Hua Hin Golf Gossip

[Bernard]

In my opinion Majestic Creek is truly Majestic right now and is getting better day by day. The whole course looks wonderful and the attitude of the staff is great. The investment by the owner is evident everywhere and should be applauded.

Conversely, if you want to see a really sad and disappointing course go and have at look at Palm Hills......but only look as you will waste your money if you play there. No watering of fairways, greens that have been cored and sanded and bunkers that have no sand. Yes, I know the greens need to be maintained but it could be done with some consideration for the players and maybe even a reduction in fees until the greens look less like bunkers. The staff don't care at all and in fact make you feel invisible. Drink and food prices that are so high and served to you without even a smile.

The management need to take a careful look into what's happening at this course as the customers are not turning up and the place is nearly always deserted.

[3wood]

haven't played Palm Hills for a long time, since they started to put the price up

[heartofmidlothian]

The art of hitting a golf ball with backspin and height is difficult. It needs good clubhead speed, a descending blow on the ball, use of a softer ball and decent grooves on your clubs. Musungu, maybe you should try a few lessons, because good greens should be firm. USGA spec greens are built with mainly sand, but also some peat mixed in, basically trying to recreate links style greens. Most of the courses around Hua Hin area are built with a very high percentage of sand.
Majestic Creek has employed 2 PGA pro's to work there. Maybe that has a lot to do with why things have improved so much there. It is the only course around that actually has qualified PGA pro's working, which seems strange. Maybe some of the other courses should employ Pro's as well and see if they can lift the quality of the golfing experience. There are enough Thai and Farang customers to keep all courses busy through the low season, but you have to offer the right product at the right price. Yes, they can get away with the high prices for 3 months, but the other 9 months?

[PET]

The art of hitting a golf ball with backspin and height is difficult. It needs good clubhead speed, a descending blow on the ball, use of a softer ball and decent grooves on your clubs. Musungu, maybe you should try a few lessons, because good greens should be firm. USGA spec greens are built with mainly sand, but also some peat mixed in, basically trying to recreate links style greens. Most of the courses around Hua Hin area are built with a very high percentage of sand.
Majestic Creek has employed 2 PGA pro's to work there. Maybe that has a lot to do with why things have improved so much there. It is the only course around that actually has qualified PGA pro's working, which seems strange. Maybe some of the other courses should employ Pro's as well and see if they can lift the quality of the golfing experience. There are enough Thai and Farang customers to keep all courses busy through the low season, but you have to offer the right product at the right price. Yes, they can get away with the high prices for 3 months, but the other 9 months?

You say that USGA courses 'are built with mainly sand' and you also say that around Hua Hin courses are built 'with a very high percentage of sand' - so does this mean that having such a small mount of peat makes such a difference because my experience of greens in USA are that they are very receptive to iron shots.

[SunandFun]

Public USA Corses are mostly Bent Grass. This is a blade grass. You also have different weather and watering. Here we have Bermuda Grass or Tiff Eagle at Majestic. I had no problem stopping the ball at Majestic. You give me a smooth roll, and I don't care about the speed. If it rolls true, that is all I ask. You hit one club less to allow for the ball to release. Or if it is a "tight pin" then you don't go for it unless you are hitting a wedge or less. That is how the Pros play. You "scull" a ball and it will not stop on any green. No spin. But as big as these greens are here in Hua Hin, You should be able to stop the ball if you play smart. Once you figure out the local conditions, firmness, moisture, speed, etc. you adjust your game to suit that. That is golf. You play the course as you find it and play the ball as it lies. Hats off to Majestic for their continued great improvements. I wish them much success and will patronize them regularly. Happy Golfing!

[musungu]

Just to close on this issue, I was playing with a friend who is a member of Green Valley playing off 4 handicap and a VERY GOOD 4 - and HoM he does not need a lesson - are you a pro?

When I played in Florida I recall all the greens being Bermuda and in winter being overseeded with Rye so SinS not so - are you also a pro with your stated expertise?

I fully agree about the improvements at MC but in Hua Hin we play amateur golf which is what brings in the green fees.

[SunandFun]

I am a Professional Referee just for your information. European Tour, Asian Tour, Indian Tour and various Ladies Tours. I watch a lot of professional golf being played and decisions being made. I am trying to simplify the game for you. Of course advise is free and since you did not ask for it then I walk away with a two stroke penalty. Enjoy your golf in Thailand and have fun. Or why bother.

Just one last question...if the wind is blowing hard from behind, and you continuously go over the green, do you make any adjustments, or do you just stop playing the course because of the wind direction? Golf is all about adaptation...at every level. It may be useful to note this.

Happy Golfing!

[heartofmidlothian]

Sorry Musungu, I wasn't trying to be cheeky. All I was saying is, if you are struggling to deal with firm greens, then a lesson with a pro might help. Just the type of ball and clubs you use can make a huge difference to the spin you get.
I can assure you that the greens at Majestic will become more receptive with time, just as Black Mountain and Banyan's did. Yes, it does make it more difficult for a while, but not impossible. You just have to adapt, as Sunandfun pointed out.
I am a pro and I was pointing out the value of having PGA Pro's run the golf courses. Their job is to make golf more enjoyable for the amateur golfer (who pays the money). Setting the course up properly, giving lessons, dictating policies to give the golfers good value for money and controlling marshalling and tee times. That is what PGA pro's are trained to do and that is why Majestic has improved so much. It is good to see and good luck to them.

[JW]

Majestic really are kicking butt lets hope it shakes some of the others up!!!

[dws]

I'm starting to notice some cracks in this MJCC improvement train..........a lick of paint here & there does not hide any underlying problems.

Too many changes of the guard for my liking......are all the new "members" happy?....not sure!

Hope I'm wrong as it's a great venue

[Ropes]

I posted on another thread that the price at Majestic this month is 1500 baht for green fee and caddy.
Next month it goes up to 1650 baht why? It's still low season.
Once courses go above 1500 baht then I just won't play. Its expensive enough in HH as it is.
I hear rumours that all is not so rosy at MJCC as well.

[JW]

Rumours... ignore them, gossip is a massive part of peoples pastimes here. If you really think about it, does any business run smoothly all of the time....

[3wood]

ahh the rumor mill, Hua Hin wount be Hua Hin with out it

[JW]

You got it!

[dws]

Don't listen to (or contribute) to rumours meslf......never found that stuff interesting...

I'll watch Majestic with interest. Easy to be a great golf course for 6 months or a year, but to make it into the "Club" they want might take bit more effort, from owners/management & members

Not knoking them at all...I'm delighted it's happening (for now)