Phuket has several golf courses to offer. I have already visited the Country Club, and today I will report on the Blue Canyon Course & Country Club Lakes Course.
General information about the club
The club is located near the airport in the north of the island and has two courses, making it a 36-hole facility. Unfortunately, the Canyon Course is still closed for renovation (as of November 2023). The Lakes Course is slightly shorter but all the more challenging.
Don’t be surprised, the rating is extremely easy, but the reality is quite different! For example, with my handicap of 16.5, I have to play from the white tee with a handicap of 13!
Water comes into play on almost all courses; the fairways are narrow and there are a few trees in the way here and there.
Before heading out onto the course, a few words about the clubhouse and the registration process. If you want to play here, you should reserve a tee time in advance by phone or via this website (which is usually cheaper). Walk-in rates are more expensive!
When you enter the grounds, the first thing you will encounter is security. Usually, the gate is open and you can drive through. If not, simply indicate that you want to play.
Follow the signs to the clubhouse—it is located on the right in a small dip after you have passed the driving range and the 19th hole on the left.
Drive up to the entrance and have your bag taken out of the car. The head caddy will then ask you for a tee time!
Update: If you drive down to the clubhouse on the right, you will now be redirected to the left to the caddy house. There you will be warmly welcomed by the staff.
Next, pay the green fee at the pro shop. To do so, go to the clubhouse and down the stairs. There is also a restaurant area and changing rooms there.
After paying, you will receive your scorecard and a slip of paper for the caddy. It is best to give both to the caddy who will be assigned to you by the head caddy as you leave.
Incidentally, I usually book a cart, as the terrain is hilly and the temperatures can quickly leave you feeling exhausted.
There is an employee in the changing rooms who will give you a key to your locker. Later, he will give you a bag for your sweaty clothes and a towel for showering.
Warm up and practice
Depending on how much time you have, you can ask the caddy to drive you to the driving range so you can practice your swing. 40 balls cost around 100 baht. Next to the range, there is an area for short game practice and a putting green directly in front of it.
Ready? Then it’s off to the 18 holes of the Lakes Course!
The first tee is almost next to the putting green. And the caddy will know anyway! Choose your tee: red, white, blue, and black are available. Feel free to take white—the course is difficult enough.
Hole number 1
The course starts with a relatively easy par 4 downhill. But be careful, there is water lurking on the right and the green needs to be played precisely, otherwise it will get wet. I usually lay up on the left here and with a good pitch I can sometimes even manage a par.
Hole number 2
A difficult par 3 – even if it looks easy. There is usually a strong headwind and the ball lands in the water in front of the green. If you want to play it safe, aim for the right green and you’ll definitely stay dry. Be careful, the green is hilly – watch out for the breaks!
Hole number 3
Once you’ve made it down the fairway, you can quickly score a par (4) with a comfortable pitch. Watch out for the hidden water on the left! I wanted to play it safe and played through the left side of the fairway, but then it bounced into a steep ravine with water.
Hole number 4
The most difficult hole on the course – a par 4 with a dogleg to the right. It’s actually easy if you have a certain amount of distance. But if you mess up the approach, you’ll end up either in the water or in the bunker. However, if you lay up short of the water and have good pitching skills, you can count on a safe bogey.
Hole number 5
Another dogleg par 4. With a confident drive, you can cross the water hazard on the left and then have an easy shot onto the green. If you don’t have the distance, place the ball on the safe right side.
Hole number 6
This par 4 is actually easy, but watch out for the branches protruding from the right! These can easily catch your tee shot. There are also numerous bunkers and water hazards lurking on the left and right. Access to the green is narrow with bunkers on the left and water on the right. It’s better to aim for a slightly longer shot, as there are fewer problems in the back section.
Update: The branches have now been cut back significantly, so they no longer pose a danger.
Hole number 7
A dogleg left par 4 with water on the left. Aim for the large tree (not the tree in the picture!) and then attack the green. It’s better to be a little too long than too short, otherwise the bunkers will come into play.
Hole number 8
A beautiful par 3 – again over the water. There is a bunker in front and behind. So you need to know your distances 😉 and definitely pay attention to the wind!
Hole number 9
Finally, a par 5 with a dogleg to the right at the end. With two shots to 150 meters, you reach the fairway that leads to the green opposite. Another 150 meters and you have a chance for a par. But trust me, that won’t happen often – it’s the third-hardest hole!
Break at the Halfway-House
Here you can take a breather, buy drinks and food, and buy the caddy the obligatory drink.
Hole number 10
We continue with the next par 5, a dogleg left. First, you have to get past the small pond and the palm tree. Then play around the corner and watch out for another ditch running through the dip. Then up the hill to the green. Very difficult to play! The green in particular is incredibly fast—downhill putts are hell.
Hole number 11
On this dogleg right, you should try to place the ball on the left half of the fairway so that you can attack the green directly without having to play over tall trees. Of course, if you have sufficient length, this is not an issue.
Hole number 12
Similar in character to the par 3 on hole 8, only slightly shorter and this time with water at the back right. If you want to play it safe, aim for the left half of the green.
Hole number 13
Par 5 with a green offset to the right, water to the right in front of it and a bunker to the left. The areas in front of the green are often wet, making it difficult to “jump” onto the green. Be careful with your second shot past the tree. Keep to the left here, as longer shots tend to roll into the water (which you cannot see).
Hole number 14
The tee shot is already a challenge here. A fade would be advantageous in order to avoid the trees on the right. Otherwise, the only option is to hope for a straight shot to the middle or left half of the fairway.
Caution: the green is very fast and breaks are difficult to see.
Hole number 15
A relatively easy par 5 with a dogleg to the right. With two strokes, you can comfortably reach the water and then attack the green. Here, too, the area in front of the green is muddy and balls lose momentum! If the flag is at the back, watch out for the water behind it. With a low ball flight, the ball tends to roll over the green.
Hole number 16
A dogleg left par 4. If you make it over the bunkers, you can relax and attack the green. The others place the ball on the right side and hope to reach the green with their second shot. Be careful, the green is not easy here either!
By the way, the photo was taken from the fairway towards the tee!
Hole number 17
A par 3 – it looks easy and is also rated as the easiest hole. But beware if you land in one of the bunkers! I usually aim for the area at the back right – it’s bunker-free 😉
Signature hole number 18
Hit the tee shot to the left or right of the tree and, with sufficient length, you can attack the green of this par 4. However, very few players manage to do this. In most cases, the water in front of the green thwarts the players’ plans.
After the round
After thanking the caddy, he will drive you back to the clubhouse. Put all your things in your bag and take it straight to your car.
Don’t forget: be sure to tip the caddy. Currently, 400 baht is an unwritten rule.
Of course, you can also take a break at the 19th hole and watch the next flights on the 18th.
My conclusion on the Lakes Course
This course has become a kind of home course for me. I’m not an official member, but the staff recognize me and always greet me very warmly. You really feel at home and welcome.
The course is very challenging and never boring. Every mistake is punished mercilessly and the greens are incredibly difficult to read. I have never managed a score below 92 and 32 net points was my best result. Nevertheless, I really enjoy playing there, the natural surroundings are simply beautiful!
Update: They changed the rating of the course and now it’s much easier to make some points. My game play is getting a little better too, and my best result was an 86 🙂
Information about the club can be found here on their website.