Golf in Phuket

Like many other locations in Thailand, one of Phuket’s major attractions is the variety and availability of world class golf courses within a short driving distance of all the major resorts.

There are currently a total of eight championship standard courses located throughout the island, offering beautifully landscaped fairways and manicured greens.  The courses are well designed and are suitable for golfers of all abilities, with some of the signature holes on the better courses offering an enjoyable challenge for low handicap players and professionals alike.

Green fees in Phuket tend to be a little higher than some other parts of Thailand but this is more than made up for by the quality of the courses and the stunning scenery on offer.

Blue Canyon Country Club

Set in over 700 acres of stunning woodland, Blue Canyon Country Club is widely regarded as not only the top course in Thailand but also one of the very best in Asia.  There are two courses, the world class Canyon Course and the visually stunning but less challenging Lakes Course.

The Canyon Course has had the distinction of hosting many tour events, including the prestigious Johnnie Walker Classic on no less than two occasions, in 1994 and 1998.  Many of the world’s top players including Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Greg Norman have graced the fairways, with Norman currently holding the course record of 64 in tournament play.

The Lakes Course was opened in 1999 and is aimed more at golfers of all abilities.  The course is set in a magnificent location offering lovely views over its many lakes and the wooded verges of a former rubber plantation.

Facilities at Blue Canyon are second to none with a stunning clubhouse, full practice grounds and professional staff to attend to your every need.

Laguna Golf Club

Located within the prestigious Laguna Phuket Resort, the Laguna Golf Club is rated amongst the ten best courses in Thailand and has truly excellent facilities, in keeping with the five star surroundings.

Formerly known as the Banyan Tree, the course has undergone major renovations and improvements over the last few years and has been highly praised by several professional golfers, including Nick Faldo.

Laid out in a relatively flat landscape the course has been elegantly designed and provides quite a challenge from the back teas.  With stunning views of the Andaman Sea and the nearby mountains, the course is one of the most scenic in Phuket.

Loch Palm Golf Club

Set around the Crystal Lake, the largest water feature of any golf course of the island, Loch Palm Golf Club is conveniently located in the centre of Phuket, around halfway between Phuket Town and Patong.

Formerly known as the Phuket Century Country Club, the course is renowned for having a charm all of its own and for offering an easy going challenge is beautiful surroundings.  Following recently completed renovations however, the course has now been brought up to a level that will enable it compete with the best on the island.

With very reasonable green fees and a very relaxing clubhouse, offering great views over the lake, Loch Palm is regarded as one of the best value courses in Phuket.

Red Mountain Golf Club

Completed in 2007, the Red Mountain Golf Club is the latest addition to the Loch Palm Golf Club. 

Designed by Jonathan Morrow, the course is considered to be one of the finest in Phuket and offers a unique kind of challenge from its elevated tees and spontaneous layout.  The course is ingeniously integrated with the natural environment and makes great use of the spectacular gorges and water features.

No expense has been spared in the preparation of the course with paspalum grass used throughout and a natural drainage system in place to ensure the course plays to its optimum, even after heavy rain.

If you are looking for an interesting challenge in stunning surroundings, Red Mountain should be high on you list.

Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa

Opened in 2004, this beautiful Jack Nicklaus designed course is a welcome addition to the Phuket golf scene, offering five star facilities and an innovative challenge for golfers of all abilities. 

Located around ten kilometres from Phuket International Airport, in the northeast of the island, Mission Hills offers stunning coastal vistas and combines a championship standard 18 hole course with a nearby floodlit 9 hole course.  Innovations in the design include a choice of two greens on the 18th hole and the use of the excellent paspalum grass that thrives so well in coastal conditions.

With the attached five star resort, featuring 72 rooms and one of the most luxurious health spas on the island, and practice facilities that include five target greens and the latest state of the art equipment, Mission Hills should be on all golfers to do list.

Phuket Country Club

Established in 1989, Phuket Country Club is the oldest championship class golf course in Phuket and is a favourite with the locals and expats.

Located between Patong and Phuket town, the club incorporates a charming 18 hole course, offering a variety of water features and mixture of both undulating and level terrain.  Although a lovely course to play it is not considered the most difficult test and a low score is quite achievable.

The nine hole course if a completely different animal however and offers a very difficult challenge, with water featuring in all but one hole.  This par 38 course is laid out to suit low handicap players and is one of the most challenging tests in the area.

Thai Muang Golf Club

Located in the province of Phang Nga, around a 30 minutes drive north of Phuket, the Thai Muang Golf Club has one of the very few links style golf courses in all of Thailand.

Build in 1993, the course has been designed to make great use of the coastal conditions and has been landscaped in a typical links style, with an abundance of long sandy bunkers and mounds that create an interesting challenge.  Add the sea breezes and water features and you have something quite different and incomparable to other courses in Phuket.

Accommodation is available for those wishing to stay overnight and take advantage of the unspoilt beaches in the area and the clubhouse offers locker facilities on a par with the best in Phuket.

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