Paul Myers is an Asia travel expert based in Bangkok, Thailand and publishes Asian Travel Media News.

He rounds up his Top-10 play and stay golf resorts for Global Golfer; from the world’s biggest super club at Mission Hills China – with its 10 golf courses – to Vietnam’s newest golf resort at Laguna Lang Co.

“For most golf tourists, the words “Stay and Play” are music to tired, over-travelled bodies and eager ears,” says Myers.

Choosing a resort where you can stay and play is essential for a stress-free golf holiday in Asia.

Why? If you choose to base yourself in a busy city and travel outside to golf resorts and courses, you’ll find yourself stuck in heavy traffic more often than not, dodging tuk tuk’s, elephants and looking for non-existent road markings.

Paul Myers, says: “Surprisingly, stay and play isn’t as common in Asia as you might think. Most golf courses in and near major cities don’t offer accommodation, relying on downtown hotels to serve these needs. This often means an early-morning departure to the course, a late afternoon return and a lot of wasted time before and after each round.”

So if you want to stay and play in Asia, here’s Asian Travel Media’s Top-10.

CHINA

Mission Hills Haikou, Hainan
Opened in 2010, this incredible resort has more than 500 five-star hotel rooms as well as Asia’s largest mineral springs and spa centre and 10 golf courses to keep the most avid golfers occupied for a week.

By 2015, the accommodation choices will be even greater when Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance hotels are completed as part of as major development at the resort that will include a movie theme town and a huge shopping and entertainment precinct.

There are direct flights to Haikou from Hong Kong and all major cities in China. Mission Hills Haikou is just 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. www.missionhillschina.com

Mission Hills Shenzhen/Dongguan
Mission Hills’ headquarters at Shenzhen, established 20 years ago, has just been upgraded with refurbishment of the original hotel, while a new multi-storey modern hotel was added at Dongguan (15 minutes away) in 2011.

Together, these dual five-star properties – with a wonderful selection of restaurants, cafes, spa, tennis and other facilities – complement the 12 golf courses at the complex that are served by three different clubhouses.

Each course was designed by a modern great of the game, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Nick (now Sir Nick) Faldo and Jose Maria Olazabal whose course hosted the HSBC World Golf Championships last November.www.missionhillschina.com

Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, Kunming
Overlooking Lake Yang Zong Hai in south-western China, 45 minutes’ drive east of Kunming, Spring City has few peers for location, environment and world-class golf. The accommodation and clubhouse, opened in 1998, is now being redeveloped, with completion due at the end of 2014.

But you can still stay in one of the 73 golf lodges in the resort complex, take in the magnificent views over the lake and play two of the best golf courses in China. Indeed, Spring City’s Lake Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, is widely regarded as China’s best course. The Jack Nicklaus-designed Mountain Course is equally enjoyable and has long been one of China’s top five courses. www.springcityresort.com

VIETNAM
Laguna Lang Co Golf Club, Hue
The newly-opened resort between Danang and Hue has put a new meaning on stay and play. Quite simply, this property is as good as it gets, with exquisite, exclusive and private Banyan Tree villas and a separate Angsana hotel.

Set on a three-kilometre stretch of beach in a quiet bay, an hour’s drive from Danang International Airport, the resort is one of those places where you want to put up your feet, relax, take in the ambience – and play golf.

The championship course designed by Sir Nick Faldo and situated behind the resort, features a variety of environments including mountain, rice paddy and coastal landscapes.

The complex has added an extra dimension to Vietnam’s Central Coast as one of Asia’s best golf tourism destinations.www.lagunalangco.com

Danang Golf Club/The Ocean Villas, Danang
When it opened in 2010, most visitors to Danang Golf Club stayed at one of the new hotels that have sprung up on the shores of China Beach in the previous few years. Now they have a better option adjacent to the course and linked by a tunnel – The Ocean Villas, part of Danang Beach Resort, owned and operated by VinaCapital, the same group that developed the course.

The two-story Ocean Villas come in sizes from one to seven bedrooms, all with their own plunge pool and within a short distance of the Beach Club and restaurant, which face the sea. Guests can self cater in the villas or eat at the restaurant.

Just a two-minute cart ride to the course, The Ocean Villas is a home-away-from-home for visiting golfers, while the Greg Norman-designed Danang Golf Club has twice been named the best course in Vietnam. www.theoceanvillas.com.vn orwww.dananggolfclub.com

THAILAND

Banyan Golf Resort, Hua Hin