Thailand Golf Holidays

Ultimate Thailand Golf Holiday Guide

Winston Churchill once said that ‘Golf spoils a good walk’, which obviously means he is a man who cannot hit a 3-iron. He is not alone. Thailand has become a mecca for golf holidays over the past few years and is quite easily one of the premier golf holiday destinations in South-East-Asia, if it’s not already the number-1 hotspot. If you are considering, thinking or even just dreaming of playing golf in Thailand or are coming here for a vacation, we have the most thought-provoking info online for those looking to get the best from their Thailand golf holiday.

Why is Thailand a World-Class Golf Holiday Destination?

Thailand is widely known and loved across the world for its fascinating culture, earth-shattering cuisine, blood boiling temperatures, stunning natural wonders, its hedonistic nightlife charms and its relationship with the third gender, but not many people ever talk about Thailand golf. Why is that? Thailand should already be known as the ultimate place to visit for a golf holiday. Are people really more interested in exploring Buddhist temples, tampering with sultry go-go babes, getting smashed on alcohol or relaxing on stunning beaches? What is the world coming to?

Golfers are a strange breed, much like fisherman, as this hobby of ours has now become an unhealthy obsession and is not just a game/sport anymore. As with fishermen, golfers can’t just go down to our local lake or course to have an afternoon of catching fish or smacking golf balls. Oh no… we have to try and play every course or fish every lake in the world or we are a failure. It’s just how we are built.

Thailand is a place that successfully merges many factors to create the ultimate golf holiday destination. Not only does it have an eclectic choice of courses across the nation that suits every ability and budget, but the golf scene also leverages that famous Thai hospitality and intertwines it with your golf experience to take the service to the next level.

If you choose to play golf in one of Thailand’s major tourism locations, you can also take advantage of a vast cacophony of hotels with all price ranges and all the local amenities such as top-notch international eateries, nightlife options and world-class shopping. Some would say that playing golf in Thailand is like basking amidst the best holiday destination in the world that has a vast range of top-notch courses! And that’s exactly what it is!

Thailand Golf Destinations

Now we have established that Thailand kicks the proverbial ass in the golf holiday stakes, it’s time to start considering which locations will suit not only your game, but what kind of holiday you want to have. Here are the best Thailand golf destinations:

• Pattaya Golf – If you want to merge mind-altering nights out and have some memorable (or not so memorable depending on your consumption) parties, while also playing some of the best golf courses in Thailand, Pattaya is simply unbeatable. There are over 22 golf courses within a 45-minte drive Pattaya City with something that caters for everyone. Courses such as The Plantation and The Old course at Siam Country Club, alongside Laem Chabang International Country Club are literally some of the Kingdom’s best quality Championship courses and routinely home to professional events, especially those from the LPGA Tour. Pattaya has beaches, babes, 5-star resorts, a wide choice of restaurants, the best nightlife in the world and the highest concentration of courses anywhere in Thailand.
• Phuket Golf – The beautiful and sub-tropical atmosphere of Phuket really is very conductive to a mesmerizing Thailand golf holiday. Enjoy the pristine beaches and crystal seas, take advantage of the high-end atmosphere and some of the best eateries in Thailand, or enjoy amazing nights out in places such as Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kamala and Kata. With courses such as the world-famous Canyon Course @ Blue Canyon Country Club and other low-cost options such as Mission Hills Phuket and Laguna Phuket Golf Club, you have a wealth of choice at your fingertips.
• Chiang Mai Golf – One of the most unique places to play golf in Thailand is in Chiang Mai. This beautiful region in the north of Thailand has some fascinating golf courses that reside in the foothills of the breathtaking Doi Inthanon mountain range, which is the tallest in Thailand. With a beautiful and laidback city location and with lots of courses in the countryside such as Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club and the Alpine Golf Resort, Chiang Mai has a fledgling golf scene that is starting to become a major player on the SE-Asian golf holiday market.
• Other notable mentions – Affluent Thais really love playing golf, so it really doesn’t matter where you are in Thailand because there will be a golf courses nearby. Hua Hin is home to what is known as one of the best golf courses in Thailand in many publications, Black Mountain Golf Club. In and around the countryside that surrounds Bangkok, you will also find some of the Kingdom’s most loved courses such as Amata Springs. Whether you are in Krabi, Phang Nga or Koh Samui, golf is very prevalent right across Thailand.

Memorable Thailand Golf Courses

We could really go on forever about golf course recommendations in Thailand, but if you are looking to play the best championship courses in Thailand, here are some solid options. If you research any ‘top golf courses in Thailand’ list, Ayodhya Golf Club in Ayutthaya normally comes in number-1 position. The best courses in Pattaya include The Old Course at Siam Country Club, Lam Chabang International Country Club and Phoenix Gold Golf Club. If you are in Phuket, make sure your play the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club and also the stunning Red Mountain GC. Black Mountain GC and the Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin are also very popular choices with golfers.

3 Thailand Golf Courses you Will Want to Play

If you are considering playing golf in Thailand and wanted to play some of the best golf courses in the kingdom, here are 5 of the best for you to consider:

#1 - The Canyon Course @ Blue Canyon Country Club

The Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club is famous for hosting major tournaments throughout the years, with many of the modern greats playing the course such as Tiger Woods, Freddie Couples, Ernie Els and many more in the Johnnie Walker Classic.

This impressive course weaves its way through tree-lined fairways and, as the name suggest, a natural canyon that creates some stunning backdrops and scary hazards. The course is set over 18-holes with a 72-par and a distance of over 7,000 yards form the back-tees, offering one of the most aesthetically-pleasing rounds of golf in Thailand.

Personified by its signature canyon holes on the 13th and 17th, make sure you bring your camera along to catch the views. The course is the home to some amazing natural canyons, rolling streams, sheer cliffs with massive drops and lots of tree-lined fairways and bunker defense systems.

Alongside the excellent layout of the course, Blue Canyon also offers world-class onsite amenities that include a large clubhouse, 3 restaurants, swimming pools, a spa, pro-shop, massage facilities and changing rooms.

Visiting Phuket to play golf without playing the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club would be sacrilegious.

Click here to find out more about the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon

#2 - The Old Course at Siam Country Club Pattaya

One of the highest ranked golf courses in Thailand is The Old Course at Siam Country Club. This world-famous Pattaya golf club was first established in 1971 and was designed by I. Izumi, although the course was renovated in recent times by Lee Schmidt. Known as a host to numerous international tournaments, especially the LPGA Honda Classic, The Old course is a real challenge, but at the same time offers one of the most special rounds of golf in Thailand.

Due to its age, the course has really matured into its woodland surroundings, and offers 18-holes of Pattaya golf with a par-72 layout over 7,162 yards from the back-tees. The course is always in immaculate condition, as you would expect from such a world-class club, and with a total of 101 bunkers, it’s a real challenge, but a very rewarding one.

No expense has been spared in creating this stunning course, utilizing Seashore Paspalum grass for the fairways and Nonotek for the greens. The course is completely tree-lined, which gives it a special intimate feel, but you better make sure you are driving the ball straight or the approach shots can be extremely difficult.

Alongside the stunning conditions, the club also comes equipped with world-class onsite facilities, such as a 5-star clubhouse and restaurant, pro-shop and high-end changing and practice facilities. When you want to play one of the best courses in Thailand, The Old Course at Siam Country Club is the ultimate choice.

Find out more about The Old Course at SCC by clicking here

#3 - Chiangmai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort

If you want to experience the most elevated course in the Chiang Mai region, Chiangmai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort has the most awe-inspiring mountain landscapes and really is memorable in every way. A 45-minute drive outside the city, situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Thailand, this course really is something special.

The course has 27-holes, constructed and designed by the world-famous golf course architect, Lee Schmidt. The course’s high-elevation makes for a comfortable round of Thailand golf. Set amongst beautiful countryside, plantations and rice fields, this course is breathtaking.

The course has scooped many accolades over the years, such being voted as number-3 in the

 “Best New Golf Course in Asia” category in Asian Monthly in 2007, and also for “Best Value for Money Golf Course in Asia” from the same publication.

Chiangmai Highlands is unique in many ways, offering 5 different tee boxes that give all the holes a totally different perspective. There are over 130 greenside bunkers on the course, with sloping and super-fast greens that rate approximately 10 on the Stimp-meter.

Catering to international golf parties and holidays, the onsite facilities are high-standard and include a stunning clubhouse with an international restaurant, a spa, a 300-yard driving range and lots of practice facilities such as putting and chipping areas. Merging a beautiful landscape at high altitude and a stunning golf course that will blow you away, Chiangmai Highlands is a must-play Thailand golf course.

Click here to find out more about Chaingmai Highlands GC

Thai Golf Etiquette & Caddies

Thailand golf hospitality makes playing golf in Thailand such a jaw-dropping experience unrivalled by any other country. The vast majority of golf courses, especially at the high-end courses, all have onsite caddies. Being compulsory on many courses, when you play golf in Thailand, you will definitely wind up with a caddy. She (assuming it is a she) will clean your balls, carry your bags, give you advice on yardage and putting lines and will generally make it so easy for you that all you have to do is swing! Make sure you tip your caddy in the region of 300 to 500 THB per 18-holes of golf as this is the standard caddy tip fee.

There is also a dress code in place on the vast majority of courses, similar to those in your home countries. You will need a full set of clubs (not shared with another person), proper golf shoes, trousers or tailored shorts or a skirt and socks (not knee length) and a collared polo shirt. Apart from that, just make sure you bring your nerve along. You will be needing that!

How much does it cost to play golf in Thailand? How long is a piece of string? With so many different types of course across so many regions, talking about pricing is difficult. We would suggest that you use a reliable golf agent to organize your golf holidays because in some cases, they get cheaper prices than the walk-in green-fee rates of the courses.

Thailand is simply a world-class holiday destination that is pretty much unbeatable. Whether you are a pro, expert, novice or beginner, there is no golf experience in the world that can compete with a golf holiday in Thailand! What the bloody hell does Winston Churchill know anyway?

Fast Facts: Why Thailand Golf Holidays are the Best

• Merges world-class holiday destination with amazing golf courses
• The ultimate in hospitality with your own caddy and much more
• There are top-notch courses right across Thailand
• The perfect golf playing conditions with all-year-round high temperatures
• World-class resorts and restaurants that compliment your golf experience
• Ideal golf holiday destination for people of all ages
• Number-1 Golf holiday destination in SE-Asia