CLOSEUP
tee off
74
FAHTHAI
VISUAL TREAT
It's hard to keep
your eyes on the
game at Samui
Santiburi
1
TROPICAL DISTRACTION
Samui Santiburi, Thailand
The location gods were beaming
when it came time to design Samui
Santiburi. Carved out of coconut
plantations on the unspoiled north
coast, the acclaimed layout is as
attractive a golfing test as you’ll
find anywhere. Though the first
few holes are relatively unassuming
affairs played through mature
coconut forest, the visual thrills
mount as the elevation increases.
The islands of the Gulf of Thailand
are famed for their splendour, and
Samui is no exception: the views of
Maenam Beach and Koh Phangan
from the course are worth any
number of fluffed shots. But don’t
get too distracted, as the tight-
winding fairways make accuracy
paramount, and the rock outcrops
on a number of holes only add to
the challenge. Several high-profile
pro events, including the Bangkok
Airways-sponsored Queen’s Cup
Samui Golf Tournament, have been
played here.
(santiburi.com)
The
views
ofMaenam
Beach andKoh
Phangan, Samui’s
neighbour, from the
course areworth any
number of fluffed shots
