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No other sport in Thailand has attracted so much attention in such a short span of time as has golf. An increasing numbers of foreign visitors have realized that Thailand possesses many qualities to make it a preferred golf destination.

Thailand has been chosen to host many top international tournaments, including the World Cup and the Ladies Asia Professional Circuit.Among Thailand's advantages is first of all the weather. Play is possible at almost any time of the year. Even the heavy but short-lived downpours of the rainy season rarely bring a game to a complete halt. Furthermore, the country has an excellent selection of courses; all boast lush, tropical surroundings.

Almost 50 courses and numerous practice ranges are available throughout the country. Some are located on slopes overlooking the sea or on former rice paddies that have been transformed into green parks while others are neatly tucked into the mountains of the North. Many courses have been carefully designed to offer interesting and, in most cases, very testing golf. They have also been beautifully landscaped, with an abundance of tropical trees and exotic flowers for the most spectacular visual effect.

Most courses in Thailand boast a modern clubhouse, with restaurants and a pro shop stocking a whole range of new equipment. The trend is for new clubhouses to incorporate additional sports facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis and squash courts.

Low labor costs in Thailand mean that clubs can afford the luxury of a large ground staff to maintain the fairways and greens in tip-top condition. To ensure that the surfaces match those of the world's leading courses, many clubs have employed the latest techniques to plant the most suitable grasses.

Thailand has the reputation for being a very cheap golf country. Compared with Europe and industrialized Asian countries, it's true that Thailand is a cheap golf destination. As anywhere in the world green fees are in most cases substantially higher on weekends than what they are on weekdays. Weekday green fees range from 100 to 500 Baht; on weekends they can be 50% to 100% higher. A typical caddie fee is 100 Baht. Golf balls, like all sports equipment, are fairly expensive in Thailand. Renting equipment is no problem here.

All the major courses have full or half sets of clubs for rent, along with shoes, umbrellas and other useful accessories. A player does not have to bring any of his own equipment.