Golf in Phuket: Best Courses, Caddies and Booking Tips

Golf in Phuket is at its best from November to April, when the dry season brings clear mornings, firm fairways and the island's busiest tee sheets. Phuket packs a surprising number of quality courses into a small area, from a layout carved out of an old tin mine to a resort course beside Bang Tao Beach, so it pays to know which course suits your game and how local customs such as caddies work before you book.

When is the best time to play?

The high season from November to April is the prime window. Rain is much less frequent than in the south-west monsoon months, and mornings are the most comfortable time to be on the course. The trade-off is demand: early tee times between roughly 7am and 10am are the first to sell out, especially around Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year. If you are travelling in the next few weeks, our guides to Phuket weather in November and Phuket in December explain what conditions to expect.

Courses stay open through the rainy season from May to October as well. Rates are usually lower and the fairways quieter, and morning rounds are often playable before afternoon storms build.

Which courses are worth playing?

Most courses for golf in Phuket sit in two clusters: Kathu in the centre of the island and Thalang in the north. That makes it easy to plan a short golf trip without long transfers.

• Red Mountain Golf Club, Kathu: opened in 2007 on the site of a former tin mine, with red rock faces, steep elevation changes and a famous par-3 17th that drops about 50 metres from tee to green. It is owned by MBK, which describes it as a short drive from Patong and Phuket Town. Carts are compulsory because of the terrain.
• Loch Palm Golf Club, Kathu: Red Mountain's next-door neighbour and sister course, built around a lake in a palm-lined valley. It is more forgiving and a popular second round for visitors staying in Patong or Karon.
• Blue Canyon Country Club, Thalang: home of the Canyon Course, designed by Yoshikazu Kato, which hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994 and 1998. A second layout, the Lakes Course, is usually the gentler and cheaper option.
• Laguna Golf Phuket, Cherngtalay: an 18-hole, par-71 course inside the Laguna Phuket resort complex, linked to the surrounding hotels by a free shuttle.
• Mission Hills Phuket, Pa Klok: a Jack Nicklaus design on the north-east coast, with holes played beside the Andaman Sea and an easy run to the airport for an arrival or departure day round.
• Phuket Country Club, Kathu: one of the island's older layouts and generally its most affordable full course.

How do the main areas compare?

Area	Courses	Best for
Kathu (central)	Red Mountain, Loch Palm, Phuket Country Club	Guests in Patong, Karon, Kata or Phuket Town
Thalang (north)	Blue Canyon, Mission Hills	Guests near the airport or on the north-west beaches
Cherngtalay (west)	Laguna Golf Phuket	Resort stays around Bang Tao

If you are based on the west coast, our guide to things to do in Bang Tao covers what else the area offers once your round is done.

How much does a round cost?

Green fees change with the season, the day of the week and the booking channel, so treat any figure as a guide only. Booking guides currently put most green fees on the island at roughly 2,500 baht and up, with peak-season rates at the premium resort courses reaching 5,000 baht or more. Check what is included before you pay. Some clubs bundle the cart and caddie into the price, while others charge them separately.

Twilight rounds and rainy-season rates are the simplest ways to save. Booking direct with the club or through a reputable tee-time platform, and comparing both, also helps.

How do caddies work on Phuket courses?

A caddie is mandatory at most courses here, and it is the custom that surprises many first-timers to golf in Phuket. The caddie fee is often charged separately from the green fee. Caddies carry or drive your bag, read the greens and help you find your ball, which is useful on hilly, jungle-lined holes. A cash tip paid directly to your caddie at the end of the round is customary, so carry some small notes. Club hire is widely available, and premium sets can be booked in advance at the bigger clubs.

How should you book and get there?

In high season, golf in Phuket books up quickly, so reserving two to four weeks ahead is sensible for popular courses and early slots. Confirm the tee time in writing, note the club's cancellation policy and ask whether hotel transfers are offered.

Most visitors reach the courses by taxi, ride-hailing app or hotel transfer. Our comparison of Grab vs Bolt in Phuket helps with fares, and a hire car makes sense if you plan several rounds, as explained in our guide to car rental in Phuket. Allow extra time for traffic in the morning rush, and aim to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your tee time to check in, pay and warm up.

What should you pack?

• A collared shirt and proper golf shoes, as most clubs enforce a dress code
• Sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water, since the sun is strong even in the morning
• Spare gloves and balls, because jungle and water hazards claim plenty
• Cash in Thai baht for caddie tips and drinks on the course

Laguna Phuket also hosts the annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon, so check event dates if you plan to play there on a race weekend. For course details and membership options, see the official Laguna Golf Phuket website and MBK's Red Mountain Golf Club page.

FAQ

Can beginners enjoy golf in Phuket?

Yes. Loch Palm, the Blue Canyon Lakes Course and Phuket Country Club are generally more forgiving than Red Mountain, and caddies can help with club choice and reading the greens.

Do I need to bring my own clubs?

No. The main clubs rent sets, though it is worth reserving premium rental clubs in advance during high season.

Is it possible to play two courses in one trip without long drives?

Yes. Red Mountain and Loch Palm sit side by side in Kathu, and Phuket Country Club is close by, so many golfers base themselves centrally and play a different course each morning.

Can I play golf in Phuket during the rainy season?

Yes. Courses stay open all year, and morning tee times usually beat the afternoon storms, often at lower rates than in the high season.

Photo: Anton Zelenov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0