Rolling it in Rangoon

Time for a tune-up

If you are looking to improve your game, Myanmar boasts some of the cheapest golf lessons in the region. At the Han Golf Masters Academy (Kyauk Yae Twin St, Yangon; 651-797, 651-374), a school billed as “the home of future champions”, lessons with a pro run as cheap as US$6 for a 30 minute session. A package of 12 one-hour lessons costs US$150. The modern school, which was started by the Han brothers — Chan, Kyi Hla and Aung Hla — features 45 artificial and natural grass bays, and features an extensive short game area to work on putting, chipping and sand play. The academy, which runs adjacent to the Myanmar Golf Club, is the training ground for the country’s national team.

Trip Planner

Money
Myanmar has no international banking system, currency exchange or ATMs. In addition, travellers cheques are virtually useless in the country, as are credit cards, although some big hotels may accept them. As it is, visitors need to be cashed up with US currency going in, preferably pristine unmarked US$100 and US$50 bills void of folds. Greenbacks can then be exchanged for kyats, the local currency, with street vendors (often a dodgy proposition for the exchange rate) or at hotels. Money traders at the Bogyoke Market on Bogyoke Aung San Road, the main market downtown, also seem to be fairly trustworthy. Be prepared to get stacks of 1,000-note kyats and spend them before leaving the country as they are worthless beyond the Myanmar border. While the exchange rate may be more, 1,000 kyat for US$1 is a good reference.

Visas
Visitors will also need to arrange a visa in advance before arriving in the country. The procedures and an application can be downloaded from http://myanmar.e-consulate.org or picked up from the local consulate (24/F, Sun Hung Kai Centre, 30 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai). A one-entry visa, good for a 30-day visit, costs HK$150.

Getting There
At the time of press no airline flies direct between Hong Kong and Yangon. By far the easiest transit point is Bangkok. Thai International, Air Asia and Bangkok Airways serve Yangon International Airport daily. Another option is China Southern Airlines, which flies twice-weekly direct from Guangzhou.

Climate
December and January are the best months for golf in Yangon, when the days are dry and the temperature averages about 20 degrees Celsius. During March and April, the hottest months, the mercury can reach 37 degrees. Golf during the summer months can be a hit and miss affair; while temperatures are more bearable there’s always the risk of a thunderstorm.