Best Golf Courses in Thailand: Our First-Hand Guide
Thailand has been one of our favourite golf destinations for years — and for good reason.
Few destinations combine championship golf, quality resorts, great food, nightlife, beaches and value quite like Thailand. Add the experience of playing with a local caddie and you have a golf holiday that feels completely different from playing back home in Australia.
But choosing where to play isn’t quite as simple.
Thailand’s best golf is spread across several very different destinations. Phuket combines championship golf with a tropical island holiday. Pattaya has one of the country’s strongest concentrations of quality courses. Hua Hin offers a more relaxed resort-style golf experience, while Bangkok has some outstanding courses that can turn a city stopover into a serious part of your golf trip.
At Jet Set Golf, we’ve spent years taking Australian golfers to Thailand, organising hosted golf tours and tournaments and working with local partners across these destinations. We’ve seen which courses our golfers love, which combinations work well together and, just as importantly, which destinations suit different types of golf travellers.
So this isn’t a ranking built from online reviews.
It’s our guide to the best golf courses in Thailand and the courses we’d build a Thailand golf holiday around.
Where Is the Best Golf in Thailand?
There isn’t one answer, because Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok offer quite different golf holidays.
Choose Phuket if you want golf combined with beaches, resorts and nightlife.
Choose Pattaya if golf is the main reason for travelling and you want several excellent courses within reach of one base.
Choose Hua Hin if you prefer a more relaxed resort destination with quality golf and a quieter atmosphere.
Choose Bangkok if you want premium golf combined with restaurants, shopping and a few days experiencing one of Asia’s great cities.
For most golfers, we’d recommend concentrating on one or two regions rather than trying to cover the whole country. Three or four quality rounds with sensible transfers generally makes for a much better holiday than spending half the trip changing hotels.
Best Golf Courses in Phuket
Phuket is probably the easiest introduction to a Thailand golf holiday for many Australian golfers.
You get championship courses, beaches, resorts, restaurants and nightlife within the same trip. It’s particularly good for couples and groups where golf is important but isn’t the only reason for travelling.
The courses are also surprisingly varied. Red Mountain feels completely different from Laguna, while the two courses at Blue Canyon offer another experience again.
Red Mountain Golf Club
Best for: Dramatic scenery and one of Phuket’s standout rounds
Red Mountain is the Phuket course that tends to get golfers talking.
Built through the landscape of a former tin-mining area, the course uses Phuket’s natural elevation to create a round filled with dramatic changes in height, jungle, water and some memorable tee shots.
It’s visually impressive, but there’s plenty of strategy involved as well. Position can be more important than simply reaching for the driver, and having an experienced caddie alongside you becomes particularly useful when you’re seeing the course for the first time.
For us, Red Mountain is one of the courses that helps make Phuket a genuine golf destination rather than simply a beach destination with some golf courses nearby.
Jet Set Golf tip: If you’re only playing two or three rounds in Phuket, Red Mountain would be very difficult for us to leave out.
Blue Canyon Country Club – Canyon Course
Best for: Championship history
If you enjoy golf courses with genuine tournament history, the Canyon Course deserves a place on your Phuket itinerary.
Designed by Yoshikazu Kato and opened in 1991, the course was created through a former tin-mine landscape and has hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic three times — in 1994, 1998 and 2007.
That history gives Blue Canyon a different feel from some of Thailand’s newer resort courses. Natural hazards, water and the shape of the old mining landscape have all played a role in the design.
It’s the more famous of Blue Canyon’s two courses and, if you’re visiting Phuket for the first time, it’s the one we’d prioritise.
Jet Set Golf tip: Don’t let the championship history convince you that you need to play from the back tees. Pick the right tees for your game and enjoy the course rather than turning your holiday round into survival golf.
Blue Canyon Country Club – Lakes Course
Best for: A second Blue Canyon round with a completely different feel
Don’t make the mistake of treating the Lakes Course as simply Blue Canyon’s second course.
Also designed by Yoshikazu Kato, it presents a different test to the Canyon. As the name suggests, water is a major feature of the layout, coming into play on 17 of the 18 holes, while more generous landing areas make the course enjoyable across a broad range of handicaps.
Playing both Blue Canyon courses on the same Phuket trip works particularly well. You get two noticeably different golf experiences without changing venue, and golfers can make their own minds up about which course they prefer.
Jet Set Golf tip: If your itinerary allows it, play both. The Canyon gets the headlines, but plenty of golfers come away having really enjoyed the Lakes.
Laguna Golf Phuket
Best for: Resort golf, couples and mixed golfer/non-golfer groups
Laguna Golf Phuket offers something quite different from Red Mountain and Blue Canyon.
The 18-hole, par-71 course sits within the Laguna Phuket resort precinct and incorporates natural water features and mature trees into a polished resort-style layout.
This isn’t a course that needs to beat you up to be enjoyable. That’s exactly why we like it in a longer Phuket itinerary.
The location is also a major advantage. For couples or groups combining golf with a broader Phuket holiday, Laguna provides a very easy golf day while keeping everyone connected to one of the island’s major resort areas.
Jet Set Golf tip: Laguna works brilliantly as an opening round. It gives everyone a chance to settle into Thailand, meet their caddie and find their swing before taking on some of Phuket’s tougher courses.
Loch Palm Golf Club
Best for: An enjoyable warm-up round
Not every round of a golf holiday needs to feel like you’re playing a major championship.
Loch Palm is an 18-hole, par-72 course in Kathu, surrounded by rolling hills and tropical scenery.
We particularly like it as an optional warm-up round. If you’ve just arrived in Phuket and want to play before the main event begins, or simply want another round without making every day of the holiday a huge golf day, Loch Palm makes plenty of sense.
It’s accessible, enjoyable and provides another distinctly Phuket golf experience.
Jet Set Golf tip: Use Loch Palm as the bonus round rather than trying to make every course on your itinerary compete for headline status.
Best Golf Courses in Pattaya
If golf is the main reason you’re travelling to Thailand, Pattaya deserves serious consideration.
The region has an excellent concentration of courses within reach of the city, which means you can stay in one hotel and experience several very different layouts during the same trip.
Then there’s Pattaya itself. Restaurants, bars, beaches, shopping and nightlife mean there’s plenty happening once the golf finishes.
For groups wanting four or five rounds during a week in Thailand, Pattaya is hard to beat.
Siam Country Club – Old Course
Best for: Championship pedigree and a big final round
The Old Course is one of the names most golfers associate with Pattaya.
Opened in 1971 and extensively renovated by Schmidt-Curley in 2007, it has hosted the Honda LPGA Thailand multiple times.
Mature trees, strategic bunkering and a beautifully established setting give the Old Course a more traditional feel than some of Thailand’s newer layouts.
There’s also something special about standing over shots on holes you’ve watched some of the world’s best players tackle.
For a multi-round Pattaya golf trip, this is one we’d save for later in the week.
Jet Set Golf tip: Make the Old Course your finale. It feels like a proper way to finish a Pattaya golf trip or tournament.
Siam Country Club – Plantation Course
Best for: Challenge, elevation changes and big views
Plantation is a very different golf experience from the Old Course.
Designed by Schmidt-Curley and opened in 2008, the venue contains 27 holes across three nine-hole loops, built on land that was previously used for agricultural plantations.
This feels like big golf. There are elevation changes, substantial bunkering, wide views and plenty of shots where you’ll be pleased to have a Thai caddie standing beside you.
Playing Plantation and the Old Course on the same trip is one of the best ways to appreciate the depth of golf available around Pattaya.
Jet Set Golf tip: Listen to your caddie on the greens. Looking at a putt for ten seconds doesn’t suddenly give us more local knowledge than someone who walks these greens every week.
Chee Chan Golf Resort
Best for: Modern Thailand golf and a spectacular setting
Chee Chan feels like modern Thailand golf done properly.
The course is spacious, beautifully presented and designed to make an impression from the moment you arrive. Its setting gives the golf a real sense of scale, while the overall presentation makes this feel like a complete golf-day experience rather than simply another tee time.
Its location also makes it practical for groups staying in Pattaya, which is one of the reasons it works so well in a multi-round itinerary.
For us, Chee Chan is exactly the type of course you want on a dedicated Thailand golf trip: different enough to be memorable but accessible enough for a mixed group of handicaps to enjoy.
Jet Set Golf tip: Arrive early. This is one of those golf days where rushing from the transfer bus straight to the first tee means missing part of the experience.
Laem Chabang International Country Club
Best for: Variety and classic Jack Nicklaus design
Laem Chabang adds another completely different experience to a Pattaya itinerary.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the club features 27 holes divided across Mountain, Lake and Valley nine-hole courses.
That three-loop design creates plenty of variety, while the natural landscape, water and bunkering provide the type of visual cues and strategic questions you’d expect from a Nicklaus course.
It’s also one of the reasons Pattaya works so well for a week-long golf trip. You can play Chee Chan, Laem Chabang and multiple Siam Country Club courses without the golf starting to feel repetitive.
Jet Set Golf tip: Pattaya isn’t about finding one great course. Its strength is being able to put four very good and very different golf days together without changing destination.
Playing Golf in Pattaya with Jet Set Golf
Our Thailand World Pairs – Pattaya Golf Tournament 2027 brings four of these courses together in one fully hosted tournament.
Golfers play Chee Chan, Laem Chabang, Siam Country Club Plantation and Siam Country Club Old Course, with six nights in Pattaya, caddies, carts, transfers, lunches and tournament events included.
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Best Golf Courses in Hua Hin
Hua Hin offers a different style of Thailand golf holiday.
It’s more relaxed than Pattaya and feels more like a traditional resort escape. You still have excellent golf, restaurants, markets and beaches, but the pace is generally a little slower.
For couples, groups and golfers who want quality courses without needing nightlife every evening, Hua Hin is one of our favourite Thailand combinations.
Black Mountain Golf Club
Best for: The complete Hua Hin golf experience
If you’re building a Hua Hin golf itinerary, Black Mountain is one of the courses we’d build the trip around.
The club offers 27 holes in the foothills outside Hua Hin, along with extensive practice facilities and accommodation. It has developed a strong reputation as one of the headline golf venues in the region.
What we like is the completeness of the experience. From arrival and practice facilities through to the course, clubhouse and caddies, Black Mountain feels like a destination golf venue.
It’s not the round we’d squeeze into the itinerary because there happens to be a spare morning. Give it a proper place in the week.
Jet Set Golf tip: Don’t schedule Black Mountain as the throwaway first round immediately after a long travel day. Give yourself the chance to enjoy it properly.
Pineapple Valley Golf Club Hua Hin
Best for: Scenery and an all-round Hua Hin golf experience
Formerly known as Banyan Golf Club, Pineapple Valley has established itself as one of Hua Hin’s headline courses.
The course opened in 2009 on the site of a former pineapple plantation and was designed by Thai golf course architect Pirapon Namatra. The par-72 layout uses the natural hills to provide wide views across the surrounding countryside and towards the Gulf of Thailand.
It’s challenging enough to keep better golfers interested without losing the enjoyment factor for the rest of the group.
And that matters on a golf holiday.
Jet Set Golf tip: Don’t choose tees based on ego. Pineapple Valley gives you plenty to think about without adding hundreds of unnecessary yards to the day.
Springfield Royal Country Club
Best for: Classic Thailand golf
Springfield gives Hua Hin another course with a noticeably different character.
It’s the type of venue that fits naturally into a four-round Hua Hin itinerary because it provides a different experience from Black Mountain and Pineapple Valley without needing to manufacture a reason for including it.
Strategic bunkering, water and the tropical landscape reward sensible course management, and it’s another course where having a local caddie can make a genuine difference.
Jet Set Golf tip: By the third or fourth round of a Thailand trip, most golfers have learned the same lesson — the caddie probably knows where to hit it. Springfield isn’t a bad place to start listening.
Palm Hills Golf Club
Best for: An enjoyable group round close to Hua Hin
Palm Hills is a very useful course in a Hua Hin itinerary.
The 18-hole course was designed by Max Wexler and features rolling fairways, lakes and strategically positioned hazards.
It might not generate the same international headlines as Black Mountain, but not every round needs to.
Palm Hills is an enjoyable group golf course and works particularly well when you’re putting together several rounds across the week.
Jet Set Golf tip: A good Thailand golf itinerary needs rhythm. Mixing headline courses with enjoyable group-friendly rounds generally produces a better week than trying to make every day the toughest course available.
Best Golf Courses in Bangkok
Bangkok shouldn’t simply be somewhere you land before travelling somewhere else.
There is outstanding golf around the Thai capital, and adding two or three rounds can turn a Bangkok stopover into a genuine part of your golf holiday.
The trade-off is traffic. Transfer times matter in Bangkok, so choosing the right courses and tee times is particularly important.
Nikanti Golf Club
Best for: A Thailand golf experience that’s genuinely different
Nikanti isn’t simply another course near Bangkok.
Its most distinctive feature is the unusual 6-6-6 layout. The par-72 course consists of three six-hole loops, with each loop containing two par 3s, two par 4s and two par 5s.
It’s a small change to the traditional golf formula that makes the round feel noticeably different.
The entire experience is polished, from arrival and the clubhouse through to caddies, carts and dining. For golfers who enjoy the service side of Thailand golf as much as the course itself, Nikanti makes a lot of sense.
Jet Set Golf tip: Nikanti is an excellent example of why Bangkok can be part of the golf holiday rather than simply the airport you use to get to it.
Alpine Golf Club
Best for: Championship-style Bangkok golf
Alpine is the course we’d consider when you want a more demanding Bangkok round.
The 18-hole, par-72 course uses rolling terrain, water and strategically positioned bunkers to create a serious test.
There’s enough challenge here for very good golfers, but choosing sensible tees keeps it playable for the broader group.
This is the kind of course that demonstrates just how good Bangkok golf can be once you get outside the centre of the city.
Jet Set Golf tip: Bangkok traffic and tee times aren’t a great combination if they’re planned badly. Give yourself plenty of transfer time rather than starting the golf day stressed.
Thai Country Club
Best for: Premium service, history and a traditional club experience
Thai Country Club brings genuine tournament history to a Bangkok golf itinerary.
Designed by Denis Griffiths, the course opened in 1996 and hosted the 1997 Asian Honda Classic won by Tiger Woods.
The course combines championship pedigree with the polished service you’d expect from one of Bangkok’s established private clubs.
Thai Country Club is as much about the complete club experience as the scorecard, with excellent practice and clubhouse facilities adding to the day.
Jet Set Golf tip: Its location can make Thai Country Club an interesting first or final round around a Bangkok stay, but always allow for Bangkok traffic.
So, Which Part of Thailand Is Best for Golf?
There isn’t one Thailand golf destination that suits every golfer.
Choose Phuket if you want championship golf combined with beaches, resorts and a genuine tropical island holiday.
Choose Pattaya if golf is the main reason for your trip and you want a strong concentration of quality courses while still having restaurants, bars and nightlife once the round is finished.
Choose Hua Hin if you prefer a quieter resort destination with excellent golf and a more relaxed pace.
Choose Bangkok if you want to combine premium golf with restaurants, shopping and a few days experiencing one of Asia’s great cities.
For a first Thailand golf holiday, we’d generally favour a full week in Phuket or Pattaya, a dedicated Hua Hin stay, or combining Bangkok with Pattaya or Hua Hin.
The important thing isn’t playing as many courses as possible.
It’s building a trip where the golf, transfers, accommodation and time away from the course all work together.
When Is the Best Time to Play Golf in Thailand?
Thailand can be played year-round, but the experience varies depending on where and when you travel.
Generally, the cooler and drier months are popular with international golfers, while wetter periods can bring better value and quieter courses. Conditions also vary between destinations — Phuket’s weather patterns aren’t identical to Hua Hin, Pattaya or Bangkok.
Temperature matters too. Thailand is hot, and an early tee time can make a significant difference, particularly if you’re playing several rounds during the same week.
Rather than choosing dates based solely on the cheapest green fees, consider weather, course conditions, hotel pricing, crowds and what you want to do away from the golf course.
What Is Playing Golf in Thailand Actually Like?
If you’ve never played golf in Thailand, the experience is quite different from a normal Saturday round in Australia.
Caddies
Caddies are one of the great parts of Thailand golf.
At many leading courses, a caddie accompanies each golfer. They’ll help with clubs, distances, course knowledge and reading greens, and over the course of a week they often become one of the most talked-about parts of the golf experience.
Our advice is simple: use their local knowledge.
Golf Carts
Cart policies vary between courses. Some clubs require carts while others make them optional, and policies around sharing also differ.
Always check the current requirements for the courses you’re playing rather than assuming the rules will be the same everywhere.
Caddie Tipping
Tipping your caddie is customary at many Thai golf courses.
Recommended amounts can vary between clubs and change over time, so we prefer to give our travelling golfers current guidance for the specific courses they’re playing rather than publish one figure and pretend it applies everywhere.
The Heat
Thailand can get hot.
Early tee times, plenty of water, sunscreen and sensible clothing make a big difference. If you’re building a golf itinerary yourself, avoid assuming that five consecutive rounds in tropical conditions will feel the same as five rounds at home.
Golf Transfers
Distances on a map can be misleading.
This is particularly true around Bangkok, but sensible transfers matter in every destination. One of the advantages of an organised golf holiday is having the golf and accommodation planned together rather than simply booking the five courses with the best online reviews.
How Many Rounds Should You Play on a Thailand Golf Holiday?
For a typical seven-night Thailand golf holiday, three or four rounds gives most golfers a very good balance.
That allows enough golf to make the trip worthwhile while still leaving time to enjoy the destination, have a rest day and avoid turning the holiday into seven consecutive early alarms.
Dedicated golf groups may prefer four or five rounds.
Our hosted tournaments often use a structure of two rounds, a rest day, then two more rounds. We’ve found that works particularly well: enough golf to create a proper event while still giving everyone time to enjoy Thailand away from the course.
Thailand Golf Holiday FAQs
What are the best golf courses in Thailand?
Some of the courses we’d consider when building a Thailand golf trip include Red Mountain and Blue Canyon in Phuket; Siam Country Club, Chee Chan and Laem Chabang around Pattaya; Black Mountain and Pineapple Valley around Hua Hin; and Nikanti, Alpine and Thai Country Club around Bangkok.
The best course for you depends on where you’re staying, your handicap and the type of golf holiday you want.
Where is the best place in Thailand for a golf holiday?
Phuket, Pattaya and Hua Hin are all excellent golf holiday destinations but offer different experiences. Phuket combines golf with a tropical island holiday, Pattaya has a particularly strong concentration of courses, and Hua Hin offers a quieter resort-style golf experience. Bangkok is also worth considering as part of a multi-destination trip.
Is Thailand good for golf?
Yes. Thailand combines a large selection of quality golf courses with experienced caddies, resorts, warm weather, food, nightlife and established tourism infrastructure. That’s what makes it particularly well suited to multi-round golf holidays.
Is Phuket or Pattaya better for golf?
For a dedicated golf trip, Pattaya has the advantage of a particularly strong concentration of courses. For a holiday combining golf with beaches and a tropical island experience, Phuket has a lot to offer.
Ultimately, they suit different types of golf holidays.
Is Hua Hin good for golf?
Absolutely. Hua Hin has established itself as one of Thailand’s major golf destinations, with Black Mountain, Pineapple Valley, Springfield and Palm Hills providing the foundations for an excellent multi-round golf holiday.
Do you need a caddie when playing golf in Thailand?
Caddies are compulsory at many of Thailand’s leading golf courses. The exact policy varies between clubs, so always check before playing.
Do you tip golf caddies in Thailand?
Yes, tipping caddies is customary at many Thai golf courses. Recommended amounts can vary, so check the current guidance for the particular club you’re playing.
Can you hire golf clubs in Thailand?
Many of Thailand’s major golf courses have rental sets available. Availability and brands vary, and golfers playing several rounds will generally prefer to bring their own clubs.
Can non-golfers enjoy a Thailand golf holiday?
Definitely. Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok all offer plenty away from the golf course, which makes Thailand particularly good for couples and groups containing both golfers and non-golfers.
How many rounds should I play in Thailand?
For seven nights, three to four rounds is a great balance for most travellers. Serious golf groups may prefer four or five, ideally with at least one rest day.
Play Golf in Thailand with Jet Set Golf
We’ve spent years exploring Thailand’s golf destinations, working with local partners and hosting Australian golfers across Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok.
Our Thailand golf tours combine the courses we enjoy playing with quality accommodation, organised golf transfers, caddies, carts, social events and the details that turn a collection of tee times into a proper golf holiday.
Whether you’re looking for a hosted golf tournament, group golf holiday or flexible Stay & Play package, we’ll help you find the Thailand golf experience that suits the way you want to travel.
Great Golf. Better Company.
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