Booking: Open to all. At weekends on the Old Course there are six-ball shotgun starts each day at 0630 and 1230, which must be booked in advance (on a blackboard in the clubhouse).
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant, driving range, swimming pool.
Green fees: weekday $; weekend $$ .

Also known as Lard Ped or New Royal Air Force, this is an interesting 18-hole par 72 course, with no two holes alike. The fairways and greens were much improved for the Thai Open of 1990, but can still be soggy after heavy rain. Green fees are among the least expensive in Bangkok, but as a result it is almost impossible to get a booking at weekends. In the pleasantly breezy clubhouse, beer is served at supermarket prices.
Booking: open to all, but reservations essential at weekends.
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant, driving range.
Green fees: weekday $; weekend $$

The first thing you see when fly into Bangkok is a golf course. Also known as Don Muang or Old Royal Thai Air Force, it stretches all the way between the two main runways of Don Muang International Airport. It is a surprisingly long, varied and tough 18-hole par 72 course. Playing this course is quite an experience; the frequent blasts of sound from landing jumbos should cure your putting twitch for all time. The clubhouse has just been rebuilt and is surprisingly peaceful with exceptionally cheap drinks and snacks. Great value.
Booking: open to all, but reservations are necessary at weekends.
Green fees: weekday $; weekend $$

Much favoured by local experts, this is an old-fashioned design with narrow fairways lined by open ditches, colourful shrubs and mature trees. The 18-hole par 72 course is currently undergoing a total rebuild - nine holes at a time, but it is still possible to play the other nine. When completed it will rival Navatanee as the best course in Bangkok. The charming caddies are among the most knowledgeable in Thailand - look for stars on the back of their uniforms, each one denoting five years' service. A new clubhouse has just been built.
Booking: members' priority, but visitors welcome.
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant.
Green fees: weekday $$$; weekend $$$$

The first 18 holes of a planned 36 are now complete. Designer, Roger Packard, has created a pleasant modern course, typical of the former paddy field courses around Bangkok, with ample fairways and big greens. There will be a lack of shade for some time yet. There is an enormous clubhouse.
Booking: members' priority.
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurants, tennis, swimming pool, gymnasium.
Green fees: weekday $; weekend $$

Cleverly designed this 18-hole par 72 course, now reaching full maturity, and usually in good condition. The clubhouse overlooking island greens (9th and 18th) is one of the most attractive in Thailand. Next door is a newer, shorter and tighter sister course, Muang Ake Vista (par 70), which is floodlit for night golf. The group is currently building a third course on Highway 305, about 65 km from Bangkok, which will be known as Muang Ake Wang Noi.
Booking: essential at weekends. Closed Mondays.
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant, night golf, tennis, swimming pool.
Green fees: weekday $; weekend $$.

Classic Robert Trent Jones Jr. course, built for the 1973 World Cup, it was the first course locally to do away with drainage ditches alongside the fairways. Although on flat terrain, the designer made use of every available feature, and the 18-hole par 72 course is stunningly decorated with shrubs and flowers that change colour with colour with the seasons. It is surrounded by some of the most opulent houses in Bangkok. The par 5 ninth hole across the lake is one of the finest in Thailand. The clubhouse is particularly agreeable, but a day at Navatanee is an expensive outing.
Booking: members' priority, but visitors are rather generally accepted. Often heavily booked by wealthy Japanese tour groups.
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant.
Green fees: weekday $$$; weekend $$$$$.

Lovely, colourful course by Ronald Fream, who seems to have a special affinity for Thailand. The park-type 27-hole course is so lavishly decorated that it is almost like playing in an enormous garden. There are some lovely par three holes across water. The clubhouse is enormous and sumptuous. Carts are available. Another 15 km down Ramindra road is another of Panya's 27-hole courses, Panya Park, whose big clubhouse has just been completed.
Booking: members' priority; visitors (apart from members' guests) on weekdays only. Closed on Mondays.
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant. sports centre.
Green fees: weekday $$$: weekend $$$$.

President
On Suwinthawong Road (an extension of Ramindra road) on the right side past Minburi.
Tel: 518-0516; Fax: 375-1059

The first of three planned 18-hole courses that will become the largest golf development in Thailand (apart from Dragon Hills), the first course has been designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., who has a wonderful talent for making difficult courses that always have an escape route for the less competent. He moved huge quantities of earth to create wide, rolling fairways, many of them alongside water. It will be hot on sunny days until the vegetation matures. The huge clubhouse in neo-classical style has a range of bars and restaurants and a snooker room.
Booking: visitors welcomed, but reservations essential at weekends. Closed on Mondays.l Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant, swimming pool, tennis, snooker.
Green fees: weekday $$; weekend $$$.

Royal Dusit
Off Phitsanulok Road in the centre of Bangkok.
Tel: 280-2982; Fax: 280-3736

One of two short courses built around racetracks before the First World War in the very heart of Bangkok (the other is the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, which is only open to members). Only 4,666 yards, par 66, but all right for a practice round. At night it is floodlit and run by a separate organisation called PJA Night Golf.
Booking: members' priority, booking advisable. At night, members' guests only. Closed on race days (every other Sunday).
Green fees: weekday $: weekend $$.

A brand new course of 27 holes by Thailand's best homegrown designer, Dr. Sukitti Klangvishai. He has created a pleasing modern course, featuring wide fairways lined with palm trees, and lots of water. It may take some time to settle. There is an enormous, well-equipped clubhouse.
Booking: visitors can play weekdays only.
Facilities: pro shop, club hire, carts, restaurant, swimming pool, tennis, sauna.
Green fees: weekday $$, weekend $$$.

The last of the old cow pasture and monsoon drain type courses remaining in Bangkok, the 18-hole par 72 course nevertheless has quite an interesting layout, and is by no means easy. There are constant rumours that it has been bought up for redevelopment, but so far it has remained as one of the easier courses to get on at short notice. The clubhouse is tatty but cheerful.
Booking: generally no problem, but weekend reservations advisable.
Green fees: weekday $$; weekend $$$.

Winsan
Off Ramindra Road kilometre 9, then follow the signs for Safari Park another 6 km.
Tel: 518-1055; Fax 521-1184

Jack Nicklaus's signature in Thailand seems to have become the waste bunker - it is to be found on nearly all his courses. This tough 18-hole par 72 course has masses of beach-like areas from tee to green, plus a plethora of deep, narrow bunkers around many of the greens themselves. Definitely not a course for beginners. The palatial clubhouse adjoins a covered garage, and has several restaurants and function rooms. Carts are available. Expensive.
Booking: members' club, but visitors accepted.
Green fees: weekday $$$; weekend $$$$.