Khao Yai Golf Courses

Forest Hills Country Club (Sir James)

The Sir James Golf Course at Forest Hills Country Club is well designed so that it is enjoyable and challenging at the same time. The closet course on the way from Bangkok to the Khao Yai National Park, Sir James is a fine parkland course and golf resort.
 
Named after Sir James Holt the golf resort is more commonly known as Forest Hills Country Club & Resort. Golfers of every skill level should enjoy this well maintained course set at the foothills of Khao Yai National Park. Several flower arrangements, small water falls, lakes and creeks make the Sir James golf course one of the more attractive golf courses in Thailand.

Lining the Khao Yai golf course, the tightly interlaced wooded hills, so distinctive of the Khao Yai region, provide almost every hole with its own stunning backdrop. Where the jungle clad hills don't suffice, then flower beds, shrubberies, rockeries, and all manner of water hazards also contribute to the picturesque and sometimes garden-like qualities of this layout. Flanking the fairways is a good-width of semi-rough, often not much longer than the fairway length grass, and beyond the "short stuff", thick vegetation and a variety of palms and other tree varieties await.

The pleasant, though not excessive elevation changes sometimes produce wonderful looking holes. The par-5 3rd is a tempting, but tricky eagle chance. The drive is downhill over a ravine to a rise sloping down towards water. Drive over the rise and down the fairway, and then it’s a long iron to the green. If you can get on in two shots and keep the ball below the hole, you could be on for an eagle. The signature par-3 15th hole plays downhill to a water-surrounded green. The testing par-4 18th is also played from an elevated tee, and then across water to a nicely elevated green in front of the clubhouse and the Sir James Lodge.

Although easy-going in parts, the layout certainly contains enough water, bunkering, dog-legging holes and elevation changes to ensure your game will be sufficiently probed and tested. Solid shot-making is required to shoot a good score as few of the greens are easy, making good approach play at a premium.

The clubhouse has a nice veranda overlooking the Khao Yai golf course, where players relax after their game. If you prefer air conditioning, there's a restaurant behind the veranda that serves meals all day. This area of Khao Yai is famous for its steaks. The chef at the clubhouse takes full advantage and does a very reasonable job with almost any kind of cut of beef or he can do tasty pork, chicken, or even fish steaks if that appeals With cooler breezes and less humidity than you'll experience in and around Bangkok, a trip to play the beautiful courses of the Khao Yai region is recommended.

 

Toscana Valley Country Club

Toscana Valley is a challenging course located in a deep valley of the world heritage site of Khao Yai National Park.  An excellent setting for a golf club, Toscana Valley compliments the Khao Yai backdrop and, save for the palm trees, resembles the environment of Toscany Italy.

The course at Toscana Valley was originally conceived by famous course architect, Bob McFarland from the USA. However, after extensive local inputs and modifications to McFarland's plan the course now presents golfers with some of the most challenging golf holes in Thailand.  In fact, the team that finished Toscana Valley was the same group who were responsible for the par 74 layout at Saint Andrews in Pattaya.

Raised greens, deep bunkers, and razor sharp fairway drops-offs are featured on of every hole. Several of the par 4's feature 200 plus yard water carries. Adding to this are the 18 undulated greens that have severe contours and large breaks for almost every pin position.

For example, hole 12 a par-4 features multi-tiered tees with elevated views over water to fairway.  The biggest danger is hitting through the fairway into the water hazard that protects the elevated green. The green features a severe back-to-front and right-to-left slope that rejects anything not aimed close to pin. Hitting over the hole into the bunkers over the green almost certainly prevents par, and even a bogey is unlikely.

A multi-million dollar housing estate around the Toscana Valley golf course makes the views from every hole that much more unbelievable. The golf course is not for the faint of heart, but at least the scenery is spectacular. The theme is the Tuscan region of Italy and clubhouse and magnificent homes incorporate that style. Golf carts are compulsory as there are large green to tee distances that characterize a golf course in a residential estate.  As expected in a private members club the facilities are all first rate. Try the Italian restaurant for some traditional Tuscany favorites.

Rooks Korat Country Club Golf & Resort

Rooks Korat Country Club Golf & Resort is one of the best courses in the Korat area and is popular with Thais, expats and other Khao Yai golfers. Situated 15 minutes south of Korat town close to Pak Thong Chai, Rooks Korat offers a well-kept course in secluded private grounds.

Rooks Korat is a pretty inland course surrounded by mature wood lands. From the blue tees the par fours are challenging and the layout is a fair test for most handicappers. Approach shots to the rather small greens are made easier as the trees in the background assist the player in judging the distance. The layout offers may good pin placements.

On site facilities are rather basic, but serve to cater to most golfers needs. A grass driving range is a nice touch, but it could be better maintained. On site resort facilities are more geared to locals looking to spend one night in the countryside. The restaurant offers a passable breakfast but is not recommended for an evening meal.

On the other hand, two good Thai restaurants - one rustic in style and the other in a modern air conditioned new building are just outside the Rooks Korat resort.

Rancho Charnvee Country

Rancho Charnvee is an 18-hole layout in the Khao Yai National Park area. The rather flat Bob McFarland resort course is fun to play and caters to golfers of all abilities and as with other Khao Yai golf courses, views from the course are often stunning.

The golf course has more room off the tees and larger more receptive greens than other Khao Yai golf courses. The front nine plays around a country farm house. The back nine stretches around a flat piece of land with a nice backdrop of hills and mountains. Although the course may be a little more open in its tightness, the presence of excellent bunkering throughout ensures that course management cannot afford to be too relaxed. Rancho Charnvee is long and challenging off any of the three tee boxes with many water carries and out-of-bounds.

The first hole requires a solid drive over a large lake and is not for the easily intimidated. It plays uphill and fairway narrows to smallish green. The very long par-3 4th hole is another of several holes that will challenge even the most accomplished scratch golfers.

The clubhouse sits in front of a small lake. There is no driving range but the changing rooms and kiosks are first rate and the restaurant serves good food. This combined with well-trained staff and well-maintained course conditions will insure that golfers in Khao Yai will enjoy playing at Rancho Charnvee.

Mountain Creek Golf Resort and Residence Information

Mountain Creek Golf Resort and Residence is a 27 hole golf course located past the Khao Yai National Park. Thailand’s only Seve Ballesteros designed golf course is spread out over three nine holes loops, each of which have been named to follow their natural environments: Highlands, Creek and Valley. The former world No.1 and winner of five majors designed the Creek and Valley Courses to be the most interesting of the three loops, while the Highlands Course plays relatively flat.

The Mountain Creek golf course demands a combination of power, accuracy, and concentration.  Hazards are strategically positioned throughout the Khao Yai golf course to lure in shots from every angle. Dense jungle frames many of the holes forcing you to keep the ball down the center else face a costly penalty.  Holes play to various distances from a short 330 yard par-4 to a monster 550 yard par-5. As a result, expect to use every club in your bag. The course is also quite penal around the greens, many of which are severely undulated. Hit to the wrong side of the hole and a three putt is almost guaranteed.

Off course facilities are good including practice areas, pro shop, and locker rooms. The expansive clubhouse forms a center point of the golf club as all three nines start and finish from this point.  A small resort with other sports and spa facilities is also part of Mountain Creek. Thailands Mountain Creek at just 200 kilometers northeast of Bangkok is a good choice for those looking for a very challenging day out golfing in Khao Yai.

    

 

Panorama Golf & Country Club

The Panorama Golf and Country Club (formerly called 'The Voyage Panorama Golf Resort') is on the way to Khao Yai National Park and can be reached either from Bangkok or Korat. The relatively long driving time is rewarded by the golf course which has been build partly through the local virgin forest and partly on a bluff overlooking the whole Khao Yai valley.

The golf course at Panorama Golf and Country Club closely follows the contours of its mountain-rimmed valley host and is often pleasant and breezy. For its hazards, the designers have relied on the natural contours of the land, although water does intrude on holes three, four and 15. Naturally, fairways are often sloped as they follow the land contours, so uphill, downhill, and side-hill lies are a plenty.

There is a particularly difficult shot on par-4 10th , where the player has to tee-off over a valley and across the face of a hill to a blind green that doglegs left. Better hitters will be able to reach the green in one shot, however if you have not played here before this can be quite intimidating as it looks as if a well struck tee shot will end up in the jungle above left.

The golf course despite its challenging layout is kept in average to good conditions. Some of the holes have greens which roll fast and true, while others, especially those on the front nine are cut less often and are much slower. Fairways and tee boxes tend to be in good condition except in areas that do not get much sun due to overhanging tree limbs. Rough and bunker areas, while playable, always need some tidying up to be on par with the rest of the golf course.

A clubhouse includes facilities for all the family including 2 nice swimming pools, local and international restaurants and basic overnight lodging facilities. The natural environment and stunning panoramic views makes for a nice 19th hole setting

Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa Information

Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa, formerly The Country Club Khao Yai, is set within natural surroundings with panoramic views of the Khao Yai National Park. Kirimaya is best quality golf resort in the Khao Yai area and one of the most natural courses anywhere in Thailand. The Khao Yai golf course is described by the Nicklaus design team, to be one of their 3 best in Asia.

The backdrop of wooded hills and lush jungle provides a wonderful glimpse of Thailand's countryside that you will not see in and around the Bangkok metropolis. Should you journey out to the Khao Yai region you'll also experience cooler breezes and less humidity than in the city. Nicklaus's excellent, well-maintained; out-and-back layout blends effortlessly with its gently undulating surroundings, producing one memorable hole after another. Beyond the good-width fairways and light semi-rough lies thick impenetrable vegetation, so some tee-shots feel dauntingly tight during your first round here. On a second or third visit you'll begin to discover where the space is, and where it isn't.

Wetland areas boldly intrude across some fairways and also protect the front of several greens. Small lakes and lily covered ponds further enhance the naturalness of this layout, and all the while the jungle-clad Khao Yai hills look down onto the course.

The signature par-4 16th, which doglegs left-to-right past a large tree and down to a water-protected green, must be one of the most beautiful holes Nicklaus has ever fashioned, although surely nature played the biggest part in its creation. Here is a layout where you can feel at one with the beautiful countryside of Khao Yai, forget the trials and tribulations of the modern world, and concentrate on one of Nicklaus's best and toughest Asian challenges.

Another excellent hole is beautiful the par-5 3rd. The key here is to avoid the water on the left side of the fairway. Once past the hazard a small pond protecting this otherwise small green must be successfully negotiated. However, three goof shots on in regulation is rewards the golfer with a birdy opportunity or sure par.

Nine holes out, and nine holes in, golfers will struggle to see another group as the holes weave their way around the hills of Khao Yai. With five sets of tees golfers of all abilities can enjoy the layout at Kirimaya.

The attached 5-star Kirimaya Golf Resort is the best in Khao Yai and includes unique tented villas for guest accommodations, personalized butler and chef services, and full service luxury spa. Kirimaya is as good as it gets in Thailand golf resorts. The Khao Yai golf course and resort continues to draw avid Thai and foreign golfers in need of a unique and unforgettable total golf resort experience.
For anyone visiting Thailand and has the time to either travel from Bangkok for a long, but excellent, day's golf, or can spend a few days in the superb mountain and golf destination of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Khao Yai National Park, then Khao Yai will not disappoint.