Phuket Golf

There are some fantastic golf courses around Phuket and playing them is a pleasure for any golfer. However, the first thing we must say about playing golf in Phuket is that it is not cheap. Any golfer coming to Phuket expecting bargain green fees is going to be sorely disappointed. The courses and facilities are top-class and the fees reflect that. If you enjoy playing golf on good quality courses and do not mind paying for that pleasure, then Phuket is a great place for a golfing holiday. If you are looking for bargain green fees then there are many other locations around Thailand such as Pattaya that will suit you much better.

There are currently seven golf clubs in Phuket boasting a total of nine courses. Each course has its own character and challenges. They should provide enough to fill just about any golfing holiday.

Playing Golf in Phuket

The courses in Phuket take advantage of the naturally undulating geography to create some quite spectacular holes. Many of the courses were built on land reclaimed from the old tin mining industry. The old flooded mines form expansive lakes so there is plenty of water in play. The steep-sided hills that are a common feature of Phuket's geography form a spectacular backdrop for many of the courses.

Only one of Phuket's courses is by the sea. Mission Hills has a small section of course on the coast facing out towards beautiful Phang Nga Bay. Seafront land is very expensive so the courses are mostly inland.

Playing golf in Thailand can be hot work. The most popular tee-off times are from 2pm onwards so you can complete your round in the cool of the late afternoon. The courses can get busy at this time. If you don't mind playing in the heat then the courses are much quieter around midday. There are refreshment bars dotted around the courses to help flagging golfers maintain their energy.

Many Thais enjoy a round of golf. Their golfing etiquette may seem a little odd to foreign visitors. They often walk ahead after playing their shots. They are also often playing for money. Some of the wealthier Thais play for large sums on every hole so they will take their time over their shots.

Caddies

It is mandatory to take a caddie on most of the courses in Phuket (and in Thailand). The courses provide caddies (generally young women) so as well as your green fees, the course will also charge a caddie fee. The caddie fee is 200 to 300 baht but you should still pay the caddie a tip at the end of the round. The normal tip is 200-baht for 9-holes or 300-400-baht for 18-holes.

The caddies will carry your bags, repair your divots and pitch marks, and direct you around the course.

Many hackers initially find the presence of caddies watching their every shot a little disconcerting but there is no need to feel bad. They have seen every standard of golfer and they really don't mind searching in the undergrowth for your lost balls. A little banter with the caddies is all part of the fun of the round.

Fees

We have said it already. The green fees are expensive and remember you will also need to pay a caddie fee. If you also want to rent clubs or a cart then you may need a small mortgage.

The rates we give below are the walk-in prices but there are a few ways to get discounted rates.

• Book your round through an online agent - you can get reduced rates by booking through an agent such as Phuket Golf.
  
  
• Join PEGS - if you are resident in Phuket or visit often, you could consider joining the Phuket Expat Golf Society. They organise monthly society days and also have agreements with a couple of the courses for reduced green fees for their members.
  
  
• Become a club member - if you are resident in Phuket or you visit often, you could become a member of your local club. If you play often, it is a good investment.
  
  
• Get a member to sign you in - if you know a member, they can sign you in and you will get around 50% discount.
  

Courses

Phuket Country Club

The Phuket Country Club is the oldest club on the island. It has a convenient central location in Kathu that makes it easy to access for visitors staying at the popular west coast tourist resorts.

There are two courses. The old course is an 18-hole par 72 and is 6,484 yards off the blue tees. It starts with a challenging meander around the base of the surrounding steep sided hills before dropping into a less punishing flood plain. The course will punish bad shots and provides a good challenge, even for low handicap golfers.

The newer country club course is a 9-hole par 36 and is 3,375 yards from the blue tees. It is generally reckoned to be the toughest 9-holes on Phuket. There is water in play on 8 of the 9 holes.

Hotels:
The club is not that far from the main tourist resorts but if you want to be close:
Serenity Golf Hotel (3 Star)

Club Website:
Phuket Country Club

Loch Palm & Red Mountain Golf Courses

These courses share the same main entrance and ownership. They are actually seperate clubs with seperate clubhouses and memberships. They have a convenient central location in Kathu that makes them easy to reach for the many visitors staying on the west coast.

The Loch Palm course is generally considered to be the easiest on Phuket. It is nonetheless a very attractive course and still offers plenty of challenge. The course has hundreds of distinctive palmyra trees and is built around the largest lake of any of the courses in Phuket. Signature holes include the 5th which is the longest par 5 in Phuket and one of the longest in Thailand. The 14th is a par 3 from an elevated tee with a stunning view across the course. The round finishes with a tough dogleg par 5 that fully tests a flagging golfers accuracy.

It is an 18-hole par 72 that is 6,555 yards from the back tees. The combined green fee and caddy fee is currently 4,000-baht.

Club Website:
Loch Palm Golf Club

The Red Mountain course is a stunning new course. It takes its name from the surrounding hills some of which are scarred with seams of red rock. The course is built around old tin mines and has many elevation changes to make for some spectacular holes. The course has quickly won rave reviews and even comparisons with Pebble Beach. There are some long walks between holes so carts are cumpulsory.

The course is an 18-hole par 72 and is 6,900 yards from the back. The green fee, caddy fee and compulsory golf cart fee is currently an eye-watering 6,500-baht.....ouch!

Club Website:
Red Mountain Golf Club

Hotels:
The clubs are not that far from the main tourist resorts but if you want to be close:
Tinidee Hotel (3 Star)

Blue Canyon Club

The Blue Canyon Club is the premier golf club in Phuket. It is located towards the northern end of Phuket, near the airport and is therefore a bit of a hike to get to from most of the tourist areas. The club has hosted several top-class tournaments and is renowned for its perfect glass-smooth greens. The club features two stunning 18-hole courses.

The Canyon Course has been voted best in Asia on no less than four occasions. As the name suggests, the course features several holes around natural canyons. There are many notable holes including the 13th made famous when Tiger Woods drove it and the 17th which is the longest par 3 in Thailand. There are rumours that this course may soon become members only so if you want to enjoy it you best hurry. It is an 18-hole par 72 that is 7,179 yards from the back tees. The combined green fee and caddy fee is currently 5,900-baht.

The Lakes course has water on 17 of the 18 holes. It is an 18-hole par 72 and is 7,129 yards from the back tees. Wide fairways and generous greens make the course look deceptively kind but somehow the water and large greens seem to swallow up shots. The combined green fee and caddy fee is currently 4,700-baht.

There are no nearby hotels but the club does have its own luxury resort that you can book through their website.

Club Website:
Blue Canyon Club Website

Laguna Phuket Golf Club

This golf club is part of the Laguna complex at Bang Tao Beach that also features seven top-class hotels. The club has an 18-hole par 71 course which is 6,654 yards from the back tees. It is a pleasant, mostly flat course, dotted with a few picturesque lagoons which are a common feature of this area. The fairways are lined with coconut, palm and fir trees which give a good degree of difficullty to the round. The course is plenty challenging and it recently hosted the Thailand Open.

The combined green fee and caddy fee is currently 4,200-baht. There are slightly reduced rates available to hotel guests. This course is very much aimed at the wealthy tourists staying at the 5-star Laguna resorts and the clubhouse prices certainly reflect this. A beer costs 250-baht for non-members.

Hotels:
You can get reduced green fees if you stay at any of the Laguna hotels:
The Banyan Tree Resort (5 star)
Allamanda Laguna (5 star)
Dusit Thani Laguna (5 star)
Laguna Beach Resort (5 star)
Sheraton Grande Laguna (5 star)
Outrigger Laguna Phuket (5 star)
Laguna Holiday Club Phuket (4 star)

Club Website:
Laguna Phuket Golf Club

Mission Hills Golf Club

This club is located on the northeast coast of Phuket, well away from the major tourist areas. It does therefore have its own hotel. The course is an 18-hole par 72 that is 6,806 yards off the back tees.

It is the only Phuket course that is actually by the sea, although only for a short stretch with glorious views towards Phang Nga Bay. For a long time the course had a reputation for being the least well-maintained course in Phuket. The good news is that more recently they have started giving the course the sort of attention it deserves and it is beginning to approach the kind of top golfing experience that it should be.

It is a nice open course that does not punish the wilder hitters amongst us too much. There are a few lakes, canals and island greens that do demand some accurate hitting. One notable feature of the course is the large bunkers. We call them bunkers, you could almost call them beaches. There is plenty of challenge all the way around the course.

The course location is well away from most of Phuket's amenities and attractions. The clubhouse is impressive and features a great view down the 9th fairway. The hotel has the amenities you would expect, including driving range, restaurant, bar, swimming pool and fitness centre. The combined green fee, caddy fee and compulsory cart fee is currently 4,700-baht. There are slightly reduced rates available to hotel guests.

Hotels:
Mission Hills Golf Resort (5 Star)

Club Website:
Mission Hills Golf Club

Phunaka Golf Course

Phunaka is the newest course in Phuket. It was originally envisioned as just a training facility with 56-bay driving range and golf academy. The developers then decided they had enough space to also squeeze in a small 9-hole course. It is a par 30, 2163 yards.

It is only really a training course and six of the holes are par-3s. Just the same it is challenging enough. They have created a links style course and the three longer holes mean you do get a chance to use every club.

The course also has floodlights so you can play at night. Green fees are 1,600-baht.

Club Website:
Phunaka Golf Club