at Singha Park
Issan Rum Distillery / Riverfront / Soi Nitapat - Nong Khai
Vientiane riverfront becomes one long Beer Garden
Ease Scent Restaurant (Lake View) after playing Dansavanh Golf Club or the Dansavanh Resort Pier
Side Trips -
The Sculpture Park - Nong Khai
Buddha Park - Vientiane
Beer Lao Factory - Monday / Wednesday / Friday between 1.30 and 4.30 - come here before playing twilight golf at Long Vien
Cope Visitor Centre - the legacy of being the most bombed country in the history of warfare.
Don't miss -
The Royal Gems Dream Arena
Tips -
Get your driver to fill up an esky / drinks cooler full of beer and ice and do your laundry while you are golfing.
Use your van for side trips and to get dropped off where you want to start your nights out.
You can often buy cheap bags of balls at shops conveniently just outside the golf courses. It's worth stocking up when you see them as they are good quality and cheap.If you get caught short on the course you can often get black market balls from the green keepers. Caddies always have a few balls and tees on them too.
Take lots of golf socks and shorts and tops and a glove or two
You can often buy bags of good, cheap, sorted balls in shops close to the golf course.
Don't forget to tip your caddy and buy them a few drinks on the way around.
Always take a change of clothes and have a shower after the game.
Take plenty of golf clothes and get your driver / host to do everyone's laundry while you're playing.
Laundry by weight is much cheaper than by the article.
It gets really hot in the hot months - consider a cart and umbrella - you can always pick them up after the front 9
Get some talcum powder from 7-11 - for shoes and hands
Cheers in Thai is Chon GOW
in Lao is Tam Chok
Budget -
It depends on how many of you go. The more people sharing the costs of the van the cheaper that will be.
The hotels are good value and not too expensive. It depends if you want to share or not.
The green fees are a bit of a mixed bag but compared to western prices very good value.
Some courses hiring a cart is compulsory and others you can walk.
Make sure there is enough baggage allowance in your airfares for your clubs.
It's usually best to get your green fees, transport and accommodation booked by an agency who specialises in golf tours.
You will need to hire caddies each time and you will need to tip them. It's also nice to buy them and yourself a few drinks on the way around.
There are side bets and competitions and penalties to think about. Then there's the 19th, 20th, 21st...... holes which can get quite expensive. Bring lots of money.
Extra -
See Bangkok in 'Cities' - Naga Balls in 'Festivals' and Laos in 'Countries'.
