The Best of Bangkok

The HK Golfer Guide to Golf in the City of Angels

Lotus Valley Golf Resort ***

Formerly known as World Trade Golf Club and originally designed by Gary Player, the course re-opened last year after receiving a major overhaul from Jon Morrow (designer of Phuket’s infamous Red Mountain) following a change in ownership. Morrow’s changes focused mainly on lengthening the course and beefing up the greens – and he certainly didn’t hold back. Not only is Lotus Valley one of the most water-laced courses in Thailand, it is also home to some of the most severe putting surfaces: find the wrong tier on some of his split-level greens and you’ll do very well to get down in two. Regardless, this course is fun. While Player’s preference to keep most of the trouble down the left rather limits the variety of tee shots required, there are spectacular moments, especially at the tenth, a fabulous short risk-reward par-four, and the par-five eighteenth, one of the city’s best closing holes. Replete with an enormous modern clubhouse and a superb array of post-round amenities (including a lodge for those who feel the three hour roundtrip from the centre of town is too much to be tackled in one day), Louts Valley is one of the most impressive facilities in the area.
YARDAGE: 6,955 Par: 72
ARCHITECT: Gary Player (1992) Jon Morrow (2008)
GREEN FEE: THB1,500-2,500 exclusive of cart and caddie
GETTING THERE: 90 minutes from downtown Bangkok; 50 minutes from airport
CONTACT: www.lotusvalley.co.th

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Written by The Editors

Photography by Charles McLaughlin

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