Southeast Asia will launch its own tour next month in an effort to raise the standard of local golfers. The ASEAN Golf Tour will take place from September to December, with events in Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Organizers expect a field of 144 local players when the tour kicks off on September 5 with the $50,000 International Championships in Jakarta. "Many talented golfing professionals in Southeast Asia do not have enough chances to play competitive golf," ASEAN Golf Tour chairman A.C. Wong said in a statement. "The flourishing state of men's golf in Asia has resulted in the need to boast this new circuit." The region currently has 13 players in the top 50 on the Asian Tour order of merit, which has been topped by Thai golfers Thongchai Jaidee (2001, 2004) and Thaworn Wiratchant (2005) in recent years. Wong said there were plans to expand the tour next year with events planned in the remaining five ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) member countries; Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Following the inaugural event, the ASEAN Golf Tour moves to Thailand (September 26-29) the Philippines (October 3-6), Vietnam (November 20-23) and finishes in Singapore (December 13-16).

Cambodia tours  http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours  http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/