Pattaya is famous for its exotic nightlife and white sand beaches, but these days it has become Thailand’s premier golf destination with more than 25 golf courses to choose from. The golf courses are all pretty accessible and most of them can be reached from the centre of the city in 30 – 45 minutes. The golf courses in Pattaya can be divided into three categories. At the top you have six premium courses, many of which have hosted major international tournaments. The next tier we call the popular courses, which although not as exclusive as the top courses are usually in very good condition, have all the facilities you would expect and you can usually be assured of an excellent all-round experience. The final group we will refer to as the budget courses, which although they offer great value for money, are inconsistent in their maintenance, service delivery and the pace of play.
Best Golf Courses in Pattaya
The Siam Country Club group now operates four golf courses in Pattaya. Siam Country Club Old Course was originally opened in the 1980’s but was completely renovated in 2007 by the renowned team of Schmidt and Curley. Over the years the Old Course has hosted many international tournaments and it is now the permanent home for the LPGA Honda Classic, which is usually held in March each year. What makes the Old Course different from many of the other courses in Pattaya are the mature trees which line most of the fairways, giving the course the feeling of a traditional English parkland course. The next course in the family is Siam Country Club Plantation which is a superb 27-hole layout also designed by Schmidt and Curley. The course has been built in an elevated location on a former plantation and offers views of the city and the Gulf of Siam beyond. The three layouts have been appropriately named Pineapple, Sugar Cane and Tapioca after the crops that were grown in the plantation. The course is long and difficult with lightning-fast greens, many of which are elevated and can leave some challenging chips from the run-off areas. Siam Country Club Waterside is another great course which was opened a couple of years ago. The course has been laid out to take advantage of the natural surroundings which, as its name suggests, includes several large lakes which come into play on many of the holes. At the moment the course is quite open with few mature trees, so there is little protection from the prevailing winds. Siam Country Club Rolling Hills opened in January 2020 and although the course needs time to mature, the initial feedback has been very positive and we are sure that given time, it will rank with the other Siam Country Club courses.
Laem Chabang International Country Club is one of the oldest courses in Pattaya and is a 27-hole layout which was originally designed by Jack Nicklaus. Over the years the owners have continued to invest in the course and it still ranks as one of the best golf courses in Pattaya and the only one which offers night golf. The newest kid on the block is Chee Chan Golf Resort which was designed by Golf Plan and is managed by IMG. The course has been built in rolling countryside in the shadow of the iconic buddha carved into the nearby rockface. The course is quite challenging with some very long par-4s and some firm and fast undulating greens. It is sure to become a must-play course in Pattaya.
Popular Golf Courses in Pattaya
Burapha Golf Club is one of the most popular golf courses in Pattaya because not only is it great value for money, but has two 18-hole layouts. This course has also hosted some major regional tournaments and we generally receive very positive feedback from all who play here. The clubhouse is a little old-fashioned, but the food in the restaurant is excellent. Khao Khoew Country Club is another very popular course which is just off the highway about mid-way between the airport and Pattaya. This is another 27-hole layout which is ideally placed for a quick round just after arrival or a final round on the way to the airport. Most people remember the 17th and signature hole which is a very picturesque par-3 with an island green. Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club is another of the older courses in Pattaya which has recently undergone major renovation and remodeling and has improved to such an extent that it hosts a major European tour event. Pattana Golf Resort is a 27-hole integrated resort which is often overlooked because it’s a little further outside the city. The course is quite a challenging layout which is probably best avoided by the higher handicappers as the course is quite exposed to the prevailing winds. Many people are drawn to St. Andrew’s 2000 Golf Club because of its name and although it doesn’t live up to its famous namesake, it is very unusual because it is a par-74 measuring nearly 8,000 yards and includes two extremely long par-6’s stretching to almost 800 yards. Within the same group and adjacent you will find Rayong Green Valley Country Club which was originally designed by Peter Thomson and is a very attractively landscaped and mature course.
Budget Golf Courses in Pattaya
Pattaya Country Club Golf Resort is another older Pattaya golf course which has been extensively renovated and still proves very popular and has a brand new, state-of-the-art clubhouse. The course can get very crowded and we often get complaints of slow play. Eastern Star Country Club is a rare Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course which is a pretty easy links-style course which is protected by numerous bunkers and no less than eleven lakes. Parichat International Golf Links is one of the newer courses in Pattaya which although quite short, has plenty of water which comes into play on most holes. The feedback we get is that this is a challenging course and best avoided by high handicappers. Pattavia Century Golf Club, originally opened in 1996, has also been renovated and upgraded and although it’s a bit further from the city, it has been built in a very rural location with great views of the surrounding hills. Treasure Hills Golf Course is a much improved and mature golf course which most people remember for the ‘crocodile hole’ in memory of the crocodiles that used to inhabit the local creek. They have been immortalized by a large statue of a crocodile beside the fairway. Silky Oak Country Club, which shares a clubhouse with St. Andrew’s 2000 and Rayong Green Valley is a very inexpensive course offering great views from some parts of the course and would suit higher handicappers.
We recommend that before choosing which golf course in Pattaya you wish to include, that you check out the latest reviews on our website from our other customers as the condition of the courses can vary depending on the weather conditions and other factors.
+66 (0) 88 867 2867
+66 (0) 88 867 2867
