Bangkok--4 Nov--Royal Cliff Hotels Group
Asian Golf Monthly readers have once more confirmed their belief in Thailand.
At a time when dozens of the country’s courses have been badly hit by the floods that have struck the capital and its surrounds, Thailand’s success in the 2011 Asian Golf Monthly Awards will provide a timely lift.
Speaking during the Gala Awards Banquet, Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said: “We thank Asian Golf Monthly for undertaking to stage these very important awards that recognise golf clubs and facilities around the region.
“We are delighted that Thailand has fared so well. The number of golfing tourists who come to Thailand to enjoy our courses is increasing and we anticipate that more and more golfers from around the world will carry on enjoying golfing trips to the Kingdom.”
Now into its 12th year, the Asian Golf Monthly Awards is the region’s premier poll of golfing facilities with votes being cast in a total of 28 categories.
Among the notable attendees at the lavish dinner at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Centre were two-time Major champion Tony Jacklin of England and all-time American tennis great Jimmy Connors.
In recognition of their feats, Jacklin received an Asia Pacific Lifetime Achievement Award while Connors was presented with the Asia Pacific Excellence in Sports Award.
Meanwhile, South African great Gary Player was featured on a video feed making an acceptance speech after being inducted into the Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame.
As well as retaining its title as the Best Golf Destination in Asia-Pacific, Thailand’s most prominent clubs were to the fore with Black Mountain Golf Club, Thai Country Club, Banyan Golf Club, Siam Country Club and Suwan Golf and Country Club among claiming individual awards.
Hua Hin’s Black Mountain was one of the year’s biggest winners. The course that has staged the Black Mountain Masters and the Royal Trophy in the past 12 months was voted Best Championship Course in Asia Pacific as well as Best Course in Thailand.
Other blue riband awards went to Australia’s Kingston Heath Golf Club (Best Course in Asia Pacific), Brunei’s Empire Hotel & Country Club (Best Golf Resort in Asia Pacific), Vietnam’s Danang Golf Club (Best New Course in Asia Pacific), Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (Best Clubhouse in Asia Pacific) and the Plantation Course at Thailand’s Siam Country Club (Best Maintained Course in Asia Pacific).
In past years, results have been based purely upon on-line votes of readers and subscribers of Asian Golf Monthly — the only global golfing title with an Asian perspective.
For 2011, however, a new dimension was added with the appointment of a 24-strong panel of industry stalwarts located around the region and with a vast knowledge of the golfing facilities within their respective geographic areas. Their combined input accounted for 25 per cent of the overall voting.
ASIAN GOLF MONTHLY AWARDS 2011
Best Course in Thailand
1, Black Mountain Golf Club; 2, Thai Country Club; 3, Banyan Golf Club
Best Golf Destination in Asia Pacific
1, Thailand; 2, Indonesia; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 3, China
Best Golf Destination outside Asia Pacific
1, Scotland; 2, Ireland; 3, United States of America
Best Championship Course in Asia Pacific
1, Black Mountain Golf Club; 2, Sentosa Golf Club (Serapong Course); 3, Mission Hills Haikou (Blackstone Course)
Best Course in Asia Pacific
1, Kingston Heath Golf Club; 2, Thai Country Club; 3, Hirono Golf Club
Best Maintained Course in Asia Pacific
1, Siam Country Club (Plantation Course); 2, Tanah Merah Country Club (Garden Course); 3, Suzhou Jinji Lake International Golf Club