Royal Creek Golf Club and Resort

Royal Creek Golf Club and Resort is an 18-hole championship course 20 minutes from Udon Thani's international airport and 15 minutes from downtown. Royal Creek is the first international standard golf resort in Udon Thani, Thailand and raises the bar on golf in Issan.

Formerly a rice paddy, the site is scattered with human-made lakes, reservoirs, and creeks that frame many of the holes. Extra balls are a must at Royal Creek. Significant earthmoving and dredging was used to create the mounding which lines many of the fairways. The Zoysia grass fairways are beautiful to hit from but have some bare patches. Flattish Bermuda grass greens are slightly more bumpy than usual. Good drainage makes stable playing conditions in Isan’s mostly tropical weather.

Normal to smaller sized greens feature on holes making the accuracy of approach shots a must for scoring well. Large fairway and greenside bunker complexes add to the Royal Creek challenge. Many holes have been fit together and play next to one another with small landing areas and loads of fairway hazards. Fortunately, balls stuck left or right funnel back into the center for the most part. Long hitters can try for booming drives to carry the fairway hazards or judicious use of fairway woods off the tees to lay up before trouble. In any case, straight hitting gets benefits over distance at Royal Creek.

The signature hole is the short 8th. The par-3 with an almost island green has a tree on a separate island off to the side resembling TPC Sawgrass from the USA. The green here is relatively flat matching most of the other greens at Royal Creek. Well-done Royal Creek and surely a selfie opportunity!

A modern clubhouse forms the central point. With two matching kiosks, golfers have the convenience with style. The main clubhouse restaurant overlooks a large lake making much of the golf course visible from the floor to ceiling windows.

Caddies and golf carts are compulsory, though even with their costs included the fees are reasonable compared to western or bigger city standards. Royal Creek will only improve with time. Villas surround the course periphery adding to the exclusive and upmarket feel of the golf course. Royal Creek is an excellent addition to golf in Thailand’s North East and raises the bar for golf in Udon Thani.