Golf trip checklist for Thailand

What are the must-haves for a golf trip?

You land with four club cases and a 07:00 tee time two days away. This is what to have ready. The item most groups forget is the car: four players with club cases and suitcases need a van, not a saloon.

Thailand has more than 250 golf courses, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says, and heat, caddie culture and busy high-season tee sheets decide what you pack. The list below holds the items that matter most.

This golf trip checklist for Thailand builds on our general trip packing checklist. Add the golf items below to it. Pack two gloves, because they wear out fast in humidity. A reusable water bottle helps; carts often carry cold water, but not always.

Leave room for shoes. Spikeless golf shoes double as walking shoes for a city day. Pack a light rain jacket from May to October.

Carry your medicines in your hand luggage with a copy of the prescription. Add plasters for blisters, an anti-chafe balm and rehydration salts. The golf in Thailand guide lists courses by region if you are still choosing where to play.

What paperwork do you need before a golf trip to Thailand?

Paperwork comes first on any golf trip to Thailand.

Should you bring your own golf clubs to Thailand?

Bring your own clubs for a week or more; rent for a short trip. Good courses rent sets: Santiburi on Koh Samui lists premium rental sets at ฿600 to ฿1,500. Your own clubs mean your own distances, which matters on hilly or windy layouts. Our verdict: bring your own clubs for any trip of five rounds or more.

Airline sports-baggage rules differ by airline and by cabin. Check the weight limit and any fee for a golf bag before you book, and pay ahead online. Use a hard case with a stiff arm inside to protect the driver.

When you book transfers, our luxury chauffeur service sends a van sized for golf bags.

What should you wear on Thai golf courses?

Wear what you would wear at a good club at home: a collared golf shirt, tailored shorts or trousers and golf shoes. Rules differ by club. Black Mountain in Hua Hin calls its code relaxed but asks players to wear appropriate golfing attire. Private clubs may be stricter, so check before you go.

Choose light, fast-drying fabrics in pale colours. Pack a fresh shirt for every round; you will not wear one twice in this heat. A long-sleeved sun shirt or arm sleeves protect you on exposed courses.

From May to October, carry a compact rain jacket in your bag. Afternoon storms come quickly and then pass.

How much do you tip a caddie in Thailand?

Expect a caddie for each player at most Thai courses. Siam Country Club near Pattaya says caddies are required for every player, and its caddie fee is ฿500. Caddies carry the bag, read the greens and spot your ball. Many are skilled and know every slope of their course. A good caddie is the best local knowledge you can hire.

Pay your caddie a cash tip when the round ends. Siam Country Club says tips generally start at ฿500. Pineapple Valley in Hua Hin says the custom is at least ฿400 for 18 holes. The evening before, split your cash into ฿100 and ฿500 notes for caddies. The tip is then ready in your pocket on the 18th green.

Carts are compulsory at many clubs. Siam Country Club requires one cart per golfer, and Mission Hills Phuket requires a cart and caddie for each player. At Pineapple Valley the cart is optional.

When is the best season for a golf trip to Thailand?

The best months for golf in most of Thailand are November to February, the cool season. The Gulf coast around Koh Samui is different: February to April is driest there, and November is the wettest month. On the Andaman coast around Phuket, the dry season runs from December to March. Our pick: December and January, when the mornings are coolest.

Book the first tee time of the day from mid-February to mid-May, the hot season, when days reach 35 to 39 °C (Thai Meteorological Department). Play before 11:00 and rest in the afternoon. Drink water at every hole, and eat something at the turn. Apply sunscreen before the first tee and again at the turn. Use a high factor and a lip balm with sun protection. The sun burns even on cloudy days.

Lightning stops play. When the siren sounds, leave the course at once. Each golf region's weather by month is in our Thailand weather guide.

When should you book tee times in Thailand?

Book tee times as soon as your flights are fixed, especially from December to April. Weekend and public-holiday rates are higher at many clubs. Siam Country Club's Old Course charges visitors ฿6,500 on weekdays and ฿8,500 at weekends, before caddie and cart.

Plan one round a day and a rest day every third or fourth day. Pair a morning round with a spa treatment or a long lunch. Our golf holidays guide suggests routes, and our guides to golf in Hua Hin and golf in Phuket compare the courses.

A good day starts early and ends light.

For groups, decide pairings and handicaps before you arrive. Tell the club about any player who needs a buggy flag or a lesson. A short practice session on day one helps after a long flight.

What Tanner handles for your golf trip

Tanner, your planner, turns this checklist into his job. He books the tee times and caddies, a van sized for your bags, and a villa or suite near the courses. One written quote covers it all, from one golfer to a group of 30 or more. You land, the van is waiting, and every tee time is already booked.

Send us your dates, the number of golfers and your handicaps. We get back to you right away with a plan for each golf day. It names the courses we suggest and the hotel or villa that fits your group.