Is Lack of Flexibility Affecting your Golf Swing?

Find out what it takes to restore the normal range of motion in your hips, back, hamstrings and shoulders so you are feeling refreshed and ready for your next round of golf.

With over 26 million golfers nationwide, the majority of injuries, swing flaws and constant frustration all revolve around tight and restricted muscles - all of which affect your golf swing. Haven't you had enough?

The problem is most people keep blaming themselves as though it is their fault for hitting thin or fat shots, spraying balls left and right or not getting their ball in the air. Well, hopefully, I finally have good news that will make you feel better. In most of these cases, your body is only producing the swing it can within its current range of motion. In other words, change your range of motion and change your swing.

Most golfers are aware of how important flexibility is to their golf swing. Improved flexibility…

About 350,000 visitors are believed to have played golf in Thailand in 2002, generating an expenditure of nearly 6.2 billion baht. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is planning to raise these figures to one million golfers, generating an estimated 18.45 billion baht by 2007. In 2004 alone, the plan is to attract 400,000 golfers. Who will generate an estimated 7.1 billion baht, an increase of 14.29% over 2002.

There are over 200 high standard golf courses nationwide, many of them championship standards. The world’s top designers have made a significant contribution. Jack Nicklaus, Roboert Trent Jones Jr, Pete De Gar 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. Every course has its caddies; it’s mandatory to empoly one caddie 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 very good at reading putts.

There are at least a few courses in or within easy reach of all major cites. Most of the newer courses offer accommodation on site or nearby, plus recreational facilities for the whole family.

For the more adventurous, there are older, natural courses in remote areas around the courses in remote areas around the country owned by the Royal Irrigation Department, the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand, all offering good value. So for golfers who not only appreciate a challenging course, but an exotically different one too, there is an extraordinary choice.

The best time to plan a golfing trip is the cool season, from November to March. From April to October it is hot and wet, but even in the rainy months the downfall usually comes in the afternoon, and for only a few minutes. Most courses have good drainage systems, and the rains should not interrupt your game for long. At some facilities you may need to book ahead, through your club or your hotel, and advance booking is recommended for weekends. Greens fees continue to be very reasonable, as are the fees for caddies.

As most of the golf courses are located in the provinces, promoting golf also furthers the TAT policy of ensuring that throughout the provinces.

Welcome to the exclusive Blue Canyon Country Club, one of the most legendary golfing clubs in Asia. Located on 720 Acres of secluded, lush green valley and surrounded by majestic Phang Nga mountains and the Andaman Sea, Blue Canyon offers two award-winning 18 holes championship golf course: The Canyon course built in 1991 and the Lake course in 1999.

From the roots of colonial rubber plantations and abandoned tin mine, Blue Canyon’s farmed Canyon Course was carefully developed by Mr. Yoshikazu Kato. Rejecting the notion of an artificial design, Mr. Kato gently sculpted the course around the existing canyons andwoodlands.

The Canyon Course is quit simply a masterpiece of design, with daunting nature hazards to challenge golfers of all levels. Many new golf courses in Asia are little more than man-made reconstructions of the environment-but not Blue Canyon. With this creation, Mr. Kato went to great extremes to ensure that the course fit the nature habitat. In fact, only 250,000 cubic meters of earth was moved at the Canyon Course, against an avergae for most modern courses of 2 to 3 million.

The Lakes Course, Yoshikazu Kato designed easily been working to Leonardo Da Vinci’s quote. As its name suggests, the Lake Course offer a whole new challenge to the game of golf with water hazards on 17 out of 18 holes. The Lake’s 18 holes weave their way around rambling lakes, natural Canyons and lush woodlands, a tribute to Kato’s mission to maintain the integrity of the natural habitat. The courses and the magnificent natural back drop, the Lakes offers one of the top golfing experience in the region.

There are 18 holes, 72 par. This championship course has featured in many major golf tournaments including the Johnnie Walker Classic. Located at Aumphur Thalang is near Phuket International Airport.

GOLF COURSE SUMMARY:

• Designed by Yoshikazo Kato
• Opened 1991
• 18 holes, 72 par
• Total Yardage Black 7179, Blue 6664, White 6330
• Fairways - Zosyia Matrelia
• Greens - Bermuda Tiff Dwarf Grass

Loch Palm Golf Club Phuket, with 18 hole, par 72, has been built around Crystal Lake, the largest body of water on any Phuket golf course, the course has smooth slopes and dramatic elevation changes, taking you across and around ravines and plateaus that test all levels of skill.The front nine holes sit among lakes and palm trees, while the second nine move you along though the mountains, hitting uphill and downhill with woods, irons and even your putter!

Loch Palm Golf Club - The Most Relaxing golf course in Phuket, Thailand
Located in Kathu District just 7 kms. from Phuket Town and Patong Beach, about 15 minutes from Patong.

Nestling below a panoramic range of peaks, and sandwiched between the Katu Waterfalls and Katu Village the layout surrounds the largest lake on any golf course in Phuket, Crystal Lake, 48 acres in size, and its smaller sister lake, which give golfers a refreshing breeze off the water.

This is an 18 holes course par 72, 6,555 yards palm tree-lined beauty, recently completed major re-designs and multi-million dollar upgrades. The course is in great shape. It is a very good layout and one that is beginning to rival some of the best layouts on the island as the refurbishment matures. You are required to put your thinking cap on and keep perfect control of your game on this tightly routed layout

GOLF COURSE SUMMARY:

• Designed by Dr. Sukitti Klangwisai
• Opened November 1998
• 18 holes 72 par
• Total Yardage 6,555