Pattaya, Thailand's Golf Capital
Pattaya is famous for its beaches and nightlife. But for golfers, it is something else entirely: one of the best golf destinations in Asia.
Within an hour of the city, you will find more than twenty courses, designed by some of the greatest names in golf: Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Peter Thomson, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Schmidt-Curley. Some host international tournaments every year. Others hide in quiet valleys, among pineapple fields, lakes and jungle-clad hills.
The secret is not to play the most famous course.
It is to choose the course that matches your level, your mood and your day.
Pattaya Golf Courses at a Glance
| Course | Area | Drive from Pattaya | Holes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siam Country Club | East | 25 min | 81 (4 courses) | Championship golf |
| Chee Chan Golf Resort | South | 30–40 min | 18 | Iconic views |
| Phoenix Gold | South | 25–30 min | 27 | Sea views |
| Plutaluang Navy | South | 30 min | 36 | Nature & value |
| Pattaya Country Club | East | 25–30 min | 18 | All levels |
| Hermes Golf Club | East | 35–40 min | 18 | Big challenge |
| Laem Chabang International | North | 30 min | 27 | Jack Nicklaus design |
| Burapha Golf Club | North | 30–45 min | 36 | Tournament golf |
| Crystal Bay | North | 35–45 min | 27 | Relaxed rounds |
| Bangpra International | North | 40 min | 18 | Classic golf |
| Khao Kheow Country Club | North | 45–60 min | 27 | Pete Dye design |
| Pleasant Valley | North | 45–60 min | 18 | Strategic golf |
| Amata Spring | North | 1 hr | 18 | Exclusive experience |
| St Andrews 2000 | South-East | 40–45 min | 18 | Par 74 challenge |
| Rayong Green Valley | South-East | 40–45 min | 18 | Peter Thomson design |
| Silky Oak | South-East | 40 min | 18 | Mixed groups |
| Eastern Star | South-East | 45–60 min | 18 | Seaside golf |
| Wangjuntr Golf Park | Rayong Hills | 1 hr–1 hr 15 | 3 courses | Nature escape |
| Pattavia Century | East | 50–60 min | 18 | Quiet rounds |
| Greenwood Golf Club | East | 1 hr | 27 | British-style golf |
| Treasure Hill | East | 50–60 min | 18 | Hidden gem |
1. The Must-Play Courses
If you only have a few days in Pattaya, start with these five. Each offers something you will not find anywhere else.
Siam Country Club
The most prestigious golf address in Pattaya, just 25 minutes from the city. Four championship courses, 81 holes, and the Old Course, home of the Honda LPGA Thailand every February. The Plantation Course offers sea views, while Rolling Hills hosted the golf at the 2025 SEA Games.
Best for: championship golf, golf weeks and playing where the professionals play.
Chee Chan Golf Resort
Named Best Course in Thailand in 2020, Chee Chan is a premium links-style course facing the giant golden Buddha carved into Khao Chi Chan mountain. Immaculate Zoysia fairways, views towards the Gulf of Thailand and one of the most photogenic settings in Asian golf.
Best for: unforgettable views, premium conditions and all levels.
Discover Chee Chan Golf Resort →
Laem Chabang International
The first course in Thailand designed by Jack Nicklaus. Its 27 holes across the Mountain, Lake and Valley nines are often ranked among the best in the country, with the Valley nine considered the toughest.
Best for: Jack Nicklaus fans, variety and experienced golfers.
Discover Laem Chabang International →
Khao Kheow Country Club
A 27-hole Pete Dye design set between two green valleys, with lightning-fast greens and an island-green par 3 that recalls the famous 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
Best for: Pete Dye fans, elevation changes and great putters.
Discover Khao Kheow Country Club →
Amata Spring Country Club
Thailand's most exclusive golf club and home of Asia's first floating green: the par-3 17th, reached by boat. A private club where access can be arranged for PATTAYA LAND guests through our Concierge Team, on request.
Best for: a once-in-a-lifetime round and passionate golfers.
Discover Amata Spring Country Club →
2. Golf Courses South of Pattaya
Close to Jomtien, Na Jomtien and Sattahip, these courses are easy to reach and offer some of the best views in the region.
Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club
27 holes across the Mountain, Lakes and Ocean nines, with a closing par 5 overlooking the Gulf of Thailand and the Pattaya skyline. Host of European, Ladies European and Asian Tour events.
Best for: sea views, variety and twilight golf.
Plutaluang Royal Thai Navy Golf Course
Opened in 1969 and still run by the Royal Thai Navy, Plutaluang offers 36 holes around a large natural reservoir. Do not miss the par-3 3rd on the North nine, with its island green and its own lighthouse.
Best for: nature lovers, value and relaxed rounds.
3. Golf Courses East of Pattaya
Along Highway 331 and into the countryside of Ban Bueng, these courses range from easy-going layouts to some of the toughest tests in the region.
Pattaya Country Club
A spacious 18-hole course in gently rolling hills, with wide fairways and several tee options. One of the best choices for a first round in Thailand.
Best for: beginners, mixed groups and golf lessons.
Discover Pattaya Country Club →
Hermes Golf Club
Formerly Parichat International, renovated in 2024. Water comes into play on almost every hole, with cliffs and ravines framing the fairways.
Best for: confident golfers looking for a real challenge.
Treasure Hill Golf & Country Club
A peaceful course in the hills, surrounded by nature with no houses in sight, and home of the famous "Crocodile Hole", a par 5 with a concrete crocodile waiting by the green.
Best for: course management, quiet rounds and hidden gems.
Greenwood Golf Club
27 British-inspired holes designed by Peter Thomson, five-time winner of The Open Championship, with over 200 bunkers and very little water.
Best for: shot-makers, links lovers and good value.
Pattavia Century Golf Club
A quiet 18-hole course among pineapple plantations, with fast, sloping greens, eight lakes and beautiful views from the elevated tees.
Best for: uncrowded rounds and golfers who have already played the famous courses.
4. Golf Courses North of Pattaya
Around Si Racha and Bang Phra, the north is home to the largest concentration of courses in the region, all within easy reach of each other.
Burapha Golf Club
36 championship holes designed by Gary Panks and David Graham, host of the Thailand Open. The East Course suits all levels, while the West Course challenges experienced players.
Best for: 36-hole days, groups and tournament-style golf.
Crystal Bay Golf Club
27 palm-lined holes with a tropical, almost Hawaiian feel, plenty of water and an island-green par 3. Easy to walk and full of birdie chances.
Best for: relaxed rounds and scoring well.
Bangpra International Golf Club
Built in 1958, one of the oldest courses in Thailand, with mature trees, long par 3s over water and Japanese-style baths in the clubhouse.
Best for: classic golf and a touch of history.
Pleasant Valley Golf & Country Club
18 holes among lakes and reed-filled wetlands, close to Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Water is everywhere, and the temptation to cut corners is constant.
Best for: strategic golf and natural settings.
5. Golf Courses South-East of Pattaya
Around Ban Chang and the hills of Rayong, this area combines famous designers, unique layouts and the sea breeze.
St Andrews 2000 Golf Club
A Desmond Muirhead design inspired by Scottish links, with a rare par of 74 thanks to two par-6 holes. One of the most talked-about courses in Thailand.
Best for: experienced golfers and unforgettable stories.
Rayong Green Valley Country Club
A Peter Thomson course among hills, rocky outcrops and native cactus, nicknamed the "hilly course with hilly greens". On the same estate as St Andrews 2000 and Silky Oak.
Best for: scenic golf and a good short game.
Discover Rayong Green Valley →
Silky Oak Country Club
Wide fairways, accessible greens and panoramic views over the hills, with hilltop halfway houses offering the best view of the estate.
Best for: medium to high handicaps and mixed groups.
Eastern Star Country Club
One of only five courses in Thailand designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., set on a former coconut plantation just 2 km from the sea, with eleven lakes and hundreds of palm trees.
Best for: seaside golf, all levels and excellent caddies.
Wangjuntr Golf Park
In the wild hills of Rayong, Wangjuntr offers Japanese-style "twin green" courses, with two greens on every hole. Its Highland Course is one of the longest in Thailand.
Best for: nature lovers, long hitters and a full-day escape.
6. The Most Iconic Holes Around Pattaya
Some holes are worth the trip on their own:
Amata Spring, 17th: Asia's first floating green, reached by boat.
Khao Kheow, Course B, 8th: an island green in the spirit of TPC Sawgrass.
Plutaluang, North 3rd: an island green with its own lighthouse.
St Andrews 2000, 4th and 13th: two par 6s, among the longest holes in Thailand.
Treasure Hill, 16th: the "Crocodile Hole".
Phoenix Gold, Ocean 9th: a par 5 overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
Chee Chan: the golden Buddha in view from almost every hole.
7. Which Golf Course Should You Choose?
For championship golf: Siam Country Club, Laem Chabang, Khao Kheow
For unforgettable views: Chee Chan, Phoenix Gold, Siam Plantation
For beginners and mixed groups: Pattaya Country Club, Silky Oak, Crystal Bay, Eastern Star
For a real challenge: St Andrews 2000, Hermes, Treasure Hill, Wangjuntr Highland
For famous designers: Laem Chabang (Nicklaus), Khao Kheow (Pete Dye), Greenwood and Rayong Green Valley (Peter Thomson), Eastern Star (Trent Jones Jr.)
For nature and quiet rounds: Plutaluang, Treasure Hill, Pattavia Century, Wangjuntr
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience: Amata Spring
For the closest course to the city: Siam Country Club, Phoenix Gold, Pattaya Country Club
8. A Perfect Golf Week in Pattaya
The best way to plan a golf week is to group courses by area, so you spend more time on the fairways and less time on the road.
Day 1 — The Classic
Start with Siam Country Club, just 25 minutes away. Play the Old Course or the Plantation.
Day 2 — The Buddha
Head south to Chee Chan, then visit Khao Chi Chan, the golden Buddha mountain, right next to the course.
Day 3 — Jack Nicklaus
Drive north to Laem Chabang International and play two of its three nines.
Day 4 — Rest Day
A spa, a beach club or a day by your private pool. Your body will thank you.
Day 5 — Pete Dye
Take on Khao Kheow and its island green, in the hills of Bang Phra.
Day 6 — The Par 6s
Finish with St Andrews 2000, or Rayong Green Valley for a more relaxed round on the same estate.
Want something truly special? Ask our Concierge Team about a round at Amata Spring.
9. Best Time to Play Golf in Pattaya
Golf can be played all year round in Pattaya.
November to February is the most popular season, with cooler, drier weather. It is also the busiest time, so book your tee times in advance.
March to May is the hottest period. Early morning rounds are strongly recommended.
June to October brings the rainy season. Showers often come in the afternoon, so mornings are usually playable, and the courses are quieter.
Whatever the season, tee off early: the morning light is beautiful, and the temperatures are much more pleasant.
10. Golf in Thailand: Good to Know
Caddies: playing with a caddie is standard in Thailand, and compulsory at most courses. Caddies know every slope of the greens, and a tip at the end of the round is customary.
Golf carts: available almost everywhere, and compulsory on some courses. Some courses also allow walking.
Dress code: collared shirt, golf trousers or tailored shorts and golf shoes. Private clubs apply stricter rules.
Equipment: most courses rent clubs and shoes, but bringing your own clubs is always more comfortable for a golf week.
Tee times: book in advance, especially in high season and at weekends.
Transport: a private car is the easiest way to travel with your golf bags. Taxis can struggle to find some of the more remote courses.
11. Golf Events in Pattaya
Every February, the world's best women golfers gather at Siam Country Club for the Honda LPGA Thailand, one of the most prestigious events on the LPGA Tour.
Watching a round of professional golf, then playing a course they have played, is a unique experience for any golf lover.
12. Exclusive Offers for Golfers
As a PATTAYA LAND guest and YOLO Member, you enjoy exclusive offers and reduced rates on a selection of activities and venues around Pattaya, including golf courses. These offers are not available to the public: they are reserved for our guests who are YOLO Members, for the duration of their stay.
Not a member yet? Joining is free, and you can sign up before or during your stay.
Our Concierge Team takes care of everything: advice on the courses best suited to your level, tee time bookings, access to Amata Spring on request and private transport with room for your golf bags. Just send us a message on WhatsApp, Line, WeChat, Telegram or KakaoTalk at +66 976 500 500.
13. The Perfect Stay for Golf Groups
A golf holiday is about more than golf. It is about the stories you share after the round.
PATTAYA LAND offers a selection of private pool villas in Pattaya, with different capacities to suit couples, families and groups of friends. For golf groups, several nearby villas may be booked together, subject to availability.
Imagine coming back from your round, jumping into your own private pool, and sharing a barbecue with your friends as the sun goes down.
Explore Luxury Pool Villas in Pattaya →
Prefer hotel services? Discover PATTAYA LAND's selection of hotels in Pattaya, with a 24-hour front desk and room service.
You Only Live Once.
Pattaya Golf: One City, Twenty Courses, Endless Stories
Pattaya golf is much more than one great course.
It is the Old Course of Siam Country Club, where the champions play.
The golden Buddha watching over Chee Chan.
The boat ride to Amata Spring's floating green.
The par 6s of St Andrews 2000.
The crocodile of Treasure Hill.
And the cold drink by your private pool at the end of the day.
You can make your golf holiday as relaxed or as challenging as you want.
And that is what makes Pattaya one of the best golf destinations in Asia.
You Only Live Once.
Discover More of Pattaya
Continue exploring Pattaya with the PATTAYA LAND Discover collection:
PATTAYA LAND