Pattaya to Host Major International Golf Events

The countdown to the staging of the biggest golf carnival in Asia is progress and within the next few weeks, the beach resort city of Pattaya will be transformed into the “golf hub of Asia”.

Pattaya, rapidly emerging as a world-class meetings and conference venue will play host to a total of five major international golf conferences covering a one-week period starting from October 31, 2011.

The events slated to be staged in Pattaya include:

•           2011 Asia Pacific Golf Summit incorporating the Asia Pacific Golf Industry Show

•           2011 Golf Course Superintendents of Asia Summit

•           2011 PGA of Asia Conference

•           2011 South East Asia and India Golf Merchandise Exposition

•           Inaugural ASEAN Golf Tourism Forum

“This year’s events will all be staged back to back over a one week period stretching from October 31 to November 6,” revealed Mike Sebastian, Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of all the events.

All of the events are being hosted under the auspices of the City of Pattaya and the Mayor of Pattaya, the Honourable Khun Itthipol Kunplome.

“We consider the staging of these major international golf conferences as a very significant development. It is positive validation by international event organizers that we have facilities that can meet world standards,” Khun Itthipol said.

All of the events will be staged at the sprawling Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH) with the Royal Cliff Hotels Group being the official hotel.

“We are proud to partner with the Asia Pacific Golf Group to bring these internationally recognized events to Pattaya and to Thailand and we are delighted that the world’s focus will be on Pattaya for the one week period,” said Khun Panga Vathanakul, Managing Director of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group and PEACH.

The sanctioning partners of the events are the

•           Tourism Authority of Thailand,

•           Sports Authority of Thailand,

•           Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Why was the city of Pattaya selected as the venue for the 2011 events? “We believe that Pattaya provides an excellent backdrop for the shows as it is a major golfing destination in Thailand and it is a truly attractive venue, given its world renowned resort status,” Sebastian explained. He added, “Logistically speaking, Pattaya has excellent super-highway links from the international airport and it is a lot easier to get to than the city of Bangkok.”

“All of the events serve as a perfect setting for an excellent golf carnival and this is the first time anywhere in the world that so many conferences and exhibitions on golf are being staged at one venue,” declared Khun N. Sansern, Deputy Governor of the TAT.

Some of the international celebrities who will be in Pattaya for the events will be British golf legend Tony Jacklin and American tennis legend Jimmy Connors.

“We will be hosting over 50 world class speakers at all of our events and this will be the largest of any golf event outside the United States,” pointed out Sebastian.

One of the highlights of the events will be the special award presentation of the 2011 Asia Pacific Life-Time Achievement award to Thailand’s top professional golf Thongchai Jaidee.

Thongchai will be the first Asian professional golfer to receive this prestigious award and when told about this, he said, “I am indeed honoured to be selected for this award and it will be a great recognition for me and my country.”