• Advertorial •
The Eastern Seaboard is truly a golfer’s paradise
with more than twenty excellent golf courses within a one hour drive
from Pattaya City. All designed to championship standard by the world’s
top names, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Peter Thompson &
Michael Wolveridge, Ronald Fream and Robert Trent Jones Jnr. whose
course at Eastern Star Country Club & Resort stands as one of the finest
and most frequently chosen venues for social and competitive golf.
Eastern Star golf course was designed and built in
1991 by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, one of the foremost designers of
championship golf courses in the world. The 18 hole layout is
beautifully carved out of a coconut palm plantation, and meanders
through the lovely residential areas at Eastern Star.
The course is a Par 72 on 7,134 yards over 520 acres.
The gently undulating fairways and greens are sprinkled with 65 bunkers,
11 lakes and more than 2,200 coconut trees. A classic example of a
‘links’ style golf course, it offers generous but narrow landing areas,
is an easy walk and the wide fairways make it suitable and enjoyable for
all standards of golfer. It is an ideal layout for staging major
tournaments.
Many species of exotic birds live on the golf course, including the
rare Green Bee-eater.
Many species of exotic birds live on the golf course,
including the rare Green Bee-eater, and birdhouses mark the distance to
the greens at 150 yards (red), 100 yards (yellow) and at 200 yards
(blue) on the par 5s. Many birds live in the birdhouses and an owl may
occasionally be seen in the 16th fairway at the 100 yard marker
birdhouse.
Eastern Star golf course has many interesting holes
including the short 12th par 4 (drivable for some), followed by the 13th
Robert Trent Jones Jnr. par 3 signature hole over water to a sloping
green well guarded by bunkers. Slightly intimidating perhaps, but worth
a look back from green to tee, when the shot looks to be quite
straightforward. There is a spectacular view of the clubhouse as you
take your second shot in the 9th fairway, set against the tropical
mountain background.
Birdhouses mark the distance to the greens at 150 yards (red), 100
yards (yellow) and at 200 yards (blue) on the par 5s.
Left of the par 4, 14th green is the splendid country
residence of Eastern Star’s Chairman, H.E. Anand Panyarachun. A former
prime minister of Thailand, ambassador to Canada, Germany and the United
States of America, permanent representative to the United Nations, and
the UNICEF ambassador for Thailand. Two charity invitational tournaments
take place annually in Khun Anand’s name, namely for the Special
Olympics of Thailand in November, and for UNICEF Thailand in March, both
preceded by a private party that he hosts for major sponsors and
personal guests at his house the evening before.
An owl may occasionally be seen in the 16th fairway at the 100 yard
marker birdhouse.
The facilities at Eastern Star Country Club & Resort
include a luxurious clubhouse, lounge bar and fine restaurant, pro-shop,
25 meter swimming pool with jacuzzi, flood-lit tennis courts, fitness
center, Masters Conference Hall, driving range and a beautifully
landscaped beach pool secluded behind the 18th green.
The Seastar apartments that overlook the golf course
and surrounding areas are spacious with 210 square meters of luxurious
living for up to four guests, with full amenities.
But perhaps the most endearing feature of Eastern
Star Country Club & Resort is the staff and the warm welcome one
receives as a tournament organizer, or as just a group of casual golfers
visiting for a social round. Current summer promotions from April 1st to
June 30th are ‘Cool Days’ on Wednesday & Thursday and ‘Cool Noon
Special’ after 12 noon every day.
Seastar apartments are practically right on the golf course.
The course layout and facilities are excellent for
staging major tournaments, with full support and assistance in planning
and organizing assured from the operations and catering management,
pro-shop staff, starters and the course superintendent, who will set the
pin positions and greens speed to your liking. Improvements to the golf
course and resort facilities are on-going to maintain and improve the
high standard that Eastern Star Country Club & Resort is well known for.
However, early booking of major tournaments, up to
one year in advance, is essential to avoid disappointment in securing
the chosen date. Recent tournaments include the Khun Anand Charity Golf
Invitational for UNICEF, Pattaya Sports Club 11th Charity Classic and
2007 PSC Club Championship, and, coming up on Friday 29th June, the
inaugural Pattaya Mail ‘Mike Franklin’ Classic charity
tournament.
Pattaya Mail, in addition to publishing weekly up
to seven pages of golf reports submitted by the numerous venues and
societies in and around Pattaya, will itself mark the start of its 15th
Anniversary year by staging this major inaugural tournament at Eastern
Star, confirming the Pattaya Mail Media Group’s involvement in
two major Eastern Seaboard sporting activities.
Sailing, with the 13th annual Pattaya Mail PC (Peter
Cummins) Classic Royal Cliff Beach Resort International Regatta held
recently on March 24th, and golf with the introduction of the inaugural
Pattaya Mail ‘Mike Franklin’ Classic on June 29th. Both are
charity tournaments with a deserving range of charities being nominated
by the host names.
Would like to know more? Contact us and we will be
pleased to help.
Direct line: 08 48 83 82 80, Web site:
www.easternstargolf.net
The 13th Robert Trent Jones Jnr. par 3 signature hole over water to a
sloping green is well guarded by bunkers.
