Bangkok Sport

Golf

This ever popular sport is catered for in abundance in Thailand and Bangkok is no exception. The following courses will more than satisfy the average putter or golfing enthusiast and tournaments are held regularly.

Pinehurst Golf and Country Club With 27 holes, Pinehurst, located an hours drive north of Bangkok, is a golfer's paradise. The course offers plenty of challenges, from water hazards to bunkers and plenty of foliage. The clubhouse is modern and lavishly furnished, offering fine dining, and is well-equipped for other sporting activities.

Rose Garden Located 38 km. southwest of Bangkok, this par 72 course was the former venue for the Thai Open. Beautifully maintained, the tree-lined fairways lead to difficult greens, well guarded by bunkers, offering plenty of challenges for golfers of any ability.

Vintage Club Golf Course Forty-five minutes east of central Bangkok, this 18-hole course was designed to take full advantage of the area's terrain. Long fairways, beautifully shaped greens and bunkers run through coconut palms and bougainvillea bushes. It is a demanding course that yields low scores only to golfers making well placed tee shots. The fully appointed clubhouse offers a swimming pool, jacuzzi, tennis courts, squash courts, snooker room, fitness centre and a restaurant.

Thai Country Club Recently redesigned, this course just east of the city is superbly laid out and the challenging fairways ensure it is destined to serve as the setting for premier Asian tournaments. Dennis Griffiths created the course which features immaculate fairways and greens laid out according to a neo-classic design. The 18-hole course offers five different climatic zones, each with its own flora and terrain challenges.

Natural Park Ramindra Designed by Jack Nicklaus, one of the world's top five golf course architects, this course is located within easy reach of Bangkok's international airport. The superb landscaping features enormous lakes that provide not only a wealth of natural beauty but are obstacles on almost half the holes. Conditions are good and greens and fairways are well maintained.

Horse Racing

There are two courses in Bangkok, one is the Royal Turf Club of Thailand that is situated on Phitsanulok Road. The races are held every two weeks on Sunday during 12.30 am-6.00 pm. Admission fees are 50 Baht and 100 Baht. Tel 2800020-9. The other race track is at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club is situated on Henri Dunant Road. The races are held every two weeks on Sunday during 12.30 am-6.00 pm. Admission fees are 50 Baht, 70 Baht and 100 Baht. Tel. 2510181-6

Horse Riding can be done at the following equestrian establishments, The Bangkok Equestrian Centre located at 20/1 Moo 2 Soi Chadsanthahanrue, Sukhumwit Soi 102 telephone: 328 0273-4. Horse hire costs around 600 Baht an hour. They do offer lessons and for those who like to ride often, membership costs about 2,000 Baht a month. The other club located near Bangkok is the Garden City Polo Club where horse hire is 500 Baht and they also teach polo to those interested. Tel: 317 1431-7 or go there, to 37 Moo 5 Bangna-Trad Road, Tambon Bangpu.

Thai Boxing

For those keen on martial sports a visit to the Muay Thai (Thai boxing) stadiums at Lumpini or Ratchadamneon is a must. Keep fit enthusiasts will find several gymnasiums around the city or in the larger hotels.

Swimming

If your hotel doesn't already have one the only way to swim in Bangkok is to use facilities elsewhere. A number of private clubs do have pools but the membership fees for someone passing through aren't worth paying, on the other hand the Department of Physical Education telephone: 215 1535 lets people use its pool for around 300 Baht (yearly membership) and 25 Baht per hour in the pool. There are a number of other smaller sports facilities scattered around Bangkok that will also accommodate visiting swimmers.

Tennis

Many hotels have their own tennis courts, if not contact one of the many sports clubs or the Department of Physical Education telephone: 215 1535 will be able to tell you where to play.

PLEASE NOTE: Timetables and prices are subject to change and the above are meant only as a guide.