Pattaya, Thailand: The New Year has marked the welcome opening of a new golf course in the region.
The nine-hole Lakes Course at Thailand’s Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club was officially unveiled on January 1.
To celebrate the occasion, Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat and LPGA standout Thidapa Suwannapura paid a visit to the club.
The course was sculpted by Pirapon Namtra, the well-known Thai designer who was also responsible for renovating Phoenix Gold’s Mountain and Ocean courses.
Employing a team of more than 200, Pirapon’s company, Golf East, has now completed over THB100 million [about US$2.75 million] of  upgrades at the club since 2012.
Among his other acclaimed body of work, Pirapon designed Hua Hin’s award-winning Banyan Golf Resort, a Golf Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
Kiradech predicted that the new nine holes would be fun to play for professionals and amateurs.
Thidapa, whose home is in Pattaya, recently overcame a painful hip injury to claim a second-place finish at the Dubai Omega Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour. For her courageous efforts, Phoenix Gold has made her an Honorary Member, which allows her to practice there whenever she is in Thailand.