Hua Hin Golf Gossip

[heartofmidlothian]

Not been much on the "golf gossip" recently. Just saw today that Black Mountain has upped their green fee to 3600, add on cart and caddie and that is 4800. Banyan have updated their website and their rate is 3850 (from 1st Nov) plus caddie tip is 4150. Springfield is 3500 plus a shared cart and caddie is 4500. That's for visitors but what about for locals. Palm Hills have upped their maintenance fees for members and home owners. Springfield are bringing in a new online booking system and haven't yet announced annual dues? They do have 18 holes closed for almost 2 weeks in Jan. Banyan have the most expensive membership plus by far the most expensive annual dues. Black Mountain - well you have to buy an overpriced house. Doesn't seem like much good news for locals or visitors. With most of Europe in a recession, I think they are playing a dangerous game. You can definitely get better value golf in Pattaya or in fact in most of the US. The Algarve did this and lost all their business.
I would love to see more people able to afford to play golf and play more often, but greed is going to mess it up. We need 1 golf course to come to their senses, or failing that, someone who loves the game to create the correct golf course.

[PET]

Good news gossip is that Lakeview have reduced their 18 hole buggy rate for members from 750 to 600, and maintained their annual maintenance at 10,700, with the course ( and the greens particularly) in good condition after all the recent rain.

[cock]

Thanks a lot for an update on this. Wrote a long reply but had some errors to post it so I stay a bit shorter this time. Greenfee is getting a problem even for mee as a regular visitor every year, bearing in mind what it cost me for travel etc and as said above compared to prices in Sweden. I aggree to that if some (of the good and nearby) course did some rethinking in this area they would get a lot more customers than others and by then raise income instead to continue with high prices and as a consequence only used by members and feed (only) by their annual fees (which still is not particular high) instead of getting the money tourists and I suppose locals as well are prepared to invest.

In Hua every winter for a month and play regurlary myself.

Looking forward to more information on this topic!!

Thanks again

[heartofmidlothian]

Still great rates to be had at Royal Ratchaburi, Dragon Hills and Kaeng Krachan but a lot further from town. I am surprised that more tour agents don't organise bus trips to these courses and the all in cost would be very reasonable. They are all fine courses.

[lomuamart]

And Pangarangsi in Ratchaburi. Have only played it once but was very impressed. There are some great holes and the condition was excellent despite wet weather that day.
If I remember correctly, it was around 650 THB for green fee and caddie (same as Royal Ratchaburi and Dragon Hills) and also has one of the best value pro shops around. Take some extra money along to spend in there!!
I'll definitely be going back.

[heartofmidlothian]

I have heard Pangarangsi is very good. I must give it a go this Jan when Springfield is closed.
You can get a minibus to take you there and back for around 2500 baht, so share that with 8 or 9 people. Green fee plus caddie of 650 plus 300 for transport. Add on caddie and only about 1200 baht all in. You can also get food and drink, at these courses, for Thai prices! Now that is a good deal and a good antidote to the silly Hua Hin prices. Does anyone know what Kaeng Krachan charges in high season. The new 9 holes is brilliant. A few cold beers should shorten the drive home!

[lomuamart]

Last year I think the high season rate for the "C/Mountain/Nicklaus" 9 and either A or B was around 2,100 THB.
Agreed on the C course. It's pristine and a good test of golf. Many people complain that it's too long but if you look at the score card there's very little difference in length between any of the three 9s. The C course just "plays" longer.

[cock]

Regarding Springfield I believe you paid 1750 plus 250 as a guest to a member. Never heard of reduced greenfee only for taking c course. We are sometimes guided to that course and same same price. The bad thing though is that tee off time is normally mid day as you are diverted to the a course normally and they don't let you out on that combination unless yor tee time is as it its warmest period of the day.

Anyhow, any suggestion on courses nearby is welcomed. Heard Milford is ok although up and down but worth the money and no problem as a course to play now and then.

Can't remember what my mates said the greenfee is.

Keep on searching!!

[heartofmidlothian]

Had a look at Milford (Eagle) a couple of months ago. Wasn't impressed! The lakes don't hold any water and not really sure where they get their water from. It does have a lot of potential though and with a renovation job could be a very pleasant golf course. The location is beautiful, especially the lower part. The upper part would need a bit of reshaping. For 30 million baht they could make it okay and for 60 million baht it could be a beautiful course. Of course, if someone did that then they would put the green fees up to 3000 baht! A renovation job and then high season rates of 1500 and low season of 1000 baht. Sell a few hundred memberships to pay for the renovations and all of a sudden you would have a really busy course and sell lots of carts, food etc. It's not rocket science, especially with Hua Hin just full up of golfers, who have money, but have a budget to live off.

[heartofmidlothian]

Had a look at Milford (Eagle) a couple of months ago. Wasn't impressed! The lakes don't hold any water and not really sure where they get their water from. It does have a lot of potential though and with a renovation job could be a very pleasant golf course. The location is beautiful, especially the lower part. The upper part would need a bit of reshaping. For 30 million baht they could make it okay and for 60 million baht it could be a beautiful course. Of course, if someone did that then they would put the green fees up to 3000 baht! A renovation job and then high season rates of 1500 and low season of 1000 baht. Sell a few hundred memberships to pay for the renovations and all of a sudden you would have a really busy course and sell lots of carts, food etc. It's not rocket science, especially with Hua Hin just full up of golfers, who have money, but have a budget to live off.

[kika01]

Hi,

When Springfield gold course is closed in January 2013?

[PJG]

Don;t believe Springfield will be closed completely. Think it will be the same as last January when the Asian tour school qualifying was on. Most days was open but only 9 holes x 2 available. Course B & C were used for the qualifying.

[heartofmidlothian]

Yes, correct, A course is open. B and C closed from 14th to 26th Jan, I believe.

[shaky]

many people playing golf in hua hin at the moment?

[MrPlum]

Your post was made at 3.03 am, so only the very keen.