Located in the Andaman Sea of southern Thailand, Phuket’s name is said to derive from two Thai words: Phu (mountain) and ket (jewel). Much has been written about this well-known island, and now, with the recent expansion of its international airport, many airlines can fly you there.
The island offers some of Thailand’s best golf courses, spectacular scenery, tropical sunsets over palm-lined clear blue beaches, and a vast array of nightlife.
Golf holidays in Phuket are a golfer’s dream, with eight championship golf courses, picturesque beaches, first-class resorts, and unsurpassed Thai hospitality.
Combine the relaxing appeal of warm island breezes with beautiful beaches and some of the best golf tours in Thailand, and you will find it hard to leave!
Although the island is the largest in the country, space is running out, and it is unlikely that there will be room to create any new golf courses. Therefore, supply and demand dictate, and getting a prime tee time, especially in the high season, is tough. It is worth noting that the top tour operators will have pre-booked their slots and can get you on to the first tee at a sociable time.
We mentioned that there are, in fact, eight courses on the island; however, here is the pick of the crop:
Blue Canyon Country Club
opened in 1991 with its Canyon Course and became famous as the venue for the 1994 Johnnie Walker Classic, returning twice, with Tiger Woods winning in 1998.
The course, created out of an old strip mine, has streams filled with rust-colored water, and a massive canyon adds to the fun. The course re-opened this year after a two-year closure and upgrade and recently attracted a KLPGA tournament.
The front nine plays up and through palm-oil tree-lined fairways, while the back nine ramps up the excitement with holes 11-15, arguably the best five-stretch in Thailand. Their par four, 13th over a canyon, tempts the daredevil in every golfer, and the following Par 3, 14th, from an elevated tee down to a small island green is one of the most beautiful yet challenging holes you will experience.
The club opened a second 18-hole course, known as the Lakes course, in 1999. It is a par 72 course at 7,179 yards. Less challenging than the Canyon course, the Lakes course appeals to a broader range of golfers.
Blue Canyon’s large clubhouse has everything to make your visit memorable. Spend some time looking at the photos of the famous golfers who have gone before.
Laguna Golf Phuket,
which opened in 1993, is a popular resort course that benefits from pleasant sea breezes from the Andaman Sea. It, too, has had its fair share of major events, having hosted Asia Tour events in 2009 and 2021 and regularly welcoming the Faldo Series.
Re-designed in 2014, it’s on a valley floor overlooked by low wooded hills and marshlands. The course is undulating with superb playing surfaces, fairway tiers, depressions, mounds, and wide fairways.
Their front nine defines the existing naturally landscaped water bodies, while the back nine meanders through mature stands of trees. In contrast, their strategically placed bunkers add to the overall challenge.
Their modest clubhouse has a first-class restaurant; afterward, golfers can wind down at the adjoining luxury spa facilities. Located in the Laguna area, there are many hotels and restaurants to explore.
Red Mountain Golf Club
opened in 2007 and is still the new kid on the block. Often referred to as Phuket’s most exciting course. Its 6,905 yards will give you thrills all around if you are looking for a challenging and fun experience.
Here is a course where you genuinely need a golf cart (in fact, they are compulsory), as some elevations are monstrous. Englishman Jonathon Morrow has cleverly created a masterpiece from a genuine disused tin mine.
Red Mountain is undoubtedly one of the region’s most enjoyable hilliest courses, with landforms and dramatic elevation changes. Here, you will come across towering cliffs and flooded canyons; every hole is a challenge.
If you like elevated tee boxes, you will be in heaven here. All 18 holes offer variety, with large and small undulating greens to conquer. Bermuda grass is used on the impeccable greens, and Seashore Paspalum is used on the tee boxes and fairways.
The closing six holes and the final stretches get much more challenging, and the red rocky cliffs and dense tropical vegetation combine to make these holes some of the most spectacular in Asia.
Expect to return to the clubhouse with loads of photos, especially at the 17th par 3, which literally plays down a mine shaft. Perhaps the most photographed hole around! Everything works like clockwork, and the modern clubhouse has an excellent restaurant overlooking the 18th hole. This is a bucket-list golf experience not to be missed.
Loch Palm Golf Club
is run by the owners of Red Mountain and shares the same main entrance. While Loch Palm is not the longest Phuket golf course, it is one of the most enjoyable and consistent.
Nestling among a range of jungle-clad hills, Loch Palm is easygoing, although still capable of throwing down many challenges and giving any Phuket golfer a thorough workout. As the club’s name suggests, palm trees are liberally dotted around this parkland layout, although never too densely.
Aquella Golf & Country Club
is located on the stunning Andaman Sea coastline in Phang Nga province, approximately 45km or 30 minutes from Phuket International Airport, however we have still included it as a local course.
This par 72, 7,019-yard course is the latest addition to the area, opening in 2021, and stretches along 2.5 km of breathtaking beachfront. The undulating land results in many uneven lies while at the same time, wide fairways playable for resort golfers. Many risk-reward opportunities create excitement for all golfers.
Boasting a resort hotel, lavish pool villas, a marina, and a beach club, this resort offers a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle.
When to play
March is the hottest month in Phuket with an average temperature of 29°C (83°F) , and the coldest is January at 27°C (81°F), with the most daily sunshine hours at 9 in April. The wettest month is September, which has an average of 400mm of rain. The best month to swim in the sea is in April, when the average sea temperature is 30°C (86°F)
