From 13th-16th October, one of Asia’s newest and most spectacular courses, Santiburi Samui Country Club, will host the US$200,000 Bangkok Airways Open on the burgeoning Asian Tour. The event will place the course, and indeed the idyllic tropical island of Koh Samui, firmly in the regional spotlight and represents a fitting accolade to its outstandingly challenging design and pristine conditioning. HISTORY IN THE SHAPING In January last year, golfing history was quite literally shaped as the first ever course on Koh Samui was opened for play. The 6,932 yard layout of Santiburi Samui Country Club stretches in an east-west direction, blending harmoniously with the natural environment and incorporating staggering elevation changes ranging from 30-190 metres above sea level. Over a period of 24 months, 18 championship holes were quite literally carved from the hinterland of granite and limestone hills. Narrow fairways, lined with coconut palms and sharp drop-offs, coupled with large, undulating green complexes, make for an extremely challenging golfing experience. This is, however, counter-balanced by the highly aesthetic nature of the course, with 14 holes offering truly stunning panoramic vistas of the turquoise-coloured Gulf of Thailand and the golden beaches that adorn the island’s northern coastline below. Numerous natural waterfalls and creeks meander through the 450 Rai (72 Hectare) site, adding to its lushness and beauty. State-of-the-art TifEagle Bermudagrass has been used on the greens, Salam Seashore Paspalum grass on the fairways and Bahia grass in the roughs.

ATTAINING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

Santiburi Samui Country Club was designed and built, in 24 months, by Quality Golf, who are also responsible for turn-key maintenance of the course.

 “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Khun Santi Bhirom Bhakdi, whose vision, as the Owner, greatly supported us in making this magnificent project become a reality”, “Hosting a professional tournament is an ideal way to promote any golf facility and we are honoured by the decision of Bangkok Airways to select Santiburi Samui as the venue for their event. We greatly look forward to preparing our client’s facility to international standards that will present a challenging examination for the Region’s leading professional golfers”, said Quality Golf.

In February this year, the Club’s quality level reached 81%, as measured by our unique Success System, which assigns values to every element of the golf course, indicating that it has attained a level of playing conditions that is consistent with the highest of international standards, and this after only its first full year of operation.

As the Bangkok Airways Open brings the course to the attention of the Region’s golfing community through television and print media coverage, Santiburi Samui Country Club is set to become a highly desirable new destination for discerning golfers, adding significantly to the island’s current level of 870,000 annual visitors. With Bangkok Airways offering direct flights from Singapore 5 times per week, and now flights from Hong Kong 3 times per week, there has never been a better time to explore and enjoy the unique golfing challenge of Santiburi Samui. If there was ever a must play course in the Region, this is surely it!