Featuring prominently on the international professional circuit, Thailand is an excellent location for golf, having attracted many of the sport’s leading lights to design an abundance of world-class courses all over the country.
The greatest concentration of courses, many of which are outstanding, is around the capital, Bangkok, the undoubted star of which is the highly challenging Ron Gari designed Alpine Golf and Sports Club 7,044 yard championship course, widely regarded as one of Asia’s best.
Amongst the very finest of the capital’s other splendid premier courses are the Robert Trent Jones designed World Cup course at Navatanee Golf Club, Pete Dye’s naturalistic Subhapruek Golf Club, the difficult Nick Faldo designed Summit Windmill Golf Club, Muang Kaew Golf Club, Lakewood Country Club, picturesque Suwan Golf and Country Club, Lam Luk Ka Country Club and the Royal Gems Golf and Sports Club.
Elsewhere in central Thailand, and within reaching distance of the capital, there are several superb opportunities to combine a round of golf with sightseeing around some of the country's treasures.
The area around Khao Yai National Park features the beautiful and challenging 7,007 yard Robert McFarland design at Toscana Valley Country Club, the exciting and densely jungled 27 hole Seve Ballesteros designed Mountain Creek Golf Resort, and is also home to two scenic Jack Nicklaus courses, the demanding 7,170 yard Krimaya Golf Resort and Spa, and the 7,058 yard Khao Yai Golf Club.
Near Kachanaburi, often visited as the site of the ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’, the 7,046 yard Jack Nicklaus designed Mission Hills Golf Club, together with the scenic courses at Nichigo Golf Resort and Country Club, and Royal Ratchaburi Golf Club, all provide for a very rewarding round.
In the far north of Thailand, Chiang Mai hosts over a dozen highly playable golf courses, the very best of which are the beautiful 7,541 yard Ron Gari designed championship course at Alpine Golf Resort and the very challenging 7,003 yard Chiang Mai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort.
In Chiang Rai, the 6,853 yard Santiburi Country Club course designed by Robert Trent Jones and the 6,961 yard course at Waterford Valley are the best of its options.
To the south of the capital, Pattaya plays host to over twenty courses, the best of which are the first class international tournament courses of the Siam Country Club, along with the 27-hole Jack Nicklaus designed course at Laem Chabang International Country Club, the undulating links style of the St. Andrews 2000 Golf Club, and the Faldo/Muirhead course at the Emerald Golf Club.
In Hua Hin, the 7,343 yard Phil Ryan designed Black Mountain Golf Club, the 7,043 yard Jack Nicklaus course at Springfield Royal Country Club and the 7,361 yard Banyan Golf Club are the best of a good crop of fine courses in the area.
The combined appeal of some of Thailand’s best golf courses together with its amazing beach and island resorts is the draw for golfers to the far south of Thailand.
On Ko Samui, the largest of Thailand’s eastern chain of islands, the fast greens of the 6,824 yard championship course at Santiburi Country Club are elegantly carved into the hills and provide a challenging and very scenic golfing experience.
In Phuket, famed for its white sand beaches, and portal to Thailand’s stunning array of tropical island paradises, the star golfing attractions are the 7,179 yard international tournament course at Blue Canyon Country Club, situated at the northern end of the island, and the legendary and dramatic 6,905 yard Red Mountain Golf Club at the island’s centre, both of which offer superb and challenging golf.
Phuket has a number of other highly desirable courses, including the lakes course at Blue Canyon, the seaside Jack Nicklaus designed Mission Hills, Laguna Golf Club, Loch Palm Golf Club and the island’s original championship course at Phuket Country Club.
A hidden gem, set amid the limestone cliffs and jungles of the mainland peninsula, mid-way between Krabi and Surat Thani, is the Rajjaprabha Dam Golf Course near Khao Sok National Park.