Hua Hin, Thailand: Following a two-year Covid-enforced hiatus, the self-proclaimed ‘biggest and richest tournament for club golfers in Asia’ will return to the calendar this year against the idyllic seaside backdrop of Hua Hin.

The seventh edition of the Centara World Masters Golf Championship has been confirmed for May 8-14 with rounds at Banyan Golf Club, Black Mountain Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club.
 
Open to golfers aged 35 and over, the 2022 Centara World Masters will see prizes totalling US$30,000 up for grabs, played across a range of age and handicap divisions – a popular format that sees men and women golfers pitted against peers of a similar age and standard.

The Centara World Masters is a collaboration between Australian-based Go Golfing and Thailand-based Golfasian, which looks after more golfers travelling to Asia than any other golf tour operator.
 
“I am delighted to bring back the Centara World Masters and phenomenal golfing experiences in Hua Hin,” said Mark Siegel, Managing Director of Golfasian, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

Co-Director of the Centara World Masters, Siegel added: “The 2022 edition will see players from over 30 countries participate in Asia’s largest amateur golf event, including protocols to ensure a safe and fun event for all.”
 
One of Thailand’s premier beach resort getaways, Hua Hin – a 2½-hour drive south of Bangkok – has twice won the International Association of Golf Tour Operators award for Asia Golf Destination of the Year (most recently in 2019).
 
Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading hotel operator, with six brands, ranging from luxury island retreats and upscale family resorts to affordable lifestyle concepts supported by innovative technology. Its 88 properties span all major Thai destinations, plus the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.
 
Most golfers participating in the tournament stay at the beachfront Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, which draws on a rich history and tradition stretching back to the 1920s in combining modern luxuries with the elegance of a bygone era.
  
Peter McCarthy, Go Golfing Founder and Centara World Masters Tournament Co-Director, said: “Go Golfing is proud to again partner with Golfasian and Centara Hotels & Resorts, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and other partners to present the Centara Masters.
 
“We’ll be bringing a big contingent from Australia and New Zealand to join golfers from all over the globe. Our detailed Covid Zero Plans have delivered zero Covid cases at our six events this year, and the protocols for the Centara Masters are designed to ensure this event is Covid-free.
 
“Big on fun, we’ve added a Teams Championship to the programme. Recruit a minimum of five friends or members from your club, and you’re in with a chance to win big prizes and bragging rights. The best five scores from your team members will count each day. You’ll also be able to personally design the caddie bib with your nickname, team name or country flag.”
 
Thirayuth Chirathivat, Centara Hotels & Resorts Chief Executive Officer, said: “More than ever, we are proud to support the biggest club golf tournament in Asia, as we reintroduce Thailand to the world as a safe destination with the same warm hospitality Centara has always been known for.
 
“Our iconic Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin enjoys a long-standing reputation for the highest standards of service, and we can’t wait for the players and their families to enjoy it this May, when this wonderful week of golf and entertainment returns.”
 
An extensive Covid Safe plan has been specifically developed for the event, encompassing accommodation, golf courses, catering, transport and all service suppliers, ensuring best-practice cleaning and sanitation.