Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort is a superb golf course designed by the renowned team of Schmidt-Curley. The golf club is located in the hills outside Chiang Mai with great views from almost every hole. This course is a great experience and one of best in Thailand and since it opened it has won numerous awards. Another 9 holes are due to open in November 2015.
After a picturesque 30 minute drive you reach Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort, the former residence of a much revered monk called Kuba Sivichai who built the famous Doi Suthep temple on a hill overlooking Chiang Mai. A visually exciting course in a very tranquil location surrounded by the foothills in every direction – a very special place indeed.
Unless you are very accurate your sand wedge is going to get plenty of practice as this course is renowned for the numerous bunkers and nearly every green is guarded by an army of them. If you can keep out of the sand you will enjoy playing from the perfectly manicured fairways and once on the green they are fast and true but can be tough to read.
The front nine are pretty flat and the first real test is the 3rd which is a par 5 with water all along the left side and the usual bunkers protecting the green. The 8th is another challenging hole featuring no less than 10 bunkers including 5 protecting the front and rear of the green.
On the back nine you get great views from behind the 12th tee and then you can really open your shoulders and drive downhill on the 13th with a potentially tricky approach to a green with water along the left. The 16th is a another difficult and long par 4 with a large bunker protecting the green and a false front which will throw off any ball which is short and slightly right of the green.
The course has a spectacular finishing par-5 from an elevated tee onto a pretty wide landing area and if you hit it long and straight you have the opportunity to go for the green in two but most of us will lay up in front of the river which leaves a relatively easy approach to the elevated and sloping green.
Excellent practice facilities and a well laid out clubhouse support the excellence of the course with a spa onsite, a well-stocked bar and an excellent restaurant. If you would like to stay overnight here then you can find more information here.
Tee Time Bookings at Chiang Mai Highlands
This is one of the most popular golf courses in Chiang Mai and is in high demand so we advise that you book your tee time in advance to avoid disappointment. You can easily book online at great prices using the Golfsavers booking engine.
You can read all about the other golf courses in Chiang Mai here.