Formerly known as Gassan Lake City Golf Club, this Chiang Mai golf course was closed in 2013 for a total renovation by the famous golf courses design team of Schmidt-Curley. The courses was re-launched in 2014 and was renamed Gassan Legacy Golf Club and its now one of the best golf courses in Chiang Mai.
This was not just a cosmetic makeover but the entire course was re-grassed with new drainage and in common with many golf courses designed by this team they have added numerous green side hazards to protect the now immaculate greens. There is also plenty of water around the course and the courses is not that long by today’s standards so accuracy rather than brute strength is rewarded.
They have left in place many of the mature trees that existed before and have gently remodelled the fairways and set up the course so that the better golfer can take risks and reap the appropriate reward and the less accomplished can take the easy route and either lay up or use the bail out areas.
Water comes into play on every hole and on most of them you are either carrying over water onto the fairway or you have water encroaching into the fairway close to the tee box and this makes every tee shot pretty daunting. Fortunately most of the approach shots are water free but you will encounter a different type of hazard in the shape of numerous cleverly placed bunkers waiting to grab the wayward shot.
Unusually there are five par-3 holes on this golf courses, varying in length from 90 to 180 yards from the white tees so you will get to use most of the clubs in your bag negotiating these. The first of these is the 2nd which involves a water carry to a narrow green and the 7th which is slightly shorter but rat3ed the most difficult hole on the courses because the target is an island green with no room for error! The designers have compensated by throwing in an equal number of par 5’s with the 8th, a right-angle dogleg being probably the most challenging on the front nine with a water carry off the tee to a fairway with bunkers protecting the tiger line and water along the right. The hole then turns the other way as you approach the green with water all along the left. The 17th is an S-shaped brute with water off the tee and numerous bunkers lying in wait and then another water carry for your second before you attempt to find the narrow putting surface. To add to the fun there are a few short par 4’s which are reachable for the very big hitters.
Gassan Legacy is now one of the best golf courses in Chinag Mai and despite the numerous water hazards and bunkers still offers chances to golfers providing you pick the right tee box.
The slightly quirky club house has not been modernised but offers adequate facilities and should not spoil your day out at Gassan Legacy and over a beer we hope you will agree that this Chiang Mai golf course has become one of the best courses in the area.
Tee Time Bookings at Gassan Legacy Golf Club
Apart from the weekends it’s pretty easy to secure a tee time at Gassan Legacy Golf Club and if you book with Golfsavers you can enjoy great savings.
You can read all about the other golf courses in Chiang Mai here.