Architect Ron Garl on golf courses in China and Thailand, the best par 3s of Scotland and Ireland, Sun Mountain's Speed Cart V2

Hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week.

Golf course architect Ron Garl is known for his unique designs in exotic locations, and he joins host Dave Berner to talk about some of his new courses that will be opening soon, as well as some interesting new projects he has going in China and Thailand, among other places.

“The one that’s furthers along is a project near Shanghai, China,” said Garl of his new course, Nine Dragons. “It’s an oceanfront site, it’s a phenomenal piece of property, it has great beaches. It has cliffs along the ocean. It has mountains along the ocean. It’s got a little bit of everything.

“What makes great golf courses is sites that have tremendous variation,” added Garl of the course that has 18 of its 27 holes open. “And this is one of those sites that has that. It’s a spectacular site.”

Garl goes on to talk about his new course in downtown Bangkok - which will have a shopping center under the golf course.

Think there are some great par 3s in the U.S.? You should check out the British Isles. WorldGolf.com’s Brandon Tucker has been spending some time in the UK has some amazing stories about some amazing par 3s he’s played in Scotland and Ireland.

“There’s one at Royal Dornoch in Scotland, No. 6 called Whinny Brae,” said Tucker. “Now Donald Ross didn’t build this course, but I think what’s interesting about this hole is that it kind of has that crown green that I think Donald Ross implemented in a lot of his designs like Pinehurst and I can’t help but think that this hole influenced him. It’s a beautiful hole and I think it’s very influential.”

Finally, in the “What do you like?” segment, Berner discusses what he calls “The best darned pull cart ever” - the Sun Mountain Speed Cart V2.

“I tried them out and found them to be incredibly golfer friendly, smooth as silk,” said Berner. “If you’re a carrier and don’t want to ride, I recommend the Speed Cart.”

If you’d like to discuss a golf product that you love, send and e-mail to thisweek(at)travelgolf(dot)com and you can tell the world all about it.

This podcast is supported by Walters Golf in Las Vegas and San Diego Golf Central.