The Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort Details

The Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort opened its doors in 1998, with a 6,969-yard course designed by golfing legend Peter Thompson. Between 1954 and 1965, Thompson won the Open Championship (also commonly referred to as the British Open) five times. Only Jersey-born golfer Harry Vardon ever claimed more titles at the British Open, winning the tournament six times. James Braid, J.H. Taylor, and Tom Watson are the only other three golfers who have won the Open Championship five times. Jack Nicklaus, widely considered to be the greatest golfer of all time, only won it three times—the same number that Tiger Woods has won to date.

The connection to Peter Thompson is the most notable draw of the Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort, but that factor still makes it a must-play course for any golf vacationer in the Chiang Mai area. Thompson designed this course with the clear influence of traditional British Parkland courses in mind. The result is an extremely lush and green course, with an abundance of trees and shrubs from countless different species. Water hazards, hilly terrain, and a deep, deep rough conspire with the trees to make the Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort a challenging, but ultimately rewarding course. That's especially true if you plan on playing from the blue tees—a 7,200-yard challenge that the golf club's official website rightly labels as "a severe test."

Fight your way through the tricky, tree-heavy, water-heavy, and highly hilly terrain of the Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort, though, and there are welcome rewards at the end. The clubhouse is a perfect place to unwind after a challenging round of golf, with a terrace overlooking the 18th hole green that acts as a perfect spot for a victory drink with friends. The resort, meanwhile, is a perfect place for a vacation, offering amenities and activities that range far beyond just golf. Indeed, guests at the hotel have easy access to recreational opportunities such as mountain biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, and cricket. There is also a spa with a sauna, traditional massage, and more.

For those willing to venture beyond the resort property, there are local activities and attractions to suit any family. A TV and motorbikes for off-roading; botanic gardens for beautiful sight-seeing; arts and crafts fairs for hands-on fun; zoos, safaris, and elephant camps for animal lovers; rafting for the daredevil crew. These are just a few of the opportunities that the associates at Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club & Resort can help you to find and enjoy nearby.