Phuket Weddings and Golf Holidays

The Phuket weddings and golf industries share quite a few similarities. Both sectors have seen exponential growth over the past 10 years in Phuket, boasting the ideal conditions for weddings or golf. Many people opt to get married in a beautiful tropical destinations for so many reasons. The main one being they can have a memorable wedding ceremony on the beach, a honeymoon at the same time and the price is still considerably cheaper than organizing a wedding in the Western world. Phuket weddings and golf holidays are the perfect combination.

Booking Phuket Golf for your Wedding Party
At Phuketgolf.net, we have lots of wedding parties that contact us with group bookings. It’s a great way for wedding guests to enjoy a bit of time together trawling the carpeted fairways of Phuket’s finest golf courses.

We can cater for large groups of golfers who want to play together. We can organize your tee-off times and green fees and also all your transfers to and from the courses. No matter how large or small, we will ensure that you and your guests receive the best golf hospitality on the island, so you guys can concentrate on tying the knot in fine style.

Booking a Phuket Wedding
In this day and age, there are many companies in Phuket that can organize your Phuket wedding, although some people still opt to do it for themselves. If you are going alone when organizing your own Phuket wedding, we have a great selection of hotels available for booking, and at the same time can book your golf as well. If you’re seeking accommodation for your wedding

3 Phuket Golf Courses You Must Play

Whether you are coming to Phuket on a dedicated golf holiday or you are visiting here with the family and fancy a few rounds in between, playing the best courses on the island is the desire of most golfers. Although there are 9 courses across the island, we don’t always have enough time to play them all. Please see 3 Phuket golf courses you must play when holidaying in this beautiful part of the world.

#1 – Red Mountain Country Club
It’s been debatable for a while now as to whether the best course on the island is the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon or if the newer Red Mountain at Kathu is the best. Located near to the Loch Palm course, Red Mountain has become one of the most talked about courses in Asia since its launch almost 5 years ago.

Constructed on an old tin mine, which was Phuket’s main source of income a couple of hundred years ago, the views are spectacular, weaving its way through red mountains, with high elevation tee locations. The course is stunning and the facilities are world class. What is there not to like?

#2 – Blue Canyon Course
The Canyon Course at Blue Canyon has long been the standard bearer for 5-star golf in Phuket, and is easily the most famous course on the island, and one of the highest rated in Thailand. The course has hosted many Asian tour events with golfers such as Tiger Woods, Freddie Couples, Ernie Els, Greg Norman and many more gracing its fairways. The Canyon Course, known for its dramatic holes utilizing the canyon, is a challenge and a fantastic experience for any golfer across the world.

#3 – Loch Palm GC
Many people will believe that the Lakes Course at Blue Canyon is the 3rd choice on the island, but we disagree. Loch Palm at Kathu really personifies that special tropical golf environment we come to associate with Thailand. With many of the holes centered on the stunning Crystal Lake, the use of sand traps, palm trees and water hazards make it a tough challenge if you are not hitting the ball well. The course is always in great condition, and with the backdrop of the mountains, it really is a picturesque course as well.

Experience Loy Krathong in Phuket – 6th November 2014

Thailand is famous for its colourful festivals and events. The most picturesque Thailand festival of them all is Loy Krathong (sometimes referred to as Loi Krathong). Regardless of the names used, Loy Krathong in Phuket is a must see festival if you are lucky enough to be visiting Phuket at this time of year to play golf.

The festival drops on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November. This year, the festival drops on November 6th, celebrated across the entirety of the kingdom. Essentially, in the Thai language, ‘Loi’ means ‘to float’, and ‘Krathong’ means ‘raft’.

During the evening’s festivities across Thailand, the skies are full with colourful and fiery lanterns, thousands of them, floating up towards the cosmos creating a breathtaking skyline that can only really be appreciated by those absorbing the spectacle at first hand.

The raft is supposed to be constructed from bread, which is good for the environment, although banana leaves are usually the main material. Using the elaborately folded banana leaves and decorating them with candles, flowers and incense creates a quite beautiful and aesthetically pleasing raft. The ‘Krathong’ is lit and pushed out to sea or on a river bed, symbolically used to cast away one’s problems or sins of the previous year, as to start a new. After a few moments, the lit potion of the raft elegantly floats into the sky. When this is repeated by hundreds of other onlookers simultaneously, it is simply a breathtaking sight to behold.

Casting away the Krathong is also an apology to the Goddess of the Water for all the bad things done to the sea, rivers and lakes during the previous year. Loi Krathong is also ideal for couples, signifying a romantic moment.

Although the festival is conducted on every available stretch of water in Thailand, places such as Phuket are ideal locations to see in the festival. All the main beaches on the west coast will be a hive of activity on the 6th November, so buy or make yourself a krathong and join in on the fun.

Top Unique Phuket Restaurants

Being such a diverse Island, Phuket has some of the most unique eating options available. We have listed our selection of unique Phuket restaurants hotspots for you to enjoy in the evenings after a long day of golf on Phuket’s finest courses.

Natural Restaurant – Phuket
Restaurants don’t come more delicious or unique than the Natural Restaurant at Phuket Town. For the best part of 20 years, this eclectic eatery has been serving up some of the finest Thai cuisine in Phuket within a rustic and memorabilia-laden décor that personifies the word ‘unique’. Once you have sampled the delicious fare and retro art décor, you will become a regular – just as we already are!

Laem Hin Seafood – Laem Hin
Situated on the sea-front at Laem Hin Pier, you will find one of the freshest and affordable seafood restaurants on the island. Perched on wooden stilts floating in the ocean, Laem Hin Seafood is a hidden gem that not so many tourists ever find. The views looking out towards Coconut Island, the friendly service and the excellent value for money seafood are just three reasons why you cannot miss out on this critically acclaimed and unusual restaurant.

The 9th Floor Restaurant – Patong
Phuket’s loftiest open-air restaurant is not only one of the best dining experiences on the island, but also has the most breathtaking views overlooking Patong and the ocean that you could possibly imagine. To experience such high quality cuisine in such a unique environment is something you should take advantage of during your vacation.

Small Viewpoint – Kata Noi
Although the Small Viewpoint Restaurant does not serve cuisine of the same standard as White Box or The 9th Floor, the restaurant is perched on a mountainside overlooking the jungle terrain and Andaman Ocean at Kata Noi. Fundamentally a viewpoint reggae bar, ideal for enjoying the best sunset views in Phuket, you can enjoy a more than tasty meal for great value within this unique atmosphere.

Rawai Seafood Restaurants
These collection of seafood restaurants at Rawai Beach are so unique because you get to sit directly beachside and devour some of the freshest seafood imaginable straight off the fishing boats. Some of the restaurants allow you to dine on tables and chairs, while others provide you with a picnic mat on the floor and a small table. This is the quintessential seafood experience. For cost effective prices and tasty food within a unique location, you can’t fail to have a great time.

Using Stableford for Your Phuket Golf

Those of you who have decided to play golf in Phuket probably won’t know that sometimes the golf clubs on the island have handicapped tournaments that everyone can enter. They are a great way to play the course, meet some local people and also to maybe win a prize or two. However, some of the tournaments in Phuket use the Stableford Points System to score the tournaments, which in all honesty is not used that much among golfers. So for those of you that don’t know how the Stableford System works, let us tell you how.

Stableford is actually a great system for those golfers who have some really great holes and some really bad ones in the same round. The system doesn’t score your bad holes, only your good ones. If you shoot a few birdies every round but with a few triple-bogeys as well, you’ll love Stableford.

Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in stroke play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole. Unlike traditional scoring methods, where the aim is to have the lowest score, under Stableford rules, the objective is to have the highest score.

Stableford can have the added benefit of speeding up the pace of play, as once it is no longer possible to score a point, a player does not have to complete the hole but can simply pick up his/her ball and proceed to the next hole. It is a popular form of the game, especially at club level and particularly in the United Kingdom, as it is still possible to record a competitive score despite having the occasional bad hole.

The number of points awarded on each hole is determined based on comparison of the number of strokes taken to a fixed score, usually par. This fixed score is then adjusted in relation to the player’s handicap. Once a player has taken two strokes more than the adjusted fixed score, they may pick up their ball as it is then not possible to score any points on that hole. They can then resume play on the next hole. Because of this, it is still possible to be competitive even allowing for a few bad holes.

At the end of the round, the number of points scored on each hole is totaled to give a final score. The winner of a Stableford competition is the player with the highest point total. Final scores may be modified for all players using the Competition Stableford Adjustment system.

The scores are generally used this way:

Points              Strokes taken on the hole
0                       2 strokes or more over, or no score recorded
1                       1 stroke over
2                       Same number of strokes
3                       1 stroke under
4                       2 strokes under
5                       3 strokes under
6                       4 strokes under

Next time you visit Phuket for a golf holiday with your friends, why not try and use the Stableford Scoring System, because not only is it fun, but also a new way at looking at the game.

Phuket Accommodation to Match Your Golf Holiday

Partaking in a golf tour, or any holiday for that matter, is all about organization and getting everything you desire to all come together with unnerving accuracy. Sometimes, organizing the holiday in its entirety can be a stressful, and also expensive. Not only are there the flights to take into consideration, but also Phuket accommodation in an area that has everything to suit your needs. There is so much to consider and organize, and this is where we can help you the most.

At Phuketgolf.net, we are experts in everything Phuket, not just golf. Our company was set up by expats who have lived in Phuket for over 10 years, bringing all that experience and local knowledge directly to you as and when you need it the most. Our knowledge of Phuket golf courses is second to none, alongside offering some of the most affordable green fees on the island. But let’s be honest, booking the golf is only a small part of the deal.

The most important aspect to organizing a Phuket holiday is finding the best Phuket accommodation in the right destination that ideally caters to you and your travelling companions. We have a great choice of hotels and resorts in all the major Phuket tourist destinations on the west coast, which you can see a handful by clicking here. Alternatively, you can tell us what hotel you desire and we can fix that for you.

When it comes to a holiday in Phuket, there are so many things to see and do, and as we have been on the island for so many years, we can recommend and organize for you the best tours and excursions at the best prices. Our services also include taxi transfers to and from the courses, and also to and from Phuket International Airport to your hotel of choice.

Thinking of Booking a Phuket Golf Holiday for 2015?

As time continues to move quicker than ever, especially living in the modern rapid-response world of today, we very rarely plan ahead, unless we are talking about holidays of course. With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to plan your holidays for early to mid-2015, so let us help you to find everything you need for the ultimate Phuket golf holiday.

When you choose a golf holiday destination, you are looking for somewhere that has beaches, nightlife entertainment, a great choice of restaurants, hotels and resorts… not forgetting high quality golf courses. Phuket makes for the best holiday destination whether you are looking for an hardcore full-on golf holiday or simply fancy a vacation with your family and a few rounds of golf in between.

Known as one of the best holiday destinations across the world, Phuket is a paradise island that basks in a tropical environment and all-year-round high temperatures that create the ideal holiday and golf conditions.

From 5-star hotels and resorts to holiday villa rentals, guesthouses and everything in between, the variety in terms of Phuket accommodation is stunning, located in all of the island’s major destinations on the west coast such as Patong, Karon, Kata, Surin and Kamala.

The choice of golf courses is fantastic, with 8 courses of varying difficulties and styles, from Championship courses to those more suited to novices and beginners.

At Phuketgolf.net we can organize all your Phuket golf holiday needs, from booking your tee off times on the courses, to finding you the best hotel accommodation, and even taxi transfers to and from the courses. We can also organize and book any excursion or tour, so you will have lots of things to do when you’re not playing golf.

Phuket Schedule – In and around Patong

Patong is a lively and very popular holiday destination; the perfect place to stay to get the most from your Phuket golf holiday. There are shopping opportunities aplenty and many activities to take part in. Here is a detailed schedule to help you organize your day when not playing golf in Phuket.

8.00am: Wat Suwan Khiri Wong (Patong Temple)
What better way to start your day than having an enlightening trip to see Buddhism in its rawest form. Meet Thai Buddhist monks in a beautiful, ornate temple just at the foot of Patong hill. Here, you will see the locals show their respect to Buddha and you’ll feel the calming nature and aura which Buddhists exude.

9.30am: Elephant Trekking  Elephant Trekking at Camp hang
Watch the gentle giants have had their feed of bamboo leaves and bananas. Take an Elephant trek just outside of Patong, on the winding roads to Kamala. You’ll see some beautiful scenery here, where the jungle runs down the mountain overlooking a fantastic panoramic view of Patong across the calm, turquoise sea.

11am: Thai Cookery Class
Learn about the local Thai cuisine and how to make it for yourself at Pum’s Phuket Cookery School. Located just a brief walk from Junceylon Shopping Mall on Rat-U-Thit Road, you’ll have a lesson in how to create exotic Thai dishes from scratch and buying the ingredients from the local food market. Classes take around 90 minutes and the best part is you get to eat your own Thai dish which you have created.

1pm: Junceylon Shopping Mall
This state-of-the-art air-conditioned shopping center is a perfect place to spend the hottest hours of the day. There are hundreds of shops which sell sports equipment, books, DVDs, fashion clothing for men women and children as well as having an outdoor section which has live music and refreshments on offer. Sipping an iced coffee and watching the hourly water-jet display is great way to relax at Jungceylon.

4pm: Bangla Road, Patong
As the evening approaches, you just have to visit the most popular street on the whole of Phuket Island – Bangla Road. With discos, bars, restaurants and nightclubs there is always a different place to sip an exotic cocktail or a chilled beer.

6pm: Sunset Dinner at the 9th Floor Restaurant
After a long and memorable day, the most perfect way to finish off your Patong experience is at the 9th Floor restaurant located in the Sky Inn Condotel. It is the highest open-air restaurant in the whole of Phuket Island offering exquisite Thai food, a huge range of wines and spirits all with an unforgettable view of the Andaman Sea. With the glowing orange sun setting, the gentle breeze from the sea and being in an ultra modern surrounding, you couldn’t wish for anything else.

Phuket Schedule – Mid Southwest Coast

If you are a long-time reader of this blog, you already know that when you are not playing golf in Phuket, we like to inform you of the best parts of the island to visit, all in a single day. This time, we are focusing on the Mid-Southwest Coast of Phuket Island.

8:30am: Kok Chang Elephant Trekking – Kata Noi
Situated high above Kata Noi Beach, Kok Chang Elephant Trekking is a popular safari company. Enjoy a 1-hour trek through the jungle terrain upon the well-trained elephants at Kok Chang. No trip to Phuket is complete without a trek upon these majestic beasts.

10am: Kata & Kata Noi Beaches
Two of the best beaches in Phuket are Kata and Kata Noi. Take a leisurely stroll along one of these scenic beaches and enjoy the golden sand between your toes while gazing out towards the Andaman Ocean.

11:30am – Angus O’Tool’s for Lunch – Karon
Relax in the friendly atmosphere of the Angus O’Tool’s Irish Bar in the heart of Karon. The food is top notch within this family-orientated establishment, which is the ideal place for a spot of lunch.

1pm: Jungceylon Shopping Centre – Patong
After you have enjoyed a relaxing lunch, you will be ready to explore the ever-popular and vibrant Patong. Although there is a multitude of options for shopping in Patong, the Jungceylon shopping centre is the ideal place to enjoy some retail therapy.

2:30pm: Patong Temple (Wat Suwan Khiri Wong)
Buddhist culture is an intriguing aspect of visiting Thailand. Enjoy the beautiful Patong Temple at the foot of the hill from Kathu in Patong. Visiting the temple will allow you a fascinating insight to Thai Buddhism.

4:00pm: Kamala Beach Area
The scenic and mountainous coastal road from Patong to Kamala makes for the perfect cruise. Once you reach the Kamala Beach area, you can explore the main beach road, check out the markets, souvenir shops, the tranquil beach and the relaxed atmosphere of the village.

5:30pm: Sunset @ Baan Rim Pa Restaurant – Kalim Bay
Once you have enjoyed Kamala, it will be nearing the famous Phuket sunset time. We recommend that on your way back from Kamala, you can stop at the classy Baan Rim Pa Restaurant perched directly above the beach at Kalim Bay. This is a great place to enjoy the sunset from the open terrace while sampling some of the fine Thai cuisine delights the restaurant is famous for.

3 things to remember when booking a Phuket golf holiday

When it comes to organizing a holiday, if you are a golf-lover, a destination with lots of golf courses is always at the top of the list. However, there are a few things to consider, such as the best location that also doubles as a great place to holiday, which makes Phuket the perfect place. There are 3 things to remember when booking a Phuket golf holiday.

What location should I choose?
You need a location in Phuket that merges the best beaches, nightlife entertainment and restaurants, so you always have something to do when you are not golfing. The west coast of Phuket is where all the action takes place, withPatong Beach being the ultimate holiday-destination and the most popular in Phuket by a longshot with tourists.

Patong is home to one of the longest beaches on the island, the most vibrant and hedonistic nightlife and a choice of restaurants covering every cuisine style known to man. With Patong also being located on the central western coastline, it's not too far away from any course on the island in relative terms.

Which courses should I play?
Choosing which courses you play on is really down to what you are looking for from your Phuket golf holiday. If you are a good player or want to experience the best Championship courses the island has to offer, Red Mountain GC in Kathu, or the famous Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club are the two best courses. For a more value-for-money choice, Phuket Country Club, Loch Palm, Mission Hills GC and Laguna Phuket GC are perfect.

Click here to see our courses and green fees

What else is there to do on Phuket?
When you are not golfing, Phuket has so many things to see and do. Maybe you fancy a jungle trek atop an elephant, or maybe a spot of scuba diving in and around some of the best dive locations in the world. With some of the best beaches in Asia, and beautiful mountain scenery, alongside the nightlife and dining scene that the island is famous for, there are lots of things to do on the island, whether you are travelling with friends or even the family.