The mountainous hinterlands of Samui seclude and nurture one of the most scenic golf courses in Thailand. 

Even the most jaded of golfing globetrotters, however, are impressed after a round at the Santiburi Samui Golf Club.

Perfectly positioned among the jade green hills of north western Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, the palm-lined layout offers a championship challenge along a 6932 metre sloping mountain tract.

A sea of green surrounds golfers playing this testing course while the blue of the Gulf of Thailand and idyllic islands beyond provide irresistible distractions. 

Waterfalls and creeks meander through the lush land adding even more spectacle to a pristine paradise.

An illustrated feature on the emerging golf scene in Samui can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements, and supplied with a selection of hi-res digital images.

In addition, a feature on the Thai holiday island of Samui can also be written to suit editorial requirements.   

Fiona Harper checks out the uber stylish Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Hamilton Island Golf Club

Contact Fiona Harper www.fionaharper.com.au to commission this article. Images are available www.pbase.com/fionaharper/hiyc

Laucala Island, east of far-flung Taveuni in Fiji, opened in 2008 for just 50 discerning guests who don't mind shelling out upwards of 3800USD per night for a beachfront Plantation Residence. Set amidst a working coconut plantation, at this level of opulence, privacy, exclusivity and exquisite service is de riguer.  With astounding attention to detail, assisted by a guest to staff ratio hovering around 7:1, Laucala Island has perfected the art of fine hospitality infused with an element of Fijian warmth.

Fiona Harper is one of few journalists invited to visit Laucala Island. Contact Fiona Harper to commission your exclusively crafted feature or puchase the article for immediate download.

Images are available.

Golfers teeing off at two courses in the Baltic nation of Lithuania will also get a quick lesson in geography in addition to enjoying a great game in an emerging golf destination.

The geographic centre of Europe is marked with a plaque located near the 4th and 5th fairways at the appropriately named European Centre Golf Club.

And over at the National Golf Resort the final hole has been crafted to look like Lithuania in miniature.

Meanwhile, the new Le Meridien resort and conference centre outside Vilnius is offering a water ridden romp to all players teeing off its V Club course.

Pure country air, wonderful vistas and a challenging 18 hole course are strong drawcards at the Capitals Golf Course.

An illustrated feature on emerging golf scene in Lithuania can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements, and supplied with a selection of hi-res digital images.

In addition, a feature on the cultural and architectural treasures of Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, can also be written to suit editorial requirements.   

With the opening of three quality courses in addition to a historic veteran, tiny Samoa is now a South Pacific golf destination in its own right.  You can now truly play in paradise by day and listen to the gentle sounds of the ocean in the evening.                                   

Players first teed off at the tree-shaded tract at the 7136 yard Le Penina Golf Course in December 2006.  Located only minutes from the Faleolo International Airport in one direction and the swank Aggie Grey’s Beach Resort in the other, the Le Penina was the venue for the Samoa Masters in late June 2009.  It was an event that proved that Samoa can cater for discerning golfers from around the world.

Prior to the Masters, the SIFA - Samoa Classic was played at the 6841 yard Faleata Golf Course which is located at the edge of Apia, the quaint capital of Samoa. Designed by a golfer from neighbouring American Samoa, the Faleata course is less than a decade old.

In contrast the Royal Samoa Country Club was founded by British residents who lived in the waterfront town in the early days of the last century.The front nine holes of the Royal were originally part of an old coconut plantation.  Narrow fairways were woven through stands of towering palms to provide an extra element of difficulty.

Without doubt the most taxing, probably the most memorable and without question the most interesting of the front nine is the short 6^th hole where the picturesque green is hidden in a deep foliage-flushed gully.

An illustrated feature on golfing in Samoa can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements.

A separate feature or a sidebar can also be written about the unique attractions of Samoa including Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home which overlooks the quaint port city of Apia. 

Whack! The sharp snap of club connecting with ball cracks through the stillness of the forest.  The noise startles a deer that lopes across the jade green playfield.  Welcome to golf, British Colombia style!

Vancouver Canada’s third largest city dishes up a veritable feast of calibre courses.  Considering cost, quality and accessibility, the University Golf Club in suburban Vancouver is difficult to surpass. 

Though it’s located a mere 20 minutes from central high rise hotels, the club’s 140 acres of parkland shelters coyotes, beavers and racoons in old growth enclaves.

Easily reached from Vancouver is Whistler, acknowledged as “Canada’s Number One Golf Resort Destination”.

Each of the four designer courses found in this superior sports playground has its own special qualities though one really stands out on my scorecard. 

Named as “Canada’s Best New Golf Course” in 1993 and more recently proclaimed as the top resort course in Canada, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Over on Vancouver Island, Victoria’s Cordova Bay Golf Course feature striking views of water and mountain.  In addition to providing a sublime garden setting, the course’s role in protecting birdlife has been recognised by Audubon International.

The newest of a quartet of courses is the oddly named New Kuta Golf set on the south western rim of the island between shimmering white limestone cliffs and the brilliant blue of the Indian Ocean.

Ocean breezes are also a factor at the Greg Norman designed Nirwana Bali Golf Club where the panorama at the signature 7^th hole encompasses a lovely temple.

Set in the heart of central mountain range, the 7024 yard course at the Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club has a most novel feature.  It’s set inside a long extinct volcano.

An illustrated feature on golfing in Bali can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements. 

A feature or sidebar can also be written about the unique cultural attractions on the ‘Isle of the Gods’.

As Bali can be easily combined with Jakarta, a sidebar or full feature can be written on the cultural and historic attractions of Indonesia’s capital city.

Contoured over an idyllic peninsula on the southwest corner of the island, the 18 hole course at the Paradis Golf Club offers stunning vistas of a turquoise coloured lagoon on one side and the brooding bulk of Le Morne Mountain on the other.

Built within the grounds of the 150 ha. Resort, golfers can challenge the course by day, relax at the exclusive Spa by Clarins in the afternoon and listen to the seductive sounds of the sega during dinner.

Palms and flame trees line many of the 18 fine fairways at the 6828 metre Ernie Els designed Four Season Golf Club Mauritius at Anahita.  A 130 year old tortoise silently watches the proceedings from just beyond the 9^th hole at this very service oriented golf course.

Mauritius is a tropical island through there are several offshore islets like the Ile Aux Cerfs.  This 280 ha. sand ringed playground – only reachable by a seven minute water taxi ride – sports the 6452 metre Le Touressrok Golf Course. 

Designed by Bernard Langer, play on this scenic course concludes with a memorable double water carry over mangrove swamp to the 18^th green.

An illustrated about the golfing on this island nation can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements.  

A separate side bar or a full length feature on Mauritius’ outstanding spas can also be written.

A separate side bar or a full length feature on cultural and scenic attractions in Mauritius can be provided as well. 

This small nation in the South Pacific is still relatively undiscovered.  Yet there’s much to see and do.

Slide along south coast surf, visit Robert Louis Stevenson’s home in the hills above the capital city of Apia, dine on island specialities like oka and palusami, listen to heavenly choirs in veteran churches, browse for handcrafted bargains in the Flea Market, watch a lively fia fia of evocative songs and dances, trek through the mountainous interior and photograph the beautiful Papapapai Tai Waterfall which plunges into a forest gorge.

Small though it may be Samoa nonetheless offers a world of opportunities and activities.

An illustrated feature on Samoa can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements.   A separate side bar or a full length feature on golfing in Samoa where there are now four courses of merit can also be written. 

Asia is dotted with a leaderboard filled with interesting and unusual golf courses and all of them welcome golfers looking for memorable games in unforgettable surroundings.

An illustrated feature on weird, wild and wacky places to play golf in Asia can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2500 words, depending upon editorial requirements.   

Destinations covered can include Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East and West Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (including Bali), the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam depending upon editorial requirements.

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