Within one hours drive of Pattaya, this region in Thailand has more top golf clubs than even some countries. Compared to the UAE (18 courses), Turkey (20), Cambodia (9) and Singapore (17) Pattaya city has more at twenty-eight top courses. With its excellent climate, you can play golf here all year round, and if there is the odd tropical downpour don’t worry and their drainage systems are next to none. Pattaya has a tropical wet and dry climate, which is divided into the following seasons: hot and dry (December to February), hot and humid (March and April), and hot and rainy (May to November). Pattaya is now a major tourist destination, and is only 90 minutes down the superb expressway from Suvarnabhumi International airport. Pattaya’s own airport U-Tapao is also just 40 minutes from the city, and is a base for Air Asia flights. There are hundreds of hotels to suit all budgets here, and some excellent fine dining restaurants, great tourist attractions plus a vibrant nightlife. In the next few years there will be fast speed trains linking all three airports, and new attractions and shopping malls as well.
Golfasian have been running our successful golf vacations here for some time, and therefore from the reaction from our clients, here is a selection of the best courses around Pattaya. If you feel we have missed one of your favorite courses do let us know.
Located off the Pattaya to Bangkok expressway, this large club has hosted many professional tournaments, while remaining one of the favorite courses with locals and expats alike. With 36 holes here, their A, B, C and D courses offer various types of challenges. From fairly flat terrain with wide fairways you can also experience huge elevations with views across to the Gulf of Thailand. All courses at Burapha are well laid out and the designers have taken full advantage of the countryside and hills. They feature lakes, palm trees, flora, shrubs with excellent bunkering. All 36 holes are kept in good condition. Their East Courses known as A & B is slightly easier for high handicappers while still enjoying some great challenges along the way.
The West course (C & D) is normally used for the professional tournaments, and D course is the hilly of the four layouts with some elevated tees and greens, and is great fun to conquer. Their clubhouse has local and international food and their locker rooms are adequate. Caddie here are very knowledgeable and many play golf as well. Overall a good day out in the Pattaya countryside.
One of Jack Nicklaus’s favorite courses in Asia, here his clever layout covers 27 holes in three loops, known as Mountain, Lakes and Valley. Here you literally have Jack at his very best. He has used the local terrain to its best, incorporating mountains with their sloping tight fairways, the water hazards on the lakes and a combination of ponds, creeks and sand traps down in the valley. On every hole Jack makes you think how to attack the hole and to get a low score. It is also a beautiful part of the countryside to play a round of golf. Caddies are very well trained and the course is kept in tip top condition. After your round enjoy and relax in their large clubhouse which was recently modernized. It has excellent locker rooms, a well-stocked pro shop and their buffets are famous, along with live entertainment. This is a top golf club, so best book ahead.
Almost as soon as this 27-hole course opened they hosted the 2009 LPGA tournament won by none other than golfing legend Lorena Ochoa. The designers have used the rolling terrain to create one of the most difficult but exciting courses in Thailand. Here you play through what was a tapioca and pineapple plantation with ravines, mature trees, elevation changes, some tricky deep bunkers, water hazards and some seriously undulated greens. You are up on a hill overlooking Pattaya and the Gulf of Thailand, so the breeze here is welcome especially on a humid day. Depending on what two course you play, the yardage is between 7,404 to 7,495 yards, making it one of the longest courses in the region. Unusually right in front of the clubhouse they have a monster 20,000 square foot multi green serving as three separate holes. Their clubhouse is very modern and has an excellent restaurant and large terrace overlooking the course. Facilities including locker rooms, driving range and pro shop are also first class. Fun but tricky day on a top-rated golf course!
One of the new kids on the block, their beautiful 18 holes have been created in a valley and on most holes the famous Khao Chee Chan golden Buddha is visible. Here you experience a Scottish Highland style playing experience with gentle rolling hills not normally found in most other local courses, with ponds and wetlands thrown in. Quite a long course from the back tees, and their fairways use Zoysia with Tifeagle Bermuda on the greens. You get a sense of space and openness with sloping fairways, including some long uphill par 4’s and cleverly placed bunkers guarding the fast greens. Modern classy clubhouse sits on top of the course and offers good locker rooms, a well-stocked proshop and a fine dinning restaurant. A good driving range and putting green is also available. Kept in great condition, this new layout is gaining many admirers as is their 5-star service.
The new owners have spent a lot of money upgrading their Ocean and Mountain nine holes loops, and completely re designed their Lakes course a few years ago too. Sitting on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Thailand this course benefits from a sandy soil and is known for its exceptional quick drainage. In recent years it has hosted Asian Tour, European Tour and The Ladies European Tour events, with some of the top professionals competing.
With all the latest technology used, the fairways, bunkers and greens are always in tournament condition. Their Ocean course is perhaps a bit more forgiving but still has some great holes with lots of deep bunkers and a great par 5 finishing hole. Mountain has some long Par 4’s and par 5’s and has some tricky doglegs. Lakes is full of water hazards and some tricky small undulating greens. They have just finished upgrading their massive clubhouse which now houses a very modern set of locker rooms, a large proshop and big restaurant and café. Close to the city, this is a great course for players of all levels.
Current host to the Honda LPGA Thailand every February, all the stars has played here, and past winners include Lexi Thompson, Yani Tseng, Jessica Korda and Amy Yang. The layout starts off on a hill playing down into a valley and then back up the other side. Here you have downhill doglegs, strategically placed deep bunkers, water hazards, mature trees, and some of Pattaya’s trickiest greens. Many will be familiar with their infamous three-tiered green on the 18th hole, where many a star has seen their ball roll away down the slopes around the green. You get a sense of how well created are all the holes at the Old Course and a low score here, and you will be in good form that day. The clubhouse sits overlooking the course and the 18th hole and everything runs like clockwork from the marshals to the well-stocked pro shop and lockers. Restaurant is also very stylish and serves Thai and Western dishes. If you are coming to play golf in Pattaya, then the old course should be on your 1st.
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