We checked in with Simon Mees after he had been in charge of Banyan Golf Club for almost six months to see how he was adjusting to his new role. The club’s management contract was recently taken over by Absolute Golf Services.
Simon was born and raised in Scotland—the country that is widely regarded as the cradle of golf. He has extensive experience in the hospitality industry and has worked in a variety of settings, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
He had the good fortune of traveling to many foreign countries with his family during his childhood. At a young age, this sparked a desire in him to see the world and experience new things.
“Dubai sounded appealing, and when the opportunity to work at Dubai Creek presented itself in 1999, I jumped at the chance. I had heard many positive reports about Dubai from other professionals in Scotland who had worked there or were still based there. Because I was still a high school student at the time, I figured it was better to try it and find out I didn’t like it than to never try it at all. Almost 22 years later, it seems like everything turned out fine.
Next, Simon talked shop with James Shippey, CEO of Absolute Golf Services, at the 2019 Asian Golf Awards in India. During a casual conversation, James mentioned to Simon that there was a potential opportunity in Thailand at Aquella Golf & Country Club, located on the Andaman coast 70 kilometers north of Phuket. However, he was unable to provide further details at the time.
A few months later, with more information about the project to share, James Shippey reached out to see if Simon was interested in applying for the GM role. Simon quickly applied for the position after hearing James introduce the club and the project plan, and he started in mid-2021 after a short delay due to the pandemic. The club had a soft opening in August 2021, and it was so successful that they decided to open for business permanently.
Simon oversees a wide variety of responsibilities as General Manager of Banyan Golf Club, one of the most well-known courses in Thailand. This includes club management, golf operations, member relations, food and beverage, and team development. Golf course architect and designer Pirapon Namatra created this stunning layout in Thailand. The past decade has seen him consistently ranked as one of the top three “Best Golf Courses in Thailand,” and he has won multiple “Best in Asia” awards for his work.
Guests can enjoy a meal at the course’s “Terrace” restaurant any time of day; it serves food from around the world and has a wine list that includes more than 50 different labels. That way, you can take your time sipping a drink and taking pictures of the sunset over the Burmese Mountains from the terrace.
Visit www.banyanthailand.com or dial 032 538 888 for more information about Banyan Tree Thailand.
Author: Editorial Staff
Provider of news and content to Heaven is Hua Hin
