SANTIBURI SAMUI COUNTRY CLUB

Santiburi Samui Country Club was Koh Samui's first golf course and offers both challenge and charm in a lush tropical setting. This 18-hole championship course became famous when it hosted the Bangkok Airways Open in 2006. Situated on a hillside on Koh Samui's north shore, amidst mature coconut palm gardens, the golf course offers panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand and Koh Phangan Island. Most holes offer magnificent views of the ocean and beach. Waterfalls and streams flow through the course, adding to the lush, natural beauty, with the hills providing a picturesque backdrop.

Each of the 18 holes at Santiburi Samui Country Club presents its own unique character and challenges. From steep uphill and downhill slopes to winding fairways carved out of the forest and snaking around cliffs and streams, Santiburi Samui Country Club is one of Thailand's most unique golf courses.

The Tifeagle grass greens are very fast and the new shade-resistant Sea Isle Paspalum tees and fairways ensure good playing conditions all year round.

The golf course begins with the first holes through a forest of mature coconut palms and then progresses up the mountain. The fairways follow the natural line of the hills, creating an interesting and challenging game of golf. The rocky outcrops found on several holes also add to the challenge.

As a short, mountainous course, it rewards accuracy over distance. Small fairways are the order of the day on most holes, but the large greens make approach shots a little easier. Koh Samui golf requires a cart to get up and down the steep mountain slopes.