Thai Muang Golf Club
Hole-by-hole Course Review
Hole 1
BLACK 405 BLUE 364 WHITE 340 RED 292
Giving a taste of what's to come, the first hole, a par
four, has one long bunker on the right in front of a canal,
while large turf mounds sprout off to the left. Most of
the mounds have a bunker in front. Indentations in the fairway
are lined with light rough. The green, like many, is small
and hard to hold.
Hole 2
BLACK 363 BLUE 351 WHITE 338 RED 283
The fairway meanders left on this par four, with out-of-bounds
left and mounds and trees to the right. There are more conventional
bunkers mixed in with the mound-bunkers around the green.
Hole 3
BLACK 448 BLUE 416 WHITE 382 RED 343
A huge stretch of tee-to-green water lies left, behind
cypress pines, with a zig-zag caddy track and mounds to
the right of a fairly open fairway. The prevailing breeze
off the sea carries balls towards the water. Around the
tight green, there's a winding bunker to the left.
Hole 4
BLACK 612 BLUE 530 WHITE 503 RED 478
After a gentle start, the hardest hole on the course takes
shape on the first par five. The fairway swerves right then
left, with water on both sides off the tee, continuing to
the green along the left side. Mounds complicate matters.
The hole calls for tight targetting as the fairway narrows.
The rough is grass of medium length -- not thick, but enough
to slow the clubhead.
Hole 5
BLACK 320 BLUE 307 WHITE 304 RED 257
Mounds march across the fairway on this shortish par four,
with pines along the right and more mounds and water behind
the green.
Hole 6
BLACK 158 BLUE 145 WHITE 114 RED 75
A tight par three, with water and a bunker visible on the
right and more water to the left. It's a tiny green, with
more water through the back, and a bunker and a couple of
trees.
Hole 7
BLACK 415 BLUE 397 WHITE 373 RED 360
A drive across water off the tee marks the par four that
is the third-hardest hole. The fairway curls right, with
cypress pines and mounds to the left and water on the right.
Around the bend, a tree and a small mound block the path
home. It's a fairly large green, but all that can be seen
is the top of the flag.
Hole 8
BLACK 156 BLUE 147 WHITE 140 RED 114
Water cuts in and gobbles up most of the fairway from the
left on this par three. The shot is over water, with tall
mounds behind the green.
Hole 9
BLACK 524 BLUE 499 WHITE 450 RED 387
Two turns to the left are required on this par five. The
first dogleg is heavily bunkered and water takes over where
the sand ends. The trees on the right are out-of-bounds.
Not a long par five but the two-level green calls for sharp
control, with the top putting surface no more than 14 feet
across.
Hole 10
BLACK 464 BLUE 436 WHITE 403 RED 307
The flag flutters enticingly in the distance on this par
four, with bunkers on both sides of the fairway and the
sound of the sea being heard for the first time.
Hole 11
BLACK 211 BLUE 187 WHITE 145 RED 126
Water replaces most of the fairway on this longish par
three. Mounds dot the rear of the reasonably-sized green
and continue along the right. There's one large bunker directly
over the water.
Hole 12
BLACK 332 BLUE 308 WHITE 284 RED 217
A par four, easiest hole on the course. Ham-shaped water
cuts in on the right, together with a long, snakey bunker.
The fairway opens up to the left, with mounds and trees
beyond.
BLACK 625 BLUE 597 WHITE 537 RED 443
A beautiful lily pond in the foregound belies the difficulty
of this par five, the second-hardest hole. Trees line both
sides, with water to the left and trouble on the right.
BLACK 466 BLUE 442 WHITE 393 RED 345
Closer to the sea now, this par four doglegs left, with
out-of-bounds lying left. It's a pretty hole, with one of
the biggest greens seen so far.
BLACK 330 BLUE 306 WHITE 272 RED 201
Water cuts the fairway diagonally, so firing long or short
off the tee is the go. Mounds about eight feet tall lie
to the right, beyond the water.
Hole 16
BLACK 549 BLUE 493 WHITE 423 RED 347
A par five that doglegs left, with bunkers in the foregound.
Plenty of water on the right for those who try to find the
open spaces.
Hole 17
BLACK 178 BLUE 167 WHITE 142 RED 135
A long green snakes in the distance -- but first, this
par three requires a shot across water. It's a long walk
around to the fairway but the view from the green is spectacular,
with large lagoons stretching on both sides of the putting
arena. With the wind off the sea, there's never a guarantee
of safety on this hole.
Hole 18
BLACK 463 BLUE 434 WHITE 407 RED 307
The fourth hardest hole, a par four, runs parallel to the
long beach, heading straight home. Mounds and bunkers lie
right, with one big fairway bunker on the left. There are
also some rough-laden indentations near the green, of the
kind that the Scots do so well.
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