CHATRIUM GOLF RESORT SOI DAO
One of the pleasures of going away on a golf holiday is to get away from the toil of urban life. If that is your goal, then a trip to Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao, Thailand should tick all the boxes.
Located in the province of Chanthaburi, the resort is closer to Cambodia than Bangkok, but being removed from the hustle of Thailand’s main cities is part of the attraction coming here.
Surrounded by the Soi Dao hills, the resort is a destination onto itself. Full facilities make it a stay-and-play haven that you can easily spend a long weekend enjoying everything Chatrium has to offer.
The highlight, naturally, is the awardwinning 18-hole course designed by Denis Griffiths. Stretching out over 395 acres of mountainside terrain, the layout is undulating in nature, and will test the most seasoned of golfers. Right from the par-4 first hole, the gorgeous views of the Soi Dao highlands hint at what visual delights are in store through your round here. Then at the par-5 sixth, the views take you up another notch from the elevated tee box.
You will be called upon to make some interesting decisions on a couple of the holes. The split fairway on the par-4 eighth forces you to choose which side of the tree in the middle you’d like to go for. You’ll need to make a similar choice on the 16th, with its right dogleg. Risk-reward has its day on these two challenging holes.
The par-3 14th is arguably Griffiths’ signature work on the course. There is a 15m drop from tee to green, and with the mountains in the backdrop, make for a prime Instagram opportunity if there was one here.
At its location more than three hours from Pattaya, Chatrium offers guests several luxurious choices of accommodation. From the 40sq m Deluxe Room to the grand Soi Dao Suite at 80 sq m, you’ll be assured that the furnishings are top-notch making your stay immensely comfortable.
Rooms have been recently renovated and feature all-new entertainment systems, Wi-fi, and satellite television channels. There is a choice of twin, double, or king- size beds, ensuring that you wake up refreshed each morning, ready for an enjoyable round of golf.
You certainly won’t starve at Chatrium. The Soi Dao Restaurant showcases regional cuisine in a setting that lets you take in the glorious views of Soi Dao Mountain. Don’t leave without trying the Chanthaburi-style pork curry with herbs, fried chicken with garlic and pepper, or the fried noodles with crab.
And if you’re afraid you might get cabin fever only staying at the resort, some attractions nearby can keep that adventurer in your satisfied. Several religious monuments are worth visiting, including Wat Khao Chawang, City Pillar Shrine and The Catholic Church, all three of which are within a 50km radius from Chatrium. A little further out, the National Maritime Museum and Lam Singha Beach should keep sea lovers in their favourite domain.
getting there: Chatrium Golf Resort is about four hours from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, and about three and a half hours drive from Pattaya. The closest airport is Trat Airport about an hour and a half away.