Alpine Golf & Sports Club
Course Designer: | Ronald M. Garl |
Course Opened: | 1996 |
Course Information: | 18 holes par 72 – 7044 yards |
Rates: | Weekdays 2300 bht, Weekends 3600 bht |
Extras: | Golf Cart Included |
Location: | Northeast Bangkok, along the outer ring road |
Facilities: | Driving Range, Restaurant |
Distance to Bangkok: | 60 Minute drive from Bangkok |
Closed: | Monday |
Venue of Johnny Walker Classic in 2000 & 2004
The 2000 and 2004 Johnnie Walker Classic PGA tournament was hosted in one of Thailand’s top rated golf courses, the Alpine Golf & Sports Club. This course is known to be among the top in Asia. It was designed by Ronald M. Garl who is known to be among the top golf course architects in America.
Compared with the other golf courses found in Bangkok, the Alpine golf course is the most difficult course with 18 holes. Only members have access to the well maintained golf course with its outstanding layout. Other notable features are its fairways that rise and fall as well as its whirlwind greens.
The Alpine course was made out of flat paddy fields which were later made into rolling hills with bushes, shrubs and trees. These varied heights are rarely seen in Bangkok and are instead found in golf courses in Hua Hin, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
The rolling heights and design that rise and fall are not the only unique feature in this golf course. It also has a water feature which can be found accompanied by beach-style bunkers. For those who are looking for an easy golfing experience, the Alpine course is not your way to go.
This course has been designed to test even the very best golfers. This is most notable with the straight shots that one has to make in order to dodge the jungles that can be found around some of the holes. Another challenge that is presented in the course is finding greens that have are surrounded by water. For instance, the 7th green and the 11th green are “island” greens which can be accessed by a thin strip of land. It is a wonder Tiger Woods, while competing in the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic, which he went on to win, actually managed to manoeuvre his way through the small putting surfaces of the 7th hole. Apart from the various challenges that have been presented in the Alpine course, it still has scenic holes, plush vegetation as well as the many folds and earth mounding found in the region of Bangkok.
Here are some tips for players hoping to conquer this course. Because majority of the greens incline from back to front. To shoot low scores easily on these greens, one would need to keep the ball beneath the hole. To get a reward, you need to have a conservative fairway and approach to shots. Penalties are given to poor shots.
Other amenities that are to be found at the Alpine Golf and Sports Club include the clubhouse, locker rooms, the restaurant serving Chinese food and coffee shop, accompanied with excellent service. For those looking for a challenge on the golf course, they should include the Alpine course in their golf experience in Bangkok.