Phnom Penh golf courses
Phnom Penh, the vibrant capital of Cambodia, offers a burgeoning golf scene amidst its rich cultural backdrop. Known for its charming Buddhist temples, palaces, and riverside promenade, Phnom Penh is emerging as a notable destination for golf enthusiasts. The city is easily accessible via Phnom Penh International Airport, which connects with major international airlines. Though direct flights from Europe and the Americas are not available, a connecting flight through China or Thailand makes reaching Phnom Penh relatively straightforward. Combining a golf trip to Phnom Penh with a visit to Thailand can make for a fantastic dual-destination holiday.
The best time to visit Phnom Penh for golf is during the dry season from October to late April. Temperatures are more moderate between November and January, making it ideal for golfing. The wet season from May to October brings substantial rainfall, particularly from July to September, but occasional showers generally do not hinder play in Phnom Penh’s well-maintained courses.
Here are some of the top golf courses in Phnom Penh:
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Cambodia Golf and Country Club: Established in 1996, this is the oldest golf course in Cambodia. Located about an hour west of Phnom Penh, the par-72, 18-hole course extends over 7,000 yards. It features wide fairways and large greens on the front nine, with the back nine offering more challenge through elevation changes and water hazards. The course is set against a backdrop of distant mountains and rice farms, providing a picturesque and relaxing golfing experience. The French-style clubhouse includes a restaurant, swimming pool, and tennis courts.
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Garden City Golf Club: Opened in 2013, this course is known for its excellent condition, thanks to IMG Golf Management and Seashore Paspalum turf. Located just 25 minutes from downtown Phnom Penh, it is a par-72, 18-hole course stretching 7,361 yards. Designed by Major General Weerayudth Phetbuasak, Garden City offers a challenging layout with water hazards and palm-lined fairways. The course features large greens and requires strategic play, particularly on holes like the 6th, which has water hazards and the 15th, where the choice of green adds to the challenge. The modern clubhouse includes a restaurant, driving range, hotel, and golf academy.
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Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club: Located just 15 minutes from Phnom Penh International Airport, this Jack Nicklaus-designed course offers well-maintained fairways and greens. It features a mix of short holes, with notable ones being the 12th and 16th. The course’s facilities include a clubhouse with modern amenities and English-speaking caddies, enhancing the golfing experience.
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Royal Cambodia Phnom Penh Golf Club: Situated 10 kilometers from the city, this course is favored by locals and expatriates. The course integrates natural features like palms, wetlands, and streams, creating a challenging layout with water hazards on most holes. The course offers four tee boxes, catering to various skill levels, and includes a large driving range and a clubhouse that combines traditional Cambodian architecture with modern conveniences.
Phnom Penh is rapidly establishing itself as a premier golf destination in Asia. With its excellent courses, favorable climate, and rich cultural experiences, it's an ideal spot for a memorable golf holiday.
The Vattanac Golf Resort West Course opened a year after the East and designer Nick Faldo was determined that it should be a complementary contrast rather than part of a matching pair.
All golf architects must occasionally work around existing features when designing a new course. When Sir Nick Faldo began work at Cambodia’s Vattanac Golf Resort, however, the compromises were of a cultural nature. The East and West Courses weave their way around what the resort calls “famous cultural expressions”; statues and scale constructions of historical Cambodian landmarks. None of which have stopped Faldo from producing two elegant courses, around twelve miles from the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
The Royal Phnom Penh Golf Club is situated in a great location, very close to the capital of Phnom Penh and a mere 8 kilometres from Phnom Penh International Airport. Therefore, whether you are visiting from abroad or living in Phnom Penh, the drive to the golf course will take little over 20 minutes.
Grand Phnom Penh Golf Course is a superbly conceived, Jack Nicklaus designed course a short distance outside of the city The old master has created a course that blends with the natural surroundings and has created a golf course which is suitable for and will be enjoyed by golfers of all standards.
Garden City Golf Club in Phnom Penh has been open since 2013 and quickly established itself as one of the top golf clubs in Phnom Penh. The par-72 layout is spread over 240 acres and is situated about 15 kms northeast of Phnom Penh. The course is managed by IMG and you can expect the course to be expertly maintained and the service to be up to the standards of the best golf courses in Asia.
Situated just an hour's drive north of the lively downtown of Phnom Penh, along National Road #130 in Chhveang Village, you'll discover the splendid Chhun On Golf Resort. This emerging golf haven is conveniently located near the Royal Palace, National Museum, and various tourist attractions, promising to redefine Cambodia's golfing scene.
Cambodia Golf and Country Club is located just over 30 kilometres from Phnom Penh, in Cambodia. The country club can be reached easily from Phnom Penh, using the number 4 highway and is certainly worth making the short drive.