Golf in Myanmar

Golf in Myanmar

Golf in Myanmar is one of the best Asia golf experiences available and as more and more golfers discover the beauty and cultural wonders of Myanmar, the golf gets better:

Golf Tourism in Myanmar has been developed mainly by the government, but many private enterprises do exist, catering to a wide range of tourists. Since 1992, the government has encouraged tourism in the country. However, fewer than 750,000 tourists enter the country annually.[1] Aung San Suu Kyi has requested that international tourists not visit Myanmar. The junta’s forced labour programmes were focused on tourist destinations which have been heavily criticised for their human rights records.

What may be the most exciting news about golf in Myanmar is that arguably Myanmar’s most successful golfer, PGA tour winner, Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, and recent Chairman of the Asian Tour, Kyi Hla Han, then known on the professional circuit as the “Burmese Bandit” has returned to his birth country with the mandate to raise golf to a level of international pride and make Myanmar and enticing destination for golf travel that accentuates the seemingly enchanted destinations dotted around the country.  He is the signature co-designer with international designer Schmidt/Curley at Myotha National and his own design firm, Kyi Hla Han Golf Design is already well underway planning for several first-class upgrades and a couple new courses at major tourism locations. There is even talk of an international, multi-country golf trail and a domestic golf trail, accessible by luxury boat, which takes golfers through wild regions with opportunities to sample the most spiritual and authentic aspects of Burmese culture and golf along the way. Han points to cooler highland areas in ethnic Shan State and to the western Beaches near Napoli as areas ripe for the kinds of experiential, adventure vacations many of today’s golf tourists are looking for.

Tourism has been promoted by advocacy groups as a method of providing economic benefit to Burmese civilians, and to avoid isolating the country from the rest of the world. Voices for Myanmar, a pro-democracy advocate group, states, “We believe that small-scale, responsible tourism can create more benefits than harm. So long as Myanmar golf tourists are fully aware of the situation and take steps to maximise their positive impact and minimise the negatives, we feel their visit can be beneficial overall. Responsible tourists can help Myanmar primarily by bringing money to local communities and small businesses, and by raising awareness of the situation worldwide.”

Regardless, a majority of advocacy groups discourage tourism. Any tourist visit will provide some income to the military junta. Even disregarding the obviously governmental fees, Myanmar’s Minister of Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, who doesn’t play golf in Myanmar, recently admitted that the government receives a significant percentage of the income of private sector tourism services. Not to mention the fact that only a very small minority of impoverished ordinary people in Myanmar ever see any money with any relation to tourism. Try golf in Myanmar for something different in Asia.

Golf in Myanmar is a relatively new sport but there are a number of reasonable 9 and 18 hole courses constructed around the country. There are 18 holes Golf Courses in Yangon (City Golf Resort), in Bagan (Bagan Nyaung Oo Golf Club), in Mandalay (Mandalay Hill Golf Course) and in Taunggyi (Aye Thar Yar Golf Course). There are also 9 hole Courses at Mt. Popa & Ngapali beach. These Golf Courses are suitable for visitors to play and are built to an international standard. Here is a list of the better courses.

Golf Asia arrange Golf Packages for clients at the following Golf Courses which include hotel-golf club-hotel transfers with English Speaking escort, car & driver, green fees for 18 holes, caddy fees, locker, shower & change room facilities. Our escort, driver & vehicle will standby at the club for client’s convenience while playing golf.