In South East Asia, golf as a sport has caught on rapidly and there are new golf courses springing up constantly, not just to cater to the growing local golfer population but as a tool to attract golfers from around the world to visit for a golf holiday. Over the past decade or so, several tourism boards have realized the importance of golfing as a leisure activity and its role in fuelling further growth in tourism, particularly in the high-value traveler segment.
Consequently, there is some excellent golfing to be found virtually everywhere in South East Asia.
Thailand and Malaysia lead the pack with the number of golf courses to be found in different parts of the countries.
Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai are well established and many a golfer has already traveled to all these destinations and keeps coming back. To add to the golf in Thailand, the excellent cuisine and nightlife are big draws that have firmly established it as Asia’s premier golf destination.
Malaysia a relative newcomer to promoting itself as a golf destination has some of the most incredible settings for its golf courses. Blessed by a superb topography and millions of years old rainforests, there is a great spectacle that awaits golfers planning a golf holiday in Malaysia. The top regions include Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Melaka, Johor and the wondrously beautiful and diverse state of Sabah.
The golf culture in Indonesia has also picked up and for those who have already traveled to Jakarta and Bali on a golfing vacation are ready to swear by the quality of the golfing experience in these places. While Bali is well renowned for its excellent coastline, volcano excursions and a rich Hindu culture, Jakarta is a great draw for those wanting to discover its inimitable nightlife. In addition to Bali and Jakarta, two other islands – with multiple golf courses – Bintan and Batam get constant traffic due to their short ferry based proximity to Singapore.
Another country which is making its mark and is proving to be an alternative to the established golf destinations is Vietnam. As with everything else in Vietnam, golfing is also concentrated around the 3 centers – Ho Chi Minh City in the South, Hanoi in the North and Danang in Central – apart from a few golf courses of high quality found in the resort cities of Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Dalat in South Vietnam. In fact, Danang is staking its claim to be the Golf Coast of Vietnam with 3 stunning championship layouts designed by the biggest names in golf course design – Colin Montgomerie, Sir Nick Faldo, and Greg Norman, currently all in action and wooing everyone coming to play there.
Siem Reap, the principal gateway to the famous temples of Angkor in Cambodia also features three excellent golf course choices for holidaymakers wanting to mix a little bit of the incredibly rich culture and history with golfing.
The joys of golfing can never be overstated to a golfer, but to add to all those, there is the extra experience of golfing in South East Asia –the caddies. In most golf courses in South East Asia, caddies are compulsory and while this helps grow employment in the areas neighboring the golf courses, no one is really complaining, especially when it is a young lady with an immaculate appearance and etiquette who is there to help you out with your golf round on an alien golf course – if you wish she can also help with your club selection and your putting lines.
