Today I had the pleasure of playing the new 9 holes at Bangsai Country Club in Ayutthaya with Kun Ope (aka Pirapon Namata owner of course construction company GolfEast) and what a joy it was.

Bangkok’s newest golf course is made up of the most interesting mix 9 holes in the area. Khun Ope, being giving a free hand in the design, came up with some very unorthodox (at least for Thailand golf) holes to say the least. From the moment you step onto the 1st tee you can see that this is no ordinary golf course. A large open fairway shared with the 9th hole gives you the clear indication that this is a links course. Open natural waste areas frame the holes and firm fairways, like many of the great British and Irish links courses, are a joy to hit onto.

The wonderful layout comprises many elevated tee-boxes and greens, good-width fairways and plenty of bunkering. Putting on the huge, sloping greens may be a humbling experience, but the excellence of the undulating layout, combined with the splendid setting will keep you enthralled all the way round.

For example, the 7th hole, a grand 550 yard par 5 feeds down to a green tucked into a large lake. Then there is the “postage stamp” 8th the course which reeks of design features seldom found golfing in Thailand. Finish up with Thailand’s largest single green, the par 4 9th, and you will see why this course sets the standard in Bangkok links golf.

Khun Ope given a basic rice paddies site has established Bangkok’s only links-style venue. Apart from the absence of sea views, he created everything you would hope for in a world class links course.

The best news is that all this can be had for $15 USD, and at that price you can even play the 9 holes twice, or combine it with one of the other 2 great nines at Bangsai for the best value golf in Thailand, and by a wide margin!

Now who says great Thailand golf courses have to break the bank?

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