Kabin Buri – March 2011

Young Billy Hewitt organised a mouth-watering trip to Kabin Buri with promises of excellent golf and 5 star accommodation. This was a trip to please all with golf for the 12 gladiators and luxury (with hours and hours of small talk) for the none golfers.....a mix of Thai ladies and including the “Yorkshire brigade”.

This trip has been arranged several times before and my appetite was wetted with an unbelievable deal (1500 baht for 2 rounds of golf and one nights B&B in a 5 star hotel) and golf at one of the best condition golf courses in Thailand. Bill said “you will like this course because of the condition....a little bit of water but not too much”. One can make one’s own mind after viewing the pics!!!

The Kantary Hotel definitely lived up to expectation with its’ executive suite bedrooms and it even had an executive lounge with free coffee, juices and “sticky buns” (as we say in Yorkshire).......this place formed a strong venue for the WI meeting for most of the first afternoon.

Round 1 of the golf started off with everyone in high spirits at the beauty of the layout and quality of the fairways and greens, but it did not take too long for the sheer length, toughness of the rough and speed of the greens to get to us all. Andy just has to be congratulated for amassing 34 points with all others struggling in his wake!!!

This meant a drowning of sorrows in the local pub across the street from the Hotel......well not really because we all eat and drink in excess after golf no matter what our scores. This pub had a live band and served pretty good Thai food with also a good selection of European stuff. In any case even if it didn’t we would still have enjoyed the night........us lot only require “4 walls and beer” and we are happy!!!

After stoking down a greasy spoon breakfast followed by pastries, toast, cereal, coffee, cakes etc etc at the buffet breakfast table we adjourned to the course for round 2 with our good ladies following on for another AGM of “Gossips Anonymous”. Today it was decreed that the yellow tees would be less forgiving than the whites and most of the golfers took buggies.....bleeding whimps!!! Tony was the “man” today with 36 points and the general scores were improved from the day before despite us “scuttling around” as quick as possible to ensure a daylight drive on the potential death trap 331 road.

We got back to Jomtien safe and sound after a nightmarish 20 minutes as the Thai 5pm rush hour coincided with the multiple traffic lights on the 331 just after the Lamchabang turnoff.....several beers were required back in Jomtien to rectify the situation!!

For anybody contemplating this trip in future.........“Go for it!!!!”  

Barry Stirling