“I wouldn’t even let my dog walk on that course” one golf snob said when I mentioned that I played golf at the Bangna Navy Course. Maybe he just fancied being “controversial” online or perhaps he really feels that way. Either way he completely misses the point of this cracking course.
Bangna Navy Course isn’t the most beautiful course in Thailand, it’s not the most challenging, it’s not the best maintained but, it’s the golf course which most represents Thailand in my opinion.
There are dogs walking around the course, some of which sleep in the bunkers. The caddies use their phones to take selfies quite often. English isn’t widely used. People walk around selling snacks and beers for prices just over what 7/11 charge. These all add to the charm for me. I guess for others not so much.
Located five-minutes walk from Bangna BTS station it’s the only course (9 holes, multiple greens and tee boxes) within easy reach of the city center, especially if you don’t drive. It also doesn’t take itself too seriously, sanook being at the heart of everything they do there.
It’s 400 baht for 18 holes. It’s around 1,000 baht for 18 holes, caddie fee, caddie tip, two beers and a snack. It’s a steal to play golf. It gets a fair number of people and has a good atmosphere, something which some golf courses here lack. I’ve been paired up with people from all over the world, it’s great for socializing.
Sure it’s probably never going to host Tiger Woods or make it into the top 100 courses in Asia but that’s not the point. This course is the ideal place to play if you want a few hours on the course, to relax with friends, to get away from the city feel. It even has floodlights so you can play at night. It’s social and that is what Thailand means to me.
You Don’t Want To Do That…
Mr Golf Snob then informed me what he paid to play at his local course and how it was so much better than where I play. He’s probably correct that the course he plays at is “better” but is it as enjoyable, is it more fun?
It’s like saying your ticket to watch Liverpool costs $100 and my ticket to see Lincoln costs $20, and because it’s less I shouldn’t bother doing it. I’m sure the Lincoln fans don’t care about the perceived lack of quality, I’m sure they still have fun. They enjoy their time out the same as those Liverpool fans who’ve paid five times as much for the same activity of watching a football match.
I worked for a golf travel company before in the UK. I’ve played the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Castle Course in St Andrews. I’ve played Pinehurst, Kiawah and Sawgrass in America. Wentworth, Vale Do Lobo, Black Mountain done, done and done. I’ve played a lot of world-class courses so I understand not all courses are equal. However I can have fun playing a local, unknown course. There’s no need to talk trash someone just because they either can’t afford something more expensive or don’t feel the need to splash out.
Unfortunately, this sort of behavior is common throughout the expat community in Thailand. One-upmanship is prevalent – “oh you don’t send your kids to an international school” “You don’t take taxis everywhere” “I wouldn’t even walk my dog on that course”.
Serious Golf, Serious Money
If I want to have a “serious” round or play somewhere ranked highly then I’ll do that. I don’t have the budget to spend 2-3,000 baht per round every week. Maybe some people will look down on me for that but it doesn’t bother me.
Golf isn’t a cheap hobby. Looking down on people because they can’t afford the most expensive courses or only play on discount days isn’t a good way to encourage the game to grow.
On the other hand if you do have the money to play the best courses everyday then great, enjoy your golf. If you only want to play on championship standard courses then good for you.
Thai Style Golf
Food, relaxing and friends are the most important parts of my life here in Thailand. A golf course which can let me enjoy all of those is great. I don’t care that the greens are a bit bumpy. The course isn’t 7,000+ yards, I don’t care. All I care about is going out there and having fun. Bangna Navy Club, and other similar courses throughout the country, tick a lot of boxes for me.
It’s great to see the game of golf growing. There’s room in Thailand for players with all budgets. Even though 1,000 baht is cheap for golf it’s still out of reach for a lot of Thai people. It’s a barrier to entry for potential new players. Let’s not be snobbish and shame people for playing “cheap” courses. Live and let live. Enjoy your golf, wherever you choose to play in Thailand.
What a wonderful refreshing view of the game of golf, and i agree. Its a game, lets remember that, and games are about having fun.
And I can see sometimes that better courses almost want to loose their soul, as that is what separates them. I think in the long run this is wrong, so yes lets make the best of both 🙂
More fancy cources learn from the simpler ones how to embrace the soul they have and simpler courses see what fancy onse do to keep their finish better. Of cource they have different financial resources but, there is always something we can learn.
So remove snobbish behaviour both from up to down, and down to up.
Hope to see you someday at Bangna golf
//Fredrik
Thanks Fredrik, glad there are others who agree with me!
For sure some of the “big courses” are like golf factories where everything is fixed and so sanitized that you could be anywhere in the world.
Drop me an email with your details and will see if we can sort out a game.
richard@lifeinanewcountry.com
Thanks!