Phuket’s Most Affordable 18-Hole Course and Local Favourite
Phuket Country Club is one of the oldest courses on the island and the most affordable option for a full 18-hole round. It’s shorter than the newer courses and doesn’t try to be a championship test. What it offers instead is a relaxed, enjoyable round with varied terrain, some genuinely interesting holes, and a local atmosphere that the bigger resort courses can’t match. It’s the course where Phuket’s expat community and Thai golfers play regularly, and it remains popular with visiting golfers who want a pressure-free round without spending half their holiday budget on green fees.
| Phuket Country Club Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Par / Yards | 72 / 6,489 yards |
| Difficulty | Easy. Forgiving off the tee, shorter layout |
| Green Fee | ~2,500-3,000 Baht (the cheapest 18 holes in Phuket) |
| Cart | Available (~600 Baht). Course is walkable |
| Caddie | Mandatory. Fee ~300 Baht + tip 300-400 Baht |
| Established | One of Phuket’s oldest courses (1980s) |
| Best For | High handicappers, budget round, social golf |
| Terrain | Mixed: open, undulating, flat, and jungle sections |
| Location | Kathu. 7 km from Patong, 5.5 km from Phuket Town |
| Nearby Courses | Red Mountain and Loch Palm (both in Kathu) |
What Makes Phuket Country Club Special
This isn’t the prettiest course in Phuket, and it won’t challenge a scratch golfer the way Red Mountain or Blue Canyon will. But Phuket Country Club has something the newer courses don’t: character. The layout is varied. You get open, undulating fairways on some holes, a relatively flat middle section, and several holes that wind close to the jungle. No two holes feel the same, and the terrain keeps changing as you move through the round.
The course is short at 6,489 yards, which means high handicappers can reach greens in regulation without needing to hit every drive 250 yards. The rough is manageable, the greens are fair, and the overall design doesn’t try to punish you on every shot. That makes for a fun round rather than a frustrating one.
It used to be a walking-only course, and the walking option is still available. Buggy tracks have been added and buggies are now part of the setup. The clubhouse is simple compared to the resort courses, but it has everything you need and the atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious.
The Holes You’ll Remember
Hole 1 (Par 4): An intimidating start. The tee shot demands a carry over a ravine to reach the safety of the fairway. It sets the nerves going early, even though the hole is not long. Hit the fairway and the approach is straightforward. Miss it and you’re scrambling from the start.
Hole 2 (Par 3): A short downhill par 3 to a slightly raised green. After the pressure of the 1st, this is a chance to settle down. Good club selection here means an easy par.
Hole 9 (Par 5): An excellent par 5 to finish the front nine. A large tree acts as your target off the tee, and finding the right position gives you a genuine chance to reach the green in two. Risk-reward at its best on a shorter course. A good drive opens up a birdie chance that makes you feel like you’ve earned it.
Hole 10 (Par 4, “The Banana Hole”): The most memorable hole on the course and one of the most talked-about in Phuket. The hole curves around a large lake in the centre of the course, shaped like a banana. You have two choices: play around the lake the traditional way and hit two good shots to the green, or aim straight across the water and try to reach the green from the tee. Make it across and you’re looking at a short chip and a birdie. Miss, and your ball is in the lake. Most locals have tried the shortcut at least once. The success rate is low, but the celebrations when it works are loud.
Hole 17 (Par 3): A short downhill par 3 to an island green. It’s a pretty hole and a nice change of pace late in the round. The island setting makes it feel more dramatic than its yardage suggests.
What to Expect on the Day
Check-in: The clubhouse is simple and functional. No resort gloss here, but the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is welcoming. The pro shop has basic supplies.
On the course: You can walk or take a buggy. The course is comfortable to walk and a round takes about 3.5 to 4 hours. Pace of play is generally good because the regulars know the course well and move efficiently. Weekday mornings are the quietest times.
After the round: The clubhouse has a bar and simple food. It’s a no-frills setup but perfect for a cold beer after your round. The Kathu location means you’re a short drive from Patong and its restaurants, or from Phuket Town.
Who Should Play Here
Phuket Country Club is the right course if you’re a high handicapper who wants to enjoy a round without losing a dozen balls. The shorter layout, manageable rough, and fair greens mean you’ll finish with a decent score and a smile.
It’s also the budget choice. At roughly half the price of Red Mountain, a round here lets you play two courses in Phuket for the price of one premium green fee. Some golfers play Phuket Country Club as their warm-up round on arrival day, then tackle Red Mountain or Blue Canyon the next day when they’ve adjusted to the heat and conditions.
Low handicappers won’t find a technical challenge here, but they will find a fun, quick round and a local atmosphere that the resort courses lack. If you’re playing four or five rounds during a Phuket golf trip, fitting in Phuket Country Club keeps costs down and adds variety.
Insider Tips
Phuket Country Club is the most honest round of golf in Phuket. No pretension, no inflated green fees, just a well-run course that has been making golfers happy for decades.
On the 10th hole, take the safe route around the lake unless you’re genuinely confident of carrying 200+ yards over water. The percentage play is to go around. But if it’s your last round in Phuket and you’re feeling brave, go for it. Your caddie will enjoy watching either way.
The course is closest to Patong Beach of any 18-hole course in Phuket. You can play 18 and be back on the beach by lunchtime. That makes it ideal for golfers travelling with non-playing partners who want to split the day.
Green fees are lowest during the low season (May to October) and on weekday mornings. Booking through a golf agent still saves compared to walk-in, though the difference is smaller here than at the premium courses.
The Kathu area has three courses within a few kilometres: Phuket Country Club, Red Mountain, and Loch Palm. Playing all three gives you the full range of Phuket golf, from budget to premium, in one compact area.
Phuket Country Club Through the Years
Phuket Country Club is one of the first golf courses built on the island, dating back to the 1980s when Phuket’s golf scene barely existed. It started as a walking course, and for years it was the only real option for a round of golf in Phuket. The layout is a product of its era: shorter, simpler design without the dramatic landscaping and elevation changes of the courses that followed.
As newer courses opened (Blue Canyon in the 1990s, Red Mountain in 2007), Phuket Country Club lost its position as the top course on the island. But it never lost its local following. The addition of buggy tracks modernised the experience, and the green fees stayed affordable while the premium courses pushed prices upward.
Today, Phuket Country Club occupies a clear niche: the most affordable, most accessible, and most locally-frequented course in Phuket. It doesn’t compete with Red Mountain for scenery or Blue Canyon for championship credentials. It competes on value, atmosphere, and the simple pleasure of an enjoyable round of golf.
Phuket Country Club Info
Location: Kathu
Address: 97 Vichitsongkram Rd, Kathu, Kathu District, Phuket 83120
Open: 6 am – 8 pm
Phone: 076 319 365
Green Fee: ~2,500-3,000 Baht (cheapest 18 holes in Phuket). Caddie ~300 Baht + tip. Cart ~600 Baht
Distance from Phuket International Airport: 34 km
Distance to Patong: 7.3 km
Distance to Phuket Town: 5.5 km
