From November 2nd, three of Chiang Mai’s newest golf courses – the Chiang Mai Highlands, the Alpine Resort and the Khuntan Golf Club – will host the Asian Ladies Invitational Interport.
The event will attract an estimated one hundred and seventy golfers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Ms Rae-vadee T Suan, the president of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour said “I am sure the tournament will be a big draw in many ways and it will play a major role in promoting tourism in Chiang Mai”. She added that lady golfers make excellent shoppers!
Golf arrived in Thailand during the reign of King Rama V one hundred years ago. It was first played by nobles and other elitists of high society but over the past decade or so, the popularity of golf in Thailand has escalated, played both by local Thais and visiting foreign tourists and expatriates.
There are an average of 400,000 foreign golfers coming to the Kingdom annually, golf in Thailand has turned into a huge local industry with new courses constantly being developed. Golf alone is annually bringing an income of 8 billion baht into the local economy. The country has been given the nickname ‘The Golf Capital of Asia’.
Chiang Mai is already a popular destination for golfers, it has a great climate and some great golf courses.
This article is Copyright © MyChiangMai 2009, no reproduction without prior permission.
The national four wheel drive rally circus arrives in Chang Dao, north of Chiang Mai city on September 5th-6th where stars fro Thailand and Japan will compete for fame, fortune and prize money.
Rally fans had a taste of things to come at Thapae Gate on August 14th when the previous round of the Asia Cross Country Rally championship ended with the usual splashing of champagne and Singha Beer.
The No 15 Isuzu D Max of Atchiki Srimongkol and Tadamisu Nihori had been the fastest over the high speed off-road stages since the Bangkok start, and took top honours, while maximum credit goes to the disabled Takura Aoki who got his similar truck to 12th place on hand controls. Takura was an engineer and racer for a professional bike team in Japan, until a crash cost him the use of his legs.
Watch this space for details of the Chang Dao event with times and places to see the best of the action!
This article is Copyright © MyChiangMai 2009, no reproduction without prior permission.
Chiang Mai’s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn said on Sunday that she was stunned by winning the Wimbledon junior title.
The 17-year-old from Chiang Mai, who was runner-up to Britain’s Laura Robson last year, became the first Thai to win the girls’ tournament after seeing off top seed and French Open champion Kristina Mladenovic of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
“It means everything,” Noppawan said. “I didn’t think I was going to win here. In my first match I had five match points against me, and then today, after I lost the first set I didn’t think I was going to win, but I just fought.
“It’s good – it’s for the Thai people, and I will get a wildcard for the seniors next year so I am very happy to win
World number one Mladenovic admitted that a knee injury in the final set had slowed her down.
“Noppawan was better than me, she was in better shape than me. I had some problems – I couldn’t push up on my serve – but I tried to give my best and I have no regrets about that.
“I’m disappointed but I see some more matches for me in the future. I will not be disappointed for so long. It’s not that today I was in such bad (form) that it’s going to kill me for a while, it’s just tennis.”
Noppawan joins a list of junior winners that include recent Wimbledon champions in Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo.
