Golf Courses | Bangkok

[Thaiphoon]

Alpine Golf Sports Club | Bangkok


Alpine Golf & Sports Club is one of the top courses in Thailand and ranks with anything in Asia. It was created by legendary courses architect Ronald M. Garl and once hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic PGA tournament won by Tiger Woods. This is supposed to be a private members club but it is relatively easy, although a little expensive, to get on the course as a visitor. Although it is not a links course it has some huge beach bunkers and in many places water encroaches into the fairway. The fairways are always lush and a delight to hit off and the greens, although not the fastest, run straight and true. The course is extremely picturesque with great views in every direction offering a stunning landscape of trees, flowering shrubs and bright green fairways set against the water hazards. However the course is quite challenging with undulating fairways, plenty of water carries and some nasty looking bunkers protecting the greens. You need to be on top of your game and hit it quite long to venture off the blue tees so if you want a more enjoyable round you might be better to try the white tees. Caddies are okay but don’t speak too much English but enough to get by. The food in the clubhouse is excellent.

• Location: Northeast of Bangkok one hour from city
• Birdies: Excellent food in clubhouse
• Bogeys: Gets very crowded with tour groups, a bit far from town
• Favorite Hole: The 12th – a par 3 with a huge bunker and heavily contoured green

Website

[Sundance2020]

Thai Country Golf Club | Bangkok


Thai Country Club is arguably the most exclusive private members club in Bangkok but they admit visitors on most days although they do reserve some of their prime tee times for their members. The service you will receive at this course is second to none – partly because the course is managed by a hotel group and the attention to detail and service levels are up to a level that you would expect to receive at a 5-star hotel. This is another course that has been graced by Tiger Woods who won the Honda Classic here back in 1997. The course itself is not the greatest layout but it is always in immaculate condition. Having said that many of the fairways have been contoured and the greens are often elevated and well-protected by bunkers. There are some very tough holes and the par 3, 6th. which is more than 200 yards from the championship tees is statistically the most difficult hole on the course with bunkers in front of the green and water alongside the right. Probably the best caddies in Thailand – very well trained and most of them have been around for many years and know the course well. The locker rooms are luxurious and the food in the restaurant outstanding and the entire experience from beginning to end is faultless.

• Location: Southeast of Bangkok one hour from city
• Birdies: Superb all round service
• Bogeys: Expensive and difficult to get tee times at weekends
• Favorite Hole: The 6th – a par 3 once voted the best in Asia

Website

[Sundance2020]

Royal Gems Golf City | Bangkok


Not to be confused with the Royal Gems Golf & Country Club this is a relatively new course having opened in 2011. Soon after it opened it was completely inundated by the Bangkok floods so they had to totally replant everything. This is the first replica courses in Asia and is often referred to as the “Dream Arena”. The front nine consists of famous holes from around the world and the back nine is a replica of the back nine at Augusta. We say replica but actually a better term is reminiscent of Augusta because, although some of the holes are very faithful to the original, others require some imagination. As the trees mature it will be more like the real thing but even now you can let your imagination run wild. Some of the famous names you will encounter on the front nine include the Postage Stamp hole from Troon, the Road Hole from St Andrews and the Pew Bunkers from Oakmont. One of the more intimidating holes is the replica island green from the 17th. at Sawgrass. This is a private members club but they do allow visitors to play at certain times. A small but very nice clubhouse, super-luxury changing rooms and excellent practice facilities.

• Location: North of Bangkok one hour from city
• Birdies: Great fun and something to tell your friends about
• Bogeys: We cannot think of anything
• Favorite Hole: The 13^th – part of Amen Corner and a classic risk/reward hole

Website

[Sundance2020]

Royal Bang Pa-In Golf Club | Bangkok


Situated an additional 10 minutes outside downtown Bangkok than Riverdale Golf Club you will find Royal Bang Pa-In Golf Club. This golf course was designed by Schmidt-Curley and it is close to Don Muang Airport, making it a good course for a round before or following a flight if you are using that airport. Royal Bang Pa-In Golf Club is another of Bangkok’s all-inclusive golf clubs and that means you pay one fee. The fee gains you access to the golf course, a caddie, golf cart, soft drinks and snacks to enjoy during the round. The greens are without doubt the standout aspect of this golf course and you will struggle to find many larger in Thailand. They are also very undulating and quick, making good putting a must for a low score. Additional features of the golf course at Royal Bang Pa-In Golf Club include plenty of water and firm fairways, which can see tee shots travel further than usual. The clubhouse is very impressive and it even includes heliport should you want to arrive in style.

• Location: North of Bangkok one hour from city
• Birdies: Superb modern clubhouse with great food and service
• Bogeys: During rush hour traffic can be bad
• Favorite Hole: The par-3 17th hole with water all along the left

Website

[Sundance2020]

Nikanti Golf Course | Bangkok


Nikanti Golf Club offers something a little different than most other golf courses in Thailand. The club is located an hour away from Bangkok and the course has been designed by Piraporn Namatra. What makes this golf club unique for courses in Bangkok is the distance, just 6,850 yards from the back tees and the layout, which is three sets of 6 holes. Regardless of which set of 6 holes you play to begin your round; you will return to the club house having played the sixth hole. There are two par-3’s, two par-4’s and two par-5’s on each of three sets of six holes. The fairways throughout the course are wide but there are many elevation changes which make Nikanti Golf Club a good challenge, even for top players. The greens are undulating, significantly so in places and this only adds to the test of the course. The other aspect of Nikanti Golf Club which makes it different is the all-inclusive feature, which is not something most golf courses offer players.

• Location: 90 minutes west of Bangkok
• Birdies: Unusual three 6-hole layouts and wonderful freen food
• Bogeys: The course is a long way from Bangkok
• Favorite Hole: The 11th - a short par-3 with carry over water to green

Website