Hua Hin, Thailand: Golfers from around the world have arrived in their numbers for the seventh instalment of the Centara World Masters Golf Championship, marking a welcome return for the event in 2022.

The staging of Asia’s self-proclaimed ‘biggest and richest tournament for club golfers’ after a two-year hiatus is a major boost for the local Hua Hin economy and golf tourism in Thailand.

While it may have been longer coming than expected, this instalment of the Centara World Masters has generated tangible excitement among the event’s dedicated participants and a substantial number of first-time entrants.

Golfers have been steadily arriving over the last week and the anticipation has been building, with an air of enthusiasm in Hua Hin accompanied by a collective readiness to get the fun and festivities underway.

Running from May 8-14, the tournament will feature golfers from over 20 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, India, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and host country Thailand, with prizes totalling US$30,000 up for grabs.

The action will take place at the world-class Banyan and Black Mountain courses, with participants aged 35 and over competing across a range of age and handicap divisions – a popular format that sees golfers pitted against peers of a similar age and standard.

The Centara World Masters is a collaboration between Australian-based Go Golfing, which has been hosting World Masters Golf events around the world for 27 years, and Thailand-based Golfasian, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation which looks after more golfers travelling to Asia than any other golf tour operator.

Host hotel the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin staged the opening night welcome dinner, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chang and Coke also partnering with Golfasian and Go Golfing to present the event.

Golfasian Managing Director and Tournament Co-Director Mark Siegel highlighted the significance of the event’s return.

He said: “It provides a substantial boost for Thailand tourism and comes amid the country’s broader reopening for international travellers.

“A phenomenal golfing experience awaits this year’s participants. The Centara World Masters provides a truly unique opportunity to showcase Hua Hin and Thailand as a destination of choice for golf travellers.”

Go Golfing Founder and Tournament Co-Director Peter McCarthy said: “The Banyan and Black Mountain courses are looking picture-perfect. It’s sure to be a memorable event for all, with a fun and entertaining week ahead of us both on and off the course, featuring something for everybody.”

Throughout the week, participants will gather at the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin for the after-play 19th Hole festivities, with the event to finish on Friday in grand style with the closing gala presentation dinner.