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Hi {contactfield=firstname|Fellow Golfer},
Welcome to the December 2025 issue of the Asian Golf Traveler, the source for information about golf travel in Asia. Also, unique golf playing tips for South East Asia's tropical environment, announcements of golf travel promotions, and our latest subscription offer are all integral parts of today's newsletter.
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High season has officially arrived across Southeast Asia. Cooler mornings, dry breezes, and perfectly conditioned fairways - exactly the way this time of year should feel. After a strong year of travel and tournaments, the energy on the ground is fantastic, and we are already seeing early demand for 2026 golf holiday bookings.
This month, we are shining the spotlight on Hua Hin, Thailand’s original seaside golf town. Inside, you will find a personal look at the destination, features on Black Mountain Golf Club and Putahracsa Hua Hin, plus a curated list of unique experiences you will not find on typical travel sites.
Tournament season is also shaping up well. If you are planning ahead, take a look at our 2026 lineup including new events such as the Cambodia Golf Invitational, Malaysia World Masters, Vietnam World Masters - Week 2, and many more. Full details are available at: golfasian.com/events
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Interested in Asia’s top amateur golf tournaments and exclusive tournament offers?
Click the green button below, scroll down on the page that opens, and tick the ‘Golf Tournaments’ box to receive early access and exclusive deals.
You can untick the box at any time to opt out.
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As availability tightens during peak season, we recommend booking your next golf trip now to secure preferred tee times, hotels, and pricing.
We are also proud to share some exciting news: Golfasian has won three major honors at the 2025 World Golf Awards - Asia’s Best Golf Tour Operator, Thailand’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator, and Vietnam’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator. This hat-trick reinforces what many of you already experience when traveling with us: a dedicated team, deep regional expertise, and a commitment to delivering consistently smooth, memorable golf holidays across Asia.
With over 27 years of experience and more than 25,000 golfers traveling with us each year, Golfasian remains Asia’s most trusted name in golf travel. Our 98.5% satisfaction rate says it all - because for us, every golf holiday is personal.
Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see what’s happening on the greens and get the latest special offers.
Wishing you fairways and sunshine this December.
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Mark Siegel,
Managing Director
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ASIA GOLF EVENT CALENDAR
Philippines Golf Invitational 22 - 27 Feb. 2026, Clark, Philippines
Amari Hua Hin Skins Week 15 - 20 Mar. 2026, Hua Hin, Thailand
Centara World Masters 7 - 13 Jun. 2026, Hua Hin, Thailand
Avani Pattaya 2 Ball 14 - 20 Jun. 2026, Pattaya, Thailand
Double Tree Phuket Golf Invitational 5-10 Jul. 2026, Thailand (SPECIAL OFFER)
Indian Open Thailand (COMING SOON)
Pattaya Men's Open 23 - 29 Aug. 2026, Pattaya, Thailand
Bangkok Golf Championship 30 Aug. - 5 Sep. 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Vietnam World Masters 6 - 13 Sep. 2026, Danang, Vietnam
Vietnam World Masters Week 2 13 - 19 Sep. 2026, Danang, Vietnam
Cambodia Golf Tournament 25 - 30 Oct. 2026, Cambodia (NEW & SPECIAL OFFER)
Pullman Invitational 1 - 6 Nov. 2026, Cambodia (SPECIAL OFFER)
Malaysia World Masters 21 - 28 Nov. 2026, Malaysia (NEW & SPECIAL OFFER)
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DESTINATION OF THE MONTH: Hua Hin
Hua Hin - Thailand’s original seaside town with golf in its DNA
Long before anyone talked about golf escapes, Hua Hin was simply where Bangkok residents went to relax. A fishing village on the Gulf slowly evolved into Thailand’s first seaside resort when the royal family began summering here in the early 1900s. A palace was built, then the country’s first golf course in 1924, and the town’s character has followed that gentle rhythm ever since.
What you feel today is a place that never tried to become something it’s not. It is compact, walkable, and quietly lived in. Morning joggers, monks collecting alms, beach cafés, and golfers heading out early all share the same shoreline without fuss.
Ten kilometers inland, Black Mountain rises from former pineapple fields, now shaped into one of Asia’s most respected layouts. It feels like a small community in the hills - mountain views, tournament level greens, and caddies who know every contour.
Back in town, Putahracsa adds a personal layer to the story. Once a family seaside estate belonging to Khun Ying Supatra Singholaka and later restored by her granddaughter, it still carries that feeling of staying in a loved home rather than a hotel.
Together, this is Hua Hin: golf with pedigree, Thai life as it has always been, and a sense of place that keeps people returning without needing to explain why.
To book your tailored travel package and find out more information, please email us.
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COURSE OF THE MONTH:
Black Mountain Golf Club
Black Mountain Golf Club - a Swedish dream in a Thai valley
Black Mountain Golf Club did not begin as a corporate project. It began with one golfer. Swedish entrepreneur Stig Notlöv first came to Hua Hin in the early 2000s, stood in a quiet valley of jungle and pineapple fields, and decided he would build one of the world’s great golf courses. He sold his hardware-store business back home and poured himself into this second-life project.
More than a thousand workers carved the fairways, shaping lakes and bunkers between the dark granite hills. The first 18 holes opened in 2007, later expanded to 27, and very quickly Black Mountain grew into a tournament venue with a reputation that reached far beyond Thailand. It became the kind of place where pros wanted to prepare for events, and where amateurs could feel like they were playing on a global stage.
What makes it memorable, though, is the community that formed around it. Homes and villas sit quietly along the course. Members cycle past the fairways, kids zip around on bikes, and tour players slip in and out of the practice area without ceremony. The caddies know every roll and ridge, and the atmosphere is relaxed in a way that makes the championship pedigree feel effortless.
You arrive for a round and find yourself inside someone’s long-running dream - a course built with personal passion and lived in with everyday warmth.
To book your tailored travel package and find out more information, please email us.
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ACCOMMODATION OF THE MONTH:
Putahracsa Hua Hin
The Story of Putahracsa - Three Generations, One Seaside Home
Putahracsa did not begin as a hotel. It began with a woman who fell in love with Hua Hin.
Nearly a century ago, Khun Ying Supatra Singholaka, who served in the royal court of King Rama VI, discovered a quiet stretch of beach that felt like hers. She bought a modest piece of land and named it Baan Putahracsa. It was never meant to be grand - just a beach house in a town she adored.
Her daughter, Patravadi Mejudhon, later made it her own retreat, weaving her creative life into the rhythms of Hua Hin. When she inherited the land, she preserved its character and eventually passed it on to her daughter, Khun Mo, who today leads Putahracsa Resort Hua Hin into its modern chapter.
Instead of replacing the old family home, Khun Mo chose to honour it. With her husband, designer Viboon Techakalayatum, she transformed Baan Putahracsa into a boutique resort that still carries her grandmother’s name and spirit. The result is an intimate collection of 67 rooms and villas, thoughtful in design, gentle in mood, and rooted in the town’s heritage.
What defines Putahracsa is not the architecture alone but the sense of home created by its long-serving team. Guests are welcomed warmly, rooms are prepared with care, and service flows quietly - the kind that makes you feel looked after without ever being interrupted.
Putahracsa uses natural materials, preserves mature coastal trees, avoids unnecessary waste, and keeps operations efficient behind the scenes. Guests see it in small ways: workshops that reuse natural elements, partnerships with local fishermen and farmers, and community programs supporting staff families. Nothing is loud or performative - just thoughtful choices that keep Hua Hin’s character intact.
Beyond the resort, Hua Hin remains the same town that first drew the family here - relaxed, welcoming, and full of everyday pleasures. Golfers are close to Hua Hin’s world-class courses; non-golfers have vineyards, markets, temples, quiet beaches, and a spa recognised as one of the best in town. Evenings drift into Oceanside Beach Club, where the breeze and the sound of the waves do most of the work.
For Khun Mo, Putahracsa is both a family legacy and a philosophy: a balanced life, shaped by simplicity, creativity, and a deep affection for Hua Hin. Three generations have dreamed on this land. Today, guests are invited to be part of that story - a stay that feels personal, grounded, and quietly unforgettable.
To book your tailored travel package and find out more information, please email us.
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Unique Experiences in Hua Hin - Beyond the Usual
For a genuinely unforgettable outing, visit Kui Buri National Park, one of the best places in Thailand to see wild elephants roaming freely. Park rangers guide you to natural viewing points along their feeding trails - a calm, respectful encounter with wildlife exactly as it should be.
A short drive north brings you to Malee Seafood in Cha-Am, a long-time local favourite set on a quiet, almost empty beach. Fresh seafood, spicy sauces, plastic tables in the sand, and kids playing by the water - it is simple, authentic, and wonderfully local. (Best avoided on weekends.)
For a slower evening, Monsoon Valley Vineyard offers scenic sunset dinners overlooking rolling hills and vines. Pair local wines with relaxed Thai–Western dishes - a perfect way to unwind after a day on the course.
If you prefer something active, local trainers offer private Muay Thai conditioning sessions focused on movement, technique, and stretching - a great complement to golf.
Early risers can enjoy a peaceful sunrise walk at Hua Hin Pier, watching fishing boats return and the morning market open. It is a glimpse of Hua Hin at its most authentic.
At Putahracsa’s Ob Oon Creative Space, join eco-printing or upcycling workshops using natural leaves or reclaimed sea buoys -a hands-on way to connect with Hua Hin’s coastal character.
To book your tailored travel package and find out more information, please email us.
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GOLF PACKAGE OF THE MONTH:
Hua Hin Golf - A Week in Thailand’s Quiet Golf Capital
Hua Hin has a rhythm that settles in quickly. Mornings start with the beach coming to life - joggers, locals heading to work, fishermen easing their boats out - and golfers moving quietly toward their tee times. Evenings end with simple routines: a walk through the night market, fresh seafood, and the slow hum of a town that has grown without losing its identity.
Your golf follows the same steady tone. Black Mountain delivers the mountain valley setting and tournament-grade conditioning that put Hua Hin on the global map. Pineapple Valley brings wide views and a natural flow across old plantation land. Springfield adds Jack Nicklaus strategy and shape, while Lake View or Royal Hua Hin provide contrast - either modern resort-style golf or a historic walk through Thailand’s earliest fairways.
Between rounds, nothing feels rushed. A free day is built in for Thai massage, quiet beach time, or a visit to the nearby vineyard in the hills. The goal is not to pack the schedule but to let Hua Hin’s everyday life carry the trip.
If you want a golf week that feels lived in rather than staged, tell us your dates and we will shape this Hua Hin Golf Story around you.
To book your tailored travel package and find out more information, please email us.
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DESTINATION UPDATES
VIETNAM
Better access, new golf near Saigon, and genuinely interesting new experiences
Vietnam keeps adding reasons to return. Near Ho Chi Minh City, Vinpearl Golf Léman Củ Chi has soft-opened its first 18 holes. It is designed as a resort-style layout with wide fairways, gentle shaping, and a relaxed atmosphere, making it a very easy day trip from the city and a good alternative to Long Thanh or Tan Son Nhat.
Up north, Halong Bay is rolling out new evening activities that actually matter for travellers. The big one this season is the Ngọc Rồng Show - a large-scale outdoor performance with drones, lighting, and live choreography set along the bay. It runs several nights a week and gives golfers staying in Halong something to do after playing FLC Halong Bay Golf Club or returning from a cruise. Some luxury cruise lines are also quietly testing cave dining events on smaller islands, where small groups have dinner inside illuminated limestone caverns. Available for booking through Golfasian.
Central Vietnam adds a new beachfront option with voco Quang Binh, a modern 5-star base that pairs well with rounds at FLC Quang Binh Golf Links and half-day trips to the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng cave system.
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THAILAND
High season energy and a much easier to get around
Bangkok is in full high-season mode with the Vijit Chao Phraya light festival running along the river until mid-December - a great evening option for guests enjoying a customized Bangkok golf holiday.
Flight connections continue improving across the country. Highlights include new Paris-Phuket service, daily Los Angeles-Bangkok flights (via Hong Kong), increased Taipei-Chiang Mai links, and the resumed Chiang Mai-Hua Hin route. These routes make it much easier to pair Chiang Mai's best golf courses such as Chiang Mai Highlands and Alpine Chiang Mai with Hua Hin favourites like Black Mountain and Pineapple Valley in a single trip. Speak to our golf travel experts to arrange your next Thailand golf holiday.
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CAMBODIA
New resorts and memorable golf holes
Cambodia is building an appealing mix of nature and golf. Shinta Mani Wild is a standout pre/post-golf stay, while Koh Russey’s new JATI Resort adds a private-island element.
For golfers, Chhun On Golf Resort is preparing a 19th-hole island green shaped like Cambodia - an easy “you must try this” moment. Down the coast, Greg Norman’s Ream Bay Golf Course continues to move forward.
Speak to our Cambodia country manager to book your Cambodia stay.
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PHILIPPINES
Cebu adds quality stays, India access improves
Cebu now has two notable new hotel choices that pair well with Alta Vista Golf & Country Club - NUSTAR Resort & Casino and FILI Newstar - both around 20 minutes from the course.
For Indian golfers, travel is far easier with the new Delhi-Manila direct flight and visa-free entry for eligible travelers, making Manila + Cebu golf combinations more practical.
Contact our Philippines golf travel experts to start planning your golf trip to the Far East.
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INDONESIA
Bintan is steadily returning
Bintan is getting its golf back in shape. The Seaview Course has completed refurbishment, and work is underway to reopen the Forest Course, bringing the island back to a full 36-hole experience.
With the new Mövenpick resort coming in 2026, Bintan is becoming a strong Singapore weekend add-on again.
All travelers must complete Indonesia’s online Arrival Card before flying.
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MEET OUR TEAM -
Meet Darren - Your Go-To Man for Asia Golf
This month, we’re pleased to spotlight Darren Probst, our Sales Manager whose mix of British wit, calm efficiency, and deep regional knowledge has made him a favourite among Golfasian guests.
Originally from Manchester, Darren traded grey skies for the sunshine of Thailand more than seven years ago and has never looked back. Today, he is one of our most experienced specialists for golf holidays in Asia, with a soft spot for Hua Hin’s relaxed rhythm and the championship courses of Da Nang.
Now also proudly navigating life as a dad, Darren’s days start a little earlier - but his enthusiasm for helping golfers build their perfect itinerary hasn’t changed. Whether you’re planning a quiet couples escape or a multi-round trip with friends, he brings a thoughtful, practical approach shaped by thousands of conversations with traveling golfers.
Ask him where he spends most of his time and he’ll jokingly say “in the rough,” but his clients know the truth: Darren is exceptionally good at getting every detail right, on and off the fairways.
Contact our team of friendly golf travel experts to start planning your next golf holiday.
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Free Download: Asian Golf & More Magazine
The highly anticipated 3rd edition of Asian GOLF & More has arrived! This latest issue takes you deeper into Asia's most captivating golf destinations, featuring comprehensive spotlights on Hua Hin, Danang, and Clark. Dive into exclusive interviews with legendary course designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Asian Tour Commissioner Mark Siegel, gaining valuable insights from the industry's finest.
Beyond exceptional golf coverage, discover unforgettable experiences like trekking in Sapa, exploring Cambodia's unique courses, and luxury Mekong River cruises. Visit www.asiangolfandmore.com to start reading today.
Contact our team of golf travel experts to start planning your next golf holiday
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Golfasian Customer Testimonials
Don’t just take our word for it - we encourage you to delve into the testimonials of our satisfied customers. Their firsthand accounts will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the exceptional golf holiday services we offer at Golfasian, and how we strive to create unforgettable golfing experiences. View all recent reviews here.
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DOWNLOAD THE ASIA GOLF GUIDE
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We’re excited to share that the third edition of the Asia Golf Guide is out today - and it’s our biggest yet. Spanning 136 pages, this free guide showcases the very best of golf across eight Asian countries, with more than 85 must-play courses and a wide range of recommended hotels and resorts.
Inside you’ll find fresh additions to your bucket list, from newly opened layouts to iconic classics, along with practical destination insights to help plan your trip. Countries featured include Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia, as well as emerging golf destinations such as Laos, Brunei, and the Philippines.
This edition also features an exclusive interview with Sir Nick Faldo, who shares why Southeast Asia has become one of his favorite regions to design courses.
Whether you’re planning your first trip or your next one, the Asia Golf Guide is the ultimate companion on where to play and stay - and it’s completely free to download here.
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