Golf in Asia has exploded in the 16 yrs I have lived here. We are spoiled for choice out here to play World Class golf courses driven by an insatiable demand from Japanese, Korean, and most recently Chinese golfers, in addition to a rising middle class in Southest Asia and a healthy sprinkling of expatriates and tourists. I have lived in Thailand this past year or so but prior to that I lived in Japan for 9 yrs and HongKong for 6. Japan courses as noted are expensive (although the cost is closer to $300 rather than the 500 previously posted) and are in immaculate shape and a few are breathtaking, especially the ones with an up close view of Mt. Fuji. All but a handful accept guest play. China has hundreds of new courses that have opened in just the past decade, and some resorts have as many as 12 courses at them, all designed by name brand architects, same ones as the U.S. uses. Most of Southern China and HK play these courses as they are only about an hour from downtown HK. They are hybrid private / guest fee oriented, you can play most with a phone call to the pro shop or one of the local tour operators.
As far as Thailand, it is golf heaven...perfect weather from Nov to March, a bit hotter in the late spring. Great golf in Bangkok area, Phuket, Chiang Mai. Gorgeous and tourney ready, cost around $100. Best part....great female caddies! Worst part...during the high season, thai courses are inundated with Japanese and Korean golfers who feel justified in taking 6 hrs for a round of golf....nonsense! I've joined a private course at a not unreasonable cost to have access to favorable teetimes and a guaranteed 18 holes under 4hrs.
Vietnam is quickly catching up with seaside golf resorts and with a dozen courses in and around Saigon has started to become a golf destination.
So...longish post but very incomplete regarding whats golf like in Asia. Now if we can only get Brian and his crew out here for a bootcamp with style!
