After waiting for almost 6 months since our flight booking with AA on 16/7/2012, we finally arrived at the Chiangmai airport at 0840 on the morning of 14/1/2013. There was clearly an air of excitement since this is our first golf trip for 2013, especially after listening to Dennes and Francis bragging so much about the new courses, Santhiburi GC and the food galore. Since Francis was here just about 2 months ago, he is all too willing to share his experiences during the road journey from Chiangmai Airport to Chiangrai, which is our first ground destination.Day1. 14/1/2013 - local tour.
The road from Chiangmai to Chiangrai has definitely improved a lot since my previous trip many years ago. Some sections are still being re-surfaced and tarred. After almost 3 hours and with a short break along the way, we were having buffet lunch at one of the most popular (for tourist...)restaurant close to the Golden Traingle. The spread was nothing better than a breakfast buffet. Then we were taken to visit the opium museum, which none of us are interested, mainly because most of us have been here before and you also have to pay for entrance. Next agenda was the river cruise (I should say boat ride....), watching Laos on the opposite side of the river and Myanmar further up north. How interesting to ride in the Mekong river that separates the 3 countries! Talking about easy access....
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| I am the Boss! |
For our first night in ChiangRai, we stayed at Wiang Inn hotel, which is a 3Star hotel. It is a relatively old hotel but room is spacious and clean. The night market is just a short walk from the hotel and there is also a food court with live band behind the market.
Day2. 15/1/2013 - Happy City Golf Resort.
The breakfast buffet is one of the best served by any 3Star hotels that I had stayed. Where else can you find yogurt and hot waffles in a 3Star hotel? Strongly recommend to anyone....
After a full breakfast, we proceed to Happy City Golf Resort. The Korean owned Chiang Rai golf resort is billed as the world’s only 29-hole golf course. Locally designed and opened only last year, three 9-hole courses are named Lakeside, Mountain Breeze, and River. Additionally, there are 2 spare maintenance holes that can be switched in and out to allow for course improvements without disrupting play on any of the nines. The fairways are well maintained but the greens are undulating and fast. Coming from KRTU, it is not surprising to 3-putt on many holes. As such, majority of us played 8 over pars on average, despite having a good massage last night. Nice course, cannot play..what's wrong men?????
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| Quiet Please! The pro is teeing off. |
As per our past practise on oversea tours, we had daily competition with small cash prizes for position 1-4. The first prize is just enough for the champion will to enjoy his Thai massage later on. Daily Winners for the tournament will be decided by Stableford Points.
In order to give others a fighting chance, we have also decided to adjust HCP for next game according to the following rules; which shall apply to all future overseas tournaments.
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- daily champion, deduct 2 strokes from current HCP, other winners by 1 stroke, in addition:
- if score is -1 to -3, deduct +1 stroke from current HCP
- if score is better than -3, deduct 2 strokes from current HCP
- non winners, add +1 stroke from current HCP
After golf, we were taken to a very nice restaurant for our sumptuous lunch. This restaurant has a garden setting that you will never find anywhere else. There are trees, ornament plants and flowering plants every where and laid between these plants are many adorable earthen and porcelain figurines . Even the toilets are not spared..
The food..very good! and the waitress...better! Just look at the photos below.....
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| I also want...:( :( |
Results:
*temporary club house
Day 2 - winners:
Day 3. 16/1/2013 - Santiburi Golf Resort
Santiburi Country Club was the first Chiang Rai golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1993. Some of us had played this course before, so we can tell the conditions had deteriorated quite a bit. Since it is planted with bermuda grass, which does not grow well under the shade, so bare patches are common under the trees. As long as you keep your ball on the fairways, it is not a difficult course to play. Today, Alex played like a pro, with his deadly chips around the greens, he came back with 20 points on each nine. Winning by massive 7 strokes from the nearest rival, Mr Lim KS.
Results:
Birdie before tee off at Santiburi:
Day 4. 17/1/2013 - Mae Jo Golf Resort
After the game at Santiburi, we say goodbye to Chiang Rai and make our land journey back to ChiangMai and checked into the Empress Hotel around 7pm.
Though it is a 4star hotel, we were a bit disappointed that WIFI is not free and the breakfast buffet not better than Wiang Inn Hotel in Chiang Rai. However, the room is spacious. For dinner, we went to a BBQ-steam boat eat-all-you-can restaurant. It is quite obvious that this place is frequent by the locals. Just take the food you want, then either BBQ on the hot plate or cook them in the soup container. I would say, it is value for money....
The next morning, we tee off at Mae Jo, where you will find plenty of fruit trees like mango, longan, lychee, Pomello, and Tangerine trees alongside its fairways. Unfortunately, it was not a fruit season otherwise it would have a big feast with the various types of fruits. Though the course looks easy, for some reason, none of us played well. Alex came in as champion for the second time.
Results:
Although the club house is impressive, I just don't understand why they built the cabinet 4-level high. With the low step ladder provided, it takes some balance and long hands to load and unload our belongings.
Day 5. 18/1/2013 - Inthanon Golf Resort
Inthanon GR is a relatively new golf course built in 2009. Due to the heavy bookings by the Koreans, we could only get the afternoon flights. The administration was a nightmare. We could not get any buggy and worst still, we later discovered that all the caddies assigned to us basically knew nothing about golf. Cannot tell a wood from an iron, let alone which club to use for the next shot. They are just bag carriers. Francis had to opted out of the game since he knew he will not be able to walk the full 18 holes.
Judging from the performance of my last 3 games, few of my fellow golfers have begun to doubt whether I am here for golf. I think I got the Tiger Woods syndrome! My worthy opponent, Khun Dennes has been laughing at me the last 3 days. Got to do something....and that is what I did. Came in as Champion, I know I can do it....although Alex was breathing down my neck. He played very well on the first nine and I think the pressure of winning 3 in a row ( that will be a record!!) get the better of him. His game collapsed during the 2nd nine. Wow...that was close.
Still, it was a frustrating ending for this golf day. We had to wait almost 10 minutes for our 2nd short at the Par-5 18th due to the slow play from the 2 flights in front. Another 2 more flights were already waiting at the tee box...what a long day!
So guys, remember slow play is a BIG sin in golf....
Results:
Summary: Here are the overall results....
See you again..my dear
Goodbye & Cheers....
More Photos...
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| The White Temple |
http://m.baba-mail.com/View.aspx?emailid=3584&source=mobile_share
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| This is how to play bunker shot |
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| Did you see my ball???? |
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| Don't disturb my caddy... |
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| Let's see how much did I win??? |
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| Way to finish the day... |
Ask them..my friend!!
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