Kirimaya Golf Resort

The thick vegetation allows you to feel totally cut off from the world and remain totally focussed on a round of golf that will involve negotiating hilly terrain whilst trying to carefully pick your way round a course that is, at first look, fairly daunting. With an emphasis on using the natural surroundings to the full, you'll find the natural wetland areas encroaching into fairways and small ponds and lakes waiting to swallow misdirected balls. The thick jungle that borders many of the holes is not technically out of bounds, but might as well be as you aren't finding your ball in there.

However, we don't mean to make this course sound more difficult than it is - even high handicappers should be able to put in a reasonable score and if you listen to the advice of your caddy then shots that look intimidating from the tee can often be fairly simply negotiated. The signature par-4 16th is up there with the best holes Nicklaus has designed: as it dog-legs past a huge tree towards a green heavily guarded by water it's easy to forget you are here mainly for the golf rather than the view.

The standout hole is probably the par-5 3rd, where you must avoid water on the left before attempting to reach a tiny green which sits behind a strategically positioned lily-pond. With holes cleverly bordered by trees or shrubs, you rarely get a glimpse of holes to come before you get there and it is easy to get the impression that you are the only ones on the course, and since the course is rarely that busy anyway you should be able to get round in good time. Warm hospitality, good caddies and excellent clubhouse facilities add to the overall experience, and you can even stay overnight in the 5-star resort which includes deluxe tented accommodation (much better than it sounds!).

Tee Time Bookings at Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa

The only time this golf courses gets crowded is at weekends when Bangkok golfers head out of town so we can obtain a tee time at Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa very easily.