Golf Courses in Songkhla Province
Introduction
Most of the following was written by a visitor to this site who is familiar with playing golf in the Hat Yai area. I have added a few photos, some comments from personal observation and some extra information. If you have anything to add, your feedback is always welcome.
There are five golf courses in the vicinity of Hat Yai and two in the vicinity of Songkhla. The information given below is correct as at February 2011. However, some details in respect to green fees and other charges may not be correct when you turn up at the course.
All the courses are pay and play. All the courses seem to be, one way or another, under severe financial restraint. Rumours from the local golfing community indicate that all of the courses in Hat Yai run at a loss and a half decent offer to the owners may secure for you, your own golf course albeit operating at a loss. The exception is the military course which I understand can't be sold.
One point to remember is that several courses allow six ball games which usually involve betting between the players and are desperately slow if behind them. Have a buggy and the caddy will dodge round them returning back later in the round to complete the missed holes.
Please ensure any driver knows exactly the course you want to play and the route to take. I have been taken to the wrong course despite my Thai wife instructing the driver. On another occasion the driver got hopelessly lost.
Tip Caddies Bt200 for 18 holes. Caddies don't speak much English, best to tip on 18th green.
Thai Caddies
Based on some of the search queries that bring people to this page, it would appear that some foreign men believe sex is one of the standard services provided by Thai female caddies.
I know how things can appear if you don't actually live in Thailand. You have a vacation in a well-known Thai tourist resort and it seems that every female you meet offers you sex - for a price, of course.
The reason for this is that many Thai girls from poor backgrounds have only one way to earn enough money to live reasonably. Thousands of poor girls from impoverished areas of Thailand go to work as prostitutes in tourist areas offering their services to 'rich' foreigners.
Unfortunately, this gives some foreign tourists the impression that all Thai women will provide sex for money, and that all Thai women have their price. It's simply not true.
I'm certainly not saying that this applies to all female caddies in Thailand; I'm sure there are quite a few girls earning a pittance as caddies who would think nothing of providing some extra services to increase their income.
I'm just saying that it doesn't apply to every female caddie and that you should never have any expectations. Exactly the same applies with the tens of thousands of massage girls in Thailand.
Golf Courses in Hat Yai
Address: 128 Moo 8 Kanchanavanich Road, Baan Pru, Songkhla, 90250
Telephone: +66 (0)74 553683
Mobile: +66 (0)87 289 5005, +66 (0)81 898 3025
FAX: +66 (0)74 553684
Latitude: N 06° 53' 53.0" (N 06° 53.883')
Longitude: E 100° 30' 11.0" (E 100° 30.183')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Green fees: Saturday/Sunday Bt1,400; Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday Bt950; Wednesday (Sport day) Bt550. Buggies cost Bt600 and caddies Bt300.
Comments: This course is located just off Highway 4 between Hat Yai and Sadao as you go out to the Malaysian border from Hat Yai. Highway 4 is very busy and the high speed, reckless driving is quite frightening.
However, as you leave the main road to approach the golf course everything changes. The quiet, tree-lined road is peaceful and suddenly you find yourself in a completely different world. Gone is the noise of urban Thailand and all I could hear was the characteristic 'tonk tonk tonk' of Coppersmith Barbets.
Although I haven't played this course, it looks to be very well maintained and the setting in the southern Thai countryside is perfect.
There is a driving range where a tray of 40 practice balls costs Bt30 and a restaurant in the club house that serves Thai and some Western food.
Player Comments:
- Championship course, great condition, sensational scenery, best for high handicappers off the front tees, clubhouse a bit tired but made up for with friendly professional staff, easily the best course in Songkhla Province by a mile. (March 2017)
- The best known and it has its own web site. The course has two par 3 island greens. One may be acceptable but two!! Probably my favourite despite the amount of water but unless you are a tour professional or low handicap player use the forward tees or even the ladies tees on the more demanding holes. No point in proving the capability of placing a tee shot in water. One very elevated tee and unless there is a point to be made, play from the fairway below the tee.
Taxi fare from Hat Yai return approximately Bt1,000 and the driver will probably wait.
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Address: Ton Nga Chang Waterfall, P.O. Box 152, Post Office Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand 90110
Telephone: +66 (0)74 434770-3
Fax: +66 (0)74 434778
Green fees: Normal Bt600; Sport days (Tuesday/Wednesday) Bt300; Saturday/Sunday Bt900. Buggy Bt600. Caddy Bt180.
Comments:
If driving yourself from Hat Yai, drive through Hat Yai Nai towards Rattaphum and Satun. About 13km out of town you will see signs for Tone Nga Chang waterfall.
Turn left towards the waterfall and turn left again after about 2.1km. The golf club is about 3.5km down this road on the left. I only saw one sign to the club and it was in Thai, which is a problem if you don't read Thai.
I used a GPS to find it the first time and this makes life very easy. If driving in Thailand a GPS is a very worthwhile investment.
From the club brochure:
Hat Yai Resort & Golf Club, 30 minutes from Hat Yai, one of the most scenic and challenging championship golf courses in the south of Thailand, was opened in 1993. Boasting 18 superbly conditioned holes, the course represents a breath-taking challenge to golfers of all levels.With par 72 and measuring 6,910 yards from the back tee and 6,064 yards from the front tee, the course features plenty of water and lakes. Many of the holes have been carved out of the palm plantation, thus using the existing natural splendour to enhance the experience of playing a round of golf against a stunning mountainous backdrop.
The club house features an atmospheric restaurant that enables visitors to sample and enjoy some delicious Thai food as well as some international dishes. The famous Thai hospitality is well in evidence, as is a sense of pride in offering all our visitors a genuine welcome. If you are a golfer at heart, there is no doubt that you will enjoy the complete experience in "Hat Yai Resort & Golf Club."
Player Comments:
- This course was previously known as the Exclusive Club. Again, a lot of water. Same guidance as above. Lay-up if in any doubt.
This 'club' was obviously part of a grand scheme. The clubhouse is vast resembling a hotel from the front. Viewed from the back reveals that above ground level the building is unfinished and appears to be unfinished for several decades.
A pleasant course worthy of a couple of rounds during a stay in Hat Yai. It is the farthest of all the courses from town. Phone for sport days (normally Tuesday and Wednesday).
Taxi fare from Hat Yai approximately Bt1100. Taxi driver will wait because of distance from town.
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Address: Highway Hatyai-Sadao Kanjanavanich Road at approximately 10km from Hat Yai
Telephone: +66 (0)74 553660-2
Mobile: +66 (0)86 598 1138
Green fees 9 holes: Bt150 (week days) Bt250 (weekends). Caddy Bt100. Buggy Bt300
Green fees 18 holes: Bt250 (week days) Bt450 (weekends). Caddy Bt180. Buggy Bt500
Comments:
Upon visiting the course (April 2011), I was told the green fees are as follows:
Monday, Friday Bt200
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Bt250
Saturday, Sunday Bt450
Caddy fees were confirmed at Bt180 and golf cart rental was the same as the figures above.
The swimming pool has not undergone any maintenance or cleaning for a considerable length of time and is unusable. I found it all a little sad.
As you drive into the course it is very tranquil and pleasant. In many other countries somewhere like this would be referred to as a 'Country Club' and the membership fees would be quite expensive.
In Thailand there are so few paying customers that everything looks neglected and many facilities have fallen into disrepair. Whereas most golf courses would be swarming with golfers on a Sunday morning, I hardly saw anyone playing.
As I parked the car a caddy rushed up to greet me and help me with my clubs. Unfortunately I had only come to look around, and not to play. He seemed genuinely disappointed.
When I arrived in Thailand I thought that my golfing days were over, but after visiting some very pleasant courses and seeing how few golfers there are it makes me want to play again. It's cheap and there aren't many places where you would get this level of personal service.
Player Comments:
- This course was previously known as the Hat Yai Country Club.
Purchased by a 'rubber baron' a few years back after a series of owners. Originally a 9 hole course but a further 9 holes were added approximately three years ago.
The 'new' 9 holes I enjoyed on my previous visit but in 2011 the 'new' 9 are not being played. I was told that they needed maintenance, but I just wonder if the baron grew tired of the cost of maintaining 18 holes and reverted to the 9 hole lay-out.
Not too demanding but take care at the third. A tree is in the centre of the fairway at about 80 yards from the tee. Out of bounds to the left and water to the right. Again a large clubhouse upper floors unused. Obviously fallen into hard times. Has a swimming pool but I am told it is never used.
Taxi fare depends on your bargaining power. No need for taxi to remain.
- The new 9 have now been brought into play (February 2012). As usual with Hatyai courses there is a fair amount of water but shot selection is not too difficult. The condition of the fairways on the additional 9 is better than the original 9 but there are no "facilities" or drinks stations. A very pleasant additional 9 even for high handicap players.
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Address: Highway Hatyai-Sadao Kanjanavanich Road at approximately 10km from Hat Yai
Telephone: +66 (0)74 219050 extension 44345
Green fees 9 holes: Bt200. Caddy Bt100. Buggy Bt400
Green fees 18 holes: Bt240. Caddy Bt180. Buggy Bt600
Comments: This course is close to Hat Yai's municipal park.
Player Comments:
- This course is also known as also known as the military course or assault course.
Built next to a military camp by the military. This 9 hole course is the closest to downtown. It also has a practice range. The third hole, exemplifies the machismo of golf. From the tee it is a 160 yard carry across a pond. There is no safe way out or possibility of laying-up. I can't hit a golf ball with a carry of 160 yards but I tried and lost a ball in the pond at approximately 150 yards. Sense dictates to tee-off from the fairway the other side of the pond in the area of the ladies tee. There is a further pond in front of the green. A hole to consider all options. I understand the military started work to extend to 18 holes but the money ran out. Worth a visit if only to say you played the assault course.
- Update April 2015: Second nine now open. Very long carries over water. Interesting but unless scratch play from front tees.
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Address: Air Force 56 Base near Hat Yai airport
Latitude: N 06° 55' 52.6" (N 06° 55.877')
Longitude: E 100° 24' 20.4" (E 100° 24.340')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: In January 2015 the airforce base (for the first time ever) was opened to the public for Children's Day in Thailand. Huge crowds of people attended and the traffic was a nightmare, but I was interested to get a glimpse inside.
Sure enough, there is a golf course, as well as a private military hospital on the base. Even though the base was opened to the public, many parts were still off-limits, including the golf course. However, I quickly grabbed the photo above.
The course was deserted and although it looked quite reasonable from a distance, I doubt that it gets the same care and attention that other courses get. Details are probably irrelevant, anyway, because very few people outside of the Royal Thai Airforce are actually allowed to play there.
Player Comments:
- I have never played this course. I understand admission is by invitation only, from an Air Force Officer. Within the Hat Yai golfing community this course is not rated as there are no caddies and no buggies.
- This is open. 9 holes, no buggy or caddie. It is actually quite a good course. You need to show I?d and hand over your driving licence. It?s 140 baht to play, as many holes as you like. Greens aren?t great and there are no sprinklers and leaves litter the fairways which makes it easy to lose a ball. But that being said it is definitely worth a round.
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Golf Courses in Songkhla
Address: Next to BP Samila Hotel
Green fees 9 holes: Bt150. Caddy Bt100. No buggy.
Comments: Right next door to the BP Samila Hotel on Samila Beach in Songkhla.
Update April 2018: - A visitor to this site sent me an e-mail to say that this course no longer exists. See his comments below.
Player Comments:
- This course no longer exists, has been bulldozed to make way for a public park/area along the beach, shame as it was a handy course for locals! (April 2018)
- First tee adjacent to BP Samila Beach. A 9 hole course which is derided by many weekend golfers who pretend to be tour professionals. It is a golf course and for the green fee what do you expect! I like it because I can leave my wife in the hotel and walk to the first tee. No need of cars. Fairways not up to much so play preferred lies and enjoy the round.
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Comments: I have never actually seen this course.
Player Comments:
- Rumour has it that the Royal Thai Navy has a course in Songkhla. I have no knowledge of it, so explore.
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Address: On Route 408 near Yor Island in Songkhla
Latitude: N 07° 07' 34.0" (N 07° 07.567')
Longitude: E 100° 35' 12.9" (E 100° 35.215')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This course is quite close to Yor Island. I am aware that it exists, but have no information. The photo is of a golf course in Bangkok, and not Star Golf Course.
If I am passing and have time I will try to get some more information. If you can help with any details, please send me an e-mail.
Update April 2018: - A reader informed me that this was only ever a driving range with a few par threes, but now it is closed.
Player Comments:
- This was a driving range with a few par threes now closed and buildings removed. (April 2018)
To add your comments, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.