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Springfield Royal GC.
I turn 50 today and planned my trip to Thailand specifically to play here at Springfield Royal Golf Course to celebrate. Having played here 17 years before when the course was just a few years old, all I could remember was that Springfield was something special and worth playing again.
Teeing off at 7.36 is always difficult and a straight drive is a very rewarding way to start even if the Springfield I came to play was not the course I remembered from 17 years ago. They have made a new nine holes here to total 27 holes and although the new holes are well constructed and very challenging they pale into insignificance with the proper layout of which I only got to play nine holes on.
Ariving at the tenth tee you can see immediately the magical layout of the "real" Springfield. The day I played I was lucky enough to get to play with a low handicap golfer and a pro. I had my fair share of difficulties as well as hitting the obligatory shank or three which has crept into my game since I left Melbourne and my last lesson just 3 weeks ago. This has really spoilt my scores as they (shanks) caused me to invariably end with a triple bogey.
Greens are quick and true with little difference between old course and new. Collecting a birdie at the tenth hole the first on the original design my round fell victim of the bemuda rough which is really punishing especially if you miss the fairway by just a few inches like I did several times. It appears that none of the Thai golf courses I've played know how to deliver bunkers and its no different here at Springfield and if you are unlucky enough to get into one invairiably you will be plugged... A drop shot will follow for sure if you haven't come to terms of the splash bunker shot. Unfortunately I wasn't in the mood to play good golf after three shanks helped me to my worst score so far this trip but this didn't drown my thirst for more holes at this fabulous course. Yes it is expensive at $2750 baht Inc caddie or about 90 AUD. I have to admit it's a bit of a swipe just to play nine holes on the proper Springfield layout. Very disappointing since one of the main reasons for my trip here in Thailand was to play this superb Jack Nicklaus designed course. It is something very special but that's where the feeling of special ends. From there on here at Springfield you will be anything from special as a guest. No body explained that I was only playing nine of the original Nicklaus course when I booked. Very disappointing to have come all this way to play it on your 50th birthday to only get nines holes on the proper course. No body really welcomed me here except for the two guys that met me on the first tee.
When you get to the Nickalaus designed holes you definately know it. Probably some of the best holes you will ever care to play. Such pitty its hidden here in Hua Hin some 260 kms South of Bangkok and believe it or not worth the trip here just on its own.
Getting transport. I took a pre arranged taxi from our hotel in Hua Hin for $ 1200 baht $40 AUD but you don't need to do that. Just ask the club to shuttle you in and back. They should do this for free. This may have taken the sting out of the cost and the disappointment. The course was virtually empty with hardly anyone playing the day I arrived in contrast to Black Mountain GC I played the day before. I got told by players at Black Mountain that Springfield is too expensive as well as a bit stuck up but as far as I'm concerned it's only expensive if you miss playing the full 18 holes of this wonderful Nicklaus layout.
If you plan to play here make sure you are allowed to play the full Nicklaus layout or I suggest you play somewhere else for less and only book when you can.
Here's hoping you have a more welcome welcome than I got. It ended up not being the birthday I had wished for. Not very friendly but well worth it if you get the full Monty!
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