Hua Hin Golf Gossip

[SunandFun]

heres my speil on springfield golf club...i bought a family lifetime membership a few months ago,that was before playing on the course or even visiting it,i also have never played on any other hua hin courses.The only reference i had was thru this forum and i felt the bargain price i paid was worth a punt.So the only comparisons i have are to courses i have played in australia.
My first impressions of the clubhouse is probably what i imagine an american country club to look like,large hotel style with fantastic resort style pool,a few restaurants/cafe bars,pretty impressive set up.I used the driving range and chip/putting greens the first few weeks,nice to be able to hit the ball off grass tees for a change rather than the commercial plastic grass tees at driving ranges in oz.I also found the staff to be very friendly,they drive you to the range in the carts and most of the ground staff you pass are smiling and happy as well.
Today was my first round ,i played A and C,B is under maintenance and closed for a month or so.
A course is a picturesque 9holes,challenging without been too difficult,i missed a few birdie chances trying to get used to the greens.I would compare it to a top members course in australia.
C course is a bit longer,not as shady as the A course,might look nice after some of the dams fill with water,reasonably hard because of the length,but if you stay straight its ok,probably a middle to top members course equivalent to australian courses.
Overall i enjoyed playing their and teeing off at 7am it wasn't too hot and had the course to myself.The fairways were nice and green and the ball sat well and played nicely off it.The greens are faster than they look,the ball ran true on the green with no bumps,so no excuses for bad putting.
I don't think it would be a championship course at home,but definitely a pga qualifying standard course in oz,and they do have the asian qualifiers here.
My caddie was very good,she even new after the first few holes when i was going to bump and run near the greens,handing me my 8iron instead of a wedge,she read the greens better than i did and even though my putting cost me alot of strokes,she saved me a few as well.
I know a lot of people complain about the price of the restaurant food and beers,but i like to have a beer and a quick bite after golf,and i think if you don't support the club,they will keep putting fees up to compensate and really, compared to the price at the clubs at home a couple hundred baht isn't too bad.All in all i'm glad i bought the membership and hopefully now will start playing 2 or three times a week.

Jingjoe
Thanks for your assessment. I too joined in December. The A and B course is definitely a better duo and most members and guest do not like the C course because of its length and difficulty. The B course has the signature 18th hole with the island green. You will enjoy it when it opens again.
The caddies are generally good and pleasant.
I invite you for a round together one morning. I have joined a very competitive, honest and "play by the Rules" group called "True Blue." They have matches on Thursday and Sunday around 10am. 300Baht each is competed for in two formats, stableford and skins. Some really good players and nice guys. You will enjoy if you play by the Rules and enjoy friendly competition. You also will need to track a real handicap submitting 100% of your score cards on line. It is cheap and keeps every one honest.
Let me know if you want a game.
Best,
David

[lomuamart]

I had to go back to the UK from New Year to mid March and since returning I havn't played much golf.
So, to all you regulars out there which courses do you reckon are in the best condition?
Not just around HH but Kaeng Krachan, Dragon Hills and Royal Ratchaburi as well. Has anyone played them recently?

[jingjoe]

David,thanks for the invitation,next sunday would suit me,i'll need to put in a few cards first before competing,i'll pm some details to you.

[toeknee]

Played D/H last Friday, great layout, fairways in good nick.... But the greens are very poor at the moment very patchy... therefore the ball bumps along as it heads to the hole

[lomuamart]

That's a shame about Dragon Hills.
What a course. A player better hit the ball with a draw especially on the front nine.
Some of the best holes I've ever played.

[icebear]

Just been informed by Springfield that the ( B ) course is closed until end of May, and the ( A ) course will be closed for various upgrades for the month of June and July.

Good luck on C...

[JimmyGreaves]

Played Khaeng Krachang this week. Lovely condition very green fairways with loads of grass. 1000baht + 300 Caddie fee. Special day Sundays 600baht + 300 caddie Fee.

[SunandFun]

I played two rounds at Banyan last week. I have to say I was vert disappointed overall.
The Practice Driving Range is on an upward incline, so severe that it makes it impossible to get off your back foot. Poorly thought out! And useless to use and warm up on.
I am not a fan of golf carts, but after spending 750 Baht for one (had a friend visiting who required one) you cannot share it. If you both want to ride, then you have to rent two carts. What a rip off. 2x750 Baht. It also prevents enjoying each others company and leaves you alone with a caddie to spend 3.5 hours on the golf course. So much for social golf.
Lastly was operational. I booked over the phone. No problem with Tee Times as it is not busy now. But no mention of SEVERE Coring and maintenance. The fairways were not even visible. First heavy de-thatching and next coring. If you could find your ball on the fairway due to the grass cuttings, then you had to clear a space to hit from. If I had been told about this I would have made alternative plans. I brought this to the attention of the management and was basically told it was my fault for not asking. (Go figure) No concern and did not listen to feedback. Response: "How can they possibly get the person booking Tee Times to remember to tell me about course conditions or maintenance? It is too much to ask of them. Please understand.
So needless to say, I will refrain from ever going back there again and will make sure any one asking knows the "low down."
Rant Over...

[Majestic Creek]

You should try and play a round at Majestic Creek. The course is in fantastic condition, the last few days rain have helped a lot, and the total package price for visitors is 1500 bht, which includes the green fee, caddie fee and a buggy. The buggy is available to share if you want to.

The reception at Majestic is always welcoming, and the staff are the frendliest you will meet at any of the courses in Hua Hin. You will feel the good atmosphere throughout the whole club.

We will be offering excellent summer deals throughout the low season, until we enter the two months of the Hua Hin Golf Festival, which Majestic will be part of.

Then the green fee for visitors will go to 999 bht, as will all participating courses.

So now is a good time to book a round at Majestic Creek. 032-619-168 or -169 or 170

[Ropes]

I played two rounds at Banyan last week. I have to say I was vert disappointed overall.
The Practice Driving Range is on an upward incline, so severe that it makes it impossible to get off your back foot. Poorly thought out! And useless to use and warm up on.
I am not a fan of golf carts, but after spending 750 Baht for one (had a friend visiting who required one) you cannot share it. If you both want to ride, then you have to rent two carts. What a rip off. 2x750 Baht. It also prevents enjoying each others company and leaves you alone with a caddie to spend 3.5 hours on the golf course. So much for social golf.
Lastly was operational. I booked over the phone. No problem with Tee Times as it is not busy now. But no mention of SEVERE Coring and maintenance. The fairways were not even visible. First heavy de-thatching and next coring. If you could find your ball on the fairway due to the grass cuttings, then you had to clear a space to hit from. If I had been told about this I would have made alternative plans. I brought this to the attention of the management and was basically told it was my fault for not asking. (Go figure) No concern and did not listen to feedback. Response: "How can they possibly get the person booking Tee Times to remember to tell me about course conditions or maintenance? It is too much to ask of them. Please understand.
So needless to say, I will refrain from ever going back there again and will make sure any one asking knows the "low down."
Rant Over...

I am afraid that marketing is not one of their strong points. I also won't play there again for similar reasons.

[musungu]

I played at Majestic Creek last week for the first time since April last year. My complaint at that time was that ''B'' course greens were too hard and it was nearly impossible to stop a high shot into the greens - I was told that these were new greens which had only recently opened and would settle down. Oh yes ?

''A'' Course was now open and I regret that I found the greens on both courses to still be hard - I would also mention that I was down the Binta last night and spoke to a goup of golfers from Pataya who had just spent 7 days playing around Hua Hin and they said the same thing about MC.

This seems a great shame because otherwise the club is excellent

[heartofmidlothian]

Newly laid greens should be firm for at least a year, if they have been done right. Not sure of the exact reason but I think it is because they have no thatch. If greens become too soft, it is because the thatch has not been properly controlled due to bad maintenance.
Really good to see Majestic doing something good for the golfing scene in Hua Hin. They have plans to make their C course into a great 9 holes. It is a very good layout in beautiful scenery, but was originally built on the cheap.
Remember how firm Black Mountain's greens were for their first year. They are still some of the best maintained greens in Thailand.

[musungu]

Newly laid greens should be firm for at least a year, if they have been done right. Not sure of the exact reason but I think it is because they have no thatch. If greens become too soft, it is because the thatch has not been properly controlled due to bad maintenance.
Really good to see Majestic doing something good for the golfing scene in Hua Hin. They have plans to make their C course into a great 9 holes. It is a very good layout in beautiful scenery, but was originally built on the cheap.
Remember how firm Black Mountain's greens were for their first year. They are still some of the best maintained greens in Thailand.

Sorry, but when I was in USA all thegreens I played on the East coast , new or old, were the same. I was told that all course greens were built to USGA specifications hence why they played the same- and all those I played were soft usually bringing up a piece of grass and roots, which one replaced and when leaving the green it did not show.

[Woosie]

Agree with HoM on both points. New greens are usually firm and soften with time. I played Bay Hill (Arnie's place) just after they redid the greens a few years ago and they were extremely hard, difficult to even hold a wedge on them. Now they are fine and the pro's always enjoy playing there.
MCCC greens are playable right now you just have to adjust and play the front yardage and allow for a little roll out. The course is a pleasure to play and the welcome there is great.

[cookmanchef]

I played at Majestic Creek last week for the first time since April last year. My complaint at that time was that ''B'' course greens were too hard and it was nearly impossible to stop a high shot into the greens - I was told that these were new greens which had only recently opened and would settle down. Oh yes ?

''A'' Course was now open and I regret that I found the greens on both courses to still be hard - I would also mention that I was down the Binta last night and spoke to a goup of golfers from Pataya who had just spent 7 days playing around Hua Hin and they said the same thing about MC.



This seems a great shame because otherwise the club is excellent

Do you hit the ball low? I play at MC twice a week and don't have a problem stopping the ball with anything below 6 iron if I strike the ball well.

IMO the best greens are firm and fast but receive a good shot well, much like a links course in the UK.