The Best Golf Courses in Bangkok


 

Posted by Mark Philip

Image by notashamed from creativecommons.org

In sharp contrast to the humid and noisy chaos of the inner city of Thailand’s capital, there is to be found a refreshingly green belt of quality golf courses that are ever-increasing in number.

Thailand is known as a golf-loving nation, at least in circles of affluence, and the city (if not the country) offers a surprisingly wide range of stunning golfing venues.

This means that anyone heading to the SE Asian capital in the tropics with the specific intention of enjoying a few rounds is likely to be far from disappointed with some of Bangkok’s impressive golfing facilities. Each of these golf courses provides players with something slightly different when it comes to layout and skill level.

A common denominator among these courses though is the lush, perfectly-kept tropical backdrop that surrounds them, usually with some form of water feature. Bangkok’s most popular golf course experiences (which are, for the most part, largely frequented by males) come complete with a personal caddies ranging from experienced golfers to…yes, you guessed it – pretty young Thai females.

Along with the gamut of driving ranges inherent in the city (which is another post/feature entirely), Bangkok golf courses offer relatively good value for money, which is due in no small part to the sheer number of them, even though new courses are continuously opening.

It wouldn’t exactly be that much of an understatement to say that Thailand’s capital city is home to the majority of the best golf courses across the nation, with many of them undergoing intermittent renovations in order to maintain the world class standards that they have come to be associated with.

So if you thought that Bangkok was all about shopping malls and dingy, cheap bars – think again! The city and its surrounding vicinity is indeed now considered as one of the main golfing hubs in SE Asia, offering impeccable leisure facilities for the enjoyment of all. You’ll find plenty of top-notch clubhouse amenities and challenging courses if that’s your skill level, along oodles of on-hand service to boot.

In many ways a golfing holiday in Bangkok could be considered as something of a golfer’s paradise – so join us as we look a little more closely at some of the best golf courses in Bangkok.

 

1. Amata Spring Country Club

This Bangkok golfing range largely considered as one of the top courses in both Bangkok and in fact, the whole of Thailand.

It is admittedly not strictly within the boundaries of the inner city by any means and entails heading eastwards out of the city towards Pattaya. The impressive golf course at this venue was established way back in 2005, designed by the architects Schmidt and Curley.

Here you will find a long and undulating course with bunkering second to none, and a variety of water features situated around the course, including 2 rather large lakes which make for an even more delightful golfing experience.

Image by Peter Cipollone from creativecommons.org

Several of the holes are located around the water, and the stakes are upped a lot more when looking out towards the floating island green which can actually be moved to change the distance between holes. There is a boat to take you out to the island to make your shot, and then bring you back again to continue your round, which is a winning touch for many visitors. 

Anyone visiting this Bangkok golfing facility will undoubtedly be impressed by the sheer quality and fantastic environment, which also includes accommodation should you fancy a longer stay.

Location: 700/3-9 Nong Mai Daeng, Chonburi District, Chonburi 20000

 

2. Thai Country Club

Located 50 km north of Bangkok in the Chachoengsao province, you will find more golfing delights by way of excellent service at this impeccable Thai golf course and country club which was once the site of one of Tiger Woods’ victories.

The Thai Country Club is renowned as being somewhat high-level in terms of its difficulty, but again is considered by many as another one of the best courses in Thailand.

A favourite with experienced golfers, this golf course offers players a variety of holes amidst perfectly manicured fairways. This course was designed to U.S. PGA international standards, and features a range of water and sand hazards in order to make it challenging for even high-level participants. 

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Here you’ll find much in the way of man-made bumps and hollows with a strategically-positioned fairway. If you do go off course with some of your shots, it won’t be too difficult to retrieve the ball in the well-kept surroundings.

The Thai Country Club includes impressive clubhouse facilities that are actually managed by the Peninsula Hotel Group – needless to say, the quality of the service and food is akin to that of a 5-star hotel.

Location: 88 Thambon Pimpa Hom Sin, Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao 24180

 

3. Alpine Golf Sports Club

Just over an hour away from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is The Alpine Golf Sports Club, which is a prime example of a facility with an exceptional layout and yet more by way of challenging courses.

Another Thai golfing hot spot that is known as the site of yet another of Tiger Woods’ victories – this time the Johnnie Walker PGA Tour 2000 — this course’s name bears reference to the almost Swiss-like surrounding environment, which is somewhat unique by way of comparison to some of the other golfing venues featured in this post.

Image by Peter Cipollone from creativecommons.org

Once again golfers will encounter an impressively-kept course which includes a variety of water and sand traps to maintain an air of the challenging. Here you will find a 7000-yard Championship Par-72 course surrounded by tall trees that run alongside most of the fairways.

The Alpine Golf Club is the type of course that is definitely likely to challenge even the most seasoned of golfers with its undulating fairways and elevated greens. Not unlike the majority of the other courses in this post, here you will encounter a delightfully scenic course with more than its fair share of colourful, tropical plants native to the region. 

A few rounds of golf at the Alpine will undoubtedly provide a challenging yet unforgettable Thai golfing experience, and not surprisingly the clubhouse facilities, which include restaurants, bars and locker rooms, are of the same high standard as the rest of the facility.

Needless to say, the Alpine features on the itinerary of any serious Bangkok golfer, whether visiting or otherwise.

Location: 9 Khlong Ha, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani 12120

 

4. Royal Bang Pa-In Golf Club

Within an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport we can find a Bangkok golfing club designed by architectural company Schmidt-Curley Design Inc, who have won awards for their involvement in golf courses throughout Asia.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

In contrast to some (but not all) of the other golfing ranges in the Bangkok area, Royal Bang Pa-in Golf Club has a bit more variety by way of differences in elevation. Variations of up to seven metres between the lowest and highest points of the golf course are evident, which obviously make for yet more challenging golfing terrain.

The undulating greens of this course require plenty of negotiation in terms of approach to the putting surface, and this particular stretch of golfing area is considered as one of the largest in the SE Asian region.

Again you will encounter an ultra-modern clubhouse with the usual high standards, including the top-notch food and service that seems to come as standard with the majority of golf clubs in Bangkok and Thailand.

Location: Phra Nakhon, Soi Si Ayutthaya, Bangkok 13160

 

5. Summit Windmill Golf Club

Summit Windmill is an impressive, albeit somewhat underrated Bangkok golf course, again not that far from the main airport. It is actually a little closer in terms of its proximity to the city centre than most of the others in this post, and an interesting point of note regarding this venue is that it was designed by Nick Faldo.

This golf course in Bangkok is a favourite among local enthusiasts as well as visitors, and in true Thai fashion, is impeccably maintained and well-presented. Water features are a huge factor on pretty much every hole from first to last, and the course also encompasses greenside bunkers.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

There large lakes that flank the left sides of the fairways, and the 1st hole is a rather long 624 yards. The clubhouse is reportedly one of the best you are likely to find in Bangkok, complete with scenic views which make it great place for a spot of or a post-gold lunch or dinner.

Despite the fact that Summit Windmill is not all that far from the city centre, Summit Windmill still offers something of a tranquil environment for visitors, and the facility is also one of the few courses offering something a bit different by way of night golf, which is hugely popular with natives who you wouldn’t find anywhere near a golf course throughout the sunny daytime hours.

Location: 72 Moo 14, Bangna Trad Road, Bang Pli Yai, Bang Pli District, Samut Prakan 10540

 

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