The Grand Prix Golf Club, sounds like something from the world of Formula 1 and although things are little more relaxed than the F1 circuit, the course does have links to the automotive world. Situated in the Kanchanaburi region of Thailand, which is the largest of western provinces in the country, the course is named after the company which owns it, Grand Prix International. Their magazine is about motor vehicles but Dr. Prasad Jin Lmena moved in to cable television, before investing in the world of golf and the Grand Prix Golf Club has certainly proved to be a wise decision.
The Grand Prix Golf Club is just 30 minutes away from Kanchanaburi town and a 2-hour drive away from the Thailand capital, Bangkok. To the eye, the courses looks very vast and this is due to the fact it’s set in a very wide and open space. In the distance, the Burmese mountains are visible and make for a lovely setting to the golf course. There is a water feature on the course but it’s not a man made one, as on many other courses in the area. It’s actually a river, which flows through the Grand Prix course, dividing it in places.
A feature of the course, are the split fairways, which can be found on many of the holes. These offer a choice of approach to the green, some of which are more challenging than others. When in reach of the green, simply landing the ball on it is not going to be good enough to score well. The greens are multi-tiered and the breaks on them can be punishing. Therefore, careful club selection and accurate placement of the golf ball is vital.
Perhaps the pick of the holes at the Grand Prix Golf Club, is par-5 fifth hole, which plays to 557 yards. The green is elevated and surrounded by water, which makes it a difficult task but at the same time, the fairway follows the natural landscape, making the fifth hole a challenge and a delight in equal measure.
The facilities at the Grand Prix Golf Club are also worthy of a mention. The club house is modern, featuring a lovely balcony and is well designed. There is a 50 room hotel on site, in addition to a gourmet restaurant, which makes staying at the Grand Prix Golf Club a real pleasure.
The Grand Prix Golf Club is certainly one of best golf courses in the Kanchanaburi Province, if not the whole of Thailand and is well worth a visit, by golfers of all levels.