The par 3 11th at Gassan Khuntan Golf Club.
THIS FOURSOME OF COURSES MAY NOT BE THE MOST FAMOUS IN THAILAND, BUT THEY REPRESENT EVERYTHING THAT’S WONDERFUL ABOUT PLAYING GOLF IN THIS LAND OF A THOUSAND SMILES.
There is little doubt that Thailand is one of the world’s premier golf destinations. Beautiful courses, superb service standards, luxurious accommodations and a cuisine that titillates the most demanding of palates make for little to be desired. The big names of golf in the country are world-renowned – Amata Spring, Thai Country Club, and Alpine have become synonymous with great golf in Thailand. But in this golf-mad country, there are courses that have flown below the radar, and not because their quality stops them from being better known. If you pride yourself with having played courses that few have come to know, then these four should send you packing your bags and planning a trip to Thailand. Playing them will arm you with stories your friends will be thrilled to hear when you tell them at the 19th hole of your home club.
N orthern Thailand is a great destination for golf, particularly at the end of the year when the weather turns cool (it can dip below 10C in the evenings). While courses like Chiang Mai Highlands and Alpine Chiang Mai may have commanded much of the attention over the years, Gassan Khuntan Golf & Resort is worth a visit if you’re in the vicinity.
Located about an hour south of Chiang Mai, the course is situated on beautiful terrain with a view of the mountains in Doi Khuntan National Park. You won’t have to worry about getting to and from the course because Gassan Khuntan also offers quality accommodations so you can stay and play while enjoying the tranquil serenity of the location.
While the course condition may not be on par with the best clubs in the country, the course makes up for it by offering golfers scenic beauty and picturesque holes. “The Railway Bridge” and “Khuntan Tunnel” offer unique landmark structures
that make the experience unique.
Playing a good round here is a challenge as designer Pravit Reang-Po didn’t hold back when he created Gassan Khuntan. Forced carries, sharp doglegs, and numerous water hazards come in the way of your effort to play to your handicap on this 18-hole, par-72 championship track. And your bunker game has to be sharp if you are to negotiate steep walls when you end up in some of the sand hazards.
Be prepared to whip out your camera on the 163-yard, par-3 fifth hole. The island green poses a real problem if you can’t hit your short irons straight, but whether you end up in the surrounding lake or not, you’ll have a great picture to remember the hole.
The finishing 18th is an equally stunning hole that requires you to hit over the water on your drive and your approach. But even if you don’t par (or even bogey) this treacherous hole, you’ll likely to have enjoyed your round at Gassan Khuntan.
The entertainment doesn’t end with your last putt. The facilities at the resort include a pro shop, banquet rooms, swimming pool, Thai massage, fitness and an international restaurant serving dishes for which Thailand is famous. And if you really must, there’s a fine driving range with short game practice area where you can attempt to right the wrongs that just happen to come up during your round.
getting there: Gassan Khuntan is about an hour’s drive south of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is served by Chiang Mai International Airport.