Pattaya Golf Courses

Most courses have either been played by your correspondent or walked. These comments are personal and when you play them you may not always agree with the summaries---feel free to send you comments.

Laem Chabang International

Laem Chabang International Country Club has 3 nine holes of high standard and all different. This course was designed by the Nicklaus group and does seem to boast some individual holes. Stunning views from many elevated tee boxes are found all over the course, a course which is always in excellent shape. Clever bunker and water placements provide the player with many testing shots, better to play quietly until you get to know the place.
It consists of three distinctly different nines: mountain, lake & creek, with perhaps the two most daunting starting holes on the mountain 9 to be found anywhere. All in all it is a Challenging course with lakes, ponds & streams posing major threats to stray shots.
Good caddies and a luxurious well-run clubhouse with restaurants with on course views, snooker room, library, sauna and pool, the locker rooms for men and ladies are also well
appointed.

Khao Kheow Country Club

Designed by: Dye Inc. USA
Number of Holes: 27
Opened 1992
This is a wonderful golf course having something for every standard of player, being a Dye design you do not get off lightly and you will know that you have just either passed or failed a golf test. The par three, seventeenth hole with its island green is a challenge for anyone. The course is made all the more interesting by the persistent wind that is funneled down from the nearby valleys.
It does resemble a Southern American course with an abundance of palm tress and sculptured fairways. The greens are not flat!
The clubhouse and amenities are first class, don’t miss this course.

Burapha

This has been recently opened-up to the green fee payer, as it is a large private club normally reserved for estate members only.
Designed by David Graham the 2 courses are quite different. The west course is tight and runs up and down the nearby hill with wind becoming a factor not normally associated with Thai courses. It has some very good holes and I particularly like to hate the par 5 18th.
The East course, flatter has hosted one or two recent Tournaments and the pros have given the thumbs-up. This course has matured into a pretty and a good all-round test of golf.

Bangpra Golf Club

Length: 7,205 yards from the Blue
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 18
Originally built in 1958 the course and facilities were refurbished in 1988 as a joint venture between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Japan Golf Professional Incorporated.
Love this course, and after your round to lie in the Japanese bath socking-off the sunburn you can only dream of what you will do to the course the next time.
Beware, this course does suffer from bad maintenance at times so it is always best to check up before playing, not with the staff but with someone who knows the course!
The greens tend to be very slippery and a bit grainy, also a little raised but this is Bangphra. The course is surrounded by wooded hills usually the home to noisy monkeys, the course itself has mature trees lining the fairways and some very good water holes. Water does not interfere with too many holes but it does make its presence felt.
Very fine clubhouse and facilities.

Phoenix Golf and Country Club

Designed by: Dennis Griffiths
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 27
Phoenix Golf & Country Club located along the route 3 from Pattaya to Satahip, takes about 20 minutes by car from Pattaya beach.
Dennis Griffiths is one of my favorite designers—so why did he have to do this! This course overlooked by an extraordinary looking empty clubhouse occupies a lovely piece of land with sea views and hills. The 3 nines are pleasant, but with so many good holes around Pattaya they are good for the first game to loosen up before a real test comes along. The caddies are very good, the course is usually in good shape and it is close to town. Actually for the higher handicap player this course is complimentary and you will have a good day of golf—perhaps I’m being a little unkind!

Legacy Crystal Bay Golf Club

Designed by Ronald Fream
Number of Holes: 27
Course opened 1988
As with all of Ronald Fream courses you know that you will enjoy a beautiful course laid out amongst flowers and shrubs and palms, you are not disappointed. 27 holes of pleasure, with some excellent water holes, undulating fairways and quick greens. All standard of player will love this. Little rough but plenty of Palm trees and water to ensure you should keep straight.
All nines have very good water par threes. The course is overlooked by the impressive clubhouse, which serves good Thai food, although it is better to remind the staff that you don’t want it too hot (mai pet)! I have forgotten and needed the extra few beers to cool down!

Legacy Mountain Shadow Country Club

Designed by: Ronald Fream
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 18
Sister course to the above course and again Fream has made a very pretty course. There are 16 wonderful holes, 2 that I am very reserved about, and the par three 17th has been referred to as the 16th from Augusta. Don’t know about that but a fine par 3. The palm lined fairways do encroach and only good straight shots will do. Good water carries and all the greens are smallish and undulating. An exciting layout and if you can achieve your handicap you have had a good day out.
Clubhouse and staff are excellent.

Siam Country Club

Designed by: ISAO MAZUMI
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 18
opened 1968
Not my favorite, however, many rate this older course highly, perhaps I am spoilt. Certainly very pretty and does have many interesting holes. The grass is of the older wide blade variety and lies on the fairways can be a little testing, likewise the greens need to be learnt as they can be grainy. The caddies here are excellent and do help you.
Bad shots do get punished mostly by well positioned and very mature and beautiful trees, so, keep straight. The greens in general are big and a little on the hard side, bunkers can be a little stony, but are well positioned to give maximum horrors. Look out too for the abundant wildlife in the form of sculptured bushes and hedgerows, a feature unique to Siam Country. The clubhouse is adequate but not up to the standards elsewhere.

Sri Racha International Golf Club

Designed by: Gary Player
Length: 6,987 yards from the Blue
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 18 One of the first golf clubs to be designed by Gary Player. He has improved since as this is not that striking as a test of golf. One hole on the front nine a par three is interesting in that there is a crocodile pen to avoid. Greens are big, fairways ample and rough at a minimum. Up hill and downhill lies are the course feature along with the good maintenance of the course.
The views are fine and there is a good clubhouse which serves fine food. Hasn’t been so busy in recent years and is a good bet to play in the high season.

Noble Place Golf Resort and Country Club

Designed by: Peter W. Thompson and Michael S. Wolveridge
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 27
I haven’t played this course for a few years, but it always struck me as having one of the best layouts of all. I understand that the clubhouse has now been built and the 3 nines are in good shape.
The layout was almost a links style, not much water but sandy dunes and contoured fairways. It certainly made you play every shot and I look forward to up dating a report of this course.
A little out of Pattaya –one hour—but never seemed busy.

Eastern Star Resort and Country Club

Designed by: Robert Trent Jones Junior
Length: 6,780 yards from the Blue
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 18
Not an easy course and the water hazards do come into play a lot as the fairways tend to drag you into them. When in good condition this is really worth playing, positional play is needed, and a good caddy. This is a cross between a links style and parkland, if there is such a thing! The fairways are basically wide although the shallow bunkers stop the carefree driver of getting carried away. There are many mature coconut trees on the course and in season the sortie into the mango trees isn’t such a bad shot.
The clubhouse is lovely, and the food excellent, so to is the service.

Great Lake Country Club

18-Holes
Par 72
Designer: Nick Faldo
Wonderful layout by Faldo, who I personally think could turn out as a master designer.
The course naturally blends in with the surrounds with each hole being individual. Right from the second hole, the first gets you away, you start having to think, a par 5 that can be reached in 2 or plenty! The 4th index 1 is one of the hardest holes to play but fair, with water both sides and a small long green to aim at.
I am looking forward to playing here again after some time away, but I do remember that there are some 120 bunkers.

Rayong Green Valley Country Club

Designed by:Peter Thomson (1992)
Length: 7,266 yards from the Blue
Par: 72
Number of Holes: 18
The original course, changed a little to accommodate the new clubhouse and accessibility to the Muirhead course, was a masterpiece. Set amongst a small meandering creek with dog legs, water holes and beautiful landscaping, it was a delight.
Greens were small and raised so you had to be on your game—not overly long the maturing trees and ever apparent creek made you keep the ball on the well kept fairways
The second course by Duncan Muirhead originally offered a challenge to players with handicaps of 18 or less. Working with a spectacular, undulating natural topography, St Andrews 2000 was built to replicate the wind-swept Scottish Links courses. This is 18 holes (par 74) of memorable golf, that is you will remember it but may not love it. Featuring elevated tees and greens, tight landing zones, split elevation fairways, huge greens and two par 6's. I’m not sure about it.

Pattaya Country Club

I haven’t played here for a while as it is not a course I go looking for. Pleasant enough with perhaps a rather amateurish design. Maybe now the shrubs and trees have matured. Greens and fairways are reasonable. Best hole on the course probably the par 4 17th with water both sides of the fairway and narrow landing area and a small target for the second the approach shot.

Soi Dao Highlands

Although this course is almost in Cambodia it is only 3 hours from Pattaya and 40 klms from Chantanaburi, the gem town, and the lovely nearby coast. Our Pattaya trip always goes there—why? This is simply too good to miss. A gem of a golf course set within the jungle and mountains of the Soi Dao National Park, great clubhouse offering evening barbecue whilst you are listening to the local jungle inhabitants chat away and excellent 3* on-site hotel.

Dennis Griffiths created a difficult but hugely enjoyable course with many memorable holes.