Springfield. The name conjures images of Ohio, the heart of the American Mid West and home of Jack Nicklaus, the legendary golfer and perhaps the greatest of them all.
But, in this instance, Springfield is in Hau Hin, the quaint little Thai town about 200 kilometres south of Bangkok that retains a charm that distinguishes it from resorts on the opposite side of the Gulf of Thailand which have long been engulfed by the tawdry trappings of mainstream tourism.
In this instance, too, the name Nicklaus has a familiar ring. He designed the 18-hole layout that forms the basis of the magnificent Springfield Golf and Country Club.
It provides, for many, the ultimate challenge among five courses set within a 30-minute drive of Hau Hin's hotels, which range from luxurious beachfront complexes to spartan but adequate places to sleep. Determine a budget, and your choice of a golfer's dream holiday begins to unfold.
The Nicklaus name almost certainly adds to the allure of Springfield which the master golfer-cum- designer has crafted with all his tell- tale features.
It is almost uninvitingly tough from the back. But there is no need to play from there.