Hua Hin Golf Gossip

[heartofmidlothian]

Been quite quiet on this topic recently. Good to see the start of the Golf Festival and very sensible green fees. Banyan are charging 1500 baht but no mention on Black Mountain website about any special rate there. does anyone know if they have a special rate or is it a secret!
Springfield is in very good condition and the consultant has made a huge difference. Greens faster and truer than normal at this time of year and the weed problem is under control in the fairways. Also heard that Black Mountain have sacked the same consultant because he is helping Springfield. Very brave move from Black Mountain because condition is the most imortant aspect of a top course. Many golf courses dont invest enough into maintenance. I hear rumours that Majestic have maintenance problems. Yes they are making a big effort and a lot of big promises, but are they investing enough in ongoing maintenance. I guess only time will tell but most important job at any golf course is whoever is in charge of maintenance and the best dont come cheap!
Always amazes me that most of the courses here now charge 3500 baht green fees. Add on a caddie and a cart and it comes close to 5000 baht. Are there enough people who are willing to pay those sort of rates.?
Looking at Majestics membership details also puzzled me. 55 000 baht for 5 years, 12 000 baht annual dues and then you still have to pay a green fee of 350 baht whenever you play. Okay, it is a decent deal but can you really call it a membership deal? When do members have to pay a green fee? Surely it is a good discounting deal but not a membership?
Good to see Majestic making an effort but the Hua Hin golfing scene for people who live in Hua Hin and other parts of Thailand, really is not that good. We really do need more sensible pay and play courses with green fees of around 1000 baht year round. These courses are always the most profitable but dont appeal to rich owners with big egos . Who really needs big, fancy clubhouses. What a waste of money they are! Golfers generally just want a good, well maintained golf course and somewhere that you can get a drink and snack at normal prices.

[JimmyGreaves]

Hear, hear

[BOZ]

Been quite quiet on this topic recently. Good to see the start of the Golf Festival and very sensible green fees. Banyan are charging 1500 baht but no mention on Black Mountain website about any special rate there. does anyone know if they have a special rate or is it a secret!
Springfield is in very good condition and the consultant has made a huge difference. Greens faster and truer than normal at this time of year and the weed problem is under control in the fairways. Also heard that Black Mountain have sacked the same consultant because he is helping Springfield. Very brave move from Black Mountain because condition is the most imortant aspect of a top course. Many golf courses dont invest enough into maintenance. I hear rumours that Majestic have maintenance problems. Yes they are making a big effort and a lot of big promises, but are they investing enough in ongoing maintenance. I guess only time will tell but most important job at any golf course is whoever is in charge of maintenance and the best dont come cheap!
Always amazes me that most of the courses here now charge 3500 baht green fees. Add on a caddie and a cart and it comes close to 5000 baht. Are there enough people who are willing to pay those sort of rates.?
Looking at Majestics membership details also puzzled me. 55 000 baht for 5 years, 12 000 baht annual dues and then you still have to pay a green fee of 350 baht whenever you play. Okay, it is a decent deal but can you really call it a membership deal? When do members have to pay a green fee? Surely it is a good discounting deal but not a membership?
Good to see Majestic making an effort but the Hua Hin golfing scene for people who live in Hua Hin and other parts of Thailand, really is not that good. We really do need more sensible pay and play courses with green fees of around 1000 baht year round. These courses are always the most profitable but dont appeal to rich owners with big egos . Who really needs big, fancy clubhouses. What a waste of money they are! Golfers generally just want a good, well maintained golf course and somewhere that you can get a drink and snack at normal prices.

Agreed Mak Mak Jing Jing...

[Ropes]

Been quite quiet on this topic recently. Good to see the start of the Golf Festival and very sensible green fees. Banyan are charging 1500 baht but no mention on Black Mountain website about any special rate there. does anyone know if they have a special rate or is it a secret!
Springfield is in very good condition and the consultant has made a huge difference. Greens faster and truer than normal at this time of year and the weed problem is under control in the fairways. Also heard that Black Mountain have sacked the same consultant because he is helping Springfield. Very brave move from Black Mountain because condition is the most imortant aspect of a top course. Many golf courses dont invest enough into maintenance. I hear rumours that Majestic have maintenance problems. Yes they are making a big effort and a lot of big promises, but are they investing enough in ongoing maintenance. I guess only time will tell but most important job at any golf course is whoever is in charge of maintenance and the best dont come cheap!
Always amazes me that most of the courses here now charge 3500 baht green fees. Add on a caddie and a cart and it comes close to 5000 baht. Are there enough people who are willing to pay those sort of rates.?
Looking at Majestics membership details also puzzled me. 55 000 baht for 5 years, 12 000 baht annual dues and then you still have to pay a green fee of 350 baht whenever you play. Okay, it is a decent deal but can you really call it a membership deal? When do members have to pay a green fee? Surely it is a good discounting deal but not a membership?
Good to see Majestic making an effort but the Hua Hin golfing scene for people who live in Hua Hin and other parts of Thailand, really is not that good. We really do need more sensible pay and play courses with green fees of around 1000 baht year round. These courses are always the most profitable but dont appeal to rich owners with big egos . Who really needs big, fancy clubhouses. What a waste of money they are! Golfers generally just want a good, well maintained golf course and somewhere that you can get a drink and snack at normal prices.

This !!

[Majestic Creek]

Majestic are the only club in Hua Hin, maybe in Thailand, that really do offer a "membership " deal. We are the only club organising weekly members competitions, providing the ability for members to meet and play with other players on a regular basis.
We have other competitions running alongside these weekly medals, as we have a summer eclectic running now, that all members are eligable for. We have just finished our Order or Merit that over 120 of the 360 members all played in, at least two of the eight rounds.
We have a monthly E Newsletter keeping all our members up to date on events, course progress and future competitions.
We provide handicapping up-dates via Handicap Master, that gives all our members true up to date status of their playing ability, and can provide handicap certificates for members who wish to play elsewhere.
Our web site has a "members area" which gives all playing results, with a match report and details of the winners and prizes, and has the link to book the following weeks competition. ( worth a look at www.majesticcreekcc.com/member-area)
Due to demand in the high season, we will be starting to run the competitions 2 days per week, tuesdaysand thursdays.
So, all in all , we provide what most Europeans would expect to find as members of a club in the UK or Europe, but what cannot be found in the Hua Hin area, and possibly not elsewhere in any other Thai golfing area.
Tha financial package is still a good deal, as the initial outlay is substantially less to join than most other courses. The maintenance fee is similar to what other courses charge, if not less ?
And yes, there is a green fee of 350 bht each time you play. But, we are currently looking at other membership packages as an alternative to this, but they would be similar to the bigger joing fees charged elsewhere. So it will give future, and existing members a choice. Watch this space........

[hhfarang]

Been quite quiet on this topic recently. Good to see the start of the Golf Festival and very sensible green fees. Banyan are charging 1500 baht but no mention on Black Mountain website about any special rate there. does anyone know if they have a special rate or is it a secret!
Springfield is in very good condition and the consultant has made a huge difference. Greens faster and truer than normal at this time of year and the weed problem is under control in the fairways. Also heard that Black Mountain have sacked the same consultant because he is helping Springfield. Very brave move from Black Mountain because condition is the most imortant aspect of a top course. Many golf courses dont invest enough into maintenance. I hear rumours that Majestic have maintenance problems. Yes they are making a big effort and a lot of big promises, but are they investing enough in ongoing maintenance. I guess only time will tell but most important job at any golf course is whoever is in charge of maintenance and the best dont come cheap!
Always amazes me that most of the courses here now charge 3500 baht green fees. Add on a caddie and a cart and it comes close to 5000 baht. Are there enough people who are willing to pay those sort of rates.?
Looking at Majestics membership details also puzzled me. 55 000 baht for 5 years, 12 000 baht annual dues and then you still have to pay a green fee of 350 baht whenever you play. Okay, it is a decent deal but can you really call it a membership deal? When do members have to pay a green fee? Surely it is a good discounting deal but not a membership?
Good to see Majestic making an effort but the Hua Hin golfing scene for people who live in Hua Hin and other parts of Thailand, really is not that good. We really do need more sensible pay and play courses with green fees of around 1000 baht year round. These courses are always the most profitable but dont appeal to rich owners with big egos . Who really needs big, fancy clubhouses. What a waste of money they are! Golfers generally just want a good, well maintained golf course and somewhere that you can get a drink and snack at normal prices.

Good post , I was priced out of the game a couple of years ago when I realized I needed an extra 50,000 baht per month to continue playing with my regular golf buddies who played multiple times per week. They could afford it, I couldn't so I've simply given up the game, yet another activity that I enjoyed since I was twelve years old gone because of my retirement to a tourist beach destination .

The last two places I lived which were small towns like Hua Hin but which were part of larger metropolitan areas had ten to twelve "public" courses within a half hour's drive run by municipalities. I stayed off the "private" courses as they cost too much for a non-member to play and even they were much less than any of the courses here. Even in the big city I grew up in there were a few "muni" courses plus many privately owned non-membership courses that all had reasonable green fees. Here, even the one municipal course in Hua Hin and the army owned course in Takiab are priced like a private or tourist course. Plus, at the 100 or so courses I played before moving to Hua Hin the average price for a buggy was $6 or $3 when split between two golfers and I never, ever had a caddy before playing in Hua Hin. In my view, the astronomical cart rental prices here as well as the forced caddy fee are nothing but extortion. I don't need or want a caddy and I do need an electric cart at my age in this heat.

The retirees I know who play a lot, two or more times per week, are millionaires (literally), in USD, not baht. If you're not you better have moved here a long time ago and gotten a good deal on a lifetime membership somewhere or you better still have a good income if you want to play more than a couple of times a month.

[JW]

Good crack there HeartofL.

I was shocked when I heard that BM had sacked Gavin... the guy is brilliant as shown by his results at Springfield.

1000 baht pay and play would be great, there must be investors looking at HH keenly now and some good value courses with non over the top facilties would go done great.

[heartofmidlothian]

Yes, Majestic, I agree that what you are doing is good news for the Hua Hin residents. Shows the demand for new memberships if you now have 360 members. Still don't really understand how you can call them members if they have to pay a green fee? Never heard of that anywhere! You can call them "Discounted VIP's". Would you not be better to have only a joining fee and then annual dues. There are a few members only clubs in Thailand, so what you are doing is not unique but it is good. Are you really committed to getting the course in great shape? Needs better drainage and a better irrigation system and most definitely a top greenkeeper. We have heard a lot about the competitions, the new greens and the improvements to the clubhouse. All important but not as important as the maintenance of the playing surfaces. Everyone has always loved the Majestic layout.
"hhfarang" I totally agree with your comments and golf has got relatively more expensive since Banyan and Black Mountain opened. I would really like to see some sensible businessmen get together and fill this void in the golf business. Create a simple pay and play golf course that is not too difficult but well maintained. Can still be interesting without being difficult. Small functional clubhouse and not too many staff. Cheap carts and optional caddie. 1000 baht green fee going up to 1500 baht in high season. It would be very profitable in this area because there is no competition. We have plenty of high end courses already.
Just want to create a bit of debate on this "golf gossip" section. Sorry "ropes" I don't understand your comment of "this!!".

[Majestic Creek]

Not much being posted about the "cheaper" courses, such as Tanarach and Milford. ( hope I spelt them right!) When I came here as a visitor a few years ago, they were really cheap to play, on sport days I think I remember 200 bht ?
Also, K K used to have cheap green fees, but it seems they have also been increased lately, and it is over an hour to drive there. But good to do the occaisional trip away for the day.
Yes, Majestic has been having some issues with drainage, which I posted an update a few days ago. A lot of work has been goung on the last two weeks, with the building of drainage channels at the front of many greens, and when I played there on sunday saw a big improvement over previous weeks, but not finished yet.
Maintaining a golf course is like painting the Forth Bridge, as fast as one area is completed, there is two more that need sorting! And we are working on C course, while all this is going on, to get that ready for the high season. Not excuses, just reality in what has to be done to maintain a decent standard.
But rest assured, the owner, Khun Thanachai is totally committed to keep Majestic as a top playing resort in Hua Hin.
Hopefully the rainy season will soon be slowing down and dropping less water on the course, which will help improvements. Some days it has been raining non stop, which has been difficult to handle.

[fft100]

Hi Majesticcreek,

not sure how having 3 * 9 holes for the high season is really going to make a big difference. You cant really, as I see it, push that many more people through as there will be a bottleneck somewhere.

What is really needed is a 4th 9 holes that links "c" course from and back to the clubhouse. This may need some holes changing from C to D, or even from C to A (depending where the new 9 holes is laid out).

In the low season there is no problem booking but in the high season when the tour operators are busy and getting tee times is more difficult I think the extra 9 holes are required to justify 55k (at the moment - but rising ?) + 10k maintenance + 350 baht a game.

[heartofmidlothian]

Good luck to Majestic and I hope you reach your targets. Understand that it can be tough at times, especially with the rain. The rainy season hasn't really got going yet - Sept and Oct are historically the wettest months.
Tannarat and Milford are not what I would call well maintained courses. Good maintenance is what attracts the customers. Good value golfing is Dragon Hills and Royal Ratchaburi. Bit far away but well worth the drive and a really good day out. For the next 2 months we have great value closer to home. I hear that Lakeview's greens are good just now and Springfield is excellent. How are Sea Pines and Palm Hills looking just now? Anyone played them recently?

[PET]

I played Sea Pines yesterday and it was Ok, the fairways have modern grass which grows well and the greens were fine but not as good as Springfield or Lakeview, in my recent experience.

Going back to green fees in this area why is it that many courses around Pattaya can charge some 50% less and have done so for the last 9 years in my experience - so Majestic Creek how about that for a challenge?

[Ropes]

Eight of us went to Sawang GC last Friday and the deal was a 1000 baht including green fee, caddy and buggy. The course itself was in excellent condition and we all ate in the clubhouse afterwards at reasonable prices and good food.
I know it's an hours drive but as value for money it was a fantastic deal.
The offer is still going on for those who may be interested.

[mo1]

Not much being posted about the "cheaper" courses, such as Tanarach and Milford. ( hope I spelt them right!) When I came here as a visitor a few years ago, they were really cheap to play, on sport days I think I remember 200 bht ?
Also, K K used to have cheap green fees, but it seems they have also been increased lately, and it is over an hour to drive there. But good to do the occaisional trip away for the day.
Yes, Majestic has been having some issues with drainage, which I posted an update a few days ago. A lot of work has been goung on the last two weeks, with the building of drainage channels at the front of many greens, and when I played there on sunday saw a big improvement over previous weeks, but not finished yet.
Maintaining a golf course is like painting the Forth Bridge, as fast as one area is completed, there is two more that need sorting! And we are working on C course, while all this is going on, to get that ready for the high season. Not excuses, just reality in what has to be done to maintain a decent standard.
But rest assured, the owner, Khun Thanachai is totally committed to keep Majestic as a top playing resort in Hua Hin.
Hopefully the rainy season will soon be slowing down and dropping less water on the course, which will help improvements. Some days it has been raining non stop, which has been difficult to handle.

Majesticcreek, would you please ask the following from Khun Thanachai :
1. why does he not offer life time membership to western members as do Thai people can buy (no green fees, and much cheaper)
2. why do western members have to pay green fee? (the more you play the more it costs)
could let him know the fact that if you pay 55,000 B per year to Sea Pine and you play 157 times per (3 times per week) year you save 10,000 B in comparison to playing at Majestic.
Yes he is trying to create a nice club atmosphere but he is first and foremost a Thai business man trying to explore what is the maximum the western members will pay.

[Majestic Creek]

First point, there are no lifetime memberships now at Majestic. This was available many moons ago, but since the re-generation of Majestic Creek, which began about 18 months ago, the only packages currently available are the five year membership, which was started at 30,000 bht and increased progressively to the level now of 55,000 bht. The green fee payment is unchanged since the launch of the membership package at 350 bht per round. We are about to launch a unique seven year package soon.

The comparison with the cost of playing at Sea Pines is really academic. Each individual golf course is a business, which has costs and a budget to achieve, dependant on the cost base and the staffing levels.

Joining other clubs in the Hua Hin area are likely to charge substantially more than Majestic, I cannot guess what Black Mountain or Banyan charge, but I am sure it would work out to a much greater figure.

So, does Majestic offer value for money for the extra 10,000 bht. It is purely a personal decision of where you are comfortable and what you get in return for your fees. Personally, I think we do.

Yes, Khun Thanachai is a successful Thai business man, he has had the foresight to see how Majestic can fill a niche in the market that other clubs around Hua Hin do not offer. The growing membership is testimony to that success. But he has had to make the sustantial initial investment in the refurb of the course, the club infrastructure , 100 new buggies, and the competitive green fee rates and promotions to get the club back to an acceptable standard.

We will now be offering a new concept in golf club membership. The Majestic 7 year membership package.

7 year membership at 300,000 bht, Annual maintenance of 6000 bht and a green fee of 350 bht.

The membership fee will be fully refunded after 7 years. At the end of the 5 year, 30% ( 90,000 bht ) back to the member. At the end of the 6 year , 30 % ( 90,000 bht ) and the end of the 7th year, 40% ( 120,000 bht back to the member. This fee can also be refunded to a nominee, but is not transferable.

So, another alternative to consider in choosing the best package that suites each individual.

Any comments or questions on this new package will be gratefully recieved.