Siam Country Club, Pattaya: A Premier Golfing Destination with a Rich Legacy

Thailand has long been celebrated as Asia's premier golf paradise, offering pristine championship layouts set against breathtaking tropical backdrops. Standing at the pinnacle of this reputation is Siam Country Club in Pattaya. Located in the Bang Lamung district of Chonburi province—just a 90-minute drive from Bangkok—this legendary multi-course complex seamlessly pairs elite tournament history with five-star luxury facilities, making it an essential pilgrimage site for both professional tour players and casual enthusiasts worldwide. 

Siam Country Club: Complex At-A-Glance

Old Course

   ▪️Holes/ Par: 18 Holes / Par 72  

   ▪️Total Distance: 7,162 Yards 

   ▪️Key Architect/ Designer: Ichisuke Izumi / Schmidt-Curley 

   ▪️Highlights & Turf Types: Parkland style; Seashore Paspalum fairways, Novotek greens. Exclusive host of Honda LPGA Thailand. 

Plantation Course

   ▪️Holes/ Par: 27 Holes / Par 108 

   ▪️Total Distance: 11,089 Yards (Total) 

   ▪️Key Architect/ Designer: Schmidt-Curley Design 

   ▪️Highlights & Turf Types: 3 loops (Sugar Cane, Tapioca, Pineapple); Asia's first massive triple green; Paspalum/Bermuda. 

Waterside Course

   ▪️Holes/ Par: 18 Holes / Par 72 

   ▪️Total Distance: 7,439 Yards 

   ▪️Key Architect/ Designer: IMG Golf Course Design 

   ▪️Highlights & Turf Types: Flat, open resort layout flanked by vast reservoirs; Paspalum fairways, Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda greens. 

Rolling Hills Course

   ▪️Holes/ Par: 18 Holes / Par 72 

   ▪️Total Distance: 7,267 Yards 

   ▪️Key Architect/ Designer: Schmidt-Curley Design 

   ▪️Highlights & Turf Types: Bold modern routing; features the infamous 15th hole "Wall of Death" pit bunker

A Historic Legacy of Championship Golf

Founded in 1971 by Dr. Thaworn Phornprapha of the Siam Motors Group, Siam Country Club holds the distinction of being Thailand’s very first privately owned golf club. Over the decades, it has evolved from a single historic parkland venue into a massive, world-renowned 81-hole golfing ecosystem. 

The club’s legacy is deeply intertwined with elite professional golf. The iconic Old Course serves as the long-term, exclusive host of the Honda LPGA Thailand, welcoming the world's best female golfers every year. It has also hosted the prestigious Thailand Open multiple times, cementing its international standing as a world-class championship arena. 

Deep Dive: Four Masterfully Sculpted Layouts

The Old Course (The Grand Dame) 

Originally designed by Japanese architect Ichisuke Izumi and completely modernized in 2007 by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, the Old Course is a classic parkland layout winding through a valley of mature trees.

   ▪️The Architecture: Featuring 101 strategically placed bunkers and gentle sub-surface contours, the course relies on historical character rather than forced water carries.

   ▪️The Finish: The final four holes (15 through 18) are widely known as Pattaya’s own "Amen Corner." The finishing stretch requires pinpoint iron precision to avoid multi-tier, lightning-fast Novotek greens.

The Plantation Course (Bigger and Bolder) 

Opened in 2008 on an elevated, wind-swept former pineapple and tapioca plantation, this 27-hole masterpiece offers three distinct 9-hole loops: Sugar Cane, Tapioca, and Pineapple.

   ▪️The Highlight: It features Asia’s first iconic triple green. The putting surface for Tapioca #7, Pineapple #4, and Pineapple #9 is a contiguous sheet of grass measuring over 20,000 square feet, divided only by large, rolling swales.

   ▪️The Challenge: With a steep slope rating of 143 from the back tees, the open layout leaves players exposed to Gulf breezes, punishing wayward tee shots with dramatic ravines and deep, high-lipped bunkers.

The Waterside Course (Rhythmic and Forgiving) 

Designed by the global team at IMG Design and opened in 2014, the Waterside Course trades intense elevation changes for open sightlines, massive lakeside fairways, and a relaxed, resort-style aesthetic.

   ▪️The Strategy: The course spreads across 200 acres of wetlands and reservoirs. Rather than punishing players with brutal rough, it uses water hazards as strategic decision-makers.

   ▪️Signature Test: The Par-5 17th hole stretches nearly 600 yards, tempting long hitters to cut across a dogleg left over open water to reach the green in two shots.

The Rolling Hills Course (Golf with Personality)

The newest 18-hole addition, unveiled in 2020 by Schmidt-Curley, breaks the traditional mold with bold, risk-reward architectural concepts.

   ▪️The "Wall of Death": The absolute highlight of this course is the dramatic Par-5 15th hole. The approach shot climbs a steep hill guarded by an enormous, deep pit bunker lined with a vertical wall of sleepers—rightfully dubbed the "Wall of Death." Escaping this bunker requires a nearly vertical explosion shot to preserve your scorecard.

Flawless Tournament-Grade Conditions

No matter which of the four properties you book, Siam Country Club maintains consistent tour-level conditioning across the seasons:

   ▪️The Fairways: Carpeted with premium Seashore Paspalum, ensuring a clean, upright ball line that prevents fliers.

   ▪️The Greens: Utilizing advanced Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda and Novotek blends, typically running between 10.0 and 11.5 on the Stimpmeter for true, lightning-fast tracking.

   ▪️The Detail: Crisp white sand fills every bunker, paired with meticulously shaved green surrounds that encourage creative bump-and-run recovery options.

Five-Star Facilities and Clubhouse Luxury

The premier experience continues off the course within each layout's standalone clubhouse. The architecture balances sharp modern glass walls with traditional Thai hospitality, providing stunning panoramic views of the finishing holes.

The Invaluable Thai Caddie

A core part of Siam Country Club’s prestige is its legendary caddie program. Compulsory caddies are assigned one-per-player to navigate the rolling topography via golf carts. Fluent in essential golfing terms across English, Japanese, and Korean, these caddies accurately calculate wind shifts, assist with club selection, and read the subtle grain breaks on the greens. 

Seamless Player Planning & Accessibility

Siam Country Club’s location makes it a highly accessible destination for domestic weekenders and international golf travelers alike.

   ▪️Proximity to Bangkok: Situated roughly 90 minutes southeast of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK), making same-day arrivals and rounds perfectly viable.

   ▪️Proximity to Pattaya Center: Located just 20 to 25 minutes east of downtown Pattaya’s major beachfront resorts, shopping centers, and nightlife districts.

   ▪️Booking Notice: Because it is a premium tour venue, tee times on the Old Course and Plantation Course should be secured 6 to 8 weeks in advance during the popular cool season (November through February).

Final Thoughts: The Ultimate Thailand Golf Benchmark

Siam Country Club stands out by delivering diverse, high-quality playing options without compromise. Whether you want to test your mettle on the historic tournament stages of the Old Course, navigate the wind and elevation shifts of the Plantation, or enjoy the wide fairways of Waterside and Rolling Hills, the complex delivers a flawless experience. For anyone organizing a golf itinerary in Southeast Asia, Siam Country Club is a mandatory stop that defines the gold standard of modern tropical golf.

Secure Your Championship Tee Time at Siam Country Club

Walk the fairways of legends and experience Asia's ultimate 81-hole golf destination. Whether you want to face the historic challenges of the LPGA-tested Old Course or tackle the dramatic "Wall of Death" at Rolling Hills, a world-class golfing journey awaits you in Pattaya.

   ▪️Choose Your Layout: Select from our four award-winning layouts—The Old Course, Plantation, Waterside, or Rolling Hills—or book a multi-day pass to play them all.

   ▪️VIP Golf Vacations: Let us handle the details. We offer turnkey itineraries including premium club rentals, professional private transfers from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), and luxury resort accommodations.

   ▪️Corporate & Group Bookings: Planning an international golf tournament or corporate retreat? Our dedicated events team provides customized scoring, banquet catering, and tournament coordination.

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