Golf in Pattaya: A Former PGA Pro's Honest Guide

Golf is what brought me to Pattaya. I was a teaching PGA professional in the UK, and in winter there wasn't much going on, so I came out here for the weather. I'd never played in Thailand before, and I was genuinely surprised by how good the courses were. I played regularly in those early days, and golf later led to one of my first businesses here (these days I mostly play padel and run), a driving range.

Which golf course in Pattaya is a must-play?

If budget isn't a problem, play the Old Course at Siam Country Club. It hosts the LPGA tournament every year, it's always in fantastic condition, and it's the flagship of the Siam group, which now runs about five courses.

Which Pattaya golf courses are best value?

Look out for sports days. Many courses have one day a week when golf is particularly cheap. On those days, the courses I'd recommend are:

Khao Kheow
Burapha
Emerald, my personal favourite. It isn't everyone's favourite, but I like the layout.

How much does a round of golf cost in Pattaya?

It varies a lot. At a budget course on a sports day in low season, you can get a decent round for around ฿1,200 all in, covering the green fee, caddie and cart. Tip the caddie around ฿400 at a course like that.

At the top courses in high season, the same round can cost ฿7,000 to ฿8,000.

When is the best time to play golf in Pattaya?

Most people will tell you high season, because it's cooler. I disagree.

High season is busy and expensive. You can overpay for a course and still spend five hours or more on the round. In low season, it's much quieter and a lot cheaper. The trade-off is the weather: it's a bit hotter, and it occasionally rains. But rain here rarely lasts all day. It usually passes in half an hour or so, and you can sit it out and carry on. For me, low-season golf is better. (More on that in the best time to visit Pattaya.)

What should golfers bring to Pattaya?

Sun protection. Wear sun cream, or the arm sleeves a lot of golfers here use. Some courses have almost no shade. There are no big oak trees like back home, and where there are trees, they're often palms, which don't offer much cover.

What are caddies like in Pattaya?

Enjoy it and don't take it too seriously. Caddies will make mistakes. At most courses they're there to carry the bag rather than give expert advice, and many are fairly inexperienced.

If getting the club and the yardage right matters to you, work it out yourself. Ask your caddie for a second opinion if you like, but trust your own judgement. At the top courses, it's a bit different.

Is Pattaya good for a golf holiday?

Absolutely, and for golf I'd pick it over Phuket. It's different from most places. The caddie culture isn't unique to Thailand, but Pattaya is a great place to experience it. Choose the right days and courses and golf here is very reasonable, and at certain times of year you'll have the course almost to yourself.

If you're coming out for golf and need a car to get to the courses, Pattaya Rent a Car can help.