Mae Jo Golf Club in Chiang Mai is an unusual layout which winds its way through mature fruits trees with some excellent views from some of the elevated tees. Several banana-shaped holes with blind tee shots but very playable for golfers of all standards.
A very popular course due to its proximity to downtown Chiang Mai and with some many trees lining the fairways you will need to hit it straight if you are to score well but if you do end up in the trees maybe you will spot a ripe mango to enjoy.
As you stand on several of the tees you will not be able to see the landing area but the various aiming points and distance markers will help you decide how much of the hazard you can take on.
The Bermuda grass on the fairways usually provides an inviting lie which always helps if you need a fairway wood to reach the green which might well be the case on the 15th, a long par-4 which requires a perfectly placed tee shot from the elevated tee box to reach the corner of the dog-leg if you are to stand any chance of reaching the green with your approach. Even with a view of the green a pot bunker guards the two-tier green and you will need to be careful with your positioning if you wish to avoid a bogey or worse.
The 14th is another stand out hole with great views over the surrounding countryside as you try to negotiate the huge waste bunker between you and the green.
The open-air clubhouse is simple and functional rather than luxurious, with an excellent restaurant overlooking the course.
Whilst the course isn't overly daunting for the high handicapper, there is plenty to keep more accomplished players on their toes, with long dog-legs and water hazards much in evidence. The hardest hole is the 15th, a long par-4 where your tee shot from an elevated box must be long enough to reach the corner of the dog-leg to stand a chance of reaching the green in regulation. The downhill approach must avoid the pot bunker placed menacingly in front of the wide, severely sloping two-tier green that demands good reading skills in order to avoid the dreaded three putt. In light of all that it's probably a good idea to make best use of the practice facilities which include a practice bunker as well as the usual putting and chipping greens.
The clubhouse, designed in the Lanna style, is simple and functional rather than luxurious, contains an excellent restaurant with views over the course and is populated with friendly and attentive staff. When you add all this to a well-designed course that benefits from the careful attention of the maintenance crew, it's easy to understand the popularity of Mae Jo Golf Club.
Tee Time Bookings at Mae Jo Golf Club
Do you want to book a tee time at Mae Jo Golf Club? Using our booking engine we can help you secure a tee time and benefit from our discounted green fees on offer by including Mae Jo Golf Club in your Chiang Mai golf holiday package.
You can read all about the other golf courses in Chiang Mai here.