Golf Course Blog – Muang Kaew Golf Course, Bangkok

Originally a rather flat parkland course, Muang Kaew has evolved into a demanding test for players of every ability.  Almost twenty years ago the property, which features massive trees lining the fairways and an efficient routing on a relatively small piece of property, underwent a major redesign by Lee Schmidt of Schmidt-Curley. Schmidt Curley has been recognized on several occasions over the last decade at the Asian Golf Awards for being one of the Top Architects in Asia, providing designs for Amata Springs, Chiangmai Highlands and the courses at Mission Hills China. Muang Kaew then became “Bangkok’s Golfing Oasis” in the heart of the city, according to marketing efforts, which is pretty accurate.  The course is just a short drive of about 30 minutes from Sukhumvit’s major hotels and perhaps the most convenient location of the top courses in Bangkok.  The course is so centrally located that an elevated motorway intersects the property on the back nine. Schmidt-Curley’s redesign included creating elevation changes, severe green side bunkering and modern grasses which allowed for quicker green speeds and a manicured look to the property.  The elevated greens complexes, closely mown run-off areas and deep bunkers demand a creative short game.  More specifically the design insists you hit some high lob shots and vertical bunker shots around the greens. One of the most clever components of the golf course design is the way the greens are positioned in relation to the fairway.  Most greens rest at an angle of about 45 degrees to the fairway allowing a run up area for the average player but gives the option of some exciting hole locations daring the better player to take them on in a risk / reward scenario. One of the best examples of this is the 6 hole where a back right hole location looks to be balancing on the edge of the front right bunker and the lake to the right.  The sensible play from the fairway is to the middle of the green allowing the slope of the green to take your ball down towards the hole but with a short iron in your hand the better player is taunted into taking the shot on often with disastrous results to the scorecard. Muang Kaew is a great addition to your holiday rota of courses because of the terrific design, good conditions of the course, well trained caddies and the convenient location of the course.  The location allows golfers to do more with their day in addition to golf.  The short commute allows time for shopping, a massage or dining downtown. Contact the Golfasian holiday experts to plan your next golf holiday leaving nothing to chance, eliminating travel surprises and get the most of your golf holiday.