Thailand
Location: Pattaya and Bangkok, Thailand
Course: Phoenix Gold Golf Club
Ladies European Thailand Championship Recap
The Ladies European Tour returned to Thailand for the first time in 12 years, so I had the opportunity to compete and visit another new country! The inaugural Ladies European Thailand Championship took place in Pattaya Thailand at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club where I made my third cut of the season on the LET--that puts me at 3 for 3! I opened with a one over 73 and closed with a one under 71, but struggled rounds 2 and 3 leaving me to finish T50. Click here for the full leaderboard. It wasn't the finish I wanted, but it was another great tournament experience where I was put to the test both physically and mentally. Temperatures peaked at 100 degrees with 80% humidity, and green conditions that were extremely firm. My short game both saved and hurt me a great deal this week, which is something I am going to continue to work hard on. In addition, course management was extremely important this week, and I admittedly left myself in some less than ideal places. That being said, I am definitely going to pay more attention to my course management and shot placement going forward.
Pattaya
Pattaya is a lovely resort beach town on the east gulf coast of Thailand about 60 miles south east of Bangkok. We stayed at a nice hotel right on the Jomtien beachfront that had lots of little restaurants, shops, and a very cool night market. I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful beach view and it seemed like the locals did too, because it was always packed with Thai people having beach picnics and eating street food!
My caddy and I after the final round
Enjoying a coconut and the view from my hotel balcony. You can get giant coconuts that are bigger than your head for just a dollar!
Pattaya Beach Sunset
Bangkok
Sites and scenes
When I go to a new country for a tournament I always try to spend at least one day exploring and experiencing the culture of where I compete. I have had lots of friends spend time backpacking through Thailand and have heard incredible things, so I had to take the opportunity to spend an extra day in Bangkok and see the sites! Bangkok is a bustling city with vibrant street life and gleaming temples, so the day and a half I had in town was jam packed.
I arrived into the city the evening the tournament concluded and stayed at a quaint boutique hotel right by the river and famous Kao San road. Of course I was hungry when I got to Bangkok so I hit the street for Talat Yot and Khao San night market for some fresh Thai street food! More on food below!
Me and Ana Mendaz, my adventure buddying in Bangkok on a Tuk Tuk ride! She is another LET player from Mexico
Bangkok is an incredibly busy city and one of the fastest modes of transportation is a tuk tuk, because they can weave through traffic! Ana and I took a tuk tuk to and from all the places we visited: the Pak Klong Talat flower market, temples, Grand Palace, and MBK mall.
The other form of transportation we used was the ferry on the Chao Phraya River (pictured above). There are many attractions along the river, and we were able to hop on and off and see all of them! Two highlights include: Wat Arun and Wat Phar just on the other side!
Side Note: To go into the temples I had to have my knees and shoulders covered so I ended up buying a dress off the street (pictured left)! It was light, but long, and I was actually able to wear it over the other clothes I was already wearing. And the best part--I got to bring it home as a souvenir!
Wat Arun
Wat Phra
Taste of Thailand
Food and Night Markets
An excited Dre with a fresh crepe and mango passionfruit smoothie in hand!
One of my favorite parts of the trip of course was the food. If you know me or have been reading my blog you know how much I love eating, and the food in Thailand was amazing! There are tons of good restaurants, but my favorite was the street food! In the evening, the streets and night markets are lined with street food carts. You can get pad thai fried right in front of you, fresh fruit smoothies blended to order, and so much more! Not only is it incredibly delicious, but all of it cost about a dollar! Pictured below are some night markets, and some of my food highlights which include papaya salad, coconut sorbet with coconut meat, mango and peanuts in a coconut shell, pad thai, and tropical fruits like mangosteen, dragonfruit, and the sweetest mango I've ever tasted!
Thanks for filling my belly with the tastiest food and taking me to see some of the most beautiful temples Thailand! I can't wait for my next visit for some time in and on the water, more good eats, and everything else you have to offer because one week in Pattaya and one day in Bangkok was just not enough!
Lots of Love,
DRE