Bangkok Golf Club is a par 72 course measuring 6,205 yards from the white tees. It was designed by Mr. Chird Boonyarattanvej and opened in 1993. It is always in great shape with fast greens, very good fairways and punishing rough. In fact it was the venue for the Volvo Masters of Asia, an Asian PGA tour event held December 11th through 14th 2003.
Par 4
Handicap No. 12
A dogleg right, the opening drive has about a 100 yard carry over water. Aim for the far bunkers, a reasonably hit drive should leave you with a short iron into the green. A good chance to determine if your putter is working, with a regulation 2 putt you should be on level par.
View from behind the 9th green, we sometimes tee-off quite early
A deceptive par 3, with bunkers in front that guards the left hand side and another to the right. Depending on the pin placement aim for the right hand side to avoid a downhill putt. Par is a good score on this hole.
The first par 5 is a challenging one, a double dogleg right and left. You’ll want to keep your second shot to the right otherwise you will have bunkers to carry with your approach. Bogey should not be considered a bad score on this hole.
No surprise that this slight dogleg right is considered as the 4th most difficult hole on the course with OB running down the left hand side all the way. The drive has to carry a fair amount of water and the fairway is a longer way out then it looks. Many a good drive will leave a fairway wood into the green. Walking away with par should be considered a bonus.
Congratulations, I have you 1 over par at this point and you’ve reached the first kiosk to lubricate your swing with a little swing oil.
The longest par 3 on the course, there is OB down the left hand side. With a bunker guarding the front left hand side and water behind and to the right club selection is important. The sound advice is to listen to your caddy.
This slight dogleg right has a very wide fairway and invites the golfer to let it all out. A good drive will be rewarded by allowing you to hit a short iron into the green. If your putter is working, this is definitely a birdie opportunity.
There always a knowledgeable gallery on the course
Another short par 4, very similar to the 6th, except that your drive has to carry about 150 yards over water and the fairway is marginally narrower. Personally I consider the green more difficult to putt then the 6th so par should be considered a good score.
A medium length dogleg left, the smart golfer will try to approach the green from the right side of the fairway and take the front bunkers guarding the green out of play. The green has a pretty severe slope to it, so don’t be disappointed with three putting. Bogey is an acceptable score.
Another double dogleg left then right. With 2 reasonable shots the golfer will find himself with a short iron from the left hand side into the green. If he is coming down the right hand side trying to cut the final corner he will have water to carry into the green. The green slopes from back to front and is usually pretty slick. However if your putter is hot, there is a realistic chance for birdie.
Congratulations you’ve reached the turn; I have you at level par so far. So time to lubricate your swing and attack the back nine, but be warned the greens will be more of a challenge and are getting faster.
One would think that this short par 4 with a sharp dogleg right would yield a lot of birdies, not so. The smart way to play the hole is a medium to short iron off the tee to a narrow landing area and then a medium to short iron into another sloping green, which is usually fast. Be patient and settle for par, there are birdie opportunities coming up.
An island green with a large bunker in front again with a severely sloping and normally very fast green. Depending on the pin placement and the tee shot, we can expect to see scores ranging from birdie to double par on this hole.
A relatively short straight-away par 4. A well struck tee shot will allow a short iron into the green. There will be bunkers to carry but these should not present any problems. If you’re looking to start a birdie blitz this is the hole.
Although this ranked as the 3rd most difficult hole on the course, I personally think it should be ranked as the most difficult. A long dogleg right, don’t even think about cutting the corner with your tee shot. In fact if anything play down the left hand side. If you can hit a draw with a fairway wood consider this as an option for the second shot. A second shot that is too far right will leave a mid iron over water and bunkers if you’re trying to save par, whereas the draw will leave a short iron into an unprotected green. Play smart and walk off with a well deserved par.
If your swing is beginning to squeak, have no fear there is swing oil available here.
The shortest par 3, with another green sloping from back to front. The ideal shot will leave an uphill putt for par or better. Hit it past the pin and you will struggle to make par.
John leaving his putt to save par short on the 14th and losing out on the par 3 sweep
Another short but sharp dogleg left. If you successfully hit a draw with your fairway wood on the par 5 13th. Here is another opportunity to play the same shot, take it out over the right edge of the bunker and you’ll be left with a short iron into the green. Another birdie opportunity for the better players. By the way will the last golfer approaching the green please ring the bell on the left hand side as a signal for the next group to tee off. It is one of the few places in Bangkok where ringing the bell will not cost you money!
Three to play, if you’re looking for that fantastic finish this is definitely not the hole to start it. A long dogleg right, and unless you hit an exceptionally long drive you’ll be hitting a long iron or fairway wood into the green. There is a very large palm tree standing as a sentry directly in front of the green. Although the green is small compared to the others once again the slope and speed will present a challenge. Give yourself a pat on the back if you make par.
When the course first opened this was the most difficult hole and it was at that time. The original hole had the green past the water behind the present green and on top of the small bluff. Now it is a pretty straightforward par 5 with a slight dogleg left at the end. If you’re an accurate hitter play down the left hand side but without a draw, which will most likely find the water. This will leave you a second shot with a long to mid iron over a lot of water into the green. One has to be confident to play this shot. The safer second shot is to aim well right and leave a wedge into the green. The green although fast is flat and should present no problems. If the course will give up any eagles they will be here.
The final hole, pretty much a straightaway downhill par 4, if you’ve been hitting your driver well then by all means have a go, if it has been somewhat erratic perhaps consider something a little safer. The landing area is quite small with water on the left and trees on the right. Whatever you hit should leave no more then a mid to short iron into the two tiered green. If your putter still has some great putts left in it use them here and complete the fantastic finish in style with a birdie.
Congratulations, I have you out in level par and in at level par or better. You’ll be well in the hunt with this score. In fact you might consider quitting your day job and make your living playing golf.
Jeff, Michael and John with our caddies
Our Tournament Director looking pretty relaxed