In all my years in Asia, I'd always wanted to visit Cambodia and especially Angkor Wat so when the opportunity eventually arrived, I leapt at the chance. Then, to my astonishment, I was told to "bring your golf clubs!". "Why?" I inquired,... "Well, you will want to play the new course near to Angkor Wat..." Golf, Angkor Wat? Now I was REALLY interested! A short 45 minute flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap would reveal all...!

Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, this small provincial capital serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple complex of Angkor Wat. A designated UNESCO World Heritage site, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins whose significance is on a par with the Pyramids, Machu Pichu and the Taj Mahal. The town is a cluster old villages, originally developed around individual pagoda's which were later overlaid with a French colonial era centre.

My hotel, the Sofitel Royal Angkor Golf Spa and Resort is, as one would expect, a beautiful hotel offering total luxury in a wonderful setting. And there, next to it was, in my eyes, paradise! The Sofitel Phokeethra Country Club was opened last year and will be the venue for the Johnnie Walker classic at the end of November, the first time an international golfing tournament has been held in Cambodia!

Without unpacking, I was straight off to the course, and what a beauty! Being very new, the trees have yet to mature, but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and excellent layout.

The next morning after a hearty breakfast, my guide arrived and we were off to tour the huge complex at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Phrom and Preah Khan. Angkor Thom is a 3 square kms walled and moated Royal city and was the last capital of the Khmer empire. The giant stone faces at Bayon have become one of the most recognizable images of Angkor and the intentionally, partially restored Ta Phrom monastic complex has massive fig and silk-cotton trees growing from the towers and corridors.

To top the day off, we ended with a sunset photo-shoot from a tethered hot air balloon that was not only breath-taking but truly inspirational! A final round on the course followed by a relaxing and re-charging massage brought to an end my visit to Angkor but I know I shall return, probably in November to watch my favourite golfers take on the Phokeethra course...!

-take a look at our inclusive packages and visit Angkor soon!

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