We think of the humid and sunny weather and the beaches when we think of Thailand. A great vacation full of culture and tradition. Besides the beauty of its scenery and traditions, you will find the region's best golf courses in Thailand.
If you are a local, you must have heard of some of these golf courses. However, if you are traveling to Thailand for a vacation or even better, a golf vacation, be sure to check out the best golf courses in Thailand! These Thailand golf courses are truly magnificent!
10 Best Golf Courses In Thailand
Enjoy golf in Thailand while playing on these best golf courses. Keep reading to find out more
1. Royal Gem Golf City
The Royal Gem Golf City is Asia’s first replica course with its back nine replicating the Augusta National’s back nine. This Thailand golf course is relatively new, being opened in 2011. Royal Gem Golf City is often referred to as the “Dream Arena” thanks to the holes throughout the course replicating the best and most iconic holes around the world.
Architect Ron Garl is the designer of the course. Located North of Bangkok with about a 60-minute drive from Bangkok center. Hole 3 at Royal Gems City is a re-creation of TPC Sawgrass’ iconic 17th island green. Additionally, the special holes on this course are great like:
- Road Hole at St. Andrews
- The Postage Stamp from Royal Troon Scotland
- The Belfray from West Midlands, UK
After the first 9 amazing holes that you always dream of playing, comes the back 9 of Augusta! It even includes the Amen Corner. The back nine at Royal Gems Golf City is close to Augusta National in lengths, elevations, and makeovers, and includes the toughening of Augusta National in recent years.
2. Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin
The Black Mountain Golf Club located in Hua Hin was designed by Phil Ryan in 2007. Consisting of 27 holes, it is set in a valley surrounded by huge black granite rock mountains and was transformed from lush jungle and pineapple plantations 10 kilometers west of Hua Hin.
One of the most high profile golf courses in the country, Black Mountain Golf Club has also hosted numerous professional events such as:
- Asian PGA Tour in 2009 and 2010
- Europe vs Asia match play Royal Trophy in 2011
- Thailand Classic in 2014 (The First European Tour event in Thailand)
- Also held in 2015 and 2016, The Thailand Classic is now a major fixture on the European and Asian Tours
The golf course started with 18 holes and introduced the new nine holes in 2016 as the West Course. The signature 11th hole is an outstanding par 3 over water onto an island green. No room for mistakes as it is all water to carry until the green so the tee-off would have to be perfect!
3. Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin
The Banyan Golf Club was established in 2009 by local golf course architect Pirapon Namatra from Golf East. This world-class 18-hole championship golf course is known to be one of the most natural in the country. This Thailand golf course also has multiple accolades since its opening in October 2008.
- It was awarded the Order of Zenith by Asian Golf in 2018
- Highest and most prestigious golf award in the Asia Pacific
- Featured in the Rolex Top 1000 in the world
The golf course was built among a former pineapple plantation and provides spectacular mountain and ocean views from almost all the holes. To be playing in this course would allow you to immerse yourself in nature. Each hole has six tee boxes making the course more or less challenging depending on each golfer’s ability and tee selection.
The grass used on the fairways is zoysia grass. It is rarely seen on golf courses in Thailand but it is a pleasure to hit from as balls sit up nicely! The greens, on the other hand, are made of premium Tiff-eagle Bermuda grass which makes for fast and receptive putting surfaces and is always well-maintained. The signature hole at Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin is the 139-yard par 3 on the 15th. It has panoramic ocean views all the way to Singtoh Island in the Gulf of Thailand.
4. Red Mountain Golf Club, Phuket
Located in the center of Phuket Island, is an 18-hole par 72 golf course Red Mountain Golf Club. Only 15 minutes from Patong and Karon Beaches. Red Mountain Golf Club was established in 2007 and is now considered Phuket’s most spectacular golf course. Besides that, it has been labeled one of Asia’s top courses since it opened. This golf course in Thailand was designed by Johnathan Morrow and it's Phuket’s hilliest course as it was designed to take advantage of a huge variety of landforms and dramatic elevation changes.
Red Mountain Golf Club is not an easy course. It is very challenging indeed as each hole presents a different challenge with a variety of options, rewarding those with a tactical approach to their game and the measured skill to see it safely to the green. Furthermore, an exciting variety of green play with the newest, shade-tolerant Bermuda Hybrid grasses is equipped.
The final stretch of the remaining six holes of the course is challenging. With the combination of elevation changes and red rocky cliffs, these six holes are some of the most spectacular in Thailand. The 17th is a drastic downhill from tee box to green at 109 yards. Truly a scenic and challenging hole. However, golf carts are compulsory at Red Mountain Golf Club as it is impossible to walk with long uphill stretches between holes.
5. Siam Country Club Old Course, Pattaya
Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya is one of the more famous golf courses in Thailand and also the country’s second course when it opened in 1970. Ichisuke Izumi originally designed the course. But in 2006-2007 Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley renovated the course.
Most of the original routing was kept intact however all other aspects of the course were modernized and brought up to international championship levels. Since the revamp of the course, Siam Country Club Old Course has hosted several international golf tournaments including being the home of the US LPGA, and Honda Classic since 2010. In 2018, USA Golf Digest magazine recognized Siam Country Club Old Course for its excellence and it was voted 73rd best golf course in the world.
The 18-hole par 72 course offers many dramatic challenges throughout the course but particularly the last four holes. These four holes are known as Siam’s answer to Amen Corner and could ruin any good score you had beforehand. The large greens at the Old Course roll fast. Many golfers may reach the green in regulation but walk off with a bogey or worse as the closer you get to the green the more difficult the hole becomes. Moreover, the entire course maintenance is at championship levels year-round.
6. Siam Country Club Plantation Course, Pattaya
Established in 2008 by the same architects that renovated the Old Course, Lee Schmidt, and Brian Curley is the Plantation Course at Siam Country Club. This course is a 27-hole championship course that is home to the 2009 US LPGA and the 2015 Thailand Open. This course is as difficult as any golf course in Thailand.
The 27-hole layout, formerly a tapioca and pineapple plantation, is routed through rolling terrain with distant panoramic views of Pattaya Beach and Laem Chabang Port. The course offers difficulty hole after hole. Challenges like long carries, blind shots, elevated greens, and undulating fairways are in play to challenge golfers of all levels. The distance from the tips depending on which of the 3 nines are played is a long 7,404 or 7,495 yards. This makes the Siam Country Club Plantation Course one of the longest golf courses in Thailand.
Featuring Asia’s first triple green, the Tapioca 7th and Pineapple’s 4th and 9th holes play to a single green measuring more than 20,000 square. A unique feature at the Plantation Course. The 7th on Tapioca is a par 3 at 178 yards while the 4th and 9th of the Pineapple nine are long par 4s at 490 and 469 yards respectively.
7. Alpine Golf Sports Club, Bangkok
Another golf course designed by Ron Garl is the Alpine Golf Sports Club. It takes approximately 75 minutes to get there from Bangkok Center. Established in 1996, Thailand’s top-rated course and one of the best in Asia is Alpine Golf Sports Club. Furthermore, it hosted multiple international tournaments:
- 13th Asian Games in 1998
- Thailand Major Open Tournament 1997 and 1998
- Thai Airways PGA Tournament 1998
- Thailand Ladies Open 2005
- Johnnie Walker Classic PGA Tournament 2000 and 2004
On top of that, Tiger Woods won the Johnnie Walker Classic PGA Tournament in 2000 here.
The 18-holes at the Alpine has a superb layout and is one of the most challenging golf courses in Bangkok. The course features lightning-fast greens and undulating fairways. In addition to significant elevation changes and its undulating design, there are also water hazards and bunkers strategically placed throughout the course. This golf course is definitely a challenging one.
Notable par 3s here are the 3rd and 12th holes with beach-style bunkers protecting the front of the greens. Moreover, with these relatively small putting surfaces to aim at, Tiger Woods eagled the 555-yard par 5 7th on route to his victory in the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic. Besides the challenge, the Alpine Golf Sports Club golf course is also full of wonderfully picturesque holes. The club is well-maintained to the highest standards. Unfortunately, it is a member-only club.
8. Santiburi Samui Country Club, Koh Samui
Santiburi Samui Country Club is located along the North coast of Koh Samui. Edward Thiele and Pirapon Namatra designed the 18-hole championship golf course in 2003. It was Koh Samui’s first golf course and only an 18-hole course. Santiburi Samui Country Club rose to fame when it hosted the Bangkok Airways Open in 2006.
Being built on the hillside of the north shore of Koh Samui, the golf course has a commanding scenic panoramic view of the Gulf of Thailand and Koh Phangan Island. Many of the holes here have magnificent ocean and beach views. The waterfalls and creeks that run through the land add a lush and natural beauty with the hills providing a lovely backdrop.
Each of the holes throughout this 18-hole championship course has its own unique challenges. From up and downhill slopes to winding fairways that are cut into the forest and meander around cliffs and streams. It is truly one of the most unique golf courses in Thailand. The greens are made with Tifeagle bermudagrass which is very fast.
9. Thai Country Club, Bangkok
Thai Country Club in Bangkok is one of the most exclusive private members clubs in the country. Plus, golf in Bangkok, Thailand offers one of the best experiences ever! Designed under US PGA international standards by then president of the world-renowned American Society of Golf Course Architects, Denis Griffiths, opened in December 1996. This 18-hole championship course was regularly voted as a Top 5 course in Asia.
Not long after its opening, Thai Country Club has hosted numerous international and domestic tournaments featuring the best golfers in the world. Tournaments such as:
- Asian Honda Classic 1997
- Johnnie Walker Super Tour 1998
- Volvo Masters 2007 and 2008
Tiger Woods cruised through the Asian Honda Classic in 1997 with a convincing 10-stroke victory for a total of 20 under par for the championship. Moreover, Vijay Singh won the Johnnie Walker Super Tour with style when he carded a magnificent score of 66 with 2 strokes ahead of Ernie Els.
The most difficult and notable hole here is the 6th. Measuring 218 yards from the back tees. It also includes water on the right side and bunkers in front and behind the green. The undulating greens throughout the course are a constant test of golfers golfing proficiency. Luckily, the best-trained caddies are provided at Thai Country Club which allows golfers to have a truly world-class golfing experience here. This is definitely one of the top golf courses in Thailand to date.
10. Laem Chabang International Country Club, Pattaya
Considered one of the best layouts in Pattaya and indeed one of Thailand’s most beautiful golf courses. The legend, Jack Nicklaus designed the Laem Chabang International Country Club in Pattaya back in 1995. Located between Pattaya and Bangkok, it takes approximately 30 minutes to get there from Pattaya.
The 27-hole course features the Mountain Course, Lake Course, and Valley Course. The name corresponds to the terrain of each of the 9-hole courses. There are numerous bunkers, water hazards, and sand traps strategically placed all around the course along with the natural hazards in the shape of exposed rock formations, lakes, and ponds. Every tee is named for a distinctive tree or shrub planted nearby which gives the course a unique floral emphasis.
- Lake Course - 3,419 yards
- Mountain Course - 3,446 yards
- Valley Course - 3,619 yards
The Lake Course has a stream serpentining through most of the 9 holes. The Mountain Course plays around many hills. Challenging aspects of this 9-hole course include the course’s natural undulations, water hazards, and excellent bunkers protecting the front and sides of many nicely elevated greens. Finally, the Valley Course plays the longest at 3,619 yards in the foothills of the surrounding mountains. The three different terrains offer their own scenic views from the course. It all fuses harmoniously into an excellent golfing experience. Each of these distinct playing conditions offers golfers a challenging golf course in a variety of terrains.
Summary of the best golf courses in Thailand
You do not want to miss out on trying golf in Thailand. The best golf in Thailand is super easy to find considering this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Plus, the scenic beauties at the golf courses offer great challenges to seasoned golfers and great experiences to newer golfers. We hope you were able to find the best golf course in Thailand for your own personal taste based on this list of the top 10 golf courses in Thailand. Be sure to give these courses a try when you are in Thailand!
Wondering about neighboring countries in the southeast Asia Region? Check out the best golf courses in the Philippines and the best golf courses in Malaysia. If you are planning to have a golfing vacation? Here are some of the best luxurious golf resorts.
Over here at Deemples, we are a golf app that helps golfers reach out to other golfers. If ever your golfing buddies are not available, you can still get a round of golf in by playing with new people! Expand your golf circle through Deemples. Download the Deemples app and host or join games today! Never golf alone again.
Common FAQs about Thailand Golf
Is Thailand good for golf?
Light breezes, constant sunshine, great conditions for a golfing holiday. Even in the summer months when it gets a bit warmer, golfing conditions are still acceptable. With many courses being developed by leading professionals such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman, Thailand offers a great game of golf.
How many golf courses are there in Thailand?
There are approximately 250 golf courses in Thailand. Thousands of tourists fly into Thailand every year just for the golfing opportunities offered in the country.
Is it cheap to play golf in Thailand?
The green fees in Thailand are the cheapest in Asia and you can book at heavily discounted rates by using the Golfsavers booking engine. The golf courses near Bangkok are usually pretty crowded at weekends and more expensive so its much cheaper to book a tee time in Thailand on a week day.
