Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club

About

Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club is the course most Pattaya visitors reach for first — not because it is the hardest or most exclusive in the area, but because it hits the sweet spot of quality, character and convenience. It sits about 20 minutes inland from the city at Huay Yai, spread over rolling, wooded hills that give the layout the elevation changes and views that flatter-land courses around Bangkok can’t match. Opened in 1993 to a Dennis Griffiths routing and reshaped in the mid-2010s, it plays as 27 holes and doubles as a low-key golf resort with its own accommodation and clubhouse restaurant.

The course

The 27 holes are split into three nines — Ocean, Lake and Mountain — that combine into three separate 18-hole rounds, so a multi-day golfer never has to replay the same holes. The names are a fair guide to what each loop delivers: sea glimpses from the higher tees, water in play on the flatter stretches, and proper climbs and drops on the hillier ground. Fairways are generally wide and forgiving off the tee, which suits holiday golfers and higher handicaps, but the greens are well bunkered and several holes ask a decent second shot over water or around a dogleg. Elevated tee boxes are a recurring feature, both for the views and for the satisfying downhill drives. Caddies are compulsory (as at almost all Thai courses) and are a genuine help in reading the greens and judging the slopes.

Green fees and what’s included

Phoenix Gold is mid-priced for the Pattaya region — noticeably cheaper than the marquee tournament courses, without feeling like a budget option. Published green fees run around 3,000 baht for 18 holes on a weekday and 3,500 baht at weekends, with 27-hole rates of roughly 4,100 and 4,900. On top of the green fee you pay a caddie (from about 400 baht) and, if you want one, a golf cart (from about 700 baht) — both normal for Thailand. There are twilight 9-hole rates from around 500 baht after 3–4pm, which are good value for a late-afternoon nine as the heat drops. Club and shoe rental is available (around 1,300 baht for a set), so you don’t have to fly with your own bag. Rates shift with season and promotion, and booking through a golf-tour operator sometimes bundles transfers and cart — always confirm the all-in price before you commit.

Getting there

The club is at 111 Moo 9, Sukhaphiban 2 Road, Huay Yai — inland and south-east of the city, about 15 km from central Pattaya and a similar distance from Jomtien. Realistically you’ll come by golf-package transfer, private car or Grab/Bolt; there is no useful public transport out to Huay Yai, and baht buses don’t run this far. If you’re driving yourself, allow 20–30 minutes from the beach depending on traffic through the Sukhumvit junctions, and arrange your return car in advance — taxis don’t wait around out here. Find it on Google Maps.

Good to know

Why play here: easy to reach, real character and elevation, three interchangeable nines for multi-day golf, and fair mid-range pricing with a stay-and-play option on site. It’s a reliable, enjoyable round rather than a bucket-list championship test.

Know before you go: conditioning is good but not immaculate tournament standard, and the course can get busy with tour groups in high season, which slows play. Book ahead November–March, budget for the caddie and cart on top of the green fee, and don’t rely on finding a taxi at the gate for the trip back.

Details

• Address: 111 Moo 9, Sukhaphiban 2 Road, Huay Yai, Bang Lamung, Chonburi 20150
• Holes: 27 (Ocean, Lake, Mountain nines) — Dennis Griffiths design, opened 1993, renovated from 2014
• Green fees: ~3,000 baht weekday / 3,500 weekend for 18 holes; caddie and cart extra
• Hours: Daily from around 06:00; twilight rates after 3–4pm
• Phone: +66 38 239 391 (also mobile +66 84 873 5363)
• Website: https://www.phoenixgoldgolf.com/