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With a dozen top-class golf courses, a stunning mountain backdrop, and Thailand’s most temperate climate, Chiang Mai’s treasures make it a must-visit destination for any golfer. Read on to find out our picks for the very best golf courses the region has to offer.
Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort
Looking to perfect your swing in one of the most beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia? Look no further than Chiang Mai, Thailand's hidden golfing gem. With its stunning landscapes, lush green fairways, and world-class golf courses, Chiang Mai offers golfers an unforgettable experience. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner looking to improve your game, this ultimate guide to the best golf courses in Chiang Mai will help you navigate through the city's top golfing destinations.
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It only takes a short ride from the city to find yourself amidst stunning tropical rainforest, gushing waterfalls, bubbling hot springs and small, rural villages. Indeed, the stunning natural scenery is the main draw for many of the visitors to Chiang Mai, but with over ten excellent golf courses to choose from, many people are also booking Chiang Mai golf holidays. Like the region itself, the golf courses around Chiang Mai are very picturesque, leading many golf lovers from Bangkok to pack their golf clubs for a weekend getaway.
From the prestigious Alpine Golf Resort to the picturesque Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort, each course offers a unique challenge and an opportunity to indulge in the beauty of the surroundings. Get ready to tee off amidst breathtaking mountain views, navigate through carefully designed holes, and enjoy the warm hospitality that Chiang Mai is famous for. So grab your clubs, book your tee time, and get ready for an unforgettable golfing experience in the heart of Thailand.
Here's our definitive list of the best golf courses in Chiang Mai, updated for 2024:
#1. Alpine Golf Resort
World-class championship course surrounded by forest-covered hills and offering wonderful views in all directions
Alpine Golf Resort
If it's stunning natural beauty you're after, look no further than Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai. Designed by Ron Garl and widely regarded as one of the finest golf courses in the area, it's an award-winning track nestled in a valley between mountain ranges in the heart of the San Kampaeng natural forests. The course was explicitly designed to present the natural beauty of the region to the golfer, and it does so superbly: no matter where you are on this golf course, you'll always find a great view on offer.
However, Alpine Golf Resort is about more than just the views; this is a tough, world-class championship course that has played host to numerour Asian Tour Events. The original 18-hole course (an additional nine were added in 2016) plays to over 7,500 yards from the back tees, and poses a real challenge even for professional golfers. Thankfully, there's a choice of tee boxes, so a round here is suitable for players of all abilities.
Some of the most memorable holes on the course include the 652-yard 4th on the A Course, the longest par five in Thailand, while the par-4 9th features an island fairway and plays over water twice, making it a stunning yet challenging hole. The 2nd on the B Course, a par 4 at 524 yards, is particularly difficult on the course, doglegging left with water down the entire left side and playing almost like a par 5.
While its convenient location just 40 minutes from the city of Chiang Mai means there is plenty of time to get a round in before returning to your accommodation, the resort features its own 4-star accommodation, so it's possible to stay the night at get in another round in the morning. Other facilities include an international restaurant and day spa.
Location: 40 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai
Green Fee Price: from THB 4,400 (~$128 USD) / 18 Holes (caddie + cart included)
#2. Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort
Voted "Best New Golf Course in Asia" by Asian Golf Monthly and "Best Value for Money Golf Course in Asia"
Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort
Located in the stunning mountains of Chiang Mai, just 40 minutes from the city, Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort offers a challenging 27-holes of world class golf. Designed by Lee Schmidt of Schmidt-Curley Design, the same designer behind Mission Hills, Amata Spring, and Siam CC, the course has won many prestigious awards since its opening in 2005. The course is set at a high elevation, meaning you get to enjoy crisp fresh air, a cool climate and spectacular views, and thanks to 5 tee boxes, it's an exciting, scenic challenge that golfers of all levels can enjoy.
Having started life as an 18-hole golf course, an additional 9 holes were added in 2015, as Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort continues to improve and expand. The course is kept in immaculate condition, with Paspalum fairways and Tifeagle greens providing excellent hitting surfaces and fast, consistent greens year-round. The bunker complexes are deep and punishing, adding contrast and framing each hole. With over 130 fairway and greenside bunkers, most with high front edges, the course is challenging and requires strategic play.
Similarly to Alpine Golf Resort, the course offers onsite Thai-cottage-style accommodation, so if you would rather stay closer to the golf course than the city, you can, although with the comforts of a modern hotel in the city just 45 minutes away, you're best off making the trip back to Chiang Mai after what will no doubt be a round of golf that will live long in the memory.
Location: 45 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai
Green Fee Price: from THB 2,800 (~$81 USD) / 18 Holes (excludes caddie and cart)
#3. Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort
Idyllic parkland course with British links-style elements in a beautiful natural setting
Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort
Nestled within a valley and surrounded by mountains, Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort is a course of natural beauty, featuring waterfalls, streams, and meticulous landscaping. This Peter Thompson-designed course opened for play in 1996, lead ing the way for the current crop of modern golf courses in this northern area of Thailand. Situated on the site of a former fruit orchard just 40 minutes north of downtown Chiang Mai, it's an enjoyable parkland course with links-style elements that's suitable for both for beginner and experienced players alike.
What the course lacks in distance (it's just 6,969 yards from the back), it makes up with clever elements taken from a British links-style course, including bumpy fairways, pot bunkers, and closely mowed areas around the greens, ensuring that there are plenty of challenges for golfers. With lakes and streams also coming into play, you cannot afford many wayward shots on this golf course, if you want to achieve a low score.
Having completed your round, the clubhouse at Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort offers superb views of the course and the surrounding area, making the golfers' terrace a great place to relax with a drink and something to eat. While there's an onsite resort, it caters mainly to locals so it's best to head back into Chiang Mai for the evening.
Location: 40 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai
Green Fee Price: from THB 1,700 (~$49 USD) / 18 Holes (excludes caddie and cart)
#4. Gassan Legacy Golf Club
A water-heavy course rated amongst Chiang Mai's best following a highly-successful 2014 renovation
Gassan Legacy Golf Club
Although it's a little further from Chiang Mai than most of the other courses in the region, a 2014 renovation means that Gassan Legacy Golf Club is now well worth the 45-minute drive from the city. It's not a long course by any means, but water on every hole means accuracy is at a premium. Home to mature trees, immaculate greens and numerous bunkers, it's a risk/reward affair that offers an enjoyable challenge.
Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the straightforward opening hole; make sure to get off to a good start because there are much tougher challenges to come. Water is a factor on almost every tee shot, whether it's a forced carry or a lake intruding into the fairway in the landing zone. You'll constantly find yourself undecided between attacking and playing safe.
Some of the par-4 holes can be reached in one shot by the long hitters but accuracy is required on and around the greens to avoid three putting. The par 5s also offer plenty of risk/reward opportunities but you must be decisive in your approach because anything but 100% commitment to your shots could see you in the drink. The continued threat of sand and water across the 18 holes at Gassan Legacy Golf Club means you will be just as well rewarded for clever, accurate shots as you will for hitting the ball long.
The slightly quirky club house has not been modernised but offers adequate facilities and should not spoil your day out. Now one of the best courses in Chiang Mai, a round at Gassan Legacy Golf Club should form part of any Chiang Mai golf holiday.
Location: 45 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai
Green Fee Price: from THB 900 (~$26 USD) / 18 Holes (excludes caddie and cart)
#5. Gassan Panorama Golf Club
An unusual but high-quality course with lots of water and a particularly memorable clubhouse
Gassan Panorama Golf Club
Originally opened in November 2006 as the Gassan Marina Golf Club, but reopened under a new name in 2017 after a 10-year hiatus, the Gassan Panorama Golf Club boasts a distinctive design that revolves around a large lake. With waterside bunkers, mountainous backdrops, and lush greenery, it's a challenging yet enjoyable course that's well worth the short journey from downtown Chiang Mai. Gassan Panorama plays to 7,761 yards from the back tees, making it not only the longest golf course in the Gassan Group but one of the longest in Thailand.
The course has been designed around a large lake and water dominates much of the course. However, it is not the only danger to be aware of during a round and bunkers come into play regularly, even close to the water. Thankfully, the quality of the fairways, greens and bunkers is superb and you will have no complaints about the role of the ball at Gassan Panorama.
The luxurious, Arabian-style clubhouse looks like an Arabian Sheiks castle and is one of a kind among the peaceful mountains of Northern Thailand. It's a truly unique feature on what is fast becoming one of Chiang Mai's most popular golfing destinations., makes Gassan Panorama a must-play when staying in Chiang Mai.
Location: 25 minutes north of downtown Chiang Mai
Green Fee Price: from THB 1,550 (~$45 USD) / 18 Holes (excludes caddie and cart)
#6. North Hill Golf Club Chiang Mai
Good resort course which is not too demanding but plenty of water hazards
North Hill Golf Club Chiang Mai
For those arriving at Chiang Mai via the airport, you are only 15 minutes away from your first round of golf at North Hill Golf Club. Created by a local Thai designer, this 18 hole, par-72 golf course opened for play in 2014 having started life as a 9 hole course in 2011.
The greens, fairways, bunkers and even the rough are kept to a very high standard, such that it feels like playing on a professional tournament quality golf course. A short course, the emphasis is on shot placement rather than distance off the tee, so you won't have much need for your driver.
Although water does not come into play on the first two holes, you must only wait until the 3rd hole, a par-4 with water bisecting the fairway, for your first real challenge. An accurante tee shot is required to leave the best angle of approach over water to a green protected by bunkers to the front and back.
While water comes into play several times, the course is mostly flat throughout so you're never playing a blind shot—allowing you to plan your way through the round. If you enjoy playing strategic golf, you are sure to enjoy a round at North Hill Golf Club.
Location: 15 minutes from Chiang Mai airport
Green Fee Price: from THB 1,800 (~$52 USD) / 18 Holes + Caddie + Cart
Other Chiang Mai Golf Courses
In addition to the fantastic Chiang Mai golf courses highlighted above, you have many others available to play during a golf holiday in this region of Thailand. For example, Chiang Mai Inthanon Golf and Natural Resort provides the best views of the tallest mountain in Thailand and is surrounded by tropical fruit orchards, making it a very scenic course. Another course which is challenging but also offers tremendous views is Gassan Khuntan Golf and Resort. Situated next to Khuntan National Park, this is a beautiful golf course but with sharp doglegs, island greens, water carries, and steep-edged bunkers you must have your wits about you and be on good form, to finish with a low score.
Gassan Khuntan Golf and Resort
The furthest course away from Chiang Mai is Gold Canyon Golf Course. This course is set in a very rural area of Thailand and in contrast to many other Chiang Mai golf courses, there is very little water or bunkers to worry about. However, trees can become a problem and some are placed very close to the tee, meaning you must try and hit over them or face seeing your ball run the lottery of travelling through the branches.
From the furthest golf course to the closest and Lanna Golf Club is just a 10-minute drive from the centre of Chiang Mai. Having been established in 1974, the quality of the course may not match that of the more modern ones in the area but it remains very popular with the locals. There are three nine-hole courses to choose from, all of which are quite flat but several lakes and strategically placed bunkers add to the challenge. If you are looking for a quick round of golf in Chiang Mai, Lanna Golf Club is probably the best choice.
Overall, when choosing the best golf courses in Chiang Mai, you are spoilt for choice. The stunning natural beauty of northern Thailand lends itself to some of Thailand’s most picturesque golfing experiences. Furthermore, you are never more than 30 minutes away from many of Chiang Mai’s best golf courses. So, you can base yourself in the city and comfortably travel to each course you would like to play. Alternatively, you can book resort style accommodation at one or more of the golf courses and spend longer at each of them, the choice is yours.
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