Myanmar Golf Holiday - Naypyitaw/Mandalay/Bagan

Although Yangon is no longer the official capital city, it is still Myanmar's main hub that has retained its colonial style, with several top-class golf courses and a host of other tourist sites not very far from the city. It began life as a fishing village near the Shwedagon Pagoda, but now it has become a fascinating place with a rich and varied history.

Since 2005, Nay Pyi Taw (pronounced' Naypiddaw,' meaning' Abode of Kings') has been Myanmar's capital since 2005. A huge and bizarrely empty place, it is a gaudy, multi-lane highway strewn testament to the strength of the generals who governed this nation (and somehow continue to rule).

Often referred to as the' Pride of Myanmar,' Pun Hlaing Golf Club has played host to a number of events in the region, including the 2008 and 2009 Myanmar Masters Tour. The course itself is appropriate for golfers of all skills, and many of the fairways are surrounded by water hazards, such as rivers and lakes, to maintain everyone on their toes.

Bagan's temples are one of the primary attractions in Myanmar. Once this ancient kingdom's capital, Bagan includes an incredible 26-sq-mile region bordered by The Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River on two sides. Bagan is littered with temples and although many of them have been damaged in a latest earthquake, more than 400 damaged temples are being repaired.

When you play golf at Bagan Golf Club, you'll see many of the temples first hand, with fairways that mingle between the temples.

During the Second World War, Mandalay was completely flattened and the continuing building boom was haphazard with little esthetic consideration.  Mandalay Hill has stayed mainly intact, dominating the town, and its slopes are still covered with pagodas. Despite all this, Mandalay continues a charming place with some excellent markets, mosques and other religious temples as well as countless golf stores.