Chiang Mai's Nine Hole Courses

[Benzil]

Unless you're learning the game, its not often you hear praise concerning the nine hole courses around Chiang Mai.

Redressing the balance somewhat, i'd like to talk about Hang Dong, San Sai, Sand Creek, and Gymkhana.

Hang Dong Golf Club is 3009 yards (from the whites) par 36.

Surprisingly open fairways for a 9 hole course giving room for some wayward drives. Hitting the tight, undulating greens is the key to a good score around this course. Fairway grass is ok, if a little patchy in places. I get a good roll from the fairway and often find myself deciding to take a club less than normal. The greens are normally in good shape and the roll is pretty consistent throughout the course  .

The 8th hole (135 yard par 3) is an island green with an unwelcoming ridged surface, you have been warned!

Tips: Sports days are Tues, Wed, Thurs (THB100 discount).

[Benzil]

This is a nine hole pitch and putt style course with only the last hole of any noticable length (still less than 400yds). The greens are particularly flat and slow, making for a tricky time if you are used to better prepared surfaces.

It is a great course for beginners, those starting out in the game, and if you'd like to practice short game skills. A day pass is priced at THB180 with an extra THB20 for a trolley - got to be good value!

A quirky feature of this course is the 156yd par 4! 8th hole, unusual to say the least. I think it was designated a par 4 by the owner as he liked to lay up between the two bodies of water before going for the green  .

[Benzil]

Sand Creek, here's another course with character. Finding the place is a bit of a needle in a haystack job and better if you take someone with you who has been there before. Its out on the San Kampheng road and isn't signposted, as far as I remember 

This course was a victim of the financial crash of 1997, so the clubhouse is in ruin and the upkeep of the course is reliant on the caddy's who seem to run the show there.

Going back a while, the greens were in remarkably good shape and the fairways were ok apart from the grass being a little long in places. The course layout is ok with some variety and some tight fairways to contend with. Prices were low around the THB200 mark if I remember correctly.

If anyone has played there recently i'd like to hear an update of conditions etc.

[Benzil]

The oldest course in Chiang Mai has had its fair share of problems over the years (notably the flooding 2yrs ago).

Located near the center of Chiang Mai, this is a course played mainly by members and guests. The pricing for the course is quite steep for those turning up for a game without a member to sign you in.

Beautiful Rain Trees and other mature species line the course ready to catch wayward drives. Its greens are ok, the fairways can be hard and uneven and I never remember the bunker sand with any fondness.

Its a convenient course for those staying in town, they often have promotional prices otherwise try to find a member to sign you in.

[Benzil]

Star Dome is the new kid on the block in Chiang Mai.

An ambitious project with good facilities, the course is located on the site of the old Wing 41 air force nine holes.

I've not played at this course yet. They have a variety of membership packages and seem to be geared towards the corporate sector. The driving range is massive and well appointed, well worth the time to hit a few and find out more about the course.

[Benzil]

A Singapore group has taken over management of the San Sai facility and changes have already been made and continue to be made.

The driving range has been spruced up with new mats, on the range bunkers, new retail area, and restaurants (the old restaurant owners still own one of the air-con units with seating outside).

So far the price for the 9 hole course still remains the same.

[Benzil]

Plenty to report about the San Sai course after a nice round there today.

• Facilities are continuing to improve with new Locker Room and Starter where the old restaurant was.
• The sand in the bunkers has been replaced and is consistent around the course.
• The 8th and 9th greens have been re-shaped.
• Safety nets for holes that run close to each other have been beefed up.