Amateur Golfing in Thailand – Springfield – Article 2

By: Monte Webb Cofounder of the W.P. Golf Society of Thailand

First off, I’d like to thank all of our many readers both here in Thailand and around the world for their many e-mails. I’ve tried to answer all of them so if I missed anybody, take heart, I’ll get you an answer. The most popular questions are; “What does the W.P. stand for?” (you’ll have to write me to find out) and “Why did you choose Thailand for golfing and living?” That one I can answer here for all our readers. The beautiful country, the beautiful people, the beautiful weather and the spectacular courses! Keep those e-mails coming in.

Ok, as promised, we went to Springfield Village, Golf and Spa and we both just have to say, WOW! What a great place! Have you ever seen the movie “Caddy Shack” and the scene where Chevy Chase is putting on the putting green and just can’t miss? Springfield has a putting green that looks a lot like that. Gary and I both were making some terrific putts prior to going out.

One of the first things we noticed is that Springfield is run with all the efficiency of an international airport with golfers “taking off” (that’s ‘teeing off’) and “landing” (that would be ‘putting’) like a well oiled machine. (I don’t believe we’ve ever had an eleven twelve tee time) Don’t worry though, you’re never rushed or crowded as you play this course. It’s every bit as relaxed and easy paced as all the other’s I’ve written about.

We were a little nervous about how this course would play, us being amateurs and all, because it was designed by Jack Nicklaus (even we know how good he was/is), but when we got out there on the first tee we forgot all about that. This place is great! I saw their ad in the paper with the slogan; “Springfield, Where the pros play”, but we think it should read; “Springfield, Where you don’t have to be a pro to be treated like one”.

We were partnered up with a couple from Switzerland, Reno and Doris, (who by the way, are our newest members) and we were off. On a side note, we both think Doris used to be a European pro although she denied it. She was really good. Reno was absolutly hilarious with his jokes and antics through out the game, and played very well too. Gary and I, of course, played like us. It’s funny that no matter what course we play, we always seem to play the same. Biggest difference so far is how many balls we lose. At the moment it seems to depend on the amount of water hazzards for me. I lost eight more balls on this outing. I even bought some balls at the pro shop before we left because I figured they knew the course and I didn’t, but, oh well. I should have guessed the reason they were there was because somebody else lost them before I bought them. Ah, amatuer golf logic, huh?

This course is (of course) laid out just beautifully. They have Kiosks every three holes for refreshments and snacks, the scenery is spectacular, and the staff and caddies were wonderful. They have a player assistant that drives around to make sure everybody is happy and a marshall (no, not an oldtime western sheriff type) that drives around to make sure play is always going smooth. (wouldn’t that make him more like a sheppard than a marshall? Hmmm?)

By the time we had finished the front nine I had only lost two balls and was feeling great. Gary, Reno and Doris hadn’t lost any, yet. We putted out (wow, really golf talk) of the ninth hole and there waiting for us was a stretch limo-type golf cart to drive us over to the refreshment area to stock-up before heading out to the back nine. I was thinking that this must be what it’s like to be on a PGA tour or something.

Another side note; this was the first time I’ve ever seen “Kiddie” tee boxes. I’ve seen the yellow ones for touraments, the blue ones for really good players, (which we tried for the first time), white ones (which we usually play from), the ladies red ones and a set of green ones also. I had to ask my caddie about those and she said they were “Baby tees”, which means for the kids to play from. The family that plays together, stays together I guess.

Needless to say, the most and biggest water hazzards were on the back nine where I lost the other six balls. The fourteenth hole is a par three, one hundred and sixty yards but it’s all water between you and the green area. I’d lost six balls by then so I got out this really ugly bright orange one I’d been carrying around. I thought, good place to lose it if I must. The others gave me honors (I think so they could snicker with the caddies) so I stepped up to the tee box, put that old ugly thing on a tee and whack! Straight as an arrow and about twenty yards short and to the left. I’ll be darned. Now I was wondering if I should have been using that ball the whole time. Only two tries later and I was on the green, two putts and I was out. (I lost it on the fifteenth in case you were wondering where and how. Number seven) That other caddie was right. I think my balls are too hot.

The last hole was a long (five hundred yards) and tricky par five with the green set out on an island (where I lost the eighth ball). When you tee off you have to shoot to the left, but not too far or you’re in a bunker (and we all know how much I love the beach). I hit a beautiful drive (not sure how) so for my second shot I had two choices. I could shoot safe along the fairway which gave another two hundred and fifty yards to go, and try to pitch it onto the green from eighty or ninty yards or go for it across the water, which my caddie (who advised me against it) said was about a hundred and seventy yards. (It always seems to be a little shorter distance when you take shortcuts. My amateur golfer logic again)

Well, something about playing a course like this makes you feel you can do things a little better than usual so I went for it. Whack! Splash! Oh, man. My caddie gave me a generous drop and I pitched it out onto the island and two-putted my way out. After the game we went over to the “Bird of Paradise” (all the stopping points have bird names) and relaxed with a cold one. They had a guy playing guitar and singing and we sat and laughed and talked about our game. We’re both going to play this course again and would definitely say the Springfield course is something you should not miss when you come to Thailand to play. We had a fantastic time!