Siam Country Club, Old Course
- Architect: Ichisuke Izumi; Schmidt-Curley (2007)
- Opened 1971
- 18 holes
- Par 72
Opened in 1971 by the Japanese architect Ichisuke Izumi, the Old Course is Thailand's first private course and the centrepiece of Siam Country Club, about twenty-five minutes from the centre. Renovated in 2007 by Schmidt-Curley, this par 72 of more than 7,000 yards runs its fairways, lined with century-old tamarind and acacia trees, towards fast, contoured greens. A regular host of the Honda LPGA Thailand, it demands precise driving. The club has three other layouts: the Plantation (27 holes, 2008), the Waterside (2014) and the Rolling Hills (2020), enough to play for a week without repeating yourself.
Signature hole. The 18th, a dogleg par 5, finishes in front of the clubhouse terrace: tempting in two, it grows more and more demanding as you near the green.
Official websiteLaem Chabang International Country Club
- Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- 27 holes
Half an hour north of Pattaya, near Sri Racha, Laem Chabang International Country Club lines up twenty-seven holes by Jack Nicklaus on an estate of about 280 hectares. Three nines of distinct character, Mountain, Lake and Valley, combine at will: hills and raised greens guarded by deep bunkers on the first, a winding stream on the second, technical water hazards on the third, the longest. Natural boulders and coconut palms add to the strategy. The club also offers floodlit night golf, welcome when the heat rises.
Signature hole. The 2nd on the Mountain, a downhill par 3 to a green bordered by water, is one of the most memorable holes on the estate.
Official websitePhoenix Gold Golf & Country Club
- Architect: Denis Griffiths; Pirapon Namatra (2014)
- Opened 1993
- 27 holes
Designed by Denis Griffiths and opened in 1993, Phoenix Gold lies some fifteen kilometres beyond Jomtien, half an hour from the centre. Its twenty-seven holes, Mountain, Lake and Ocean, were extensively reworked from 2014 under the direction of Pirapon Namatra: greens, bunkers, tees and drainage rebuilt, and the Lake rerouted with new water hazards. Elsewhere the hilly, wooded terrain leaves little room for water; the game here is mostly about the slope of the fairways and greens. The Mountain, at the foot of jungle-covered hills, is often judged the finest of the three.
Signature hole. The par 5 that closes the Ocean starts from the highest point on the estate: the second shot is played facing the Gulf of Thailand.
Official websiteChee Chan Golf Resort
- Architect: Golfplan (David Dale)
- 18 holes
- Par 72
Chee Chan was designed by David Dale of Golfplan on gently rolling land south of Jomtien, about forty minutes from the centre. Its setting is unique: the Buddha of almost 110 metres inlaid with gold leaf in the cliff of Khao Chee Chan overlooks almost every hole. This par 72 of more than 7,200 yards from the back tees combines long par 4s, lakes, wetlands and sculpted bunkers, on zoysia fairways. A well-groomed course with attentive service, as appealing to good players as to lovers of fine scenery.
Official website
