Golf Genius ::

WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE:

Thailand is hot and usually very humid, so...

Lightweight cotton clothing is the best, with polyester/cotton blend golf apparel a good choice on course as this will allow your body to breathe.
A hat is a must as the sun can be very strong.
For golf, bring your clubs, but ensure that you have a lightweight bag. Try and keep the golf bag weight to 15kgs or under which will give you ample room for luggage, but please double check your baggage allowance before arriving at the airport so as not to incur any excess baggage charges.
If you are taking golf balls with you, please put them in your golf bag and not in your carry-on luggage as Airport security will confiscate them. There will be golf balls for sale at the golf clubs. Prices will range from THB800 for mid-range balls to THB1600 for top-end Tour balls.

CURRENCY:

All major currency is acceptable.
Don’t obtain Thai Baht in Australia as the banks don’t offer the same favourable exchange rates as in Thailand.
All Australian bank/credit cards are acceptable in the ATM machines and there are exchange booths all over town open from 11am to 9pm.
If we are leaving for golf prior to 11am, it is advisable to exchange or withdraw money the night before to ensure you have enough to cover food, drinks and tips the following day.

MEDICAL & INSURANCE:

There is no Medicare (or equivalent) in Thailand; all medical treatment is paid for by you. The medical attention in Thailand is very good with emergency medical response teams.

For this reason, we strongly urge you to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy for your time in Thailand. Simply Google travel insurance to find a list of brokers and insurance companies and do some research to find the best deal and coverage for your individual needs. If you don’t yet have travel insurance, please arrange it prior to departure to avoid any unforeseen expenses while in Thailand.
Take with you any medications that you require and keep them in a separate container. There are chemists readily available and all known brands of medications, pills, cures and preventatives are available and prescription medications can be prepared on request.
All drugs are sold over the counter, but the availability of your particular medication is not guaranteed. If you have any conditions that may cause you to become ill on the course or during the trip, let someone who you are playing with know about it, in the event that assistance may be readily available.

Thailand is very hot and humid during the day and in particular when you are playing golf.

It is imperative that you keep your fluids up with plenty of water, Gatorade, Powerade etc. There are refreshment kiosks every three holes on the golf courses, but bottled water should be with you at all times, ensuring you are drinking plenty. Soft drink companies have awesome marketing budgets and may be good at convincing you that their product is the best hydration option, but nothing beats good old-fashioned water. We encourage having a good time, so by all means enjoy a few beers, but this shouldn’t be a substitute for water, or relied on for hydration.

Wet weather gloves are a great way to keep sweaty hands at bay and if you have a spare towel, taking that with you in the cart is also a good idea. You will find that most golf clubs will provide a towel in your cart for your use as well, and some of the more thoughtful caddies will have wet towels for you to use throughout your round too.

TIPPING:

Tipping is a way of life throughout the Far East. Your waitress, bar staff and caddy all rely on tips for a substantial part of their income.

A good rule of thumb is 5-10% of your bill. As for your caddy, a reasonable tip is 300-400 baht (AUD$14-$19), a good tip is 500 baht and a great tip is 1000 + baht. The tip is up to you, but it is part of the fun of golf in Thailand to team up with your caddie for the day and reward them if they have done a good job.

It is important to note that the caddy’s job is to help you get the best out of yourself on the golf course. They will repair all your pitch marks, replace and repair divots, rake bunkers as a minimum, as this is required of them by the golf club. They may also offer to give you distances, club suggestions, mark your ball and read your putts for you. By all means take this information on board, but at the end of the day it is your decision and you have to hit the shot/putt, so if it doesn’t go as planned, we don’t want any players blaming caddies for poor club selection or shot making. The caddies are there to help you and assist you as you navigate your way around the course as best they can.

SHOPPING:

Most of the clothes you purchase in Australia are made in the Far East, the only difference is the price you pay in Australia. Handmade suits, shirts, slacks, shorts and shoes, CD and DVDs, leather gear, designer clothes, you name it, it’s here. The local markets are the place to shop as the stores tend to be more expensive. Negotiating the price is expected with some big reductions to be had if business is slow.

SAFETY:

Despite what you see on reality shows on TV, Thailand is one of the safest places you will visit. Thai people do not like disagreement (it’s a cultural thing) and you will usually be greeted with a smile wherever you go. Any problems are usually caused by intoxicated foreigners and even that is rare. Use your common sense, be civil and polite, leave your valuables in your safe in your room and take out only enough money for your needs. The local tourist police are there to help you and are generally on your side.

WEATHER:

November to April is the dry season with hardly any rain at all. May – June gets very hot, July to October is the rainy season. During the rainy season the rain tends to be heavy but short lived. The golf is rarely affected by the weather.

IDENTIFICATION:

In the past few years, Thai authorities have been conducting identification check on tourists throughout Pattaya, particularly in the Walking Street precinct. This is to ensure that visitors to the country have not overstayed their visa. Australians are granted a 30-day visa into Thailand, so none of our players will have an issue with visas, but it is important to be able to prove who you are when you are stopped in the street.

As your passport is expensive and time-consuming to replace, it is not recommended that you take your passport out with you. We recommend taking a colour photocopy of the photo page of your passport and attach a copy of your travel insurance policy and business card from the City Beach Hotel or the Sabai Resort so you can show the authorities who you are and where you are staying if required. If the authorities want to sight your passport physically, you are able to show them where you are staying, and they can accompany you to the resort should they insist.

It is also very important that your passport has 6 months of expiry remaining after your departure date – please ensure that this is the case before you depart the country.