For golfers looking to tee it up in Pattaya, a game at the historic Siam Country Club is an absolute must. The Club is home to two wonderful golf courses including the first privately owned course in the country which gives in a unique place in the history of golf in Thailand. The Siam Country Club is located just 20 minutes drive from Pattaya. There are two courses a few kilometres apart, both with their own excellent clubhouses and facilities.
The Old Course was the first privately owned golf course in Thailand. Work began on the course in 1969 and was first played in 1971. The course was originally created by Japanese course designer Isao Izumi but was completely redeveloped in 2006 by Schmidt-Curley Design who rebuilt and created new bunkers as well as totally renovating the fairways and greens. The Clubhouse was also refurbished to the modern standard of comfortมand reopened in March 2007. The result is an astoundingly good golf. It has played host to four Thailand open Championships in the past and hosted the LPGA Tournament since 2007. It is a joy to play for golfers of all abilities.
The Old Course is set in low hills and the fairways are lined by mature trees but cleverly spaced to allow a cool breeze to refresh players. The course is a Par 72 and is set out in a traditional out and back layout. The fairways play past numerous water hazards including strategically placed lakes and streams. The course rewards long, straight driving and the excellently manicured greens play fast and true. The Siam Country Club Old Course is commonly accepted to be among the best in Thailand and playing it is a must for golfers visiting Pattaya.
The course that concerns us is the newer Schmidt & Curley designed 27 hole Plantation Course located just a short distance from the Old Course. Opened in April 2008, the Plantation Course is more modern and spectacular than the Old Course. Nowhere is this more evident than the incredible 28,000 square foot verdant triple green nestled below the clubhouse. The course is set on land previously used as sugar cane, pineapple and tapioca plantations from which it takes its name and is located among a series of natural rolling hills and offers stunning views of the ocean. The Plantation is acknowledged to be extremely challenging and the three 9-hole loops offer the golfer tremendous variety. Each nine offers spectacular scenery and a visit to the Siam Country Club Plantation Course is widely regarded as one of the best day’s golf in the area.
The fairways are planted with Seashore Paspalum, an immensely popular type of grass in tropical and subtropical coastal area. The variety’s hardiness and leaf structure make it very suitable and easy to maintain. The greens are sodden with Novotek ultra-dwarf Bermuda which makes for a very true, very quick putting surface. A unique “bird-wing” inspired clubhouse sits on a hill providing sweeping vistas of the property. Inspiring views of the golf course are visible from almost every corner of the magnificent structure.
A testament to the quality of golf here is the fact that the Plantation Course plays host to the Ladies Professional Golfers Association’s Honda Open, the only Ladies Tour’s only even in the country. Former world number 1 Lorena Ochoa is a former winner. Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Michelle Wie, Ai Miyazato and a galaxy of the stars of the women’s game are regulars at Siam Country Club whenever the Ladies Tour rolls into town.
Siam Country Club is a world class facility for golf and offers some of the best golf that Thailand has to offer. It is a must for anyone looking to golf in the kingdom.
Image credits: Mike Besa