Sam Sakocius enjoying a game
traditional Thai and modern minimalism accented with
a comfortable English pub in a pagoda like structure
perched on a hill. It sounds a bit crazy but the award
winning design works, and augments the relaxed but
luxurious personality of the place.
Black Mountain Golf Club
A half hour or so in the opposite direction is the most
acclaimed club in Thailand, Black Mountain Golf Club.
It has been host to numerous Asian Tour events as well
as European/Asian tour joint events. It has won every
award there is to win in Thailand and even cracked the
Golf Digest Top 100 outside the USA in 2012.
Our host, Managing Director Harald Elisson was most
gracious in providing us with much background about
this special club.
Conspicuous upon arrival, the atmosphere here
proclaims you are at a professional golf event venue.
Everything is expansive, sleek, and reminiscent of many
TPC facilities with roomy staging areas at the bag drop,
large terraced restaurants, and a spacious fully stocked
proshop. The place has attitude with playing conditions
and hospitality to back it up. Efficiently operated with
professional precision in every department, getting onto
the course, in and out of the restaurant, the pro shop,
or the snack bar, has the smooth proficiency one would
expect of a tour event setting.
The star of the show is of course, the course. Playing
as long or as short as you could want, depending on
the tees you play; expansive in the landing areas, with
attractive big greens, the course is eminently playable.
That is not to say it is easy by any means. There is plenty
of trouble in the deep bunkers not only greenside but in
the fairways as well. Ponds and creeks are strategically
Helpful caddies in Hua Hin
placed to set up a pleasing number of risk reward holes.
All the interesting features of the design combine to
make it a true championship test that is playable and
fun for the average handicapper. You can safely cruise
around off one of the forward tee sets, and have a
lovely time of it. But in a competition, if you want
to win, you are going to have to take some chances.
Real scoring advantages await the successful bold
player willing to brave the risk of a severe punishment
for anything but a perfectly executed shot. From the
forward tees the average player can get a taste of this
on a few holes as well. The best part is that whatever
tees you play and whatever risks you take, you will find
the course conditions are absolutely fabulous. The
thick, lush Paspalum fairways, coupled with slippery and
true TifEagle greens, confirm you are playing it like the
pros do.
We only had a quick look around the other two venues,
the Jack Nicklaus designed, “Springfield” and Roger
Packard designed, “Imperial Lake View.” In addition to
the pedigree of two excellent designers, conditions
have been constantly improving and combined together
will provide some interesting and exciting challenges.
See you in June
Well, I am a little breathless here. Taken aback with
anticipation, I suppose, this is one event in a very long
time that I can’t wait to experience. I will be covering
it this June and look forward to the follow up and
maybe getting a few readers takes on the festivities.
I encourage you to have a look at the extraordinary
event web page and hope you are enticed as I am. See
you then!
www.thailandworldmasters.com
Volume 3
4 • Issue 40
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