Windsor Park Golf Club

Attractive Parkland Style Course

Windsor Park & Golf Club (C & D course): Formerly known as Panya Park. Windsor Park can now boast two 18-hole championship courses with the A, B and C nines being joined by the much newer and contrasting D-course.

The C-course (Garden) has many similarities with the tree-lined, parkland style of the A & B courses (Lagoon & Palm), which feature gently contoured fairways, impressive bunkering and several boulder-edged water hazards. The treble row of electricity pylons that runs through much of the C-nine, does little however to enhance its scenic or garden-style appeal. Having returned to the clubhouse via the excellent par-5 9th on the C, you will board a shuttle to be whisked off to the D-nine, which starts and finishes about 1 km away, on the other side of a canal. The terrain here is considerably more open and undulating, with a good-sized lake in play on the opening holes. The pencil thin, sloping fairway of the short par-4 2nd invites a "go for it" drive at the green, even though water lies in wait for anything hit left, and OB for anything hit right. The par-5 3rd is also on the tightish side of comfortable, wrapped around the same lake and dog-legging sharply around the lake into an elevated green. To conclude this testing lakeside threesome, the long par-3 4th, played over water to a heavily bunkered green, requires many players to reach for their drivers on the tee. The D-course is quite unlike anything else you'll play around Bangkok - undulating, open and (at the moment) relatively treeless, the recently planted palms are still a long way from maturity.

The most recently constructed 9 holes (course D), opened in 2006, is much more of an extreme challenge. This nine at Windsor plays around a man-made lake and requires very accurate tee and approach shots to prevent many balls going into the water. Undulating and close cut greens enhance the challenge even more and can be very frustrating even for the best professional golfers.

For example, the long par-5 3rd has water down the entire left and out of bounds along the right. The narrow, long green sits at a left angle to the fairway and a very aggressive drive kept left might tempt to take the green in two. But a full water carry and a small landing area make this risky.

The golf course upkeep is about average as compared to other Bangkok courses. The large clubhouse which overlooks the course C 9th hole is quiet old and could make use of a renovation. Nevertheless, the restaurant serves excellent western breakfasts as well as the usual Thai and Asian selections. The Windsor Park staff is friendly and attentive.  Request one of the more experienced caddies otherwise you will be on your own when it comes to reading the greens and club selection.