You’ll find Buddhas aplenty. Birdies? Not so much.
When you brave the throngs at Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market to browse the handiwork of local artisans or sample spicy Thai street food, don’t bypass the stalls selling umbrellas and parasols. Thailand’s midday summer temps can top 100. And during monsoon season, dodging downpours is as common as happening upon the smiling face of Buddha. But if you visit between November and February—when northeasterly winds usher in cooler, drier air—the weather should be ideal for experiencing everything that makes Thailand the Land of Smiles. And for enjoying its splendid golf, as well.
Begin your Thai golf adventure in chaotic Bangkok, where sputtering tuk-tuks rule the streets and there’s a historic temple on every other corner. At the Grand Palace, residence of kings since 1782, the Emerald Buddha in his seasonal gold raiments is just one of the stunning attractions; competing with it is the 150-foot-long, gold-plated Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok’s oldest. For luck, drop a coin into each of the bronze bowls representing the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha. That luck may prove as useful as your umbrella on Thailand’s golf courses.
Start with the championship course at Thai Country Club, where Tiger Woods won the 1997 Asian Honda Classic, and, as at most Thai courses, the cheerful female caddies will drive your cart and help you navigate lush fairways to avoid its many water hazards. An hour west, venture into the fertile plains of Nakhon Pathom at Nikanti Golf Club, whose six par threes, six par fours, and six par fives take their inspiration from the six senses of Buddhism. North of the city, follow in Tiger’s winning footsteps again at Alpine Golf Club, where the heavily contoured fairways and greens, broad waste areas, and omnipresent water hazards proved no match for him in the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic tournament but well may for you. If you can wrangle an invite, don’t miss playing the private (and spectacular) Amata Spring Country Club, where it’ll take a pure strike (followed by a boat ride) to reach the floating 17th green.
North near Chiang Mai, where the bustling Sunday evening market is legendary and the gentle giants at the elephant nature park are not to be missed, Chiangmai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort with its 27 mountainside holes is considered one of Asia’s finest golf resorts. Expect penal bunkers, along with firm, fast greens. South of Bangkok on the road to the coastal city of Pattaya, 27 holes from Jack Nicklaus await at Laem Chabang International Country Club, where the ubiquitous water hazards are joined by rocky outcroppings, ravines, and dense forest to create all kinds of drama. In Pattaya, renowned for its broad beaches and cabaret nightlife, Siam Country Club is home to the Honda LPGA Thailand and 63 well-maintained holes, among them the famed Old Course overlooked by its own towering golden Buddha.
On the opposite shore of the emerald Andaman Sea, Hua Hin is Thailand’s original beach resort town, and there’s outstanding golf among the pineapple fields at Pineapple Valley Golf Club and black granite mountains at Black Mountain Golf Club. Farther south, past the island of Koh Samui where season three of The White Lotus was filmed, Phuket is one of Thailand’s most visited resort areas and a hotbed for colorful golf. The rugged, jungle-and-garden course at Red Mountain Golf Club features a par three with a 150-foot vertical drop, while Blue Canyon Country Club offers two courses, including the celebrated Canyon Course, host venue of many professional tournaments and one of Thailand’s most demanding tracks. Even the best umbrella won’t help you score well there if you’re not on your game.
