Widely known as the “Land of Smiles” for its effusive hospitality, Thailand boasts a stunning landscape varying from wide, sandy beaches to green hills, one that resonates well with golf enthusiasts keen to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery that only nature can inspire.
No wonder, the vibrant golf scene has positioned the country as one of the preferred destinations for golfers from around the world. With the Tourism Authority of Thailand stepping up its drive to attract more in-bound tourists, future growth seems unlimited for a country that offers an impressive portfolio of world-class courses, many of them designed by the world’s leading architects and famed golfers.
“You don’t just get great golf in Thailand, you enjoy a memorable holiday experience,” is the overriding message from Golf Citizen, one of the most comprehensive golf reservation websites that aims at realising the country’s huge golf tourism potential by collectively promoting richly diverse golf courses on its network.
Since its inception in 2011, the profile and popularity of the website (www.golfcitizen. com) has grown tremendously – and it now boasts 18 major courses spread all over Thailand on its network with more announcements due soon.
They include: Royal Hills Golf Resort, Banyan Golf Club, Bangsai Country Club, Imperial Lake View Golf Club, Santiburi Samui Country Club, Muag Kaew Golf Club, Eastern Star Golf Club, Pleasant Valley Golf and Country Club, Pattavia Century Golf Club, Springfield Royal Country Club, Sir James Country Club, Victory Park Golf Club, Black Mountain Golf Club, Majestic Creek Country Club, Lotus Valley Golf Resort, Mountain Creek Golf Resort, The Vintage Club and Pattaya Country Club.
Golfers, according to statistics provided by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, are known to spend up to 120% more than the average tourist when taking a golf vacation. It was pretty evident when Banyan Golf Club hit the THB 2 million mark in sales through Golf Citizen alone recently, reflecting the knock-on effects the website has had in attracting new golfers to the club.
The milestone took on special significance with the club achieving the second million in green fee revenue in just eight months, the brisk rate of bookings highlighting Golf Citizen’s position as one of golf industry’s foremost online tee-time marketers.
As an added incentive for its members, Golf Citizen is currently running the Thailand Pairs Series qualifiers at different clubs with the aim of increasing golf’s popularity and accessibility through the website.
The only one of its kind, the series sees the winning pair from each qualifying event make it to the Grand Final which will be played in Hua Hin in January 2015. The season finale winners will enjoy a VIP trip to Dubai to attend the 2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.
The next round of the Thailand Pairs Series will take place at Pattaya Country Club on Oct. 28 (check website below for details).
Golfers from any part of the world can register as a ‘Citizens’ for free and book rounds to enjoy special rates offered by many courses on its network in Thailand.
With online payment and email confirmations, Golf Citizen offers a seamless booking process while helping participating clubs and their operators leverage the service to market their courses effectively and generate more revenue from visiting golfers.
Visit www.golfcitizen.com for more information.
