There are courses that you play and courses that you remember. Siam Country Club Old Course sits firmly in the second category. It's the kind of place that gets mentioned in the same breath as the great resort courses of the world, and after you've played it, you'll understand why. It's not the most visually dramatic course in Thailand - that title might go to Red Mountain in Phuket - but it has something rarer: genuine golf character built up over decades.

A Bit of History

Siam Country Club was established in 1971, making it one of the oldest private golf clubs in Thailand. The Old Course - as distinct from the newer Plantation and Waterside layouts on the same property - carries that history in every corner. The course has been refined and modernised over the years, but it retains the bones of a classic layout: tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and greens that reward proper course management over raw distance.

The club's international credentials are well established. It hosted the Honda LPGA Thailand for many years, bringing the world's best women's players to Pattaya and putting the course under the professional spotlight. The fact that elite golfers chose to compete here says something about the quality and challenge of the layout. Watching your group navigate the same holes that Ariya Jutanugarn or Brooke Henderson played in competition is a genuinely cool experience.

The Layout: What to Expect

The Old Course plays to around 6,800 metres from the back tees, but most visitors play from a more sensible set of tees that brings the course back to a manageable length without losing any of the challenge. The routing winds through mature tropical trees that create a sense of enclosure and focus that you don't get on open resort-style courses.

The front nine features a mix of risk-reward par fours and a couple of testing long holes. The trees are the defining feature - miss a fairway here and you're playing recovery, not approach. Accuracy matters more than distance, which makes it a genuine test for golfers of all handicap levels. A 24-handicapper who hits it straight will have more fun than a scratch player who's wild off the tee.

The back nine tightens up around a series of par fours where the greens are well-guarded and two-putt pars feel genuinely earned. The signature finishing stretch demands concentration - there's no coasting home on this course. Expect your round to take around four to four and a half hours, which is typical for courses in the Pattaya region.

Signature Holes Worth Knowing

The Caddie Experience

Caddies at Siam Country Club are among the best in Thailand. They know the greens intimately, read putts accurately, and manage your bag professionally. These aren't just bag carriers - a good caddie at Siam CC will save you two or three shots over a round through local knowledge alone. Take their read on the greens seriously; they've seen those slopes hundreds of times.

The standard caddie fee is included in your green fee package and a tip of 400-500 baht is the norm for a well-performed round. If your caddie went above and beyond - and they often do - tip accordingly. It's a small amount in Australian dollar terms and it means a great deal.

The Clubhouse and Facilities

The clubhouse at Siam Country Club is proper and well-appointed. You'll find good change rooms, a well-stocked pro shop, and a restaurant that serves Thai and Western food at reasonable prices. Post-round, the air conditioning feels like a reward earned. Many groups choose to have lunch at the clubhouse before heading back to Pattaya.

Dress code is enforced at Siam Country Club. Collared shirts are required and shorts must be tailored or golf-appropriate. This is not a place for board shorts and singlets. Come dressed properly and you'll be fine.

Playing Siam CC on Our Pattaya Tour

Siam Country Club Old Course is one of the headline courses on our Bangkok / Pattaya Combo Golf Tour. We have an established relationship with the club and secure early tee times that let you play before the heat of the day. It's paired with other top Pattaya courses including Laem Chabang International Country Club, giving you a genuine survey of what the Pattaya golf region has to offer.

If you want to play Siam CC as part of a well-organised group with everything taken care of, this is the tour to book. It's one of the courses I recommend to every golfer who asks me where to play in Thailand, and seeing the reaction of first-timers when they walk off 18 never gets old.