In Thailand, a couple of hours drive south of Bangkok, we find Hua Hin, the "small" big town which houses world-class championship courses, shopping and beaches until you drop.

The route Bangkok-Hua Hin is 190 km long. The difference between the cities is measured in light years. Yes, it is clear: Bangkok has around eleven million inhabitants, the peaceful seaside town of Hua Hin 60,000.

We come from a clamorous, noisy Bangkok to, yes, it feels like paradise when we check into the five star Anantara hotel, a 13-year-old hotel that has recently been renovated to the highest class. The head of this Head of splendor is a Swede with the American name, Christopher Stafford.
We relax after their journey on the balcony, overlooking the artificial lake (the balcony is in the water) and swallow the travel dust with a good Singha beer.

Hua Hin became a fashionable seaside resort in the 1970s, though it wasn’t until the 1990s that the big tourist boom took off. Today, people from all over the world come to play on the six excellent golf courses, located within a 30 minute drive from the city.
The oldest course was opened already in 1924 and has its own history. It was King Rama VII who discovered Hua Hin. He fell in love with the place and its eight-kilometre long white beach, the almost eternal blue sky, the Indian Ocean’s warm inviting waters, and the rustle of the palm trees.
In 1926 the royal summer palace Klai Kang Won, "Far From Worries", was complete.

The old king's son, Prince Kampaengpetch, wanted to play golf with his friends when they came to Hua Hin on holiday. The Scot A O Robbins was responsible for designing the course directly across from the railroad tracks from the royal station-house. The opening took place in 1924. The course is located just one kilometre from the city center. What does it matter that the greens and tees are archaically small, here we can experience history. And the impressive new clubhouse is new.
It is not the Royal Hua Hin that today’s golfer prioritise. No, it’s some of the other courses from the nineties. Above all it’s the Springfield Beach Resort & Royal Country Club Royal that tourists who want to play. They don’t need to jostle with domestic players - only just over 8,000 Thais play golf.

Springfield golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus. There are one hundred and five 18-hole courses in the country and Springfield is counted as one of the best. In 2000 the Thailand Open was played at Springfield.
Hole 6 is the signature hole - a par 3 hole, 150metres long, with a lovely view of the entire course. The course’s shortest hole, but watch out! The green is very well bunkered...
When the sun sets, we go to a night market in Hua Hin. There are a myriad of travelling food stalls where food is cooked over an open flame. Counterfeit designer clothes for sale in stall after stall... and it's cheap. But bargain anyway when shopping. It’s part of the show even if the dealers look like they would become insolvent if they accept the bargained price…

Springfield Beach Resort & Royal Country Club
Opened: 1993
Course designer: Jack Nicklaus
Number of holes: 27
Green fee: 3500 Baht
Caddie fee: 250 baht.
Rating: A spectacular and varied course with many exquisite holes.
Homepage: www.springfieldresort.com
E-mail: playgolf@springfieldresort.com

Anantara Resort & Spa
Address: 43 / 1 Phetkasem Beach Road, Hua Hin, Thailand 77 110
Phone: 0066-3252 0250
Fax: 0066-3252 0259
Homepage: www.anantara.com
E-mail: info@anantara.com

Text: Göran Söderlund. Photo: Lars Andersson.