When most Australian golfers think about golf in Thailand, they jump straight to Phuket or Pattaya. Bangkok is almost an afterthought - a city to pass through on the way to somewhere else. That's a significant oversight. Bangkok and its surrounds has a collection of golf courses that rivals anything in Southeast Asia, and pairing it with a city that's one of the best food and cultural destinations in the world makes for a golf trip that's genuinely hard to beat.
Nikanti Golf Club: Bangkok's Showpiece Course
If you play one course in Bangkok, make it Nikanti. Opened in 2014, Nikanti is a modern, beautifully designed course that has quickly established itself as one of the finest in the region. The layout features dramatic elevation changes that are unusual for a Bangkok-area course, with distinctive bunkering that frames nearly every hole and demands accurate shot-making from tee to green.
Nikanti is 18 holes of genuine strategic golf. The course rewards course management, not just raw distance, which makes it accessible for a range of handicaps while still being a stern test for low-markers. The clubhouse is world-class - easily one of the best in Thailand - with excellent food, outstanding change room facilities, and a pro shop that's worth a browse. Green fees put Nikanti at the premium end, but the total experience absolutely justifies it.
Caddies at Nikanti are knowledgeable and well-presented. The course is immaculately conditioned year-round. The reaction from golfers playing it for the first time never gets old.
Royal Bang Pa In Golf Club: History and Grandeur
Royal Bang Pa In sits about an hour north of Bangkok and it's the sort of course that makes you understand why golf became an obsession for so many Thais. The course winds through the grounds of a historic estate, with water features and tall trees that create a setting unlike anything else in the region. It's one of the most scenic layouts in Thailand, full stop.
The course design is challenging without being punishing. Water comes into play on multiple holes and the greens are well-guarded, but there's always a route to a decent score if you think clearly. Royal Bang Pa In is popular with Bangkok's golfing community, which speaks to its quality - Thai golfers who have dozens of courses available to them keep coming back here.
Alpine Golf Resort
Alpine Golf Resort is a well-established course northeast of Bangkok that has hosted major Asian Tour events. The layout is longer and more open than Nikanti, suiting golfers who like to use the driver and take on risk-reward opportunities. The course is well-maintained and the overall experience is professional and efficient. It's a good contrast to the more sculpted, modern feel of Nikanti - classic resort golf done properly.
Royal Gems Golf City
Royal Gems is a unique golf experience: a facility that houses three distinct 18-hole courses on a single massive property west of Bangkok. The flagship course - a replica-inspired layout that pays homage to famous holes from around the world - is a conversation piece and a genuinely enjoyable round that groups love. It's fun without being gimmicky. The overall standard of conditioning and service is high and it's a popular choice for group outings that want something a little different.
Off the Course: Bangkok Is Extraordinary
The great advantage of a Bangkok golf trip over, say, a remote beach resort destination is that when you're not playing, you're in one of the most vibrant cities in Asia. Bangkok moves at a pace that energises you, and it rewards curiosity.
- Food: Bangkok is one of the world's great food cities. Street food from a plastic stool, rooftop restaurants, old-school rice and curry houses - every meal is an event. Budget around 60 to 200 baht for a street meal and you'll eat extraordinarily well.
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: The largest market in Thailand with over 15,000 stalls. Even if you're not a shopper, walking through Chatuchak for an hour is an experience. It's a genuine slice of Bangkok life.
- Tuk-tuk rides: Touristy, slightly chaotic, completely enjoyable. Worth doing at least once for the experience of weaving through Bangkok traffic at ground level.
- Temples: Wat Pho and Wat Arun are genuinely impressive at any level of cultural interest. They're not far from the main hotel areas and worth a morning.
Combine Bangkok With Pattaya
A popular option for golfers who want to maximise their time and courses is to combine Bangkok with a few days in Pattaya. The two cities are about two hours apart by road (less than an hour and a half when traffic cooperates), and together they give you access to the best urban golf in Thailand alongside the coastal Pattaya courses including Siam Country Club and Laem Chabang. Our Pattaya tour pairs beautifully with a Bangkok add-on for golfers who have the extra days.
Bangkok as a golf destination gets better every year. The courses are outstanding, the city experience is unmatched, and the value for Australians makes it genuinely attractive. If you haven't considered Bangkok for your next golf trip, you should.