Kanchanaburi River Kwai golf courses
Kanchanaburi, located in western Thailand where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai Rivers merge into the Mae Klong River, is a hidden gem for golfers. Known for the historic Bridge over the River Kwai, this modern town offers a range of excellent golf courses amidst beautiful landscapes and historical significance.
Getting to Kanchanaburi is convenient, with a three-hour drive from Bangkok or Hua Hin. You can choose from various travel options, including buses, tourist minibuses, or taxis. Bringing your own golf clubs? Booking a taxi or hiring a car ensures their safety during the journey.
Weather in Kanchanaburi varies throughout the year. From November to January, temperatures are cooler and ideal for golf. The period from February to May can be quite hot, so it's essential to stay hydrated. July to September marks the rainy season, but showers are typically brief, often followed by sunshine, making it still possible to enjoy a round of golf.
Grand Prix Golf Club, just 30 minutes from Kanchanaburi town, is one of the region's top courses. Designed by Prayard Chinnaraj and Dr. Prachin Eamlumnow, this 18-hole, par-72 course is themed around the motoring world, with each hole sponsored by an automobile company. The course offers stunning views of the Burmese mountains and features a dramatic 50-meter drop from the first tee. The signature par-5 fifth hole, with its elevated green protected by water, is particularly memorable.
Nichigo Golf Resort and Country Club, also 30 minutes from town, is another popular venue. This 27-hole course is divided into Lake, River, and Mountain courses, offering a mix of challenge and tranquility. Highlights include playing alongside the River Kwai Yai and crossing a replica of the famous bridge. The course's environmentally friendly Noshiba grass ensures excellent conditions year-round.
Mission Hills Golf Club Kanchanaburi features a Jack Nicklaus design with abundant water hazards, sand traps, and strategic bunkers. The course, set in natural surroundings, provides a strong rural feel and demands careful strategy, particularly on the challenging par-5s and the par-4 17th hole with its island green.
Royal Ratchaburi Golf Club, an hour from Kanchanaburi, is one of the region's oldest courses. Established in 1988, it offers a remote, scenic setting with views of the Burmese mountain ranges. The course features hilly terrain and narrow fairways, with challenging par-3 holes over deep canyons. While the facilities are basic, the well-maintained greens and rural charm make it a must-visit.
Mida Golf Club, located 25 kilometers west of Kanchanaburi, is ideal for beginners or those easing into their golf holiday. The flat, straightforward layout offers beautiful mountain views and a pleasant environment for golfers of all skill levels.
Dragon Hills Golf and Country Club, between Kanchanaburi and Hua Hin, provides a challenging round with hilly valleys and jungle surroundings. The back nine, with long par-4s and par-5s, features a standout 17th hole with a 170-yard downhill shot to an island green.
Other notable courses include Blue Sapphire Golf and Resort, with its Canyon and Ocean courses set in a former sapphire mine, and Evergreen Hills Golf and Country Club, known for hosting Thai professional golf tournaments and its cooler temperatures due to its highland location.
In summary, Kanchanaburi offers a diverse selection of golf courses, each with its unique features and scenic beauty. Whether you're seeking a high-end experience or a charming, rural setting, Kanchanaburi has something to offer every golfer.
Located just off Highway 4, leading south towards Hua-Hin and Cha-Am, is the Royal Ratchaburi Golf Club. Designed by Artanan Yomchinda and opened in 1988, Royal Ratchaburi is regarded as one of the most spectacular golf courses in the Kachanaburi region and perhaps this is the reason why, it is considered to be one of the more popular golf courses among the local people. Royal Ratchaburi is a par-72, 18-hole golf course, plays at 6785 yards and is about 1-hour drive from Kachanaburi town and 90 minutes dive from Hua-Hin.
Located 30 minutes north of Kanchanaburi town, is the Nichigo Golf Resort and Country Club. Designed by Mitsuaki Kobayashi, the course was opened to the public in 1992 and features 27 holes, split in to three sets, of nine holes. These have been named, the Lake Course, River Course and Mountain Course. The course is about 2 hours 30 minutes away from Hua Hin and is rated as, not only one of the best golf courses in the Kanchanaburi region but one of the best in the whole of Thailand.
Situated just over 100 kilometres away from the Thailand capital, in the Kanchanaburi region of the country, is Mission Hills Golf Club. This one of three Jack Nicklaus designed Mission Hills golf courses in Thailand, with the other two being in Phuket and Khao Yai. The golf club has good road links, making it very easy to reach and is worth the journey, from either Kanchanaburi town or Bangkok. Mission Hills was first open for play back in 1991 and provides a very good challenge, even for players on top of their game.
Mida Golf Club boasts a central location in the Kanchanaburi region of Thailand, making it very easy to reach, from multiple destinations. For those who are new to Mida Golf Club, this may be due to the fact it was re-named in 2010 and was previously known as Lion Hills Golf & Country Club. However, the company which originally owned it, sold the golf club and the resort which surrounds the area. Thankfully, Mida Golf Club are keen to ensure the golf course continues to grow and offers plenty to do, for the whole family.
The Grand Prix Golf Club, sounds like something from the world of Formula 1 and although things are little more relaxed than the F1 circuit, the course does have links to the automotive world. Situated in the Kanchanaburi region of Thailand, which is the largest of western provinces in the country, the course is named after the company which owns it, Grand Prix International. Their magazine is about motor vehicles but Dr. Prasad Jin Lmena moved in to cable television, before investing in the world of golf and the Grand Prix Golf Club has certainly proved to be a wise decision.
Evergreen Hills Golf Club & Resort, is located very close to the Burmese border, in the Kanchanaburi region of Thailand. Kanchanaburi town is about 1 hour drive away and Hua Hin is another 30 minutes further, making Evergreen Hills a possibility, from either of these places, as a day trip or for a longer period. One of a collection of park land courses in this region of Thailand, Evergreen Hills is frequented by many locals and expatriates but visitors are also made welcome and it’s certainly worth making the trip.
If you are a golfer, who enjoys the feel of being in a remote setting, Dragon Hills Golf and Country Club could be the perfect place for you. The popularity of golf in Kanchanaburi has been growing year-on-year and this has drawn some of the leading golf courses designers to the area. American, Jim Enge, who has great experience of working with Jack Nicklaus, was the man responsible for the great looking layout at Dragon Hills. In truth, considering the beauty of the local area, Enge was on to a good thing, before he even started.
Like many of the golf courses in the area, Blue Star Golf Course has bene built around lakes and hills left by the mining operations. It’s a sister course to the Blue Sapphire Courses and also not too far from the Grand Prix course and is similar in design.
Golf is very popular across the whole of Thailand but golf in Kanchanaburi has really grown and the area offers a huge number of excellent golf courses. Blue Sapphire Golf and Resort, is one such course and is located a short, 30-minute drive from Kanchanaburi town and 3 hours away from Bangkok. The Blue Sapphire Golf and Resort is a 36-hole golf course and interestingly, the area in which it has been constructed, was formerly a Sapphire mine, hence the name. The area of land left over from the mine, could easily house a large football stadium and it’s proved to be the perfect venue for a golf course.
Artitaya Golf & Resort Kanchanaburi is situated in a very rural location about one hour north-east of Bangkok and about one hour from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport in the northeast direction.