 Bangkok
Activities and Top Things to do guide
Golf This ever popular sport is catered for in abundance
in Thailand and Bangkok is no exception. The following
courses will more than satisfy the average putter or
golfing enthusiast and tournaments are held regularly.
 Pinehurst
Golf and Country Club With 27 holes, Pinehurst,
located an hours drive north of Bangkok, is a golfer’s
paradise. The course offers plenty of challenges, from
water hazards to bunkers and plenty of foliage. The
clubhouse is modern and lavishly furnished, offering
fine dining, and is well-equipped for other sporting
activities.
Rose Garden Located 38 km. southwest of Bangkok,
this par 72 course was the former venue for the Thai
Open. Beautifully maintained, the tree-lined fairways
lead to difficult greens, well guarded by bunkers, offering
plenty of challenges for golfers of any ability.
Vintage Club Golf Course Forty-five minutes
east of central Bangkok, this 18-hole course was designed
to take full advantage of the  area’s
terrain. Long fairways, beautifully shaped greens and
bunkers run through coconut palms and bougainvillea
bushes. It is a demanding course that yields low scores
only to golfers making well placed tee shots. The fully
appointed clubhouse offers a swimming pool, jacuzzi,
tennis courts, squash courts, snooker room, fitness
centre and a restaurant.
Thai Country Club Recently redesigned, this
course just east of the city is superbly laid out and
the challenging fairways ensure it is destined to serve
as the setting for premier Asian tournaments. Dennis
Griffiths created the course which features immaculate
fairways and greens laid out according to a neo-classic
design. The 18-hole course offers five different climatic
zones, each with its own flora and terrain challenges.
Natural Park Ramindra Designed by Jack Nicklaus,
one of the world's top five golf course architects,
this course is located within easy reach of Bangkok's
international airport. The superb landscaping features
enormous lakes that provide not only a wealth of natural
beauty but are obstacles on almost half the holes. Conditions
are good and greens and fairways are well maintained.
Horse Racing There are two courses in Bangkok,
one is the Royal Turf Club of Thailand that is situated
on Phitsanulok Road. The races are  held
every two weeks on Sunday during 12.30 am-6.00 pm. Admission
fees are 50 Baht and 100 Baht. Tel 2800020-9. The other
race track is at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club is situated
on Henri Dunant Road. The races are held every two weeks
on Sunday during 12.30 am-6.00 pm. Admission fees are
50 Baht, 70 Baht and 100 Baht. Tel. 2510181-6
Horse Riding can be done at the following equestrian
establishments, The Bangkok Equestrian Centre located
at 20/1 Moo 2 Soi Chadsanthahanrue, Sukhumwit Soi 102
telephone: 328 0273-4. Horse hire costs around 600 Baht
an hour. They do offer lessons and for those who like
toride often, membership costs about 2,000 Baht a month.
The other club located near Bangkok is the Garden City
Polo Club where horse hire is 500 Baht and they also
teach polo to those  interested.
Tel: 317 1431-7 or go there, to 37 Moo 5 Bangna-Trad
Road, Tambon Bangpu.
Swimming If your hotel doesn't already have
one the only way to swim in Bangkok is to use facilities
elsewhere. A number of private clubs do have pools but
the membership fees for someone passing through aren't
worth paying, on the other hand the Department of Physical
Education telephone: 215 1535 lets people use its pool
for around 300 Baht (yearly membership) and 25 Baht
per hour in the pool. There are a number of other smaller
sports facilities scattered around Bangkok that will
also accommodate visiting swimmers.
Tennis many hotels have their own tennis courts,
if not contact one of the many sports clubs or the Department
of Physical Education telephone: 215 1535 will be able
to tell you where to play.
 Thai
Boxing For those keen on martial sports a visit
to the Muay Thai (Thai boxing)stadiums at Lumpini or
Ratchadamneon is a must. Keep fit enthusiasts will find
several gymnasiums around the ci
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