Major redevelopment planned for Bangkok golf resort
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Bangkok , Thailand - April 26, 2010: Thana City Golf & Sports Club (owned by Tanayong PLC) announced the launching of a five year development plan, beginning with a 200 million baht restoration, upgrade and revitalization of the Greg Norman designed Thana City Golf and Sports Club and its adjoining facilities. The golf course is currently open for play and will continue to be fully operational during the renovation period.
In the words of Mr. Kavin Kanjanapas, Tanayong PLC, Managing Director, “Thana City Golf and Sports Club will once again be a shining anchor to the Thana City residential and lifestyle development with its quality facilities and ease of access. It will also set a new standard of service to members and guests who play the course and to residents of the community.”
Originally opened in 1993, Thana City is the only Greg Norman designed course in Thailand. Under the management and direction of Absolute Golf Services, the plan is a six (6) prong approach to return the golf facility to its former glory, and consists of:
1. Course and facility restoration and upgrade
2. Creation of a national and regional Sports Hub
3. Engineering the multifaceted facility into a key venue for local, regional and international professional golf events
4. Fostering the next generation of golf enthusiast by supporting and initiating junior golf programs
5. Returning the Driving Range and Academy facilities to its rightful place as the country’s best golf training center
6. Establishment of the Golf Quality Service Training Center with the objective of instilling in all golf course and sports facility personnel with a new culture of quality service towards our golf guests, members and the community at large.
Mr. Justin Strachan, Absolute Golf Services (AGS), Managing Director, stated “Absolute Golf Services is delighted to be able to play an important role in directing this strategic development plan. It is AGS’s mission to provide our golf business clients with the highest level of management expertise and service”.
Mr Nathawat Aksornchat, recently appointed as the facilities General Manager, added; “I am delighted to be working with AGS and Tanayong in these exciting plans and to help in bringing back the glory of when Thana City first opened in 1993.”
The course and facility restoration and upgrade, which are already in progress, will take place in two (2) phases, beginning with the Golf Course and Golf Clubhouse and followed soon after by the renovation of the Sports Club and the installation of a full service hotel. The restoration of the golf course will include improved landscaping, playing surfaces and the reconstruction of two (2) Signature Holes. The Golf Club House will be redesigned to provide a welcoming, efficient and friendly “golfer service” environment including new locker and changing facilities, new restaurant and other improved food and beverage venues and the installation of a Golf Concierge (pro shop) to provide a “one-stop shop” for all golf services.
The Thana City Sports Hub will create strategic partnerships with such prestigious associations such as the Asian Tour, providing them with a “home” in Thailand and their members with access to quality golf and sports facilities. It will also afford an opportunity to conduct joint initiatives, such as Rules Clinics, Asia Tour Pro Golf Clinics, along with other golf development and marketing initiatives.
A key objective of the development plan is to engineer the multifaceted facility to once again be a key venue for local, regional and international professional golf events. Thana City Golf and Sports Club has been the venue for numerous top golf tournaments including the 1996 Jonnie Walker Super Tour where Ian Woosnam, one of the “Big Five” generation of European golfers, shot a course record 63 in the final leg of the Tour which tied him for the overall lead with Ernie Els. Els, also known as the “Big Easy”, won the play-off at the first hole. In 1998 James Kingston won the 1998 Thailand Open in a play-off with Jeev Milkha Singh, the first Indian golfer to become a member of the European Tour. Tongchai Jaidee, who now holds the record for most career victories on the Asian Tour, played the 1998 Thailand Open at Thana City as an amateur, finishing sixth.
Supporting Junior Golf and exploring ideas to encourage more participation in the game of golf at every level is another component of the plan. This program will foster the next generation of golf enthusiast by supporting, and initiating junior golf programs. It will also include features that will appeal to children, women, beginners, seniors and encourage more family participation, such as the establishment of “Forward” tees on the golf course to assist juniors and seniors and individuals who want a “quick round”.
The Driving and Academy facilities had always been considered as the country’s best golf training center. A key initiative will be to return these facilities to their rightful position by investing in restoration of the facilities, services and training programs.
Finally the establishment of the Golf Quality Service Training Center is a hallmark objective of this master plan with the goal of instilling in all golf course and sports facility personnel with a new cultural of quality service towards our golf guests, members and the community at large.
From start to finish this five year plan has been designed to position the Thana City Golf & Sports Club as the “lifestyle golf venue” offering quality golf facilities and services to enjoy the game of golf with business associates, friends and family.
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