Chiang Mai Golf Week

Gassan Khuntan features many sharp doglegs, island greens, water carries, and steep-edged bunkers throughout the golf course. Each obstacle can quickly wreck a scorecard. Bermuda grass fairways and ultra dwarf Bermuda greens are featured and make for well-conditioned surfaces.

Hole 5 is an especially challenging 163 yard par-3 with a small island green. The ideal tee shot requires an accurate iron to the middle to avoid the surrounding water and greenside bunkers. Once on the green, a birdie is a good possibility. Conversely, any tee shot in the water or sand will end up with a bogey or worse. Whatever the outcome, the 360-degree scenic views are most impressive. The final hole is another standout. An accurate drive and second shot are needed to hit the narrow green in regulation and avoid the water.

An additional nine holes opened for play in 2018. While only a par-34 the short course plays right through the State Railway of Thailand train tracks. In keeping with the Gassan tradition, each hole presents the golfer with a new challenge. The 440-yard fifth hole is the signature for this nine as it shows off the course design work equally as well as the surrounding scenery.

The clubhouse at Gassan Khuntan sticks out from the natural scenery. It is quite basic with smallish locker rooms, pro shop, and restaurant. The best views are from the terrace which overlooks the course. Other Gassan facilities include chipping & putting greens, and grass driving range. The on-site resort is best left to locals as golfers will be better going back to Chiang Mai after their round.

Gassan Khuntan plays well, though the layout is not for the faint-hearted as even professional golfers will find it a challenge to come anywhere close to par!

Set within a valley and surrounded by mountains, Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort is a course of natural beauty and incorporates waterfalls, streams, and an abundance of landscaping. The Chiangmai golf course sits on the site of a former fruit orchard and as such has one of the most abundant varieties of trees found on any Thailand golf course. Thousands of flowering trees with different fragrances and colors throughout the year dot every hole. The higher Chiang Mai altitude provides a colder, less humid climate, clear air, and gentle breezes. There is a plethora of wildlife including many species of local birds.

The Five-time British Open Champion, Peter Thomson designed the Royal Chiang Mai course. The short 6969-yard course is missing a set of the back (black tees), but it more than makes up for the lack of distance with the clever use of many of the elements from a British links style course. Bumpy fairways, pot bunkers, and closely mowed areas around the greens feature through the site. This shorter course rewards ball placing accuracy rather than long shots and ensures a challenging game for both beginner and golf professional alike.

Strategically placed and high-lipped greenside bunkers come into play on every hole. Moreover, elevated greens mean that the distances to the greens are deceptive and there is a tendency to under club. Lakes, streams, and waterfalls come into play on most holes. All of the par-3s are signature holes, but the best hole on the course is by far the long par-5 seventh. Walk away with a par, and it is a sign of a good score to come.

All 18 holes blend well together to offer a unique challenge in natural settings. After the round, there is a beautiful view from the clubhouse. Although having seen better days and not the highlight of the golf course, the clubhouse features a full range of facilities including a golfer’s terrace. There is also an onsite golf resort, albeit catering more to locals than overseas visitors.

Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort is well-suited for golfers looking for a relaxed day out in natural settings.

The championship 18-hole course, stretching an impressive 7,541 yards from the black tees, presents a thrilling challenge for even the most seasoned professionals. However, golfers of all levels are warmly welcome, with equally enjoyable experiences available from the white or blue tee boxes, allowing everyone to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature. The landscape, inspired by the surrounding magnificent hills, is adorned with a rich assembly of trees, including valuable golden teak wood and mahogany, creating a verdant sanctuary. Adding to the unique charm, the newly opened nine holes, introduced in 2016, feature three distinct zones: a tranquil parkland area, a captivating wetland zone, and a remarkable paddy zone, showcasing Thailand's only rice paddy green on a par-3 hole. This blend of old and new ensures a dynamic and engaging round for every visitor.

At Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai, the resort offers more than just exceptional golf; it provides a complete resort experience. After your game, unwind and rejuvenate at the 4-star resort, indulge your senses at the international restaurant, or pamper yourself at the day spa, all set against the spectacular backdrop of Chiang Mai's rolling hills. Visitors can experience the unparalleled beauty, the challenging yet rewarding fairways, and the warm hospitality that makes Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai a truly unforgettable destination for discerning golfers seeking both a world-class golfing challenge and a serene escape. Lasting memories await on the championship fairways.

The Chiang Mai Highlands golf course is built on a 'power spot' - the hermitage of Kuba Sivichai (the revered monk who founded the famous Doi Suthep temple). This site is breathtaking in every direction. Its tranquility, high elevation, cold climate, fresh air, pure water, and fertile soil, form the perfect place for the 27-hole layout.

Lee Schmidt of Schmidt-Curley Design from the USA and the same designer as Mission Hills, Amata Spring, and Siam CC was the course's mastermind. After only two years of operation, Chiangmai Highlands catapulted onto the international golf scene as one of the best golf experiences in Asia.  Since then Chiangmai Highlands has won many prestigious awards. In 2007, Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort was voted #3 for 'Best New Golf Course in Asia' by Asian Golf Monthly. In 2013, the same publication awarded Chiang Mai Highlands as the 'Best Value for Money Golf Course in Asia” and the “Best Golf Resort in Asia” followed in 2015.

The Highlands course itself is exciting and challenging for a player of any level and offers the choice of 5 different tee boxes. Featuring Paspalum grassed fairways and Tiff-eagle grass greens ensure excellent hitting surfaces and faster more consistent greens year round. The bunker complexes are deep and punishing, but lend a nice contrast to frame each hole. In fact, the course features over 130 fairway and greenside bunkers, most all with high front edges.

The greens at Chiangmai Highlands are undulated and typically run around ten on the Stimp-meter. The greens are firm yet receptive and hold well-struck iron shots. Many greens slope front to back which pressurizes golfers to pay more attention to strategy and utilize local caddie knowledge to putt in regulation.

The approach areas around green complexes often feature strictly mown catchment areas giving the golfer many options of playing either a chip-and-run, pitch shot or even putting the ball up onto the green surface. Imagination is a terrific asset when trying to get up and down at Chiangmai Highlands.

The golfing experience starts with the downhill hole #1.  Magnificent views of the entire course and the mountain skyline are evident in the background. After the 'inviting' 1st hole, the golf course effortlessly flows along, gaining strength, beauty, and character with each passing hole. Another standout is the thrilling and unforgettable 18th.  The short downhill par-5 can be reached in 2 by long hitters, although most golfers prefer a lay-up in front of the broad river that crosses the fairway before playing an uphill chip for an easy par.

The 4C hole is as good as they come. A long par-4 with a sharp dogleg right, the tee shot requires careful placement left of the fairway bunkers. Then, the long iron or hybrid approach left navigates away from the bunkers and water right of the green. A well-struck shot is an excellent birdie opportunity.

A Thai-styled clubhouse with a pleasant atmosphere and all facilities provide relaxation before or after the golf round. Locker rooms are basic but are adequate nevertheless. Chiang Mai Highlands has a superbly maintained practice facility including several practice greens, a short game area and a 300-yard driving range with grass tees. There is a small on-site Thai resort with private cottages for those wanting to stay in the countryside and play multiple rounds at Chiang Mai Highlands.

Overall Chiang Mai Highlands is one of the best golf experiences in Thailand and a “must-play” as part of any Chiang Mai golf holiday.