Discover Golf in Pattaya
Thailand's Premier Golf Hub Near Bangkok
Golf in Pattaya
If Bangkok is where you land, Pattaya is where serious golfers go to actually play. The courses here are clustered close enough together that you can fit multiple rounds into a short trip without spending half your day in a car, which is the single biggest advantage Pattaya has over every other city in Thailand. It’s not a place you come for the city life. You come because within a 45-minute radius you have some of the best maintained, most varied golf in Southeast Asia. Get your tee times booked before you arrive and Pattaya will deliver one of the most efficient golf trips you’ve ever taken.
Highlight for Golfers
- Top course concentration
- Easy access from Bangkok
- Premium rounds, minimal transfers
- Strong value for course quality
Best for
- Quick golf weekends
- Golf-heavy group
- Playing multiple top courses
- First-time Thailand golf trips
Top Golf Courses in Pattaya
📋 Researched Guide — I haven’t played any of these four courses myself, so here’s what’s actually true about them: verified facts, tournament history, and what golfers who’ve played them consistently say.
Siam Country Club
Siam Country Club Old Course is the name that comes up first when golfers talk about Pattaya, and the reputation holds up — it’s hosted Asian Tour events, and reviewers consistently describe the conditioning as tour-level. The layout rewards proper course management rather than just hitting and hoping, which is part of why it’s regarded as Pattaya’s flagship round.
Best For: The one marquee round if you’re only playing once in Pattaya.
Laem Chabang Country Club
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Laem Chabang is a three-nine layout that gives you more variety than most courses in Thailand. The rolling terrain is unusual for the region, and the strategic bunkering demands real thought off the tee. Golfers who’ve played it often say it rewards a second visit once you understand the layout.
Best for: Golfers who want variety and a course that rewards local knowledge.
Chee Chan Golf Resort
Chee Chan is Pattaya’s most visually dramatic course — the giant Khao Chi Chan Buddha carved into the cliff face behind the course creates a backdrop unlike anything else in Thai golf. Reviewers note the layout itself is well-maintained and challenging enough to hold its own, but the setting is what people remember most.
Best for: A memorable, scenic round worth building a day around.
Burapha Golf Club
Burapha is considered the dependable workhorse of Pattaya golf — consistently well-maintained, good value, and the multi-loop layout means tee times tend to be more flexible than at the marquee courses. It’s frequently recommended as the practical choice for groups or as a backup round when Siam is fully booked.
Best for: Groups, repeat rounds, and flexible scheduling.
Recommendation Box
This isn’t a personal pick, it’s the logical pairing based on what each course is known for. Siam Country Club Old Course is the consensus must-play round; Chee Chan is worth adding for the scenery and experience, and Burapha is the practical choice for filling out extra days without stretching the budget. Base yourself in North Pattaya or Naklua for a calmer feel, as Central Pattaya works for groups who want nightlife, but the area can get busy. With courses this close together, a private driver for the whole trip is worth the cost.
Just Want One
Great Round?
If you’re in Pattaya for a few days and just want one great round without the research: Siam Country Club Old Course is the one every source agrees on: tour-level conditioning, a proper test of golf, and it’s the course most golf-travel operators can get you into without a long lead time. Book a morning tee time, arrange transport the day before, and you’ll have the rest of the day free.
Where to Stay in Pattaya
Central Pattaya
If you want the widest choice of restaurants, cafés, and easy logistics. Central Pattaya is the simplest base. It’s practical for groups and short trips because everything is close and transport is easy. Central Pattaya was truly a fun experience for first-timers. If you really like a lively nightlife, Central Pattaya will be the best choice for you.
Typical transfer to course: 20-50 minutes
Best for
- Convenience & dining
- Short weekend trips
- Groups with mixed plans
Watch out
- Busier streets at nights
- Some hotels are older
- Not a "quiet holiday" feelings
Jomtien
Jomtien is a calmer alternative with a more relaxed beach vibe. Good if you want quieter evenings, more space, and a less hectic feel, while still staying within reach of Pattaya’s main courses. Although, Jomtien is more for people who'd like to stay within the hotel or resort facilities and go out to the city minimally.
Typical transfer to course: 25-55 minutes
Best for
- Relaxed pace
- Couples
- Beach downtime
Watch out
- Fewer "walk out" options
- Rely more on transport
- Some areas feel spread out
North Pattaya / Naklua
This area suits golfers who want a slightly calmer, more comfortable base while still enjoying Pattaya's convenience. It’s a good middle ground. Less hectic than central, but not as far as staying out of town.
Typical transfer to courses: 20–50 minutes
Best for
- Comfort & calmer vibes
- Easy access to dining
- Balanced trips
Watch out
- Hotel pricing can be higher
- Still traffic at peak times
- Not nightlife-focused
Local Highlights in Pattaya
Pattaya is easy because you can keep the trip golf-focused while still having simple downtime options between rounds. Think beach recovery, convenient dining, low-effort evening spots, and quick half-day activities that don’t steal energy from your next tee time.
Beaches
Recovery time between rounds, without leaving the coast. Pattaya’s beaches range from busy and central to quiet and spread out, so it’s easy to match the pace to your trip.
Pattaya Beach (Beach Road)
The main event — the long stretch of sand backing onto Beach Road's hotels, restaurants and bars. Busier and more built-up than Jomtien, but it's the easiest option if you're staying central and want a short walk down for the evening. Fair warning: at night Pattaya Beach can get very busy with tourists and locals hanging around, especially on weekend.
Jomtien Beach
Definitely quieter and more laid-back than the main strip, Jomtien is where I'd point golfers who want a proper recovery day rather than more noise. If your resort is along the beach, you'll be able to exit the resort by the beach and have a lovely walk.
Wong Amat Beach
Good To Know
Nightlife & Rooftop Bars
Pattaya after dark, from street level to 30 floors up. Whether it’s the energy of Walking Street or a quiet sunset drink with a view, the evening options here are as varied as the golf.
Walking Street
Pattaya's famous stretch, and there's really nothing else in Thailand quite like it — a solid kilometre of bars, clubs, and street energy that doesn't slow down until sunrise. It can get quite busy, so I'd recommend arriving early in the night before the crowd builds up.
Horizon Rooftop Bar (Hilton Pattaya)
34 floors up, with a wraparound view over Pattaya Bay that's genuinely one of the best in the city. I recommend sitting outside. You can enjoy the cooling beach breeze and experience the amazing view of Pattaya City. If you arrive earlier, the sunset is definitely truly beautiful.
D.I.B Sky Bar (Jomtien)
The Jomtien equivalent. D.I.B is 38 floors up, with views over the bay and Ko Larn in the distance. Consistently mentioned as a calmer, less touristy alternative to the central rooftops if you're staying in Jomtien.
Good To Know
Night Markets
An easy, low-effort way to spend an evening after a round. Street food, casual shopping, and no reservations needed — just show up and wander.
Thepprasit Night Market
Pattaya Night Bazaar
Jomtien Night Market
Tree Town
Good To Know
Weekend timing matters here more than in other cities — Thepprasit specifically only runs Friday through Sunday, so it's worth planning around rather than assuming it's open any night.
Temples & Culture
A change of pace from the beach-and-golf routine. Pattaya’s temples are easy half-day additions that don’t compete with tee times.
The Sanctuary of Truth
Big Buddha Hill (Wat Phra Yai)
Wat Chai Mongkol
Good To Know
Travel Tips for Golfers in Pattaya
Planning a golf holiday in Pattaya is straightforward, especially if you’re coming from Bangkok. With many top courses clustered nearby, you can play multiple rounds without long transfers. For the smoothest trip, book tee times early in peak season and plan transport in advance so your days run on schedule.
Best Time to Play (Weather & Comfort)
Pattaya is most comfortable from November to February, with cooler mornings and less humidity. Hot months are still playable, but early tee times help, especially if you’re doing back-to-back rounds.
Good to know: Peak season is comfortable, but tee times sell out faster than you’d expect.
Tee Times & Peak Season Demand
Top courses can fill up quickly in peak season, especially weekend mornings. If you have 1–2 must-play rounds, secure those first and build the rest of your schedule around them.
Good to know: Weekend morning slots are the first to go at premium venues.
Getting There from Bangkok
Pattaya is typically 1.5–2.5 hours from Bangkok by car depending on traffic and departure time. If you’re playing on arrival day, plan a buffer so you don’t feel rushed.
Course Transfers (What to expect)
Most course transfers from Pattaya hotel areas are 20–45 minutes, sometimes longer depending on where you’re staying and traffic. Pattaya is easy when you group tee times by course location.
Transport Options (Driver vs Grab)
For groups and golf-heavy weekends, a private driver is the smoothest option. Ride-hailing works, but waiting and pickup time can add friction, especially after rounds or at peak hours.
What to Pack (Small things that matter)
Most of the year is warm. Bring breathable polos, sun protection, and rain cover in wetter months. A spare glove and towel help if the humidity is high.
Green Fees & Budgeting
Pattaya offers strong value for course quality. A practical planning range is ฿1,500–฿4,500 per round, plus caddie and cart fees depending on the course and season.
Caddies, Carts & Tipping
Caddies are commonly required and add real value if you’re new to the course. Carts are common and useful. Tipping is customary and varies based on service and overall experience.
Frequently Asked Questions - Golf in Pattaya
Absolutely. Pattaya has one of the highest concentrations of quality golf courses in Southeast Asia. If golf is the priority, it’s actually a more efficient destination than Bangkok — less transfer time, more rounds per day.
By car or taxi it’s typically 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic. The expressway makes it straightforward. Many golfers hire a private driver for the whole trip which covers both the Bangkok transfer and daily course transfers.
A 3-day trip can comfortably fit 3 to 4 rounds. The course proximity means you’re not losing time to long transfers — a genuine advantage over Bangkok.
For Siam Country Club, yes. Peak season weekend mornings book out fast. Secure your must-play courses first, then plan accommodation and other rounds around them.
It depends on the group. Pattaya has beaches, dining, and entertainment options but it’s not a resort destination like Phuket. Non-golfers can occupy themselves but it works best when the whole group is golf-focused.