Khao Kheow Country Club

About

Khao Kheow Country Club is the course Pattaya golfers recommend when someone wants a lot of golf for their money in genuinely beautiful surroundings. It’s a 27-hole Pete Dye design spread across two green valleys at Bang Phra, in Si Racha district, out on the road that runs north from Pattaya towards Chonburi and Bangkok. It opened in the early 1990s and has spent three decades as one of the region’s most-played courses — not because it’s the most exclusive, but because it pairs a big-name championship design with down-to-earth pricing.

A quick note on geography, because it matters: Khao Kheow is further out than Pattaya’s closest courses. Reckon on 45 minutes to an hour from the city rather than the 20-minute hop to somewhere like Phoenix Gold. For most golfers the drive is well worth it; just plan the transport.

The course

The 27 holes are arranged as three nine-hole loops — Courses A, B and C — which pair into three different 18-hole rounds. That’s ideal for a multi-day golf trip: you can play a fresh 18 each day without repeating holes. Each nine has its own character, but the Pete Dye signature runs through all of them: lightning-fast greens, dramatic elevation changes, water hazards, and mounding and bunkering that demand precise, thoughtful shot-making. This is not a flat, forgiving resort layout — it rewards good ball-striking and punishes carelessness.

The hole everyone talks about is the par-3 island green on Course B, a TPC Sawgrass-style test where the green sits ringed by water and there’s nowhere to bail out. It’s regularly called one of the most photographed golf holes in Thailand, and it’s the shot you’ll remember from the round — for better or worse.

Green fees and what’s included

Value is Khao Kheow’s calling card. It’s noticeably cheaper than the marquee tournament courses around Pattaya, which is a big part of why it stays busy. Discounted booking rates on weekday mornings often start around 1,450 baht including cart and caddy, climbing later in the day and at weekends. If you’re not travelling with clubs, rentals are available — golf cart, club set, shoes and umbrella — for modest extra fees. As always, published and promotional rates move with the season and the booking channel, so confirm the current all-in price (green fee, cart, caddy) when you reserve; a golf-tour operator often bundles transfers and secures a good rate.

Getting there

The club is at 220/25 Moo 4, Bang Phra, Si Racha — inland and north of Pattaya. There’s no useful public transport, so realistically you’ll arrive by golf-package transfer, private car or Grab, and you should arrange your return car in advance because taxis don’t wait around out here. Allow around 45–60 minutes from central Pattaya or Jomtien depending on traffic through Si Racha. Find it on Google Maps.

Good to know

Why play here: a genuine Pete Dye championship design with a famous island green, three interchangeable nines for multi-day golf, striking valley scenery, and some of the best value green fees in the region.

Know before you go: it’s further from Pattaya than the closest courses (budget 45–60 minutes and sort your transport), the greens are fast and the design is demanding — higher handicappers should play forward — and a caddy is compulsory (and worth every baht here). Book ahead in the November–February high season, and confirm the current green-fee, cart and caddy charges when you reserve.

Details

• Address: 220/25 Moo 4, Bang Phra, Si Racha District, Chonburi 20110
• Holes: 27 (Courses A, B, C) — Pete Dye design, opened early 1990s
• Signature: Par-3 island green on Course B
• Green fees: Discounted weekday-morning rates from around 1,450 baht incl. cart and caddy; higher later and at weekends — confirm
• Distance: ~45–60 minutes from central Pattaya
• Website: http://www.khaokheowgolf.com/
• Find it on Google Maps