The other day I was thinking about my Thailand golf life today and that of 20 years ago. Boy how time flies (but that is the subject of another post entirely)!
February 3, 1987 San Jose, California
It’s 7.30am on a Sunday morning. I jump out of bed looking forward to my regular Sunday Stableford match with friends at San Jose Municipal Golf Course. Opening the curtains to check the weather, I find an overcast sky with a smattering of rain, a howling wind and the temperature somewhere around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Nothing put my golf off back then and even my dog thinks I am crazy to go outside!
Arriving at my golf club some 30 minutes later, I struggle to get my clubs out of the trunk of my car, get my umbrella out over my head, and haul my clubs on my back all the way from the parking lot to the club house, all the while expecting my umbrella to turn inside out from the wind. Eventually, I make it to the self-service coffee stand at the snack bar in a semi-bedraggled state. Meeting my friends, I put on every item of clothing stored in my golf bag and including turtle neck shirt, sweater, and wind breaker before moving out again to the first tee.
Some 4 and a half hours later I arrive back after 18 holes of so-called golf. Four red noses head for the 19th hole to try and get some warmth back into our bones and count up my earnings from the days match. (OK, that part is not so bad!)
Welcome to winter golfing in the USA and now fast forward 20 years!
February 3, 2007 Bangkok, Thailand
It’s 7.30am on a Sunday morning. I jump out of bed looking forward to my regular Sunday Stableford match with friends at Windsor Park and Golf Club. Opening the curtains to check the weather, I find a slight haze over Bangkok, as the overnight temperature has dropped to around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. It looks like it will not be that hot today and walking out the door, even my wife comments that she would like to join me.
Arriving at my golf club 1.5 hours later, I pull up at the club drop-off point where my regular caddy greets me with a big “wai” and her warm Thai smile. She takes my clubs out of the back of my SUV and loads them on her pull cart. Parking my car, I hitch a ride from the caddy master back to the club house and proceed to check in and then to the locker room. I meet my friends, change into my golf gear, and put on my golf shoes. Shorts are the order of the day! Chatting with my friends about their previous nights conquests (they are all single), we all go out to the first tee where the caddies are already waiting for us.
Some 4 and a half hours later I arrive back at the club house after the pleasure of playing 18 holes interrupted only by the occasional stop for a cooling drink at the half way houses dotted every 3 holes around the course. I head to the locker room for a cold shower and then to the restaurant upstairs for something to drink and eat. Today I have to buy beers, as I have lost the match. Oh Well, nothing is perfect!
Welcome to winter golfing in Thailand. I know where I would rather be!
If anyone has any good golf stories, Thailand or otherwise, of their own, please feel free to post them here or if you prefer send them to me at Golfasian and I will take care of the posting duties.
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6 Responses
My Winter Golfing Life in CT, USA
For the past week or so the temperatures have hovered around -10 C. This is meant to continue for at least two weeks. Over the weekend I cleaned my clubs and watched golf on TV in front of the fireplace. I didn’t leave the house at all until Sunday evening when I attended a Super Bowl party. My team lost and I got quite drunk. It must be nice to live in Thailand.
My Winter Golfing Life in CT, USA
For the past week or so the temperatures have hovered around -10 C. This is meant to continue for at least two weeks. Over the weekend I cleaned my clubs and watched golf on TV in front of the fireplace. I didn’t leave the house at all until Sunday evening when I attended a Super Bowl party. My team lost and I got quite drunk. It must be nice to live in Thailand.
Patricia,
It sounds awfully cold! I have no idea what -10 C even feels like. Do they have any indoor driving ranges in CT for winter golf practice.
Cheers,
Mark
Mark
How do you feel about four and half rounds though ? .
There is nothing puts me off Golfing in Thailand more , than the time it takes to play a round of golf , and what has suddenly become the norm nowadays .
I blame the telly 🙂
Erchie
Archie,
I think 4 and a half hour rounds are just nice. It provides me with with a good balance of speed and relaxation. Of course I always walk (no carts) and like to enjoy the natural environment as well as stop for a cold drink every few holes. Faster than 4 hours and I feel rushed. Slower than 5 hours and I find it hard to get in a good tempo.
Cheers,
Mark
Mark
In general I agree with you , but its extremely hard when you have grown up on a course that expects nothing more than 3hrs15 , and even today there is questions asked if you are over this .
Here in Pattaya , the time it takes for a round seems to have increased these last couple of years,and if it continues the way it has , 6 hours will be the norm soon , and there is many who see nothing wrong in this .
Archie