Phuket Country Club Golf
Courses Details
Location
Phuket Country Club is conveniently placed, between
the administrative center of Phuket City and the beach resort
of Patong. One clubhouse serves the 18-hole Old Course,
while a second clubhouse on the other side of the road caters
for players at the nine-hole Country Club.
Rating
The 18-hole course, set in a valley, runs through forest,
undulating hills and flat country. Water comes into play
at seven holes, and there are 54 bunkers. It could never
be called daunting and offers the prospect of a
relatively low score. On the other hand, the nine-hole course
(par 38) is a true test for golfers of all standards. Only
one hole is free from having water in play, and there are
27 bunkers. Read a hole-by-hole review...
Facilities
Both clubhouses have reasonable locker room and dining
facilities, and offer professional coaching and panoramic
views. They share a popular 52-bay practice range that also
has putting and chipping areas.
There's a small pool at the 18-hole course and a much larger
25 meter pool at the nine-hole clubhouse. Convention rooms
are available, along with tennis courts, games rooms and
saunas.
On the course
Constant attention to the state of the courses has kept
them to a high standard despite the encroachment of power
lines, new homes and increasing traffic noise. Kiosks dot
both courses. There are about 400
caddies, and 500 members. Golf carts are available on the
nine-hole course, but not on the Old Course, which is free
from hills. Monthly golf and tennis tournaments are open
to all.
Top holes
Country Club Course -- Hole 10
Par threes will often have water where the fairway should
be, but in this case, the hole is a par five. It's possible,
especially with the right wind conditions, for any golfer
to carry the 240 yards to the green. Very few make it. Most
take the longer route, which is 557 yards off the back tee.
Chosing to cut the watery curve finely is a test of skill
and nerve,
especially if it needs to be done more than once.
Hole 17
A copse of tall trees in the forground completes the woodland
beauty of this testing par three. In the distance, across
water, lies the green, 143 yards from the back tee. Getting
there is half the battle. The green is long and
layered, and a short, safe shot can still leave a player
feeling as though they need to play a driver on the green
to reach the pin.
New Course -- Hole 8
Two fairways make this par five special. From the tee,
players have a choice of taking the high road, to a plateau
fairway, or taking the low route and laying up in front
of a canal. The middle of the fairway is blocked by a tall
tangle of trees. Both fairways cross the canal and do not
link up again until just before the green.
Hole 9
This testing par five invites players to challenge the
designers in several ways. First, there's the narrow fairway
for the drive. Then there's a second shot to find safe ground
on a sloping fairway riddled with bunkers. Getting
to the green requires a shot across water to a small target,
with trees at one end to discourage long-hitters from trying
to make it with their second shot and little margin for
error.
Transport
Available, with prices depending on the distance involved.
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