Category Archives: Thailand Golf Courses and Playing Conditions

Posted by - November 17, 2009

Lagging It Close Golfing in Phuket and Hua Hin

My approach shots often stop 20 feet short of the hole when I play the hilly Phuket golf courses like Blue Canyon and Red Mountain or the new Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin. These golf courses have many elevated greens compared to my relatively flat home Bangkok golf course, Thai Country Club.  Therefore, my lag putting becomes extremely important to achieve a good score and avoid three putting at these Thailand golf courses. I have found that good lag putting is a function of my ability t...

Posted by - October 28, 2009

Gold Mountain Golf Club, Chiang Mai

  Gold Mountain Golf Club is the latest addition to the northern Thai golf scene.  Currently it is in a ‘soft opening’ phase and conditions are a bit rough, though all 18 holes are open for play.  The front nine opened in 2009 and the back nine earlier this year.  The clubhouse won’t be finished until 2010.  For now the caddie shack serves as a limited service clubhouse and serves up a bit of Thai food along with an assortment of beverages. Gold Mountain is located...

Posted by - September 16, 2009

6 Thailand Golf Picks That Are “Twice As Nice” (Part 1 of 2)

Of the many quality golf courses available to visitors in Thailand, some of the best are at facilities with 36 holes.  A visit to any of these will provide a golfing experience that is “twice as nice” as an 18-hole offering. Here are 6 of the best picks; 3 today (all by chance happen to be Bangkok golf courses) and 3 in the next post. 1. Lam Luk Ka Country Club is located about 30 minutes from the old Don Muang International Airport.  Lam Luk Ka is a real “sleeper”, as it is quietly...

Posted by - September 1, 2009

5 THAILAND GOLF ETIQUETTE TIPS

When golfing in Thailand remember these 5 simple points of golf etiquette and everyone will be assured of a satisfying golf experience. The overriding principle is that consideration should be shown to others on Thailand golf courses at all times.   1. The Spirit of the Game in ThailandUnlike many sports, golf in Thailand is played without the supervision of a referee. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other golfers in Thailand and to abide by th...

Posted by - July 7, 2009

The Thailand Golf Experience

Here is a Thailand golf post by Gerry Norquist, former Asian Tour star. There is a special magic about playing golf in a Kingdom.  It has been said that the golf experience in “the land of smiles” is like no other anywhere in the world.   The many diverse courses available to the golf enthusiast throughout the nation cater to the beginner and the expert with equal delight. A round of golf in Thailand typically begins with a friendly greeting at the club drop off area near the ...

Posted by - June 19, 2009

Bangkok’s Least Known Golf Course

Have you ever wondered what that golf course off to the side of the BTS smack in the middle Bangkok was? Nestled in amongst the hustle and bustle of one of Southeast Asia’s busiest cities is a hidden golf gem.  The Royal Bangkok Sports Club  (RBSC)  is an anomaly in that, it is by far the most conveniently located golf course in Bangkok, yet might be the least well known. Here is what you are missing. Located in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping and business district, the only...

Posted by - April 30, 2009

Red Mountain Phuket To Add Driving Range +

Here is a snippet of news from Red Mountain Golf Club in Phuket. Work has just started on a new driving range at Red Mountain Golf Club in Phuket. Work has just started on the 16 bay practice area and should be complete in about 6 weeks. This together with the planned resort hotel, luxury villas, and integrated shopping center will have Red Mountain challenge Blue Canyon as the premier Phuket golf resort! In the meantime, stayed tuned for some new about lower green fees at the course. They are ...

Posted by - April 27, 2009

Krungthep Kreetha Sports Club

Krungthep Kreetha golf course is reviewed here by long time Bangkok resident, Dwight Tichenor. Krungthep Kreetha is one of the older Bangkok golf courses and although it is located pretty much in town, it seems to be passed over by many local golfers:  they are missing a fine, challenging golfing experience.  Well maintained, with some of the finest fairways and greens in the area, it posses a fine test for every golfer.  Never unfair, it brings out the best in your game, or...

Posted by - April 14, 2009

Khao Yai Golf Update

Last week I visited Khao Yai golf courses and get a general update on the golf scene in Thailand’s largest National Park and gateway to Issan. First up on my visit was Sir James Country Club. While the course is one of the closer ones to Bangkok I had difficulty finding the golf course as the highway sign still reads the old name, Forest Hills.  Now it seems that the golf resort has gone down hill and retains hardly any of the good service that was prevalent when it was Forest Hills. This...

Posted by - April 5, 2009

Phunaka: A New Phuket Golf Course

Ian, our man on the ground in Phuket and up-and-coming golf reporter has this to say about Phuket’s newest golf course; Punaka Golf Club. I have just come back from visiting Phuket’s latest golf development in the South of the island and was very impressed with what I saw.  Really, I should not be surprised as the designer Jonathan Morrow is the man behind the very impressive Red Mountain Golf Course also in Phuket. However, in Mr. Morrow’s latest project the only similarity between the t...

Posted by - March 3, 2009

Asian Golf Tour Comes To Hua Hin

Thailand’s royal seaside town and one of the best Thailand golf destinations, Hua Hin, will play host what promises to be one of feature tournaments on the Asian Tour. The Black Mountain Masters will be held at the Black Mountain Golf Club Hua Hin from March 23 and 29. It is the first professional golf tournament aimed not just to promote golf in Thailand, but also Hua Hin golf tourism; check out this FREE Hua Hin golf offer. With a prize pool of US$ 500,000 on offer and an impressive list of&#...

Posted by - February 26, 2009

NAVATANEE GOF COURSE, Bangkok Thailand

Here is a nice golf course review from a long time Thailand golfer and expatriate resident of Bangkok. I’m a bit old fashioned when it comes to golf. My 3 wood has a steel shaft, I use an Arnold Palmer blade putter, and I prefer to walk whenever feasible. I also really enjoy good traditional parkland style golf courses. I also like the modern designs and even some of the more unusual and flamboyant layouts, though it is the traditional parkland style layouts that I can play over and over again...

Posted by - December 30, 2008

North Thailand (Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai) Golf Scene

Here is a golf report from Chiang Mai by local resident Larry Fraser. I first played here three years ago, and a large factor in my coming back for a few months each year is the golf.  If you come to Chiang Mai in the "cool season" to play golf you will not be disappointed. Who could ask for more; playing in the refreshing air, surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges, and among some of the nicest people in the world? There are about a dozen courses within 45 minutes of dow...

Posted by - December 18, 2008

CAMBODIAN GOLF ADVENTURES – part 2 of 3

Siem Reap’s second championship golf course opened in early 2008.  The 7,279 yard Nick Faldo designed Angkor Golf Resort is conveniently located near the airport and close to all area hotels.  Carved out of land that was previously flat, featureless rice paddies, Faldo was able to use all his imagination at the Angkor Golf Resort, with the end result being a fun and challenging course that is very playable, though will play you if you are careless. This is one course you can’t just...

Posted by - December 16, 2008

CAMBODIAN GOLF ADVENTURES – part 1 of 3

Golf in Cambodia can easily be combined with golf in Thailand and now more than ever golfers from around the world are discovering this new golf destination. The fabulous Buddhist temples of Siem Reap, Cambodia date back nearly 1,000 years and are one of the true wonders of the world.  When constructed Cambodia was home of one the world’s great civilizations.  Angkor Wat is by far the largest and most famous of the temples, though there are numerous others and each is unique, with i...

Posted by - November 26, 2008

Best Under $30 USD Golf Course In Thailand

Thailand has many great courses from Alpine Golf Club in Bangkok to Phuket’s Blue Canyon Country Club, both in fact where Tiger Woods won major PGA tournaments. While these golf courses can be played by all golfers in Thailand at green fees half of what similar courses cost in Europe or the USA, they are still nevertheless expensive for some. Most times I sing the praise for all the upper-end championship courses in Thailand, however in these uncertain economic times, I thought it appropriate...

Posted by - November 11, 2008

Hua Hin Golf Tour & Courses Update

A group of 48 Japanese American golfers in Thailand last week played a golf tournament in Hua Hin. Here are the tour leader’s comments on the Hua Hin golf courses, which he had last played some seven years ago: The first day of our Hua Hin golf tour we played we played Majestic Creek Country Club (known to the locals as “Magic Stick”). Whilst it has always been a challenging layout, the course was a bit unkempt, the clubhouse showed signs of age, and there were even rumours from the staff of th...

Posted by - October 30, 2008

Hua Hin Golf Clubhouses

Hua Hin now has 9 golf courses, including 2   which make my Thailand’s top ten list, Black Mountain Golf Club and the new Banyan Golf Club, the later which was the subject of recent post. Here are my favorite golf clubhouses in Hua Hin. Springfield Village Golf and Spa. The clubhouse was constructed in an elevated position that will leave you with a lasting impression. The interior is beautifully finished in polished marble and granite, and portrays a feeling of opulence associated ...

Posted by - October 27, 2008

Chiang Mai Golf Clubhouses

Chiang Mai now boasts 8 golf courses and is fast becoming a popular Thailand golf holiday destination. My favorite golf clubhouses in Chiang Mai are: Chiang Mai Highlands Golf Resort and Spa. The clubhouse is modern, but yet tastefully integrated with the surrounding mountains. The newly opened spa is one of the best in Northern Thailand, and the golfer’s rejuvenation treatment is really special. Being owned by the same team as Muang Kaew Golf Club in Bangkok it is of little surprise that the re...

Posted by - October 23, 2008

Phuket Golf Clubhouses

Phuket is the most famous and popular Thailand golf holiday destination. Given that the courses mainly carter to visiting golfers, it is surprising that all of the Phuket golf courses do not invest in and keep up the club house and facilities.  In fact I only really like 3 of the golf clubhouses in Phuket. These are: Blue Canyon Country Club. An excellent club house, with 3 gourmet restaurants, clean and luxurious changing rooms, massage, swimming pool and spa. Mission Hills Phuket Golf Res...

Posted by - October 21, 2008

Bangkok Golf Clubhouses

My favorite golf clubhouses in Bangkok are: Thai Country Club. Managed by the Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok and Hong Kong, the award-winning best in Asia clubhouse which stands surrounded by water between the 1st tee and 18th green caters to every need. Once there, you’ll find the friendliest staff of golf professionals in the Kingdom, committed to making your golf experience a memorable one. The dining facilities are second to none and the dining room’s ever-changing menus feature Thai, Chinese, Jap...

Posted by - October 13, 2008

Pattaya Golf Courses: Three Lesser Known Clubs

For a Thailand golf vacation Pattaya is still the least expensive golf destination. While Pattaya is not a place to bring your mother, or girlfriend for that matter, and swimming in the sea is not recommended, there are quite a few good golf courses in the area; some very reasonably priced, but hardly known. Here are my three favorite of the lesser know Pattaya golf courses. 1.    Emerald Golf Club since re-opening in 2006 has done a great job to improve course and playing conditions. ...

Posted by - October 9, 2008

Thailand’s Newest Golf Course: Banyan Golf Club

Opened last week, Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin is the newest Thailand golf course. Adding to the 7 other  Hua Hin golf clubs the course and club at Banyan is first-rate. The Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin just 15 minutes south of town is tucked in between two small mountain ranges. The superb 7030 yard Banyan course has more in common with a top quality European parkland course, than with something hewn from a Thai pineapple plantation. Within the jungle and pineapple-lined perimeter, it’s often h...

Posted by - August 12, 2008

Kaeng Krachan Golf Club, Hua Hin Thailand

Here is a story of a little known Thailand golf club located near the Burma-Thailand, around 75 minutes west of Hua Hin. My friend and USPGA golf professional Graham Samson was there a few weeks ago and wrote this report. Kaeng Krachan Country Club & Resort has been re-branded as KKC Golf & Country Club (Not to be confused with KFC) KKC Golf & Country Club has operated since 1994. The first 18 holes (Lake and Valley) was designed by Cherd Bunyaratavej, the famous US trained Thai gol...

Posted by - August 8, 2008

Where Is The Clubhouse?

What would you do if you were on the way to a Thailand golf course and came across this sign? Well I came across this sign at Lakewood Golf Club in Bangkok on Friday and it made me chuckle. Guess it put me in a good mood because I shot 3 under my handicap. The Bangkok golf course was in the best condition that I have ever seen it in and that probably helped a bit as well. Fast greens, well defined fairways, and even consistency and firmness of the sand bunkers made playing at Lakewood a joy. For...

Posted by - July 15, 2008

Singha Thailand PGA Championship June 26-29, 2008

Here is a trip report from Graham Sampson, one of only a few professional PGA golf instructors in Northern Thailand. Santiburi Country Club in Chiang Rai recently hosted the Singha Thailand PGA Championship. The new Asian Tour event was presented by the Sports Authority of Thailand. Most golfers that have played Santiburi consider it one of the best golf courses in Asia, both in condition and challenge. For the event Santiburi grew the rough to U.S. Open type length and narrowed the fairways. It...

Posted by - June 24, 2008

Santiburi Samui Country Club

Santiburi Samui Country Club is one of the two most beautiful golf courses in Thailand, with scenic sea view panoramas on almost every hole. Only Red Mountain in Phuket comes close to having such spectacular scenery. Santiburi may also be the most challenging Thailand golf course due to steep elevation changes and lost ball possibilities both left and right, again on almost every hole.  So take your camera and a good supply of balls, leave your ego at home, and have a great time golfing at ...

Posted by - June 3, 2008

Japanese Golf Course Designers In Thailand (Part 3)

Leave it to the Japanese to not only design great golf courses by individuals, but also by corporations. That’s right major Japanese companies are also involved in golf course design and they also have left their mark on Thailand golf courses. One of the more interesting Japanese golf course developments in Thailand is Bangpra International Golf Club, which was originally built in 1958, one of the first golf courses in the Pattaya area. Then in 1988, the course and facilities were completely up...

Posted by - May 29, 2008

Japanese Golf Course Designers In Thailand (Part 2)

Continuing with a look at the Japanese designers who have contributed to the development of golf in Thailand, other well-known architects include: Isao Izumi: Siam Country Club (1971), Pattaya, Yoshihara Aihara: Pinehurst Golf & Country Club (1990), Bangkok, and Isao Katsumata: Sawang Resort Golf Club (1993), Hua Hin. Siam Country Club is one of the more famous Thailand golf courses, being built more than 27 years ago and completely renovated in 2006.. Over the years the golf course has hos...

Posted by - May 27, 2008

Japanese Golf Course Designers In Thailand

Much has been said about the role famous American and British golf course designers such as Nicklaus, Faldo, Dye, and Trent Jones in Thailand, but how about the Japanese? Well, in the next 2 articles I will focus on Japanese designers who have contributed to the development of golf here in the Kingdom and I bet you will be surprised to learn about these great golf course designers in their own right! With golfing in Thailand being so popular with the Japanese, it was inevitable that some of Ja...