This course is about two hours driving distance northeast from central Bangkok in Nakhon Nayok and is part of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Sports Academy. Its a military course but it is open to the general public. As you enter the Academy gate and pass the guards, make a sharp left and follow the road up to the clubhouse and golf bag drop off area. Its a bit off the beaten path and not especially easy to get to, so I don't recommend this course for the first time visitor - but its a great value for the expat or returning visitor who has his/her own transportation.
My main reason for recommending this course is value. Where else can you find a Pete Dye designed course to play for around $15 USD? While the course is not as well maintained as some of the more expensive resort courses that can have green fees five times that amount (its a military golf course), it offers many diabolical challenges typical of a classic Pete Dye design. For those unfamiliar with Pete Dye, he is notorious for his unique and diabolical design elements, including the famous 17th island green hole at TPC Sawgrass, which has been copied by courses all over the world. Each hole offers a unique challenge and big numbers are lurking at each turn. I will typically shoot five or even ten shots more here than other courses because its so easy to get a blow up hole.
The course is almost 7000 yards at the tips, but even from the white tees, its 6463 yards and quite a challenge. What is deceiving is that while the white tees are only 3440 yards on the front and only 3023 on the back nine, the back nine includes a drivable par 4 at 284 yards, a very short par 3 at 113 yards, and a nasty par 3, 15th hole at 145 yards, which I call the 'call hole from hell'. This course plays like a very long course despite the yardage on paper. The greens are smallish and some have water carries to reach them. On two greens, a bad putt or approach shot will cause your balls to roll completely off the green.
Here are some of the interesting design elements on the course:
From the Tee, the idea drive is over the tree
The second shot is over water to the smallish green
If you are short, you're in the water as the face will stop your balls
On this hole, the best and safest position for your ball is obstructed by this big tree- hit over it or else. Play it safe to the left and have a very long second shot over the water to the green or take your chances and try to drive it over the 200 yard marker...miss right and you're wet.
Drivable par 4
At only 284 yards, it looks on paper to be an easily drivable par 4 for longer hitters. But its severely uphill and guarded by a tree on the right third of the fairway. Right is dead..you'll never find your ball. Once at the green, its bunkered and a severe drop on the left side will leave you 40 feet below the hole in the woods. Safest bet is to drive it left off the tree and maybe a short pitching wedge into the green. This hole is a drivable par 4, but it can turn into a snowman 8 real quick.
The 'call hole' from hell
Up the hill to the pin
Chip or putt it hard enough or it will roll back to your feet
Holes numbers 14 and 15 have greens than punish bad putts or approach shots by sliding them completely off. I got to the green in regulation on 14, but four putted because my first putt uphill wasn't hard enough and it rolled back off the green. Hole 15 requires a precise shot to a pin on the upper left hand quadrant of the green, or its off the green completely. The first time I played this hole a few years back, I thought I hit a pretty decent shot which landed about five feet to the right of the pin, but soon found out to my amazement that it was rolling ever so slowly, then quickly, completely off the green!. At 145 yards, it really plays like a 160 yard hole because its severely uphill. I double bogeyed both of these holes the other day - lost 4 strokes in two holes..brutal.
There are other unique design elements for this course, like a severely elevated 18th green off a severe dog leg left, but I will leave those for you to discover for yourself. I'll conclude by telling you that this course is a lot of fun and definitely a challenge. Don't look for country club conditions, in fact the locker room is really basic, old, and military like, but for a avid golfer, this place is great for a pleasant day at the links.
My score card for last Friday, not great, but its Khao-Cha-Ngok.
Google Map to golf course
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