Traditional Betawi dance
Hole 14 at Angkor Golf Resort in Thailand
the limited entries sell out long before the events every year. With
handicapping and Stableford competition by age, nearly anybody
who plays a little or a lot can experience the thrill and pampering of
these events.
First Rate rentals
Bring your own shoes
Rental clubs are common and reasonably priced but golf balls are
expensive. It is highly recommended you bring your own along with
your favorite pair of golf shoes.
Designers
One think about the golf slump around the world, the most famous
and best designers have been flocking to SE Asia for years. Many
of the courses they have produced are on a par with some of the
world’s best. Names like Dye, Faldo, Norman, Jones, and Nicklaus are
all here.
But don’t discount the many gems by lessor known designers found
in every country.
Be prepared to be surprised. Do you know there are over 120 golf
courses in Myanmar? Admittedly many are super minimal built by the
British in the early 1900’s when the country was still called Burma.
But some of the layouts are quite interesting from a strategic and
historical perspective. Many Burmese love golf and are beginning
to see developing the game as one way to entice travelers and
reintroduce the world to the magic of their land.
Traveling country to country is easier and less expensive that most
think. While Visa rules vary depend on your nationality, most
countries can be entered by arranging entry documents online.
Fees are reasonable. I often tell my friends just get to a major
hub like Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur and the rest is easy. Discount
airlines abound which makes for very competitive pricing and the
advantageous flexibility of last minute bookings.
Friendly caddies at Angkor Golf Resort
The options are plenty and of bucket list significance.
With thirty seven World Heritage sites in SE Asia, any multi-country
trip is bound to come within day trip distance of several. Imagine
a mist shrouded morning at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, a sunrise
Balloon ride over the Temples of Bagan, or a kayak tour amongst the
limestone spires, caves and secluded beaches forming the sea scape
of Ha long Bay. How about a bit of excitement on a wild multiple
zipline exploit for hours through the jungle, a hands on eco-elephant
sanctuary experience or a water sports package with all the latest
aqua related thrill activities set against some of the world’s most
beautiful seaside landscapes.
You can do a version of what Koreans and Japanese golfers have
been doing for quite some time. Korean golfers, for instance, with a
bit of planning, can actually fly to SE Asia, stay at a great resort for
a long weekend, play every day, and fly home for what a few rounds
might cost at one of the upscale clubs near Seoul. While golf is very
affordable in Europe now, the experience/value quotient in SE Asia is
off the charts.
SE Asia is not for everybody. To uninitiated travelers the cultural
experience can sometimes approach overwhelming. Life in third
world countries, should you choose to get out amongst the locals,
is in your face around the clock. There isn’t much zoning so the
trappings of the very rich are right up against the squalor of the very
poor. While there is little a tourist can do to relieve inequities they
see, they can take some comfort in that many of the people who
are now working as tour guides, hotel workers, drivers etc. have been
given a chance to improve their lot as a direct result of your tourism
spending.
Whether it is a trip of a lifetime, a rollicking budget jaunt, or an
escape to some peace and quiet, you can find it all in the rapidly
evolving SE Asian region.
With operators offering more, it is getting easier to work golf into
family or couples vacations where not everybody is a golfer.
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