-we needed a change, to escape the "concrete jungle" and get-back-to-nature! Then I remembered... only a short journey to the west of Bangkok the mountains rise and the jungle takes over, so we decided to take a few days off work and left downtown around 7.30 in the morning. Within an hour we were on the second tee at Best Ocean, a million miles from nowhere enjoying Bangkok's only "Links-Style" course. Being pretty good golfer's, the course was already beginning to test us all and I thought, a good alternative for the more average golfer would be Royal Gems, a very pretty Parkland course and about the same travelling distance from town.

A 15 minute drive fter the golf and we were in Maha Chai, a major fishing port with a lively market and some excellent seafood which we indulged in for lunch! Moving on and heading south on the Petkasem highway, within an hour we were pulling in to Thailand's second largest National Park - Kaeng Krachan.

We checked in to the resort near to the park entrance and spent a memorable evening with the amazing sounds of the jungle and a canopy of stars that was truly spectacular!

The following morning after breakfast, a short drive took us to the next round of golf on the resorts' course. My playing partners, who had never been on this trip before, were speechless as we passed the 18th green and soon we were again, lost from the world in a stunning, natural location! In the afternoon, we were guided around a small part of the park and were astonished by the diversity of wildlife and flora. Another (less memorable due to the local whiskey!) night in the resort and we were off, heading back north to Royal Ratchaburi Golf Club. We checked into the very comfortable resort and then played yet another fantastic round of golf! In the late afternoon we drove around the countryside, an area of many limestone outcrops dotted with temples and statues of Buddha, stopping in one just before the sunset, my partners were not expecting the amazing sight of thousands of bats leaving their cave - an unforgettable sight!

Golf again in the morning, occassionally in the company of a group of monkeys and we headed back to Bangkok, the journey, all agreed was brilliant and such an easy escape, with near empty golf courses, all in excellent condition and plenty of off-course things to do as well....!

This journey is also an excellent add-on to include in a golfing holiday to Hua Hin and is a great start to a “Down-the-Elephants-Trunk” overland journey between Bangkok and Phuket Island!

Angkor Wat & Golf

Thai Country Club