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By Sofia Rays
The palm trees at Loch Palm Golf Club Phuket resemble numerous
needles popping out of a seamstresses’ pin cushion. These robust
trees must have seen more excitement and disappointment in their
lives than any ordinary palms, considering they may have been here
well before 1993 when the predecessor, Century Country Club, was
first opened.
Yet, they stand unruffled and proud knowing that, despite all odds,
their long pointed leaves constantly fulfill a compassionate service
by providing much needed shade and breeze to whoever walks these
lush lawns.
Kathu is home to Loch Palm Golf Club Phuket, a 7 kilometre drive
from Phuket town -it takes 10 minutes from Patong beach and 45 minutes
from Phuket international airport.
Three lakes, the largest covering 110 rai, give this golf course
a certain fluidity that at the same time cautions any golfer to
consider the distance to their target well before hitting the ball.
If they are not careful, they may never see their ball again. In
high season, the Acting General Manager, Khun Peter explains, approximately
6,000 golfers play at the golf club. Assuming that each lost 2 balls
to the large lake; the number of balls residing at the bottom reaches
12,000! Only divers can retrieve these poor lost fellows, for the
lake is very deep as it was once used for tin mining.
The terrain here is diverse and nothing less could be expected
from a par 72 golf course covering an area of 700 rai. The first
nine holes were designed on flat land following the Lake Course
concept, while the remaining nine holes follow the Hilly Course
concept, with plenty of obstacles in the form of bunkers and vegetation
to make even the easily bored players reconsider their attitude.
In addition, ‘green’ players are blessed with a beautiful driving
range situated next to the large lake.
Loch Palm’s clubhouse architecture comes as a surprise in these
tropical surroundings. Built on a slope it embraces characteristics
of a Swiss chalet with exposed beams and warm wooden interiors.
It presents a contrast to the surrounding palms, but not necessarily
to the mountains towering in the background. These lush giants are
the source of precious oxygen and cool air that any living creature
on the golf course craves for during the day.
Managed by MBK Resort Public Co., Ltd. for a little more than a
year, Loch Palm Golf Club Phuket is experiencing a steady make-over.
Khun Peter appears to be a versatile man, who enjoys the challenges
before him. Having worked as the General Manager of the Phuket Country
Club for 5 years, he moved to Bangkok to join a friend working for
a development company. Some years later and because he was ‘not
the type to just sit around doing nothing’, Khun Peter quit. After
having coached the Thai national golf team, he decided to move back
to Phuket to engage more actively in his passion for coaching and
became a golf instructor for Loch Palm Golf Club. When MBK bought
over the Club, he was asked to help and this is how he got to where
he is today.
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The developmental vision of the Golf Club displayed in the form
of a large topographic map is not at all modest. The first steps
already in progress include renovation of three holes and expansion
of the clubhouse in order be able to the attract world class tournaments.
Further steps include a hotel with swimming pool, a second 18-hole
golf course with a larger driving range, as well as property development
within a newly purchased area of 1300 rai.
With the new plans in view, Khun Peter hopes to attract foreign
and local golf enthusiasts by providing more and improved services.
With a bold smile he notes that the new golf course will indeed
be more challenging than the present one, as the terrain will incorporate
the existing forest and trees which means that players will need
more golf balls when playing there!
Loch Palm Golf Club Phuket is a location that enjoys a long history.
From its beginnings as a tin mine, the ground has been developed
into lawns enjoyed by a new generation of professional golfers.
It is now about to experience further transformation as it prepares
itself for a new wave of golfers and residents. It is this very
transformation that makes it a Golf Club with a vision.
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