The first privately owned course in Thailand was also the first Thai course to ever host an LPGA event: the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand. It’s got all the attributes of a championship track. Built by Isao Mazumi in 1970 and redesigned by Schmidt-Curley in 2007, the 7,016-yard stunner shares terrain with fruit trees, creeks, lakes and – count ‘em – 101 sand traps. The immaculate greens are huge, elevated and contoured, meaning even the best putters will want the expertise of a well-trained caddie.
Fortunately, Siam CC has those in spades, as it has the ideal perch for a clubhouse, which overlooks the course from a low hill just a few kilometers from the bustling resort town of Pattaya. The last four holes make up what is widely considered the best closing stretch in Thailand.
Siam Country Club is set in the low hills just a few kilometers from Pattaya and has been wonderfully landscaped to contain more than its fair share of mature trees, shrubs and plants. Various fruit trees on the course give the impression of being in an orchard, especially when in season. After a 2 year closed period, Siam Country Club re-opened in March 2007. The course having under gone a complete renovation and upgrading has been renamed to the Siam Country Club Old Course following the Scottish tradition recognizing classic golf courses.
For players on a golf holiday Siam Country Club offers world class golf in truly stunning surroundings. The club has hosted a large number of national and international tournaments and is cited as being the premier location for golf events in Thailand including the Thailand Open 4 times, many Asian Golf Circuits and the latest being a world class tournament the “Honda LPGA Thailand 2007″. The Siam Country Club was closed for the entire 2006 season and underwent a huge amount of renovation and redevelopment, it reopened its gates in 2007, gifting the golfing community in Thailand with well laid out fairways, strategically placed bunkers and several water hazards. The clubhouse at Siam Country Club is noted to be of excellent quality, offering an exceptional level of service including locker room, restaurant, reception, pro shop, seminar and function rooms.
The course has an out and back layout with many of the golf holes playing past a series of lakes, and strategically placed creeks and even a large golden Bhudda on the 9th fairway. Long, straight driving is required to negotiate the often narrow fairways. The large trees at Siam Country Club often get in the way and will punish errant tee shots. It is not uncommon to find an otherwise good drive actually nestled under a bed of pine needles or a shaded canopy of huge trees hanging over the fairway. The greens at Siam Country Club are for the most part large, roll fast, and are excellently maintained.
Dotted with many bunkers and water hazards, the course also boasts several dramatic holes, particularly the last four. The 15th through 18th holes taken together could arguably be the best finishing holes of any Pattaya golf course. If you’re having a good day and scoring well, take care as these 4 holes could easily bring you back to earth and ruin a good score.
In 2008 the long anticipated 27 hole course “Plantation” was finally opened, adding an exciting and demanding course for even the most experienced player.Designed by a well known Arizona based, Schmidt & Curley Design Inc. The “PLANTATION” name was given in the honor of the historic Sugar Cane, Tapioca, and Pineapple plantations, and each 9-hole is named accordingly.
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