Pattaya is one of Asia's premier golf destinations - more than twenty championship-standard courses ringing the Chonburi hills, famously good caddies, and green fees a fraction of Western prices. Here is the expat and visitor guide: the best courses, what a round really costs in baht, how caddies and tipping work, membership versus pay-and-play, booking, and the best time to play.
For golfers, Pattaya is one of the best-value destinations on earth. Ringing the resort city - mostly in the hills to the east around Huai Yai and north toward Laem Chabang - are more than twenty well-kept courses, many built to championship standard and headlined by the LPGA-hosting Siam Country Club, nearly all open to visitors on a pay-and-play basis. Add Thailand's signature caddie service, warm weather almost year-round and green fees far below Western levels, and it is easy to see why Pattaya is such a popular golf-holiday base. This guide covers where to play, what it costs in baht, how caddies and tipping work, whether to join a club or pay as you go, how to book, and when to play.
Pattaya and the wider Chonburi countryside form one of the densest concentrations of quality golf anywhere in Asia - more than twenty courses sit within about an hour of the beach, many built to championship standard. The undisputed headline act is Siam Country Club, whose Old Course, Plantation, Waterside and Rolling Hills layouts have hosted the LPGA and are consistently rated among Thailand's best. Add Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino designs nearby and you have a destination that draws golf-holiday travellers from across the region.
Most of the marquee courses lie in the rolling hills east of the city around Huai Yai, Pong and Bang Lamung, roughly 20 to 45 minutes from Jomtien and Central Pattaya. Siam Country Club's four courses anchor the cluster, joined by Pattana Golf Club & Resort, Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club and Chee Chan Golf Resort beneath the giant hillside Buddha at Khao Chi Chan. Conditioning is excellent, the settings are green and spacious, and this is where serious players base their week.
North of Pattaya toward Laem Chabang and Si Racha you will find Laem Chabang International Country Club - a well-known 27-hole Jack Nicklaus design - along with Khao Kheow Country Club and Bangpra Golf Club set among reservoirs and hills. These sit around 30 to 50 minutes from central Pattaya and reward the short drive with strong layouts and quieter fairways, making them a favourite for a half-day out from the coast.
Several clubs pair golf with hotels, spas and dining so you can stay and play - Phoenix Gold, Pattana and Chee Chan among them - which suits visitors who want the whole trip in one place. Burapha Golf Club and Emerald Golf Club round out the choice with 36-hole variety and good practice facilities. Many of these clubs quote packages that bundle green fee, cart and caddie, which keeps costs predictable for a golf holiday.
| What you pay | Typical range (THB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday green fee | 1,200 - 3,500 | Championship courses (e.g. Siam Country Club) sit at the top; simpler layouts are cheaper |
| Weekend / holiday green fee | 2,000 - 5,500 | Weekends carry a premium and book out fast - reserve ahead |
| Caddie fee | 400 - 500 | A caddie is effectively mandatory at nearly every Thai course |
| Caddie tip | 300 - 500+ | Customary on top of the fee; more for excellent service or a full-day round |
| Golf cart | 600 - 900 | Often compulsory at the busier resort courses and at weekends |
| Club rental (full set) | 500 - 1,500 | Available at most clubs; reserve good sets ahead in high season |
| Stay-and-play / all-in package | 3,000 - 6,000+ | Resort clubs bundle green fee, cart, caddie and sometimes a room or F&B |
Indicative ranges for the Pattaya and Chonburi area; actual prices vary by course, day and season. Confirm current rates with the club when booking.
As everywhere in Thailand, a caddie is part of the game around Pattaya and is required at almost every course. The caddie fee is modest - usually 400 to 500 baht - and is paid to the club, while a tip of 300 to 500 baht or more is customary and handed directly to the caddie at the end of the round. Caddies clean clubs, read greens, rake bunkers and shield you from sun and rain, and a good one genuinely improves your round in the Chonburi heat, so tip well for good work.
Nearly every Pattaya-area course welcomes visitors and non-members on a pay-and-play basis, which is exactly why the region is such a popular golf-holiday base - you simply pay green fees as you go. Memberships exist at clubs like Siam Country Club and can suit residents who play very frequently or want weekend priority and a home club, but they carry meaningful upfront and annual costs. For most expats and visitors, pay-and-play across several courses is the flexible, better-value choice.
Weekday tee times are usually easy to arrange by calling the club or booking online; weekends and public holidays fill quickly, especially in the cool high season, so reserve days ahead. Discount tee-time platforms such as GolfDigg and Golfin are widely used in Thailand and let you compare Chonburi courses and grab off-peak rates, while Pattaya's many golf-tour operators and hotel concierges can arrange rounds, transport and packages. Turn up 45 to 60 minutes early to check in, warm up and meet your caddie.
The coolest, driest and most comfortable golf runs roughly November to February; March to May is hot, and the June to October green season brings lush fairways with afternoon downpours - so tee off early year-round. The courses sit in the hills outside town with no rail service, so drive, hire a car, or use a booked car or Grab with a return arranged; most clubs and golf operators also run transfers from Pattaya and Jomtien hotels. Bring sun protection, plenty of water, soft spikes and a collared shirt - dress codes are enforced - and note that most clubs hire out clubs and shoes if you are travelling light.
Budget roughly 1,200 to 3,500 baht for a weekday green fee and 2,000 to 5,500 baht at weekends, with championship courses such as Siam Country Club at the top of those ranges. On top of the green fee you pay a caddie fee of around 400 to 500 baht (plus a customary tip of 300 to 500 baht or more), and often 600 to 900 baht for a cart. Many Pattaya clubs also sell stay-and-play or all-in packages from around 3,000 baht that bundle green fee, cart and caddie.
Siam Country Club - with its Old Course, Plantation, Waterside and Rolling Hills layouts - is the headline destination and has hosted the LPGA. Other highly rated courses in the Chonburi area include Laem Chabang International Country Club (a Jack Nicklaus design), Pattana Golf Club & Resort, Phoenix Gold, Chee Chan Golf Resort, Khao Kheow Country Club, Bangpra, Burapha and Emerald. Most lie in the hills 20 to 50 minutes from the beach.
Yes - a caddie is effectively mandatory at almost every course around Pattaya, as across Thailand. The caddie fee is modest and paid to the club, and a tip is customary on top and given directly to the caddie. Caddies read greens, clean clubs, rake bunkers and keep you shaded in the Chonburi heat, and a good one genuinely improves your round, so tipping well for good service is the norm.
No. Almost all courses around Pattaya and Chonburi welcome visitors and non-members on a pay-and-play basis, which is why the region is such a popular golf-holiday base. Memberships exist at clubs like Siam Country Club and can suit very frequent players who want a home club and weekend priority, but for most expats and visitors pay-and-play across several courses is more flexible and better value.
The cool, dry season from roughly November to February offers the most comfortable playing conditions and is peak golf-holiday season, so book early. March to May is hot, and the green season from June to October brings lush fairways but frequent afternoon rain. Whatever the month, teeing off early in the morning avoids both the worst heat and the afternoon storms.
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Hero photo by Juckelene Toledo on Pexels. General information only; confirm current green fees, caddie fees, cart rules and tee-time availability with each club before you play.