Phuket Country Club

The Phuket golf course is set in a valley, with the golf course meandering through hills and limestone cliffs and traversing three distinct environments (six holes in undulating hills, six holes on the level, and six holes through landscape forest).

The layout gets off to a reasonably challenging start, with the front nine providing the most undulating and testing holes. Scoring requires precise drives. The back-to-back short par-4s at 6 and 7 are played from elevated tees set right at the jungle's edge. The slightly more open and flatter back-nine introduces the first water hazard of any significance at par 5, 557 yards, 10th, and what an introduction it is.

The most famous golf hole in all of Phuket, the 10th, from an elevated tee box, makes its way 180 degrees around a u-shaped fairway laid out around a large lake. It's up to each golfer to decide how much of the water hazard to bite off. Long hitters can go straight for the green, with an albatross or a hole-in-one a possibility. Love it or hate it, this hole is undoubtedly different and claims dozens of balls daily.

Water is also notable at the short par-4 16th and again at the island green par-3 17th, one of the best short holes in Phuket. An excellent array of straight-faced pot bunkers guard several greens, while the more open fairway bunkers show the driveline from the tee.

The clubhouse and facilities require some renovations to bring them up to the standard set by the golf course. Nevertheless, all the practice areas are open to the public and may be the most comprehensive golf training facility on Phuket island. The beauty and elegance of the course, together with the typical Thai charm and hospitality of the caddies, guarantee all golfing at Phuket Country Club a truly memorable occasion.