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If you have never played golf in Thailand, you are missing out on a wonderful adventure. Thailand is everybody's favourite tourism destination, with so much to see and do; a land of elephants and smiling Thais, with beautiful scenery, fabulous beaches and warm seas; most of all it is a sunny tropical paradise where you can play golf all year round.

Golf has been played in Thailand for almost 100 years, with games reported at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club as early as 1905. The first recognised 18-hole course -- Royal Hua Hin, popularly known as The Railway -- was built by a Scottish engineer in 1924 in the aristocratic seaside resort of Hua Hin. For decades after that, golf was enjoyed by the privileged few; the golf explosion is fairly recent. Just look at the courses listed in this directory, about 80% were built in the 1990s during Thailand's great economic boom. Wealthy entrepreneurs invested in first-class layouts, inviting some of the greatest names in golf to add their design skills. Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Jr, Pete Dye, Gary Player and many others have perfected modern layouts, using the best grasses and latest techniques.

The result is some of the most attractive courses in Asia, with excellent facilities, memorable signature holes and regular maintenance to keep them in top-class condition. Large, well constructed clubhouses ensure you begin and end your game in style.

In them you will find air-conditioned changing facilities, restaurants, bars and rooms for post-tournament functions. Some offer massage and sauna; others have accommodation for really keen golfers. Many courses have practice areas, usually with a pro to tune up your game. You can rent a golf cart, hire clubs and shoes, and buy a souvenir hat at the pro-shop.

Most importantly, every course has its caddies; it's mandatory to employ one for your round. They are Thailand's secret weapon in making golf such good fun. These brightly clad ladies, in smart uniforms and straw hats, know lots about the course, smile almost all the time, and can read putts far better than you. Don't forget to tip them, because you are bound to play better in their care.

These wonderful courses are invariably located close to Thailand's major tourism destinations, ensuring you can enjoy your golf and have a good holiday at the same time. So if you want to bring your family along, they are assured of lots of activities and interesting places to visit.

Our capital of Bangkok has many great courses spread throughout the city and its suburbs, mostly within 30-60 minutes drive; the popular seaside resorts of Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket have a superb array of layouts, many with views of the ocean. If you prefer greenery and mountains, then the northern cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, or Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai in the West are excellent alternatives.

Our updated directory identifies all these superb courses, giving brief summaries of their layout and character, with contact numbers and addresses for booking. We also include suggestions for interesting places to visit, and tour packages.

It is so easy to play in Thailand, and inexpensive as well. In fact, it is probably less expensive to play here than it is in your own country. So why not come and visit Thailand, the golfing paradise of Asia. We will welcome you with a smile.