A very popular and relatively easy course just 30 minutes from Pattaya

Set in gently rolling terrain dotted with palm trees which give it a distinctly Hawaiian flavour, Crystal Bay Golf Club is a firm favourite of the Pattaya golf scene, meaning a midweek tee time is your best bet for avoiding the crowds. This shortish 27-hole course offers plenty of opportunity for good scoring if the wind isn't blowing, although you'll need to negotiate the ever-present water hazards and well placed bunkers if you want to shoot your handicap.

The three nines (A, B and C) are all pretty similar, featuring a mixture of classic parkland and links-style holes, with water bordering some of the fairways, some forced water carries on approach, and plenty of bunkers to keep you on your toes. 

The par 3s are the pick of the water-heavy Course A, the 5th requiring a long carry over water to a green guarded on both sides by extensive bunkering, and the 8th demanding a short iron into an island green featuring five sand traps. With water in play on eight of the nine holes, you'll do well to score well here.

There's less water to contend with on Course B, but when it features, it's a challenge. The par-5 dogled left 3rd demands that you flirt with the drink off all the way along the hole, with a particularly nervy tee shot to negotiate, while reaching the green at the short par-3 6th requires carrying not just water but a very large bunker that sits right on line just short of the green.

Sand is a major factor on the third nine, especially at the par-4 dogleg right 3rd, where cutting the corner risks a plugged ball in one of the two massive sand traps that line the fairway, with the approach the 8th requiring an accurate approach to a small target to avoid the same fate. 

The course is usually in good condition but the greens can take time to recover after extreme weather; while they may not be as pristine as some other courses, they do usually run true.

The clubhouse is a bit tired but there's decent local food and beer on offer, so should not detract from what should be an enjoyable day’s golf in lovely surroundings.

Holes:27

Established:1988

Availability: Open every day

Group Size: 1 - 4 players

Type: Parkland

Designer: Thai Takenaka

Fairways:Unknown

Greens: Unknown

Address: 502 Bang Phra, Si Racha District, Chon Buri 20130

Tel: +668 52280640

Open: 06.00-17.00 hrs Every Day