Blue Canyon Country Club
Country Clubs & Courses Guide
Location
Blue Canyon's two courses are just seven minutes
from Phuket International Airport, in the island's north,
and a short drive from most of the resort destinations on
the west coast.
Rating
The Canyon course is championship-class, regarded as among
the best in Asia and with a string of awards to prove it.
Set in a natural environment, the course has room to expand
if the long-hitting trend continues. Water comes into play
at 10 holes. There are more than 80 bunkers.
The Lakes is aptly named, and it has larger greens. Water
comes into play at 17 holes and there are about 36 bunkers.
Both courses share a large clubhouse with first-class amenities
that overlooks a verdant rolling valley. The greens run
fast and true on the Canyon and the putting surfaces are
a little larger on the Lakes. When the wind blows, the degree
of difficulty increases considerably. Stray into the rough
on the Canyon and the penalty is likely to be a little more
severe than on the Lakes.
Facilities
Blue Canyon has indoor and outdoor driving ranges and four
practice putting greens, two for each course.
Lessons are available from professionals for golfers of
every standard and leading brands of equipment are available
from the pro shop. There are two restaurants, the Golfers’
Terrace, and the Canyon Restaurant, for that special dinner.
Locker room services include sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi
and a variety of massages.
Accommodation
The Golfers’ Lodge provides 40 guestrooms. Resort
apartments offer two- and three-bedroom units, with facilities
including two swimming pools, tennis courts and a fitness
center.
On the course
The Canyon has five kiosks for drinks and snacks during
a round, while the Lakes has four. There are about 900 members
from all over the world and 450 female caddies, who undergo
rigorous training. Golf carts are available for the Lakes.
Wildlife includes tortoises, iguanas, civet cats, komodo
dragons, squirrels, kingfishers, artic swifts, miniature
swallowtails, and gorgeous butterflies. The Lakes and the
Canyon are both well-maintained with challenging renovations
constantly being introduced.
Canyon Course Top holes
Hole 13
Requires a long drive over the rough terrain of a canyon
and around a bend to the right, where the green lies. Tiger
Woods once also carried the mass of bunkers and trees to
reach the green on this par four with a superb drive from
the back tee, so it is known as The Tiger Hole.
Hole 14
Requires an accurate shot from the top of a steep incline
to an island green. The view on this par three is spectacular
and the choice of the right club becomes exceptionally difficult,
depending on prevailing conditions.
Hole 17
Is classed as one of the best par threes in the world.
It requires a long, straight shot to avoid the mass of water
that cuts into the fairway on the right. Bunkers surrounding
a curling, sloping green. Little wonder hole in ones are
a rarity.
Lakes Course Top holes
Hole 4
Requires nerves of steel. The hardest hole on the course,
this par four offers up a wide fairway, then doglegs into
a maze of trees and foliage, with a huge canyon yawning
in front of an elevated green.
Hole 18
gives players the choice of going left or right of a tree
on the crest of the fairway. Go left and you face an awesome
shot over canyon country.
The right-hand option provides more fairway but a severe
uphill second shot is required to the small, elevated green.
A wonderful par four.
Transport
Blue Canyon provides round-trip airport transfer for in-house
guests. Free transportation is provided for guests who reserve
golf at the normal rate.
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