Golf Festival returns with Baht 800 green fees

The Hua Hin Golf Festival, which appeared to have died a natural death two years ago, is being resurrected. Starting from 1 August, green fees at all courses in the Hua Hin area will be Baht 800 per round for the entire month. And, for the more serious golfers, there will be a weekly tournament on Sundays with the top 20 golfers from each Sunday qualifying for the final event on 4 September at Majestic Creek Country Club. The events arranged are:

31.7 - Royal Hua Hin Golf Course

7.8 - Sawang Resort & Country Club

14.8 - Palm Hills Golf Resort & Country Club

21.8 - Springfield Village Golf & Spa

28.8 - Imperial Lake View Hotel & Golf Club

4.9 - Majestic Creek Country Club

Entry fees for the Sunday tournaments at Baht 1200 inclusive of green, caddie fee, dinner and prizes. There is also a hole-in-one prize at the 14th hole of Baht 100,000 in petrol coupons. For the final at Majestic Creek, the 100 golfers who qualify will be participating free of charge.

The Royal Hua Hin tournament, under the banner of Singha Golf Festival Open, will start at 12.00 p.m. following the Festival's opening ceremony at 10.00 a.m. and a Long Driving competition - probably on the 10th hole.

Shuttle flights now three a day

The increasingly popular shuttle flights operated by SGA between Bangkok and Hua Hin are down to three flights a day for the duration of the Low Season -

From Bangkok     To Bangkok

1130                    1300

1500                    1630

1830                    2000

Round trip air fare for the 45-minute flight is Baht 5,200 and the one-way fare is Baht 3,100. The baggage allowance is 25 kgs.

Golf courses ticking over

The summer months in Hua Hin traditionally have been very quiet with hotel occupancy rates and room rates at much lower levels on reduced levels of turnover. This year has been very different. Hotel occupancy rates, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays, have been full or at 98%, and the resulting patronage has seen significantly increased business for the town's restaurants and bars.

But on the golf courses life continues as before - quiet with tee times readily available. Green fees are reduced by most courses through 31 October and Tee-To-Green is offering rates inclusive of green fees, caddie fees and transfers as follows:

Golf courses condition report

Heard on the grapevine

The forthcoming High Season from 1 November is expected to be busier than last year as hotels prepare to handle expected overflows from persons not keen to visit or return to Phuket and other Andaman Sea resorts. Tsunamis, historically, occur at least 50 years apart but it appears tourists are not keen to rely on historical data when deciding on sea resorts for their holidays.... Hua Hin's ever-changing waterfront, along which long idle properties are being developed, mostly as condominiums, remains the topic of many rumours. Most concern the expected demise of businesses located on the beach side of Naresdamri Road - mostly restaurants and specialist shops - but occupants of these premises are not expecting to move in the near future.... Similarly, rumours are rife about the future of Hua Hin Bazaar, home to Berny's Inn and Billy's Bar as well as a number of restaurants and karaoke bars. The latest we have heard is the owners of the Sofitel hotel have purchased the Bazaar property from the State Railway Authority and are preparing to serve closure orders effective for the end of September. This tactic was tried unsuccessfully two years ago against the Pier restaurants and other businesses on Naresdamri Road.... Green fees for the next High Season look like remaining unchanged, but one can expect some upward revisions for 2006 when both Imperial Lake View and Springfield Village will have two 18-hole courses in play.... Members of Palm Hills Golf Resort are said not to be happy about the recent move that has seen the annual maintenance charge increased to Baht 8,000. The increase was sharp, but even more painful if one has a family under the membership as the Baht 8,000 charge applies to each family member rather than the family membership, if you see what we mean..