Red Mountain’s Easier Neighbour in a Palm-Lined Valley
Loch Palm Golf Club is one of the most enjoyable and consistent courses in Phuket. It sits in a natural valley surrounded by jungle-covered hills in Kathu, right next door to Red Mountain Golf Club. Where Red Mountain is dramatic and punishing, Loch Palm is relaxed and rewarding. The course circles Crystal Lake, the largest lake on any Phuket golf course, with more than 1,400 palm trees lining the fairways. It’s the course where you’ll actually post a decent score and walk off feeling good about your game.
| Loch Palm Golf Club Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Par / Yards | 72 / 6,584 yards |
| Difficulty | Easy-Medium. Water early, forgiving inland |
| Green Fee | ~2,900-3,500 Baht |
| Cart | Available (~700 Baht) |
| Caddie | Mandatory. Fee ~400 Baht + tip 300-500 Baht |
| Key Feature | Crystal Lake (largest on any Phuket course), 1,400+ palms |
| Driving Range | Unique: hit floating balls onto the lake |
| Condition | Usually excellent. Green speed can vary |
| Location | Kathu (central). 6.7 km from Patong, next to Red Mountain |
| Sister Course | Red Mountain Golf Club (harder, more expensive) |
What Makes Loch Palm Special
Loch Palm doesn’t try to be the hardest course in Phuket, and that’s exactly why so many golfers enjoy it. The layout is straightforward but interesting, with enough variety to keep you engaged without destroying your scorecard. The front nine circles Crystal Lake, with water in play on the opening holes. Once you move inland on the back nine, the course opens up and becomes more forgiving. The setting is beautiful. The valley location means you’re surrounded by jungle hills on all sides, and the 1,400+ palm trees lining the fairways give the course its distinctive character.
The fairways are wider than at Red Mountain, so a slightly wayward drive usually finds grass rather than jungle. The rough is manageable. The greens are generally in good condition, though speed can be inconsistent from day to day. Ask your caddie about the pace before your first putt. The course conditioning is usually excellent, and the layout flows well. A round takes about 4 hours at a comfortable pace. The driving range is unique: you hit floating balls onto the lake, which is fun and a genuine novelty before your round.
The Holes You’ll Remember
Holes 1-3 (The Lake Loop): The opening holes circle Crystal Lake, and water is in play on all of them. If you can keep your ball dry through the first three holes, you’ve set yourself up for a good round. Play conservatively here. A straight drive is more important than a long one.
Hole 4 (Par 3): The pick of the front nine. A medium-length par 3 with water all the way from tee to green. It’s the most photogenic hole on the course and the one that demands your best swing. Anything short or left is wet.
Hole 10 (Par 4, Dogleg): The back nine starts with a risk-reward dogleg. A good drive that cuts the corner leaves a short approach, but get out of position and trees block your path to the green. The safe play is to aim down the centre and accept a longer second shot.
Hole 11 (Par 5): A downhill tee shot to a generous landing area gives you a chance to open up. Your second shot needs to negotiate a stream crossing the fairway before you attempt to reach a table-top green protected by a steep bank. Birdie chance for long hitters who find the right angles.
Hole 14 (Par 3): The best par 3 on the back nine and possibly the best on the course. An elevated tee box looks down at a green far below, almost surrounded by water. The elevation drop means club selection is shorter than the yardage suggests. A great hole that looks scarier than it plays if you trust the caddie’s club recommendation.
What to Expect on the Day
Check-in: The clubhouse is well-maintained with a pro shop and restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed. Arrive about 20 minutes before your tee time.
Warm-up: Don’t miss the driving range. You hit floating balls onto Crystal Lake. It’s fun, but it also gets you loose before the round. There’s a putting green for checking speed.
On the course: Cart available but the course is comfortable to walk on the inland sections. Expect about 4 hours for a round. The course is popular, so pace of play can slow on busy days, but the flow of the layout is generally good.
After the round: The clubhouse restaurant has decent food and views over the course. If you’re playing Red Mountain the next day, the clubhouse is literally next door, so you can check in and familiarise yourself with the setup.
Who Should Play Here
Loch Palm is the right course for mid to high handicappers who want a good score in a beautiful setting. The wider fairways, manageable rough, and reasonable length mean you’ll hit more greens in regulation than at the tougher Phuket courses. It’s also a great choice for a group with mixed abilities because everyone can have a good time without the frustration that harder courses cause for higher handicappers.
Low handicappers will find Loch Palm pleasant but not particularly challenging. The course won’t test your game the way Red Mountain does. But it’s an excellent recovery round, a good warm-up before a harder course, or a relaxed day when you want to enjoy the scenery and play well. The most popular approach is to pair Loch Palm with Red Mountain for a two-day Kathu golf trip. The contrast between the two courses is part of the appeal.
Loch Palm vs Red Mountain
They’re next door to each other, and most visiting golfers play both. Here’s how they compare.
| Loch Palm | Red Mountain | |
|---|---|---|
| Yards | 6,584 | 6,781 |
| Difficulty | Easy-Medium | Hard |
| Green Fee | ~2,900-3,500 Baht | ~5,500-6,500 Baht |
| Fairways | Wider, palm-lined | Narrow, jungle-lined |
| Terrain | Valley, gentle undulation | Extreme elevation changes, cliffs |
| Lost Balls | Few (water on early holes) | Many (jungle, cliffs, water) |
| Best For | Good score, relaxed round | Dramatic scenery, real challenge |
| The One You’ll… | Score better on | Talk about more |
Most golfers play Red Mountain first (the harder test while you’re fresh) and Loch Palm second (a more relaxed round the next day). Some prefer the reverse, using Loch Palm as a warm-up before the main event. Either order works.
Insider Tips
Loch Palm is the course in Phuket where most golfers post their best score. The combination of reasonable length, wider fairways, and a forgiving layout means your card won’t be wrecked by one bad hole. That makes it genuinely enjoyable rather than just scenic.
Survive the first three holes and you’re set. The lake holes at the start are the toughest stretch. Once you move inland, the course opens up and becomes friendlier. If you drop a couple of shots early, don’t panic. The back nine gives you chances to recover.
Green speed can be inconsistent, so check with your caddie before your first putt. Some days the greens run fast, other days they’re slower. Adjusting early saves three-putts later in the round. Try the floating-ball driving range before your round. It’s the only one of its kind in Phuket, and it’s a fun way to loosen up while hitting balls onto Crystal Lake.
The Kathu location is ideal. At 6.7 km from Patong, you can play a morning round and be at the beach or a restaurant by lunchtime. Red Mountain and Phuket Country Club are both within a few kilometres, making Kathu the best area in Phuket for a multi-course golf trip.
Loch Palm Through the Years
Loch Palm has been part of the Phuket golf scene for many years, established in the Kathu valley as a more accessible alternative to the demanding courses that would follow. The layout was designed to complement the natural terrain, using Crystal Lake as the centrepiece and the surrounding palm-lined valley to create a course that’s attractive without being overwhelming.
When Red Mountain opened next door in 2007, Loch Palm gained a natural partner. The two courses became a popular two-day combination, with golfers playing one each day and enjoying the contrast between the easier, more relaxed Loch Palm and the dramatic, harder Red Mountain.
Over the years, the conditioning at Loch Palm has improved steadily. The fairways and greens are generally well-maintained, and the course has built a loyal following among regular Phuket golfers. It occupies a comfortable middle ground in the Phuket golf scene: more interesting than Phuket Country Club, less punishing than Red Mountain, and priced fairly for the quality on offer.
Loch Palm Golf Club Info
Location: KathuAddress: Thailand Kathu, Kathu District, Phuket 83120
Open: 6 am – 7 pm
Phone: 081 893 6302
Green Fee: ~2,900-3,500 Baht. Caddie ~400 Baht + tip. Cart ~700 Baht
Distance from Phuket International Airport: 35 km
Distance to Patong: 6.7 km
Distance to Phuket Town: 8 km
