The
golf courses in Thailand are by and large
designid on flat terrain. For a refreshing
change, The Vintage Club, about 50 kilometers
outside Bangkok, offers a contoured course
complemented by a professional management
and clubhouse. With the feel of a resort,
The Vintage Club caters largely to tourists
and offers a full range of amenities that
add to the experience. Of course, it is
the course that is the prime attraction.
Be sure to bring your best game; novices
may find that The Vintage Club is simply
out of their league.
Our guest
golfer this month is Mr. Krachang Sawanamas,
President of Sports Management Group Thailand
(SMG). Krachang is a passionate golf enthusiast
and a passionate sports manager and event
organizer in Bangkok. He describes The
Vintage Club as a new world - class golf
course in Thailand. Having the remarkable
record of notching up fourteen hold -
in - one's in his 40 years of playing
the game, Krachang is amply qualified
to guide us around this course. "The
layout of the golf course is resort style,
suitable for those looking to relax. The
course however is quite challenging; on
every hole water comes into play, The
rough on the course is cut quite short,
often your ball will find the water, and
on every hole the green is quite narrow,
so you have to be careful with your ball
placement. The course is easily transformed
into a championship course by simply moving
the flags. It is designed to be challenging
with careful thought required before addressing
each hole," Krachang says.
Designed
by Arthur Hills and Associates of Toledo,
one of the more experienced designers
in the business with more than 100 courses
under its belt. the layout of the course
obviously has the experienced golfer in
mind. The Stimp Meter measurements of
the green are fast, about 12 for tournament
and 9 for normal play. The management
is quite concerned with the maintenance
of the greens and most golfers will find
they are in excellnt shape.
Finesse
is the operative word. The approach on
the majority of the 18 holes does not
require the Herculean drive common to
some courses. Instead ball placement is
crucial and plenty of loft to prevent
the ball running on the fast greens is
appropriate. Skill with the short irons
and pop up shots will be the deciding
factors in most rounds.
