Royal Lakeside Golf Club

An attractive Course set next to a River

Royal Lakeside Golf Club: Although located only half a kilometre from the wide Bang Pa Kong River, from the course you will not see anything of this mighty waterway (which flows down from the Khao Yai region into the Bight of Bangkok). Instead, a 20-metre wide lagoon, which encircles the course, is constantly in view. The lagoon provides a useful buffer zone, protecting the villas on its opposite bank from any wildly wayward tee shots.

There is quite an open feel to Royal Lakeside, created by good-width fairways and light semi-rough that makes ball-finding relatively easy. The golf course is uniformly flat, with only a few ripples of earthmounding to the sides of the fairways. However, this doesn't mean the golf is uninteresting. Plenty of palms, eucalyptus and many other tree varieties, combine with an array of flowers, shrubs and occasional streams, to create a garden-like quality to many parts of the course.

The main hazards to avoid are expansive bunkers though relatively shallow bunkers, which line many fairways and protect the greens - not least the profusely bunkered par-3's. Water hazards also need factoring into your course management, whether in the form of ditches crossing some fairways or the 360-degree perimeter lagoon. From the 9th tee you will see a small lighthouse marking the entrance to Royal Lakeside's marina, while the par-4 5th gives a wonderful view of another impressive structure - the dome topped clubhouse. The dome is as impressive as the quality of service inside this distinctive clubhouse.

Well-appointed lockers and showers are also available for golfers. Two excellent Japanese and Thai restaurants make for a nice choice of fine dining after a round. The quality of service at Royal Lakeside is generally good.