FAHTHAI
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tee off
From a course built alongside the ancient temples of AngkorWat to one
that winds its way through jungle on an island paradise, South-East Asia
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panoply of golfing options holds its own with the big names in theWest
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H A R R Y P A T O N
IMAGE: JACQUES HERREMANS; PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
F
ew Western exports to South-East Asia
carry quite as much cachet as golf.
The royal and ancient game may have
originated as a working-class pastime
played out on the wind-battered
shores of Scotland, but it has transcended its
humble roots to become a potent symbol of
prestige. In this part of the world that’s a big
deal, and the sport has seen a massive boom
over the past decade or so. Pro golfers such as
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee regularly fight it out
with the game’s elite. Meanwhile, the region’s
ever-expanding portfolio of courses is every bit
as impressive. From a tropical gem on an idyllic
Thai island to a masterpiece laid out within a
long tee shot of the ancient temples of Angkor in
Cambodia, here are five of the best tests on the
Bangkok Airways network.
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