Whether you're an old pro, an amateur, or a rank newbie, you'll find a place to play the game of golf almost anywhere in Asia. From Singapore to South Korea, golf has gained tremendous popularity both as a relaxing pastime, and as a way of forging tight business connections.

Some of the best golf courses in the world are in places like Thailand and Singapore, with incredibly beautiful and challenging courses adjacent to luxurious resorts. Besides the golf itself, the surroundings are incomparable. Even in major congested cities, golf courses are set in gorgeous surroundings, often just out of town in a relaxing countryside setting. Many have been created by world-famous designers with consultation by some of the game's most prestigious players, creating courses that stand out among all others. You'll find all the amenities of the American course and then some, with excellent clubhouses, restaurants, and spa facilities. If you're golfing your way through Southeast Asia, the heat may be stifling, but you're never too far away from a relaxing glass of cold tea, and a comfortable place to sit in the shade for a while and enjoy the tropical scenery. You'll find the service to be second to none, and in some of the courses, you'll enjoy seeing some things you'd never expect at a Western golf course. If you're playing near the jungle, you may just hear a high-pitched, two-tone cry off in the distance, and if you get a little closer, you'll see a gecko crawling around the green. In Thailand, some golfers have been known to see a monitor lizard on the course from time to time-but if you do, don't look at it, it's considered bad luck!

Golf has always been considered a "businessperson's sport," but it is even more so in Asia simply because of the business culture. In most Asian countries, business is transacted on a much more personal level than in America. In Japan for example, it is very important to make a personal connection with someone before conducting business or making a deal. It's never "just business" when you make a business trip to an Asian country, and if you go with a hard-edged attitude of getting right down to business, you won't get far. More deals get made on the golf course there than in the conference room, and your Japanese counterpart will want to know you on a personal level before signing any contracts. This may take place over a few nights at restaurants and bars, a geisha house, and more often than not, a round of golf.

Many of the best courses are private, with open golfing limited only to a couple days a month. But chances are, if you are on a business trip, your Asian counterpart will have a membership, so you're in luck. If business isn't part of your agenda, don't worry, there are still plenty of options-and if you sign up with the right tour guide, you may even still be able to get inside some of those exclusive private clubs. And the public courses are often equally stunning and beautifully designed, with greens fees that compare quite favorably to those in America.

Whether it's for business or pleasure, you won't have to look too hard to find a good course, wherever you may be. In legendary golfer Tiger Woods' ancestral home, Thailand is rich with very well-developed and well-played golf courses, offering a very high quality environment at low cost. In many of the Thai golf resorts, the pleasures don't stop at golf alone, with extensive opportunities for elegant meals, traditional massage, and the ultimate in relaxation.