Thai Country Club

Typisch Thaise golf vibe: gastvrij, high-end, relaxed. Top onderhouden baan die zeer aangenaam speelt en dankzij de caddy vermijd je grote drama’s op de scorekaart. Leuke wildlife met tropische vogels en varanen.

Twee jaar na dato weer terug op Thai Country Club. Altijd een feestje om hier te zijn. In alles een paradijselijke oase in een daarbuiten stadse en roerige omgeving. Ik zou in herhaling kunnen vallen, maar verwijs liever naar mijn beoordeling uit 2023 en hoef er geen woord van terug te nemen. De staat van onderhoud was weer dik in orde. Hier en daar alsof ze met de hand maaien of zelfs knippen, zo mooi zijn de overgangen van fairways naar first en second cut, bunkerranden en frinch. Oog voor detail. En dat terwijl de greenkeepers die je aan het werk ziet, je nooit tot last zijn. Golfers gaan voor en daar scheppen ze klaarblijkelijk ook plezier in. We speelden als 2-ball vanaf tee 10 en ondanks de drukte en het feit dat we de tweede 9 achter een 3- en 4-ball belandden, kwamen we keurig na 4 uren binnen. De lunch als beloning weer een Aziatisch genoegen. Druk, gezellig, ietwat lange wachttijd, maar goed opgevangen door de vriendelijke bediening. Enige minpunt: het tijdelijke onderkomen van de lockerrooms. Vanwege een brand vond renovatie plaats aan de originele lockerrooms, waar het ook altijd zo goed vertoeven was. Ik beschouw het maar als een goede reden om weer eens terug te keren naar deze mooie golfoase.

Played Thai Country Club today with a 6:56 solo tee time. Overall a good round, with some clear areas to improve. Course conditions are solid and the setting is lush and pretty, though the layout lacks diversity, two holes felt almost identical, which flattens the strategic interest. Surroundings outside the property aren’t the most attractive, but the flora and fauna on-course help compensate. My caddie was very friendly, though not particularly helpful. The biggest downside was pace of play. Despite teeing off early and playing solo, I was held up repeatedly because the club lets players start off tee time and on the 10th. No priority was given to a single golfer, and getting stuck behind a three-ball slowed the round down significantly, which was frustrating. In short: a good course with beautiful touches, but limited variety and avoidable pace-of-play issues that hold it back from being great.

It was not my first time to play this couse, but this is my first review on it.

It is really a tru Thai treasure this course. Basically all facilities are excellent. An impressive clubhouse, warm welcome and very efficient reception, well stocked pro shop, excellent locker rooms (of which one locker #1 that has ever been used by Tiger Woods, will for ever be closed for other golfers), jacuzzi, spa, massage, shoe cleaning and last but not least a fine restaurant with lovely (mainly Asian) food. The standards of it all make me remind of what we see at The Dutch in Holland. In some details maybe even better.

The course and surroundings are not only beautiful, but also very well maintained. It is not a very difficult course with mostly wide fairways, allowing you to reach most greens in regulation. There are indeed several water and sand hazards, but what you see is what you get, so these are avoidable with decent course management and acceptance of the advice that your kind caddy will give you. And, as usual in Thailand, follow their directions on the greens and you will avoid 3-putts.

Low handicappers should find more challenge playing from the back tees (black). Otherwise it is just a friendly course, offering you opportunities to have an ejoyable round and record a good score.

On busy days they only allow members to play, so either you need an invite or be lucky to get a tee time. I was told Thursday is het best day to try your luck.

I have certainly not played all golf courses around Bangkok, but of the ones that I have played, Thai Country Club is surely my favorite.

Thai CC has a great reputation, and hence the expectations were high. Unfortunately the reputation is maybe more based on the status of the club, the nice and prestigious club house and the status of being a member here. There’s nothing wrong with Thai CC, but it’s not a fantastic course. The course is well kept, and some holes are fun and challenging and quite a lot of water, but quite a few are a bit uneventfull, with ”valley-like” fairways. A good course, but not a great one. Big, nice club house with a good restaurant and locker-rooms. Professional caddies. A good choice if you want to play a course fairly close to Bkk, but not if you want really good value for money.