Flights and favorite turf photos of 2020

This is usually where I show a map with all my flights, mention that they took me some hundred thousands of kilometers, and then share some of my favorite turf photos from all the places I went.

Well, I’m not bothering with the flight map this year. I took 12 flights and went 16,722 km. It would have been nice to travel more, but reflecting on the year, I have to say it was a nice change to not travel as much as I usually do.

And I still saw some beautiful and interesting turfgrass! Here are ten of my favorite photos from this year.

The eighth at Royal Hua Hin, January
The eighth at Royal Hua Hin, January

Royal Hua Hin was looking especially good in January. This is the oldest course in Thailand.

Hole 4 at Keya GC in Fukuoka, February
Hole 4 at Keya GC in Fukuoka, February

I visited Japan in February and saw some snow and a few golf courses. The all-zoysia Keya GC—yes, even the greens—was looking great.

Rebuilding a bunker on the par 3 third hole at Keya GC in Fukuoka, February
Rebuilding a bunker on the par 3 third hole at Keya GC in Fukuoka, February
A dry manilagrass lawn on an island in the Andaman Sea, March
A dry manilagrass lawn on an island in the Andaman Sea, March

I spent a couple weeks on a small island in the Andaman Sea in March. During the dry season, the lawns on the island were dormant. That makes a striking contrast with the blue water.

A beach with manilagrass in the Andaman Sea, March
A beach with manilagrass in the Andaman Sea, March

This zoysia on the beach was getting a little water and remained green.

Tropical carpetgrass lawn at the White Temple in Chiang Rai, October
Tropical carpetgrass lawn at the White Temple in Chiang Rai, October

The standard turf for shaded lawns in Thailand is tropical carpetgrass.

Waterfall in full flow on the sixth at Santiburi Samui, December
Waterfall in full flow on the sixth at Santiburi Samui, December

It had been raining in Samui. You won’t always see this waterfall with so much flow.

Rolling a Tifeagle green at sunrise at Nikanti GC, December
Rolling a Tifeagle green at sunrise at Nikanti GC, December

Nikanti GC is all bermudagrass in Nakhon Pathom just west of Bangkok. It was looking great in the December sunshine.

The second nine at the rugged and spectacular Hua Hin Korea CC, December
The second nine at the rugged and spectacular Hua Hin Korea CC, December

I had not been to this course (formerly Milford) since 2011. The trees have grown up a lot, and blocked a lot of the views, but it remains a spectacular setting for golf.

Morning view of the third at Banyan GC (now Pineapple Valley GC), December
Morning view of the third at Banyan GC (now Pineapple Valley GC), December

Speaking of spectacular settings for golf, this is a morning view at Pineapple Vally. The late afternoon view from the 19th hole, Mulligan’s Pub, is one of the best in the world. Maybe I can get that picture another year!

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