Driving range pains

machersjohn · Member Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 72

I can cofirm the cost at Tanarat has risen. The anual charge is now 8000 up from 3000. The daily charge for a member is 270 was 240 and non members 400.

At the moment it is in fair condition as there is grass on the fairways and most of the greeens are ok, very slow. Generally it is an ok place to hit a few golf balls but is not in the class of any of the other courses. It would be a good place to take a beginner as it is very quiet and you wouldn't be getting in anyone's way

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:33 am Post subject:

JW · Ace Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 1456 Location: hua hin

I agree with machersjohn, i used to play at the army course all the time until i got a membership at Lake View, It is perfect for beginners and as somewhere to go and hit some shots at a reasonable price. The "big" courses have sucumbed to demand and are now not really cheap to play, although compared to Europe they still give good value.
Do not agree that the only place to improve is on the course, you need to have some degree of play to get any enjoyment from playing on the course. Golf can be a very cruel game and if a beginner ventures straiht on the course with no experience he may well give up before he has started. Tell Tiger et all that the only place to improve is on the course!

machersjohn · Member Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 72

I would agree JW that the course is not the only place to improve your game. However the driving range can become boring and hitting of mats is not all that pleasant.
Where i come from in Scotland there are no ranges so you learn on the course where you also learn etiquette,something that is sadly missing on the local courses. A combonation would be ideal where course management could also be taught again something that can't be taught at the range.

JW · Ace Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 1456 Location: hua hin

Hitting off mats is a pain, there is a range at Suan Sun beach that you can hit off the grass at the side of the covered range, only thing is the balls are not that great. Etiquette is an unknown concept among many of the players out here - most Koreans - forget about it, you literally have to just play through em, either hit over them or walk past them if you wanna keep up any sort of pace. There is a new course planned that i have been told will have an academy, run by falangs, maybe they will address some of the issues. In the UK at many courses you have to play with either the pro or committee member to determine whether you can actually play on the course or lessons are required. Couldnt do it here but the thought is nice.

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:19 pm Post subject:

I agree with etiquette. Years ago, at Milford, on the first, I had a tricky approach coming out between trees. The 4, or even 5 ball, in front had finished and taken their carts over the hill to the second - except one who was on his mobile talking loudly a matter of yards from me.
I glared and glared and he just didn't get the point. In the end I lost it and it was f/ing this and f/ing that Cussing

He then hung up and looked hurt. He was a Thai.
Maybe us golfers should start a thread about the worst incidents of breach of etiquette we've experienced over here?
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

machersjohn · Member Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 72

Lomumart it would be a heck of a long thread. I personally have had trouble with Koreans both in Hua hin and Ratchaburi. I think they are the worst as they pay no attention to anyone else on the course. As JW says the only way is to be as bad as them and play thro' them.

I had some finns playing in front of me at Tanarat who jumped in at the 10th and then played real slo.... I asked them politly if we could play through and they refused . At the next whole we just pushed forward and played. I have to say the caddies were embarressed. On finishing i explained the situation to the man in charge . He said he would stop them playing of the tenth and it actually happened for a while. However there at it again. I'm known at Tanarat so we no longer have problems playing through.

JW · Ace Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 1456 Location: hua hin

Was playing in a 2 ball at Royal Hua Hin and got behind a 9 (YES 9) ball at Royal Hua Hin a couple of years ago. After 3 holes and several ignored requests i hit over them when they were about 150yards ahead, the caddies were past themselves saying "no no cannot" we proceeded to walk right through these pricks and finish our game. We finished an were having a beer or 5. After a good hour and a half the 9 ball came off. They got changed in the locker room and when they came out we realized that it was a big money game between the top local army and top local cops! Apparently they didnt kill us cause i really nailed my tee shot and they hadnt seen a ball hit that far before. A lucky escape - BEWARE OF HITTING THROUGH THAIS, i wont do it again!

chelsea · Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 10:22 am Post subject:

It is very hard to play golf after darts unless you have flurescent balls, the degree of difficulty is much greater
Twisted Evil

JimmyGreaves · Guru Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 605

Hi guys,

I've just started to learn the game in the UK a few months ago, had a few lessons on the driving range and at 1 hole. Been hitting a few loose balls recently on the driving range and was wondering if there's a small par 3 course to try out (My teacher advised par 3 to get a feel for a course). Will be in HH in a few days.

Cheers

lomuamart · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:48 am Post subject:

Before you get out on a course here, you'd better be able to carry the ball at least 150 yds.
Otherwise, you're probably in water.
I don't think there is a par 3 course here and even if there was it won't help your game.
Get out on the big course, lose loads of balls and have a good time.
Could be expensive though Sad

_________________
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

kevars · Member Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 75

i played golf in hua hin with some blind guy .... said i got the best swing he ever heard !!! Cool

malcolminthemiddle · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:32 am Post subject:

JW · Ace Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 1456 Location: hua hin

There is a par 3 course near the airport, costs the same to play at Pranburi. The par 3 place is vastly over priced and not worth a visit.
JimmyGreaves,
Great youve started playin, be ready for some of the most frustrating days of your life in search of something nearing perfection! You will though have many,many great days of fun with good people in beautiful surroundings and if in Thailand the odd beautiful caddy!! I would suggest that once you can hit reasonably consistently on the range, ie no fresh air shots and maybe a 30% strike ratio of getting reasonable carry from a shot, take a playing lesson on the golf course with a pro. He can teach you how to look after yourself on the course and how you should treat other players and the course itself. This will mean that when you get out there yourself you will upset nobody else and enjoy your time more. There are a number of pros here in Hua Hin who do playing lessons, send me a pm if you want some names and numbers. All the best.

buksida · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:45 pm Post subject:

JW, now I'm almost recovered from the weekend beerfest I can concentrate on this week and trying to be healthy again. We'll be going to Hua Hin driving range Wednesday morning around 9am. All welcome.
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