Teeing-Off on Samui

The vision of Thailand is portrayed by its startling beaches, unique mountains, and an enlightened culture that has allowed it to emerge as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. This theatre of cultural and sensual contrasts has added to its beauty, with a natural ease, the experience of golf. Featured at the most popular resort locations throughout Thailand range a variety of nearly 250 golf courses that stun the imagination.

Here you will find impeccably maintained and manicured courses, with impressive clubhouses offering excellent facilities to pamper you all year round. Many of these resorts are relatively new, and therefore lack the popularity of some of the world’s better-known golf destinations such as Spain or Myrtle Beach.

Nevertheless, most of Thailand’s golf resorts boast onsite fine dining, luxury accommodations, fully equipped pro-shops, electric golf buggies, caddies and top of the line golf club rentals. More extraordinary than the modern, fully equipped facilities and range of services provided, is the breathtaking scenery that has been implemented into the world-class designs of these courses.

Golf On Samui, the senses are delightfully touched by the birth of what potentially could be a number one destination for any foreign or native golf enthusiast. Still in its infancy, golf on Samui has created itself a local community of approximately 500 or so golfers, whom have allotted their free time to their passion of the game. This number is not only expected to mature as the facilities themselves develop, but to add to the financial and economical aspects for Koh Samui, in particular the creation of its own work force.

At present, the golfing possibilities on Samui portray themselves as somewhat of a collage. Patriarchs of the sport have gathered their resources to build on the demands of the golfing public, providing an ensemble of different aspects of the game. Although working independently, these facilities combined, provide a range of difficulty and learning opportunity to any golfer, whether they are a professional or an amateur. The diversity of golf scenarios here is no less than perfect to nurture a growing sport within our communities.

On Samui, one will find all of the necessary elements to the game, and even a little more than expected. Currently, we boast one internationally acclaimed golfing facility. It is an 18-hole championship course that came to fame when it first hosted the Bangkok Airways Open in 2005, and has now continued to do so for the past 4 consecutive years. In September it invites local residents to compete in its first self sponsored tournament.

This facility is proud to present itself as an establishment that has no membership and is completely open to the public.

We also sport one 9-hole golf club, targeted at attracting amateur and new golfers. This organization offers special rates to members on monthly and yearly basis, playing a tournament every month.

There are three driving ranges, one of which has a short game practice area that features 10 greens, and has also provided a wide range of services for its members and guests over the past 11 years. Club repair and storage is available here, along with golf instruction from either a Thai PGA Professional or an American PGA Class A Professional.

There is a prominent 5 star resort that also has acknowledged the draw of golf as a holiday requirement, and features a par 3 – 169 yard course on its grounds.

The picture is not complete without a used equipment store, and a golf and sports centre which adequately provides the island with golf amenities, such as lessons from pro’s and booking arrangements. These are all essentials through which the future of golf will bring competition, therefore stimulating the growth of the game.

“The more – the better.” Are the words of one club’s owner, and could not ring more true. “We compliment one another” he continues, stating that the growth of golf here will do nothing to harm what already exists, but add to the whole package in which to entice outsiders to come to our island to play the game. This is a consistent thread that links our golf facility owners and organizers in a united goal.

Our growth may also motivate giants from the international world of golf, to begin to view Samui as a force to be reckoned with, and begin to get involved themselves. Our future is intent on attracting not only local and new golfers, but even more so, professionals and zealous players from abroad.

There is nothing missing from the world of golf on Samui. Every single piece of the game has been formulated into one or more, of the facilities on our island.

Golf officially established itself here in 2003 with the opening of its first championship course, and from there forward has moved the needle in terms of staging its presence in Thailand, as well as its versatility in choices of golfing facilities, which perks enthusiasts around the globe.

In June of this year, The Bangkok Airways Open, a part of the 2007 Asian PGA Golf Tournament held up $300,000 U.S. dollars for the winner playing Samui’s only 18-hole course. Thus, spurring even more golfers from abroad to play its mountainous terrains, and challenge its subtly difficult greens.

At the end of 2008, another golf course opened its fairways to an eagerly awaiting world, bringing 9 holes that radiate the beauty of Samui to each and every person that step onto its Bermuda Greens, in or out of golfing shoes.

In 2009 this course expects to add another 9 holes, in which to compliment its facilities, offering a second full course for the golfing community world wide, to choose from.

Undeniably, each of the courses situated on our island, display the most picturesque views imaginable, combining in a truly Asian manner, challenge with charm. The courses on Samui are what postcards are made of.

From one course, you may gaze over the top of the northern coast of Samui, while standing amidst old coconut gardens providing a commanding panoramic view of Maenam Beach and the nearby island of Koh Phangan, or look deep into the waterfalls and creeks that run through the natural beauty of our islands mountains.

And from another, the front nine reflects the northernmost views of our neighbouring islands on the first four fairways, and then moves to the Lamai and Chaweng side, allowing fresh gentle breezes to cool you all day. Wherever you look from every one of these tees, you will be taken aback by the beauty of Samui.

There is only one drawback to keep in mind when golfing on Samui, and it is not that glaring look from your spouse as you grab your golf clubs yet again, to challenge the par of the course that eluded you the weekend before. It is this... “We would like to inform golfers that searching for golf balls in woods, along the rough, or by the deep slope could risk encounters with dangerous animals, e.g. venomous snakes, poisonous insects or wild lizards.”

Not to worry, the fully equipped clubhouses with gymnasiums and saunas, children’s crèches, modern spas and locker rooms, 3- tier restaurants, bars, private function rooms, and auditoriums for over 240 people, somewhere between the luxury accommodations and the natural freshwater swimming pools, tennis courts and squash courts, snooker rooms, tennis tables, darts and indoor carpet bowls, kiosks and shops, someone should be able to give you a Band-Aid.

The seed of status and popularity has been planted, and like the slow growing, deep rooted grass that carpets our island’s fairways, the fastball speeds that their surfaces produce, will reflect the momentum and velocity of the growth Samui will resonate.

One of our prestigious C.O.O.s stated that “Thais’ are the Yuppies of golf” and this can be no more the stepping stone towards success than could be asked for. Thailand has introduced to Samui the sport and etiquette of golf and the Samuian culture in turn, has released into it a pearl of pleasures.

At the moment we are not considered a golfing destination in Thailand, and we dare not to compare if we are better than those that inhabit the mainland. Instead, we wish to focus on the sport, and on the beauty of what our island has to offer us during the exercise of the game.

We keep our eyes on the goal of creating an internal golfing community that will grow as the facilities expand. We do not compromise the friendship we offer those that visit our turfs, by adding stipulations or by raising our prices so that the average cannot afford to play. We build this empire solely, for the love of the game.

Santiburi Samui Country Club is currently the only full size course in Koh Samui , opened in 2003 offering a gorgeous location in the hills above Maenam, around 20 minutes drive from Samui airport.

They offer an on-the-hill golf course that focuses its design to be in harmony with the natural beauty of its surroundings.
Each hole has been positioned along the different altitudes of the natural hills which constructs an up-and-down-hill golf game. It would be such an interesting and entertaining game to play. Moreover, golfers will be able to enjoy magnificent view of the ocean and beaches almost at all time. Architectural design will enhance the natural beauty and blend into the surroundings by conserve the coconut jungle, which is also the symbol of Koh Samui. Additional plants will be all tropical. With such characteristics, Santiburi Samui Country Club has its own special identity and becomes distinguished from other courses in Thailand.

Driving Range
The Driving Range has been designed to be 25 open bays with designated safety range without any net to disturb the scent of nature. The Driving Range shelter will be an open building with tropical architecture that is gently mixed with nature.

Fee:

For more information please contact us

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