Golf in Thailand - A guide to Pattaya

Golfshake member John Fenwick offers a guide to the  superb range of golf on offer in and around the Thai city of Pattaya...

OK, can you tell me of another city in the world that has a minimum of 20 excellent golf courses including courses frequented by the LPGA each year within one hour by road of your hotel. The unbelievable thing is that all the courses include a buggy and a caddy as part of the overall experience. What a place to holiday with your clubs.

This is Pattaya, Thailand where you can holiday all year round, where hotels vary from backpacker type establishments to very affordable 5* luxury. Understandably, due to the popular press in the UK, your significant other may baulk at the thought of you heading to Pattaya but as I was told by a very good friend, “Pattaya is what you make it”. (I now have a house there). Bring your wife or girlfriend with you. Pattaya is a vibrant city which has the normal extra-curricular activities available in any major city in the world, but also more than enough of the normal activities acceptable to all.

GETTING THERE

There are a number of major airlines who fly direct from the UK to Bangkok and many of the other airlines require a flight change in the Middle East. Shop around on the sites and you will find a reasonable deal under 500 GBP. On arrival get a taxi from the Public taxi stands at the airport and that will cost you the equivalent of about 35 smackers for the 1 ½ hour trip to Pattaya and the hotel of your choice. Sounds easy so far, it really is.

GOLF

This is the most difficult part of the experience, how do you choose from such a plethora of top quality courses. Many golfers find a local bar who organize away days at a number of courses during the week for their society members and most are more than welcoming to golfers on holiday. These can normally be checked in the local expat press where telephone numbers of the organisers are also listed.

For those of you who wish to “go it alone” or with your group of travelling companions, all you have to do is speak to the concierge at the hotel, tell him the course you wish to visit and let him organise the transport. Taxi’s are really cheap for what you get and easier than hiring a car although this would be an option on your second and subsequent visits. (trust me you will be back).

COURSES

Enough of the non golf periphery, let’s get down to the real reason for your trip, the glorious game of golf. I will, hopefully, in future articles give an overview of each of the Pattaya courses as I play them and rate them on a personal grading. For now I will give you a feeling of some of the courses and the expected costs. The cost shown is for a midweek game and includes the golf, buggy and caddy.

NOTE: at certain times of the year some of the clubs operate a “Golf Day” system where the costs of the golf is 50% of the normal rate. This makes the golf ridiculously cheap. And it is worth checking with the course prior to booking.

5 STAR COURSES (Hotel accommodation is available at all these clubs).

Laem Chabang International

Jack Nicklaus design. 30-40 minutes from Pattaya. 27 Holes of absolute perfection. 3 loops of nine with the daily two being decided by the club. The clubhouse is superb and the daily lunch buffet is a must either before or after play. Huge pro shop (better prices can be had shopping in Pattaya). Cost Thai Baht 3900 – Sterling pound equivalent 78 (50 Baht to Pound) Includes Buggy and caddy.

St Andrews 2000

Designed by Desmond Muirhead.As the name suggests an inland links style course which is a tough challenge but more than worth it for the spectacular scenery. Carts are compulsory but included in the price of about 3400 Thai Baht (68 sterling) Part of a complex of three courses including Silky Oak GC and Rayong Green Valley (See below for these courses). All three courses about 40-50 minutes from Pattaya.

Siam Country Club (Old Course)

 Designed by I Izumi. Host to the LPGA “Honda” tournament. A mature parkland course with many large trees. Carts are compulsory but must stay on the cart paths. Lovely condition all year round. 25 – 30 mins from Pattaya  Closed on Mondays, Cost 4350 baht

Siam County Club (Plantation)

Designed by Lee Schmidt. More open than the Siam Old Course but just as challenging.excellent facilities. Carts again compulsory and must stay on cart paths. Cost 4050 baht

4 STAR COURSES. Accommodation may be available at some of these courses

Phoenix Golf Club.

Designer Dennis Griffith. Huge clubhouse, superb facilities wide fairways on the 27 hole course. Good long hitters course and very good value at a cost of 2950 Baht. Only 25- 30 minutes from Pattaya

Burapha Golf Club.

36 holes, 2 X par 72 courses. Designed by David Graham and Gary Panks. Front nines are a bit featureless but back nines make up for that. One of the five venues on the Thai professional tour. Not the best facilities and pro shop is very basic. About 40 minutes from Pattaya. Cost 2750 Baht.

Pattana Sport Club.

27 holes. A well maintained course with Island par 3’s and par 6’s & challenging greens. A huge and stunning club house worth the visit just for the food. Green fees are in the region of 2500 THB but discounts may be available. Hotel on site. Distance from Pattaya 45 mins

Bangpra Golf Club.

18 hole par 72 course designed by “Japan Golf Promotion Co. Ltd”. 40 minutes from Pattaya, it is a beautiful mature course with fast tricky greens. An unusual feature of this course is the monkeys that frequent holes 6 and 7. Very reasonable, at under 2000 THB including caddy and buggy.

Treasure Hill Golf and Country Club

18 hole par 72 course designed by Yashikazu Kato. About 50 minutes from Pattaya is this little gem. Set in a valley surrounded by jungle clad hills it is a course that you will remember playing for a long time after. Some quite challenging holes, but less water on this course than on many others in the area. Excellent value at less than 1500 THB including caddy and buggy.

Khao Kheow Country Club

27 hole layout designed by Pete & Perry Dye about 45 minutes from Pattaya. Rated as a 4 star course with a 5 star clubhouse which is stunning. The course is a challenge with the numerous water hazards and pot bunkers. It is not for the faint hearted. The par three 17^th is a challenge in itself with luck needed whatever your standard. Costs in the region of 2500-3000 THB.

These are just some of the courses that are available in the Pattaya area. They are possibly the better courses but that is a personal view.

Other courses include:

Crystal Bay G. C. Eastern Star G. C. Emerald G. C. Greenwood G. C. Mountain Shadow G. C. Pattaya G. C. Pleasant Valley G. & C. C. Rayong Green Valley G. C. Royal Thai Navy (Plutaluang) G. C. Silky Oaks G. C.

You can also check out the review pages on Golfshake featuring courses in East Thailand - Click Here