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CLIMATE - best time to visit
There are two important aspects to take into account: the first being the weather, and the second being the difference between the ‘high’ season and the ‘low’ season. This determines how busy the golf courses are.
Thailand has a tropical climate featuring three distinct seasons. In most areas, the hot season extends from March to May; the green season from June to October and the cool season from November to February.
It is mild and very sunny during the cool season with humidity being considerably lower than other times of the year. Average temperatures during this time of the year range between 35.5° Centigrade (96° Fahrenheit) to 16° Centigrade (62° Fahrenheit) with clear skies and light breezes. This provides great golfing conditions. The cool season is the peak tourist season and accommodation and the golf courses can be extremely busy, especially in the more populated areas.
During the hot season, which begins in March, day-time temperatures can reach 40° Centigrade (104°Fahrenheit). However the increase in temperature is quite gradual so conditions remain quite pleasant. At the peak of the season, hot, dry weather prevails throughout Thailand.
The best time to play golf during should be early in then morning, or after lunchtime, hence avoiding the hottest part of the day.
The country is subject to two tropical monsoons, namely the hotter southwesterly monsoon from May to September and the cooler northeasterly monsoon from late October to early March. Temperature and climate vary accordingly. Mean annual temperatures are between 25° - 28° Centigrade (77° - 82° Fahrenheit).
Most rain falls during the green season from May or June to about October when the southwest monsoon prevails. While intermittent showers or thunderstorms occur at various times of the day, it is perhaps the driest monsoon period of any country in Southeast Asia with plenty of sunshine. Thailand's eastern seaboard is affected by the cooling northeastly monsoon.
September is by far the worst month and is certainly not recommended for golf. Throughout the rest of the rainy season, both the amount and timing of any rain is unpredictable. There are periods without any rain, and even when it does rain, showers tend to be intermittent. There is less sunshine during this period, and temperatures are quite warm.
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