Mike Clark in Thailand: Chapter 11

Nikanti…. Wow …. What a place. Not the easiest to get too but worth every bit of the drive. Stunning modern clubhouse and amenities including lovely marble appointed locker room that smells of jasmine and fresh herbal something or other. It’s to be enjoyed to the fullest and a welcome stop after a round here. Full steam room, sauna, jacuzzi accompanied by lush terry towels and robe. It’s the good life and as I sip on my tropical fruit and hibiscus infused water, ya just can’t help be feel a bit guilty about the whole thing.

…… luckily I came to my senses and shook that off….

And the golf course…. What a carpet of lush perfection in the form of tightly clipped weed free emerald grass. 

The greens are fast…. Very fast and equally as many undulations as some of those courses I navigated among the dunes in Scotland. Moral of the story, don’t be above the hole or on the wrong side of the green. Despite hitting the ball well, I seemed to find the places most difficult not to just make a birdie but to manage a two putt. 

“Pan” my caddie of the day was a joy to play the round with. We laughed at the mistakes and enjoyed each other’s company. She was genuinely actively involved in every shot. This evening finds me out of busy Bangkok and well south to the town of Hua Hin and tomorrow Black Mountain, another one of Thailand’s Gem courses and the favorite stop on the Asian Tour.

Miss "Pan"

Nikanti

Nikanti clubhouse

Nikanti clubhouse

Nikanti course rest station

Pan keeping things in order

On the tee

Darn tree right in the way

Course view

Pan lining things up... from above the hole, I might add

Short sided over bunkers = automatic bogey

Pan heading for the far left side of the green, when the pin is actually 70 feet over a hill and down a slope to the right.

After roasting a drive that almost went into the water, I've got 220 over the water to an elevated green on this closing par 5. We had a great chance to close with a virdie , but burned the edge.  Still a satisfying par and a nice way to conclude the round.

After round nourishment, including another glass of that hiviscus fruit water.