WELCOME TO:-

The next great challenge in golf.

We are located on the eastern seaboard of THAILAND and centred on the resort city of PATTAYA, Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destination.

This area is blessed with 19 major golf courses within 1 hours travel of the beach .  The individual courses are both varied and challenging designed to suit any golfer from the scratch player to the high handicapper .  The courses are kept in exceptional condition and the clubhouse facilities first class.

Due to the unique mix of great golf and a top tourist venue the opportunity arises of having a superb golfing vacation whilst enjoying a holiday packed with some of the most interesting experiences it is possible to have.

Last but not least PATTAYA is one of the cheapest places in the world to vacate and to play golf, all in all this place is unique.
If we still have your attention and you wish to know more please click on side menu.

In keeping with its international status PATTAYA boasts a wide variety of attractions to entertain the visitor the largest of which is golf.

The next section describes all the courses in this area, warts and all so we will restrict ourselves to a brief history of its development and where it stands at this time.
Siam Country Club was built in the early 70s and stood almost alone until the explosion of course building which took place during the late 80s early 90s .  This explosion was driven by 2 factors, the tourist authority of Thailand’s need to increase the facilities available and the massive influx of oriental money for course development .  Top name course designers were hired to produce a variety of layouts to suit every level of skill in the game culminating in Jack Nicklaus masterpiece at LAEM CHABANG voted the Asia-pacific top course in 2000.

The advent of the Asian crisis during the late 90s severely curtailed the completion of some of the course designs and stopped others from starting .  Some course had to cut back on clubhouse facilities although the courses themselves were completed .  Details of each course included in the next section . 

Thailand has some fantastic golf courses to offer .  As a Pattaya based local leisure company we have created a range of packages that can meet the needs of novice to professional golfers wishing to explorer some of the thirty one local courses .  Follow links below to see more information.

Bangphra Intl .  Golf Club
Burapha Golf Club, Century Rayong
Green Valley/St Andrews Golf Club
Eastern Star Golf Course, Century Chomburi Golf Club
Khao Kheow Country Club, Treasure Hill Golf Club
Laem Chabang Intl .  Country Club
Natural Park Hill Golf Club, Great Lakes Golf Club
Noble Place Golf Resort and Country Club
Pattaya Country Club, Sriracha Golf Club
Phoenix Golf & Country Club
Phutaluang Royal Thai Navy Golf Course
Siam Country Club

Collared shirts, tailored shorts & non metal spiked golf shoes are a minimum on most courses .  These can be hired along with clubs as required.

Our taylor made package deal includes all your transportation needs .  Air-conditioned mini bus transportation to and from the airports .  You will be met at the airport removing the added expense of taxi's to and from you Accommodation.

We offer hotel to tee box transportation for you and your golfing equipment allowing you to sit back and relax no need to worry about map reading to find the courses, allowing you the freedom to enjoy a drink before during or after your round . 

As they say in Thailand "Up to you"

For a comprehensive list of Questions and Answers click on the Questions menu tab.

What you can expect to pay for golf in Thailand:-

Transportation to and from Airport/Hotel . 

12 nights Accommodation at 3 star Hotel . 

Green fees for 7 rounds of Golf Incl .  Electric cart and Caddy .  (tips are expected but not included.)

Transportation to and from Hotel/Golf Courses . 

All this for the amazing price from £439

Email us for detailed terms and Booking Info.

Note .  We can help with flights if required and tailor this package to meet the needs of your party . 

Example Costing
As an example of golf holiday costs we have chosen 2 tours
1, 19 nights with 10 rounds of golf
2, 12 nights with 7 rounds of golf

Included in the above is
Pick-up from Bangkok airport in an air conditioned minibus or similar
Transfer to your 3*** hotel or pub
Pick-up from your hotel and transfer to the course
Green fees, caddy and cart
Return to your hotel
Return to Bangkok airport

Not included in the above is
Flights to/from Bangkok
Any food and drink

In keeping with its international status PATTAYA has every conceivable form of accommodation, from 5 star plus to backpackers flops .  Most tour operators have deals with some of the more expensive hotels as they can negotiate a good price and roll it into a package deal .  There is no problem with these hotels with respect to the standard of accommodation but you can be caught out on some of the other aspects of PATTAYA life with extra charges required .  We prefer the flexibility of the numerous 3 star establishments about town as the standards are as good as any you will find in Europe, the cost to you is very reasonable and there are no hidden charges .  Any hotel we recommend is room hire not "twin sharing, single room supplement" as in most European hotels .  PATTAYA is based on room hire, the US system, twin sharing is a con.
All accommodation has a queen size bed, air conditioning, en suite shower and toilet, cable TV, a phone, a safe, a fridge, a restaurant, bar facilities and daily maid service . 

CHARMING INN
The Charming Inn is a 100 room Thai run hotel located on beach road .  It is located in the quieter end of town with few bars around .  Recently redecorated it is rated *** with customary Thai hospitality.

FLIPPER LODGE & FLIPPER HOUSE
Both hotel are well situated in the Soi 7/8 area .  This is the noisier part of town with lots of bars around .  the beach is 100 meters from the lodge and about 300 meters from the house.

For more information see their website
www.flippergroup.com

TWIN PALMS RESORT
200 The Charming Inn taken from the beach.
Again this hotel is located on beach road .  A Thai owned 116 room establishment with the older section a little cheaper than the new, they also have bungalows for hire .  2 swimming pools and a 24 hour coffee shop are also included.

THE QUEEN VICTORIA INN
As its name suggests this really is a pub modelled on the pub of that name in the Eastender series .  There the similarity ends as the staff are very friendly, the ambience relaxing, the food very good and the beer cool.
Less than 2 years old the "VIC" is English owned and run .  Bert and Vic will make you most welcome .  Having 21 rooms all up to spec it is located 200 meters from the beach.
For more info checkout their website.
www.queenvictoria-inn.com

ROSIE O'GRADYS
Another pub this time located in Soi 7 .  An Irish theme pub serving draught beers including Guinness .  British owned and run its a 12 room establishment with one of the best restaurants around.
For further info on "ROSIES" checkout their website.
www.rosie-ogradys.com

When you are a first time visitor you will have a lot of questions concerning the place you are visiting, here are some of the more common.

WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE
Thailand is hot and sometimes very humid so light cotton clothing is the best .  A hat is a must as the sun can be very strong .  For golf bring your clubs, some airlines still allow sports equipment to travel free of your baggage allowance

VISA REQUIREMENTS
For 30 days or less no visa is required .  You will be required to fill in an immigration form and your passport will be stamped on arrival .  For more than 30 days you will require a visa issued in your country of origin, for the UK check out the Thai consulate in hull, they have a website and you can obtain your visa by post.
www.thaiconsul-uk.com

CURRENCY
All hard currency is acceptable including the euro !! .  For the best rate of exchange use Stirling denominated travellers cheques .  Don’t obtain Thai Baht in the UK the banks rob you on the exchange rate .  All credit cards are acceptable in the ATM machines and there are exchange booths all over town generally open to 8 pm .  The local currency is the BAHT pronounced "bar"

MEDICAL & INSURANCE
There is no NHS in Thailand, all medical treatment is paid for by you .  For this reason you must have health insurance before you come .  The hospitals are first class and the local doctors and clinics good for minor problems .  If you are on medication bring it with you, all drugs are sold over the counter but the availability of your particular medication is not guaranteed .  For PATTAYA inoculations are not required but if you are going "up country" consult your quack before you leave.

GETTING ABOUT
PATTAYA is probably the easiest place on the planet for getting about .  The local taxi is a 1 ton pickup with seats in the back, you just flag one down and pile in with the rest of the tourists .  The cost is controlled by city hall but in reality any trip within the city limits is 20 baht (15 pence) per person per trip .  If you want to go anywhere special flag one down and negotiate the price before boarding .  Motorcycle taxis exist all over town, they are reasonably safe the Thai’s use them all the time .  If you require a meter cab of minibus your hotel will arrange it for you.

ELECTRICAL
Thailand is 220 VAC using the continental plug system .  Adaptors can be purchased at the airport.

SAFETY
Unlikely as it may seem PATTAYA is probably one of the safest places you will ever visit .  Discourse is disliked by the Thais, it’s a cultural thing, and you will invariably be greeted with a smile wherever you go .  Any problems are usually caused by intoxicated foreigners and even that is rare .  Use commonsense, leave your valuables in your safe, take out only enough money for your needs .  The local tourist police are there to help you and are generally on your side.

TIPPING
Tipping is a way of life throughout the far east .  Your waitress, the girls in the bar, your caddie all rely on tips for a substantial part of their income .  A good rule of thumb is 5 - 10% of your bill .  As for your caddie a reasonable tip is 100 - 200 baht.

WEATHER
November to April is the dry season, hardly any rain at all .  May - June gets very hot, July to October is the rainy season .  During the rainy season the rain tends to be heavy but short lived .  The golf is rarely affected by the weather, in fact golf is very good in the rainy reason as the greens are holding and the Asian tourists are absent.

HOLIDAY SEASON
The season is from mid December to March when the city is packed with Asian tourists .  For the golfer the best time is any time other than the above as the courses are empty and the course management make special offers to encourage golfers onto their courses.

EATING OUT
Due to its international client base PATTAYA is a Mecca for the gastronome .  The range is vast and the prices unbelievably cheap so much so that it is quite unnecessary for you to subscribe to a vacation with food included .  As it is a beach resort the seafood is particularly good with tiger prawns a must .  Drinking water is purchased in bottles.

SHOPPING
Most of the clothes you purchase in the UK are made in the Far East the only difference is the price .  Your local football shirt can be had for a song here .  Hand made suites and shoes, CD and DVD recordings, leather gear, designer clothes you name it, its here .  The local markets are the place to shop as the stores tend to be more expensive .  Negotiating the price is expected with some big reductions to be had if business is slow.

OTHER SPORTS
If you get fed up with golf!! you may want to try your hand at bowls, bowling, scuba diving, deep-sea or fresh water fishing, sky diving, elephant or horse riding, wind sailing its all here for your enjoyment .  Other more sedately sports exist, pool, snooker etc, you can watch your favourite team in most bars live, you get more live premiership football here than in the UK.

Bangpra International Golf Club

A venture project between TAT and Japan Golf Promotions, (the designers) this course is 18 holes opened in 1987 and laid out on slightly hilly terrain .  No less than 11 holes have water hazards although some are more illusionary than others .  Bangpra has the reputation as one of the more difficult courses around but with care you should be able to avoid the hazards and have a good day .  The monkeys which infest a corner of the course have a habit of sitting around the greens watching you play; they are harmless as are some of the other wildlife with can be seen here .  The course was cut out of virgin forest with most of it left in situe hence the wildlife .  The course maintenance leaves a little to be desired as with all Thai courses they have a habit of not investing their profits back in the course .  Bangpra is a prime example of this .  The clubhouse is excellent.

Burapha Golf ClubPreviously a members only course it is now open to visitors and about time to as us mortals were being deprived of access to a superb complex .  Designed by David Graham and Gary Planks this 4 x 9 hole course is terrific .  Located next to Leam Chabang is very different with a lot of short holes and relatively wide fairways making it attractive to the higher handicap players whilst the low handicappers can have a lot of fun .  There is water everywhere on the A,B and C courses making straight hitting a must .  Burapha was the venue of the 2003 Pattaya open which was won with a -24 4 round score which gives you some idea of its difficulty .  The course maintenance is superb and is backed up with a great clubhouse.

Century Chomburi Golf Club

Another 18 hole Nick Faldo designed course which ran out of money .  The terrain is flat and sloping which allowed Nick to produce some interesting holes not very difficult its a good course for the high handicappers .  Along with two other courses it is a long way from Pattaya so its usage is limited, the clubhouse is primitive as are the locker room facilities, the golf is Ok but you will want to spend your 19 hole time somewhere else .  The green fees are something else, your round with caddy and cart will cost about 8 pounds.

Century Rayong Golf Club

This 18 hole course was designed by Nick Faldo and Desmond Muirhead on a piece of real estate which was useless for anything else .  Opened in 1993 its unlike any other course in the area with lumps and bumps everywhere, some very challenging holes and hardly a flat spot anywhere .  You either love this course or you hate it .  The developer’s obviously ran out of money as the course itself was completed but the infrastructure wasn’t .  There isn’t any rough on this course you go from fairway to jungle in one hit, take some extra balls with you .  The clubhouse was never built so the facilities are primitive.

 Eastern Star Golf Club

A Robert Trent Jones Jr .  design this course was opened in 1992 .  The terrain is flat with many lakes and lots of trees to try and give the course some character .  During 2003 the management are upgrading all the greens so temporary fairway greens are in use .  It should be interesting to see how long it takes for them to settle .  This is the most successful country club in the Pattaya area with a large sports facility bars and restaurant The clubhouse is excellent A well managed course it is taken over during the winter months by an oriental golf promotion company for the use of its clients.

Great Lakes Golf Club

An ambitious project designed by Nick Faldo this was supposed to be 2 x 18 holes with condos and private housing all around.
The first 18 holes were opened in 1995 but the as crisis put pay to any further development The condo blocks stand empty, the clubhouse is very temporary .  The course design was meant to be difficult and it is with some of the rough over your head .  The 17th is a doosy a par 5 with row after row of bunkers staggered across the fairway pushing your shot into the thick rough on the right .  You can’t see the green until you’re nearly on top of it Nick must have been on the beer the night before to have dreamed this one up .  The course maintenance leaves a lot to be desired and due to its location, its out in the sticks, does not receive its share of golfers hence does not generate the income to enable completion of the project or proper upkeep of the existing facilities.

Khao Kheow Golf Club

An international standard course of 3*9 holes designed by Dye Designs Inc and opened in 1992 .  This is an uncompromising course of the first degree with some tight fairways, numerous water hazards and some of the deepest bunkers you are ever likely to meet .  The usual dye design island green is included .  High handicappers will struggle on this course and the low ones will have to be on top of their game to beat the card .  Again another course with a magnificent backdrop of hills augmented by a superb clubhouse .  The course maintenance is first class.

Laem Chabang Golf Club

You have to play this course to appreciate just how good it is .  This Jack Nicklaus design was opened in 1995 and voted Asia/Pacific top course in 2000 .  Layed out in undulating terrain Jack has conjured up a 3 x 9 hole complex which almost defies description .  The undulating terrain is used to great effect, the liberal inclusion of water courses and lakes add to its attractiveness, keeping the natural fauna as much as possible and argumenting it with rock outcrops, flower beds the course is completed with a selection of grasses for fairways and greens which greatly enhance your enjoyment of your round .  Designed as a truly international championship course your will need to be on top of game to get any change from this magnificent complex .  To back all this up is a superb clubhouse with top facilities and a management team who spare no effort to keep the course as jack intended it.

Cristal Bay formally "Natural Park Resort" &
 Shadow Mountain formally "Natural Park Hills" Golf Clubs

I have lumped these two courses together as they are both owned by the same company, are next door to one another and have the same terrain.
Natural Perk Resort is truly a resort complex with 3 giant condo towers at its heart .  The course dates from 1988 and consists of 3 x 9 holes designed by Thai Takenaka .  The terrain is quite flat but slopes toward the sea .  The course design is very interesting considering the lie of the land .  With ingenuity the designers have created a very special layout with by far the largest concentration of coconut and palm trees on the face of the planet .  Along with the many water features this combination gives this course a unique feel .  The problem with putting your ball in a palm tree is that often it doesn’t come down so when you play this course try and keep it straight .  There are some really nice water holes on this course .  Japanese money went into building this course so the clubhouse is excellent and the course maintenance Is first class.
The second course, Natural Park Hills was opened in 1993 and is 18 holes to a Ronald Fream design .  Similar terrain to the resort it again has oodles of coconut and palm trees .  The course is festooned with flower beds and with clever design offers the golfer a stem test of his skills .  The 17 hole has a multiple tee double green arrangement over an old quarry a beautiful hole to play .  Again the clubhouse is .excellent and the course maintenance first class

Noble Place Golf Club

A 3 x 9 hole complex designed by Peter Thomson to resemble a Scottish links course .  Opened in 1994 the terrain is flat so Peter has included a lot of pot bunkers in the design .  I suppose the water is meant to mimic burns but a full third of the holes have a lay up or go for it choice .  The clubhouse is adequate but the complex is the third of the long distance courses from Pattaya and it takes an effort to drag yourself up there . 

Pattaya Golf Club

First opened in 1994 this 18 hole course was a victim of the late 90s Asian crisis when the 3rd 9 holes got put on the back burner .  The terrain slopes so nearly all the holes are up or downhill with plenty of doglegs .  Its a beginners course with wide fairways the front 9 being easer than the back in fact the challenge comes with the last 3 holes, a pig of a par 3 followed by a great par 4 followed by a long par 5, your card can de wrecked by these holes .  The problem with Pattaya is the greens, they tend to be patchy with bald patches on them and when dry are like putting on glass .  The clubhouse although temporary is adequate and the food is good, course maintenance could do with some improvement.

Phoenix Golf and Country Club

A superb course opened in 1993 from a design by Dennis Griffith .  This 3 x 9 hole complex sports one of the best clubhouses around and is at this time building a large driving range right next to the clubhouse .  All the holes can be considered as on the easy side .  The 3 nines are known as mountain, lakes and ocean with a panoramic view of Jonteam high rises viewable from the top of ocean .  The rough on this course can be

a pain sometimes as they tend to leave it some time between cuts .  The greens can also be iffy especially in the dry season .  The management could do with tightening up on the course maintenance; if they did Phoenix would be up there with Burapha . 

Plutaluang Naval Golf Club

This course is owned and run by the Royal Thai Navy .  It was first opened in 1969 and has been updated regularly producing a 4 x 9 hole complex with a brand new clubhouse .  The setting couldn’t be better, with a large lake in the middle surrounded by hills .  The 4 nines are as different to one another as chalk is to cheese with some stunning holes to play .  The ground staff goes to great lengths to keep the course in top condition but it can get a bit soggy after heavy rain .  For value for money this course cannot be bettered anywhere .  The clubhouse is new and first class and after a hard day flogging the fairways a beer served up by the ‘sailocets’ is a joy.

Siam Golf Club

This course was built in 1971 to a design by I .  Izumi .  The terrain is a gently sloping valley with a water course at the bottom .  The course is layed out at right angles to the water course hence you go downhill, across the water and up the other side then turn around and do the same thing again .  As you can see this course predates the explosion in designer courses and it shows .  All the greens are saddled as green maintenance comprises of spreading sand on them and letting the grass grow though .  If you do this for 30 years all the greens take on the same basic shape, high in the middle sloping to the edges .  The fairways are separated by oodles of trees which are also 30 years old, its a bitch if you get in them .  Siam is a prime example of a course in need of an update and is surpassed by nearly every other course in the area which is a pity its only 20 minutes from Pattaya.
News just in......They have now closed Siam for 1 year as they are at last spending cash on the original 18 holes not to mention constructing a new 18 holes .  This redevelopment will open next march but the existing members are being shat on as their annual fees will be raised to 30,000 baht and they will have no access to the new course.

Sriracha Golf Club

An 18 hole complex designed by Gary Player and opened in 1992 .  This is a superb course with a mix of easy wide fairway holes interspersed with some nasty over water carries intended to screw up your card .  The backdrop of forest covered hills is breathtaking .  Gary has used the hilly terrain to great effect and with the liberal use of water the course is a joy hr just about any handicapper be it high or low .  Whoever thought up the idea of having crocodiles in one of the water hazards is anybody’s guess but they have been removed as to many golfers were Vying to retrieve their balls .  The clubhouse is first class and the course maintained to the highest level.
News just in....They have put the crocodiles back in the lake at the 12th so a ball in the water is defiantly a problem for the caddies.

Green Valley/St Andrews Golf Club

A two course 2 * 18 hole complex sharing the same clubhouse

Green Valley is a Peter Thomson design dating from 1992 .  It’s an interesting course well layed out in the available terrain with liberal use of water and sand with a stunning backdrop of rainforest covered hills .  The course can only be described as “on the easy side” as the fairways are generous and the bunkers and water not that much of a problem .  The clubhouse is average by local standards and the course itself is in need of some cash being spent on it to upgrade it .  It is beginning to show its 10 years of continuous use.
St Andrews is a totally different animal and I really do mean animal .  Designed by Desmond Murhead and opened in 2000 it was intended to mimic a Scottish links course so the rough is left long and the fairways duck and dive around mounds and undergrowth on a very hilly terrain .  I suppose its main claim to fame are its two par 6 holes both measuring in excess of 850 yards of the back tees but all in all it’s a monster measuring nearly 7700 yards in all with some carries unreachable by most golfers .  The Thai players guide to courses in Thailand sums it up very well, over 18 handicap don’t play, use a cart, take plenty of balls and don’t bother to search for those in the rough you aren’t never going to find them.

Treasure Hills Golf Club

A flattish 18 hole course designed by the Japanese architect Yoshikazu Nato .  This is a private members course well looked after .  The course itself can only be described as bland .  It is a long way from Pattaya and is not really worth the effort to go there.