Neil Aronson We know the Bangkok region has more than it’s share of the best golf courses in the country. Not to be outdone, so does the Pattaya and Rayong area. This is why the region has become a golf destination for tourists and local Thai. The coastal area southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya, has around 30 courses to choose from.
As a result of the affordability, travelers on any budget can afford to play at the best golf courses in Thailand. There are now annual professional tour events around Thailand, such as the Honda LPGA Thailand Open, in Pattaya.
Don’t worry if you don’t want to bring your clubs to play the best golf courses, most can supply you with all you need for a small rental fee.
I would always recommend asking first what sort of promotions or deals they are offering. Don’t be afraid to do a little bargaining as well especially if you are there in the off season, which is the rainy summer months.
Tip: If your not going to Thailand primarily to golf, and you don’t want to haul your clubs around, most courses rent decent ones for about 300 baht. Also note that most international airlines allow you to bring your clubs as part of your check baggage allowance. I have done so on multiple airlines with no issues.
If you are planning to play some of the best golf courses in Thailand, you will need to do some research. This is because there are so many amazing courses all over the country. You don’t really need to plan a region in Thailand to go to to play the best golf, because all the major areas have plenty. Check out our guide to the best golf in Chiang Mai province or Bangkok Area.
Once again, check their websites and Facebook pages for promotions and deals, they always have them. If you are able to go with a resident, rates will be half as much what is listed. Always ask for their deals.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Trip.com is another excellent source to book hotels, flights, rental cars and more.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes. Do the Chiang Mai Golf Challenge from Viator.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Just off the coast of Pattaya you can also escape to a party filled island of Koh Samet. There are no golf courses, but plenty of amazing beaches, water sports, restaurants and resorts. Check out our Koh Samet article for more.
Pattaya’s Best Golf Courses
Siam Country Club Old Course
Of course we have to start with probably the most famous of the best golf courses in Thailand. Part of 5 courses in the region, the Old Course hosts the Honda LPGA Thailand, with the top female golfers in the world.
Siam Country Club Plantation Course
Siam Country Club Plantation Course is another brilliant 27-hole course designed by Schmidt & Curley set high in the hills behind Pattaya, affording panoramic views all around. This is another word-class course in every respect and a great golfing challenge.
Definitely one of the Best Golf Courses in Thailand. Just one year after it opened in 2008, it hosted the Honda LPGA Thailand.
Laem Chabang Country Club
Laem Chabang Country Club is one of the best golf courses in Pattaya and also one of the best in Thailand. The course is is in pristine condition with lush fairways, fast and true putting greens, immaculate clubhouse and top-class caddies. A “must play” course and one you will not forget. Also offers night golf starting from 3.30pm which is very popular with Pattaya golfers.
This world-class golf course designed by Jack Nicholas, consists of 27 holes on and each hole is different depending on its environment.
Mountain 9 in length around the beautiful mountain style hills and Lake 9 in length with a stream running through it, while Valley 9 surrounded by picturesque mountains. These nature conditions have been created to offer the golfer a challenging golf course for each to try their particular skills and ability.
On property is a 5-star luxury hotel with 40 rooms located next to the clubhouse. It offers a view of the golf course. It is a semi-resort with an emphasis on the comfort of its residents. Each room has a private balcony with complete amenities.
King Naga Golf Club
If you follow golf, you know who Nick Faldo is. He is also the designer of this course, so you know it will be top quality. It is about 30 minutes drive from Pattaya. The course is on a peninsula in the middle of the Dok Krai Reservoir. Most times of the year there are cooling breezes off the water and jungle. New owners brought improved conditions and services to this otherwise older Pattaya golf course.
Instead of water hazards, the main challenges at King Naga are the 120 bunkers and the jungle-lined fairways. Many of the sand traps are in the fairway at the landing areas. On the other hand, most greens are flat and open, with the hazards being 30-40 yards away from the putting surfaces.
You can get some very good deals, especially in the dry season. Check their Facebook page.
St. Andrews 2000
Located 120 Kilometers southeast of Bangkok and a short drive from the seaside resort of Pattaya, playing golf here during your visit to Thailand in a must. The sprawling par 74 course adjoins its sister layout, the older, well established par 72 layout of the Rayong Green Valley Country Club.
This is a high end club. It’s every golfer’s dream to play a round of golf at St. Andrews in Bonnie Scotland. St.Andrews2000 is an uncompromisingly tough golf course that will test even the best of golfers to their limits.
Silky Oak Country Club
Silky Oak Country Club is a recent addition to the St Andrews 2000 family named after the trees that line most fairways. A good resort course which is ideal for higher handicappers and excellent value for money. This is the cheaper of the three nearby courses.
Rayong Green Valley Country Club
This is the third of the group of three, St Andrews2000, Silky Oak, and this one are all near each other. It is one of the very popular courses in the St Andrews 2000 family designed by Peter Thomson to cater to players of all standards. This attractive and beautifully landscaped course is a delight to play.
Phoenix Gold Golf Club
Phoenix Gold is one of the best golf courses in the area. And it consists of 3 nine-holes, Ocean, Lake and Mountain, and has magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and the Gulf of Thailand.
The Mountain Course is a very picturesque range of folding, jungle-clad hills is continuously in view. The rocky frontage of one mountain shines with a large, laser-carved image of Buddha. And the golden lines of the image stand out against the gray of the rock face.
The course was renovated in 2015 and has since hosted the Kings Cup (European Tour) and Thailand Open (Ladies European Tour) events in 2016 and 2017. Then in 2018, Pheonix Golf hosted both the Royal Cup (Asian Tour) and Ladies European Thailand Championship (LET). The European Tour returned in 2019.
Khao Kheow Golf Club
The location of the Khao Kheow 27-hole golf course is the heart of the Pattaya golf corridor on the way to Bangkok and the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Like many Pattaya courses, Khao Kheow Country Club sits in a valley between rolling hills. The course is quite long, and the elevation changes between holes add to the challenge.
Designed by the famous architect Pete Dye, it requires precise shot-making to overcome not only the normal windy conditions but also to consider the numerous large ponds, bunkers, and mounds surrounding the fairways. Greens are small and undulating, which makes precise putting a key to scoring well.
Bangpra Golf Club
Bangpra was initially built in 1958, and was one of the first golf courses in the Pattaya area. Then in 1988, the layout and facilities were updated entirely as a joint venture between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Japan Golf Professional. Bangpra was the first project as a purposely built golf facility to promote golf tourism in Thailand.
The course is laid out over undulating land in a gently sloping valley surrounded by densely wooded forests. There are lots of tropical flora and bougainvillea bushes of all colors on every hole, making Bangpra one of the prettiest Pattaya golf courses.
A luxurious modern clubhouse comes lavishly furnished with locker rooms featuring Japanese style baths. The clubhouse restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine which makes after golf dining particularly well suited to those who prefer this type of food. This is because it has ties to Japan Golf.
On the property is the Bangpra Resort for your overnight stay. Book on Agoda.
As you can see there is not shortage of the best golf in and around Bangkok. These are only some of the more than 50 courses you can find in the area.
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