Sports
|
|
|
Golf
Thailand is a golfer’s
paradise with over 200 courses with somewhere around 70 classified as
outstanding and 30 as world class. Many of the great names in the sport are
associated with locations all over the Kingdom they include Player, Faldo,
Norman, Robert Trent Jones, Nicklaus and Ronald Fream to name just a
few.

Many of these wonderful courses are set in the most magnificent locations with stunning backdrops, luxurious clubhouses, cabbies are always friendly and are the norm not an added luxury, green fee’s are very low by western standards, advance booking is generally not needed, club and buggy hire are very reasonable all of this is combining to make Thailand one of the worlds golfing hot spots.

Club House
Pattaya alone has 20 courses within an hourof the city, although a relatively small town Hua Hin has over 10 courses 6 of which are world class with a new 36 hole course being built at the moment so there is certainly enough to keep even the most enthusiastic golfer entertained.
Although golf is widespread throughout the country most are centred around the main tourist areas hire of clubs and so is very easy and reasonable even buying the equipment is viable at Thai prices. You can make all your own arrangements or book with a travel agent or golf booking agent locally, packages can often be purchased at a better rate than pay as you go. Thai golf courses nearly always offer high quality facilities such as high quality clubhouses many with pools and other leisure activities for the non golfer in the family many courses have a hotel attached.
Many courses hold a "sportsmen's day" often on Tuesday,
Wednesday or Thursday. Green fee’s around 500. Caddies are usually available for
about Bt 150. Compared to the west, they are very
reasonable

Caddie
Fishing
This is a popular sport in Thailand both in stocked ponds ,rivers and deep sea owners or tour company’s can supply everything you need fora great days fishing. Sea fishing trips can be a great ‘lad’s’ day out , or you could laze by a pond with a few beer’s most fishing spots have a bar or eating place of some kind.

You should have seen the one that got away

Diving
Hugely popular in the
southern resorts and on the islands just south of Pattaya with so many exotic
fish and sharks in the crystal waters its no wonder tourists flock from all over
the world to dive Thailand.
Day
Trips
There are just too many to possibly list here, there is
everything from some amazing temples to mountain tours, jungle excursions and
so, so much more. Trips are easily booked locally or in advance with an
agent.
Ten Pin Bowling
Very popular with Thai people, quality lanes can be
found all over Thailand

Bowling Green
There are two
seperate green's we are aware of in Pattaya , full size,
international.
Elephant Trekking
This can be found
throughout Thailand , with an experienced guide treks can vary from an hour to
all day if you’ve never tried it you should its one of those once in a lifetime
experiences.
Mini Golf
Another pastime Thai’s
love, found all over Thailand.
Movies
International quality movie
houses are located in all main tourist area’s usually in the big shopping malls
, films usually shown in Thai with English sub titles. Alternatively you can
rent movies on DVD at the local video store they are usually well stocked with
DVD’s in English with the option of with or without Thai subtitles, amazing
value at as little as 30 baht for several days rental.
Go Karts
Reasonably common in the
main tourist areas.
Newspapers and Books
English language national
daily papers including The Bangkok Post and The Nation. In the tourist area’s
there are multiple local English, German, Russian weekly publications and
magazines. British daily newspapers avaialable same or next day, U.S. papers a
couple of days old. Books new and used in English and other languages new or
used are pretty easy to find.
Clubs and Societies
To many to list if you have a hobby or interest or just want to meet
other ‘expats’ there is probably a club at least in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket
there are dozens of organizations.

Bird Watching
Thailand is an increasingly
popular destination for bird watchers with a huge array of exotic birds and
wildlife on view especially in the north no wonder twitchers are flocking to
Thailand.
Festivals
Thai’s love a festival and
any excuse for a party Songkran in April is one of the biggest when Thailand
turns in to one big water pistol fight.
There are multiple other religious
and non religious festivities throughout the year including H.M The Kings
birthday, flower festivals, Dragon boat racing, New Year {there are 3 in
Thailand} Jazz festival in Hua Hin, Blues festival Phuket , floating lantern
festival. The list goes on and on there probably isn’t a day when there is not a
festival somewhere in LOS {LAND}of {SMILES}

Songkran Festival