Thai Country Club in Bangkok is of the top golf courses in Thailand which has hosted several top-class events including the 1997 Asian Honda Classic won by Tiger Woods.Not the most exciting golf course in Bangkok but certainly has the best service with a wonderfully efficient clubhouse service superb food and some of the best trained caddies in Thailand. This is a private members club so access is restricted - especially at weekends but Thailand Golf Tours have exclusive access to tee times.It naturally made our pick of best golf courses in Bangkok.
A pretty benign opening par-4 at Thai Country Club and providing you can avoid the fairway bunker which is probably out of reach for most of us then you are well set up for your approach.From the second tee box you are faced with a large stretch of water and a huge fairway bunker – don’t be tempted to go for the green and play safely to the left of the bunker. The 3rd is the first of the par 3’s with a narrow green protected on one side by a large bunker and a hollow on the other. The 4th is the shortest of the par 5’s but also one of the most dangerous and many are tempted to go straight across the water to the green – much better idea is to play up in three and hope you can one putt.The 5th is a straight forward par-4 as long as you can avoid the sand and this is followed by a very long par 3 which usually plays into the wind and you need to pick just the right line left of the green The 7th is a shortish par 5 which can be reached in two by the long hitters but they will need to avoid the large bunker to the left of the green.The 8th can be a scoring hole if you can avoid the fairway bunkers and also the bunker protecting the left side of the green which is a lot deeper than it looks.Some respite at the last hole on the front nine but you often have to play your approach from a sloping lie and the pin positions can be deceiving on this cleverly sculpted green.
As you start the back nine at Thai Country Club a plaque reminds you that Tiger Woods drove the green during the 1997 Honda Classic but for most of us this is a 2-shot par 4 but don’t go too far right off the green or you can catch the water.
The changing rooms would not be out of place in a 5-star hotel with spa pools, sauna and steam rooms, massage rooms, hydro jet therapy showers and also include a grooming room for the gentlemen and a beauty room for the ladies.Valet parking is provide by a team of highly trained doormen and the pro-shop is one of the best stoked around with as huge range of golf gear and souvenirs.
As you would expect for a course managed by the Peninsula Group, the dining room is superb with a large range of Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Western cuisine backed the immaculate service of this prestigious group.