PSC golf Outback Bar Songkran Road Trip
Our Songkran trip this year was to be a little different from the norm, incorporating an untried hotel in Chiang Mai and a new golf course in Chiang Rai and as such, turned out to be much more expensive than is usual for this time of the year.
The trip didn’t start that well, our poor old Capt’ came a cropper at the foot of his spiral staircase, thus never even making the starting blocks and the Thai Airways flight to Chiang Rai on Weds evening had no air-conditioning, you can just imagine!
(From left): Stefan Hoge, Andy Hoge and Rosco Langoulant.
The Wiang Inn is where we stayed and it’s a great hotel, but as usual the WiFi didn’t work in the rooms so you have to go down to the lobby to check your emails. The breakfast is great, bacon and any eggs you want and even Bernie couldn’t whinge about this.
First morning in the bus on the way to the golf course, New York Steve explained how he dropped his phone in the toilet so you can imagine all the jokes going on all day on the course, a very funny day.
Santaburi Golf course was absolutely magnificent; if you haven’t played it you have to at least once in your life. The scores were not much to talk about but we had a great day. That night we went bar hopping to find the coldest beer in town.
Friday, April 12 – Happy City G.C.
Half the reason why we did this trip was to play Happy City, which the Koreans have built and boy have they spent some money. Condos, over a hundred built already, clubhouse will be finished in three months, a double storey driving range has been finished and that’s where we had a shower after golf.
Let’s talk about the score card; the score card has got 20 holes on it and on the first tee box we asked the caddies which 18 we play, the caddies don’t know which two holes you miss out on until you get there. We had a laugh and carried on, because it’s a new course the caddies don’t know much about it as well and they are not used to English speaking farangs, but there was a white marker in the middle of each fairways for you to drive to, that was great.
The course itself is in good nick, the fairways are magnificent, the greens need about another 4 to 5 months of growth, the signature Par three-hole was finished and it’s as good as any other of the top courses in Thailand. There are some holes you have to lay up, similar to Banyan in Hau Hin.
Saturday, April 13 – Waterford G.C.
Waterford Golf course, Jack asked us to go and play to check it out and the greens were a lot better than last time we played and it’s a pretty average course for 2,500 baht with a cart (discounted w/e rate, hmmm!!). All in all a great trip, and if you haven’t been to Chiang Rai you should come just for the golf courses, not much night life but you’re there for the golf. We can always find a bar with a cold beer and with a few mates around for a few laughs that’s what life’s all about.
After golf we changed vans for some reason or other and off to Chiang Mai to stay at the Centara Duangtawan.
As the Bangkok Airways flight left on time we all arrived mid afternoon on Mon 15th to a warm last day of Songkran outside the Centara Hotel. Strangely, the reception was on the first floor and our luggage was on the ground floor but somehow the luggage made it up to our designated rooms. Nice hotel except that they have 512 rooms to choose from so the lifts in the morning were very busy. The breakfast was fine and so were the rooms but he bar prices were OTT, bring back the Porn Ping!
Tuesday, April 16, Maejo G.C. – Stableford
After leaving Maijo out of the Chiang Mai calendar for the last couple of trips as they were changing all the grass on the greens, it’s pleasing to report it was generally in good shape on the first nine but they were still working on a couple of greens on the back nine. Hole No. 10 hasn’t changed with the little par 3 (which nobody got a two on); but Rosco was our man on Hole 14 with a monster 50-foot putt for a birdie and yes he got it. Wicked!
On the back nine there are three par 3’s and three par 5’s. Hopefully by October the course will be finished and what a course it will be, and apparently it’s already been booked for our October trip.
1st Andrew Hoge (15) 33pts
2nd Rosco Langoulant (15) 32pts
3rd Suzi Lawton (19) 30pts
Wednesday, April 17, Alpine Resort – Stableford
Today was a return to Alpine Resort, another course we haven’t played for a couple of trips, not cheap but an absolute must, especially as the course was in superb condition after the recent Pro event here. The ball would lie beautifully on top of the grass on the fairway and then somehow off she flew into the rough, which it seemed they somehow forgot to cut so you nearly always lost a ball or played the wrong ball; it was brutal for us happy hackers. Another definite for October!
1st Rosco Langoulant (15) 37pts
2nd Stefan Hoge (17) 32pts
3rd Suzi Lawton (19) 28pts
Friday, April 19, Chiang Mai Highlands – Stableford
Thursday was officially the “Day Off’ day at Green Valley and but only three of us played while the others went elephant trekking etc. Good course and it was in the same condition as Khao Kheow with many of the caddies weeding the course.
As always, the legendary Chiang Mai Highlands was the venue for the final round on Fri day, what a course, even in the dry season the course was a delight to play, bunkers immaculate, fairways and rough you could play out off.
Rosco and Andy Hoge went out first as the leaders of the pack with Rosco leading the way with three pars. That lad was cruising and won going away although Andy was with him all the way.
We all had a great Songkran and a fantastic trip away so a big thank-you to Jack for organising it for us.
1st Rosco Langoulant (15) 36pts
2nd Andrew Hoge (15) 35pts
3rd Stefan Hoge (17) 34pts
Overall (3 Days)
1st Rosco Langoulant 105pts
2nd Andrew Hoge 94pts
3rd Stefan Hoge 90pts
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. Call Jack on 081 578 1956.
