Chiang Mai
Thailand’s northern capital is an escape from the whirlwind pace of life of its southern rival. Despite the constant arrival of planes and trains full of sightseers, the former seat of the Lanna kingdom is still blissfully calm and laid-back. This is a place to relax after the chaos of Bangkok and recharge your batteries with fabulous food and leisurely wandering. If you don’t want to participate in the vast array of activities on offer, just stroll around the back streets, and discover a city that is still firmly Thai in its aspect, atmosphere, and attitude.
Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai
The creation of award-winning designer Mr. Ron Garl, who designed many of the top golf clubs in Florida, the Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai has an 18-hole par-72 championship course covering some 7,500 yards, surrounded by natural forested hills.
Chiang Mai Inthanon Golf & Natural Resort
Chiangmai Inthanon Golf and Natural Resort is established on Chiangmai’s golf scene. It’s a scenic delight with panoramic vistas of Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain, dominating the background. At 7,268 yards off the regular white tees, it’s a pleasant layout with a mix of par 3 lengths and styles. A few strong holes will examine your game, but there are a few more leisurely ones to enjoy as well. The course is in good condition and well worth a trip to soak up the serenity of this part of the country.
Chiangmai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort
Chiangmai Highlands, set in the foot-hills east of Chiang Mai was designed by Schmidt-Curley Design giving golfers the distraction of magnificent views on every hole. After only four years of operation Chiangmai Highlands has put itself on the international golf map as one of the best golf experiences in Asia. Chiangmai Highlands has won many prestigious awards since it was established.
Gassan Khuntan Golf and Resort
Beautiful but unforgiving, the Gassan Khuntan Golf and Resort is one of the most challenging courses in Northern Thailand, demanding golfers to be at their best and most precise. Testament to it superiority is its crowning as The Best Golf Course in Thailand for 2015 in “The Best of Thailand Awards Voted By Chinese Tourists”. Located near the Doi Khuntan National Park, the Gassan Khuntan Golf and Resort is a water-heavy course, with many of the holes running right alongside the Maetha River. Lakes, ponds, and other water features abound, as well, with island greens and dog leg hole shapes adding to the challenge.
Gassan Legacy Golf Club
Gassan Lake City Golf Club & Resort is home to the second of a handsome triumvirate of Gassan courses to be developed in the northern province of Lamphun, near to Chiang Mai. All three are designed by Gassan’s owner, the noted Thai architect Pravit Raeng-Po. This good-length layout, at just over 7000 yards from the tips, contains plenty of water hazards and distinctive bunkering, which have been woven into a challenging and always interesting layout. Big hitters may relish the driveable par-4’s, but, as on most holes, approach shots to the greens will often demand pin-point accuracy. There are plenty of risk-reward opportunities here, but also the need for target golf at times. The threat of water and expansive bunkering is a constant companion on most holes
Gold Canyon Golf Course
Gold Canyon Golf Club is located about 1 hour from Chiang Mai near Lamphun. It’s an 18 hole course built in the wild, rough and rugged Thailand countryside. It’s perfect for travellers looking for something a bit more adventuresome with beautiful scenery and a unique course design. It’s built so naturally that on a few holes the trees are directly in the way of your shot so you will have to decide the best way around these natural obstacles. The first nine is considered relatively easy and in stark contrast the back nine is considered relatively difficult (even by advanced golfers). Although most Golfers thoroughly enjoy the back nine with thick grass, tighter areas and water hazards it is rather challenging and fun.
Mae Jo Golf Club
Located just 20 minutes away from the heart of Chiang Mai city, Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort is especially designed for your most enjoyable golfing vacation experience.
Several elevated tee boxes, which are spread throughout the course, reserve panoramic views of the course and surrounding, and at the same time, provide more challenging plays. The course features rolling fairways and large challenging greens which are considered ones of the most challenging greens in the northern part of the kingdom of Thailand.
Along side of the fairways, golfers will come across many local fruit-bearing trees, such as Longan, Lychee, Pomello and Tangerine, which provide not only unique scenery but also unique tasting experience.
Mae Moh Golf Course
This Course is Closed
Mae Moh Golf Course is built on a mountain overlooking a huge lignite mine in Mae Moh, just south of Lampang. It’s around 1 1/2 hours drive from Chiang Mai, but it is worth the trip occasionally.
Part of the course is on the top of the mountains offering spectacular views, while the rest is at the bottom of the valley. This means there are some very steep inclines on some holes, some with blind uphill shots, others with stunning down hill shots. It’s excellent value for money and some of the holes are very memorable.
North Hill Chiang Mai Golf
North Hill Chiang Mai golf course has been extensively renovated and is due to re-open at the end of October 2015. As well as extensively remodelling six of the holes to make them more playable there will be a brand new driving range and modern club house. The course is not that long so it is ideal for players of all standards. The surroundings are not as picturesque as some of the other mountain golf courses in Chiang Mai but its proximity to the city will make this golf course a popular choice when it re-opens.
Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort
The Royal Chiang Mai Golf Course was designed by Peter Thompson, five times British Open Champion. The design is reminiscent of a traditional British Parkland course with some interesting “links” additions. The course is heavily tree-lined and water hazards are in play on almost every hole. The “Rough” is true to the meaning of the word.
From the very back “blue” tees the course measures over 7,200 yards and can be a severe test, but from the men’s “white” tees the course is pleasant and relaxing. Bunkers use local sand from The Mae Ping river. The greens are Tiff Dwarf Bermuda with Bermuda 419 and Zoysia fairways. The course has a driving range and two practice putting and chipping greens.
Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club
Designed by Dennis Griffiths, the same architect as Thai Country Club in Bangkok, the Summit Green Valley layout is one of the best kept in Chiang Mai. Situated in the lowlands and only 20 minutes drive from the center of Chiangmai, Summit Green Valley manages to offer beautiful surroundings, air freshness, and various native landscaping unique to Northern Thailand. Hundreds of palm trees line the course, which affords nice views of the surrounding mountains. This is the second golf course in the Green Valley group, the first being in Bangkok.
