I live in Phuket....maybe the high number of Farangs here makes the difference/

100 BHT to the bank for their service. They also know exactly what immigration wants to see.

Agree with John L above. The rules are very simple. per month minimum. My company pension is paid directly to SCB. I go to bank and get them to prepare a copy of all pages of my account showing the monthly deposit.(Which actually says "pension"). I get bank to produce a cover letter addressed to immigration stating that I received 12 monthly pension payments in the last 12 months. Get this letter and copy of account on day I go to immigration. Dated on the same day. This has worked every year for the past 12 years plus.

Rawai also a long way from many courses...eg, blue canyon..

I run a golf group at Laguna. Every Saturday plus spin off groups other days of the week. Golf can be expensive in Thailand unless you join a club. Depends how many days a week you wish to play. As a retiiree you maybe are also looking for a community of possible equal reirees and triends.. look around both at courses and societies...