Chee Chan Golf Resort
Overview
Chee Chan Golf Resort is the newest premier-tier golf course in the Pattaya region — an 18-hole David Dale (Golfplan) design that opened in 2018 on 580 Rai (229 acres / 92 hectares) at Na Jomtien, Sattahip. The course's defining and unique feature is its direct sightline to Khao Chi Chan, a sacred mountain whose 130-metre (425-foot) cliff face displays the golden engraving of Phra Phuttha Maha Wachira Uttamopat Satsada — considered the world's largest Lord Buddha image carved on rock, visible from every single hole on the golf course.
This single design feature places Chee Chan in a unique global category. There is no other golf course on Earth where the world's largest cliff Buddha is the visual backdrop of every shot. The combination of modern American architectural design (David Dale of Golfplan), 7,345-yard championship layout, premium maintenance, lightning-fast TifEagle greens, and the Khao Chi Chan visual backdrop creates an experience that's both architecturally serious and spiritually distinctive.
For golfers who want the newest and most photographically iconic Pattaya golf experience — and especially for visitors who want to combine golf with a visit to the famous Khao Chi Chan cliff Buddha attraction — Chee Chan is the destination course.
Position in the Pattaya Golf Market
Chee Chan occupies a specific position in the modern era of Pattaya courses:
| Era | Notable Course | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s premier | Siam Country Club Plantation (2008) | Schmidt-Curley design |
| 2010s premier | Siam Waterside (2014) | Lake-themed design |
| Late 2010s | Chee Chan Golf Resort (2018) | Khao Chi Chan visual + Golfplan design |
| 2020s | Various renovations + boutique developments | Continuing evolution |
Chee Chan is the newest of the premier-tier courses — meaning the most modern infrastructure, the freshest agronomy, and the latest architectural thinking.
The Khao Chi Chan Buddha — The Course's Defining Feature
The course's name and visual identity come from Khao Chi Chan (เขาชีจรรย์), the sacred mountain dominating the Sattahip skyline:
The Buddha Image
- Phra Phuttha Maha Wachira Uttamopat Satsada — official name
- 130 metres tall (the Buddha figure itself)
- Carved into the cliff face of Khao Chi Chan in 1995-1996
- Considered the world's largest Buddha image carved on a cliff
- Created by laser-engraving and gold leaf inlay — the gold makes the image visible for kilometres
- Sacred Buddhist site — pilgrimages and meditation visits common
- Visible from every hole of Chee Chan Golf Resort by design
Why This Matters for Golf
Most golf courses have architectural visual focal points — a clubhouse, a water feature, a distant mountain. Chee Chan has a 130-metre golden Buddha visible from every shot. The implications:
- Photographic appeal — every hole has a "money shot"
- Spiritual atmosphere — Buddhist visitors feel reverent
- Course-routing logic — the design intentionally orients holes toward the mountain
- Marketing distinction — no other course can claim this
Surrounding Tourist Context
The Khao Chi Chan area is also home to:
- Wat Yannasangwararam — major Buddhist temple complex
- Silverlake Vineyard — popular tourist attraction
- Greta Resort (the Italian tennis club covered separately)
- Multiple boutique resorts and condos
This makes Chee Chan part of a broader tourist circuit — visitors can combine golf with cultural sightseeing.
Course Designer — David Dale (Golfplan)
The course was designed by David Dale of Golfplan, an American golf architecture firm with global tournament-grade portfolio. Golfplan is one of the established second-tier American firms (after the absolute headliners like Nicklaus, Dye, Fazio):
- Founded by Robert Muir Graves in 1953
- David Dale is current principal of the firm
- Multiple Asian projects including courses in Thailand, Vietnam, China, India
- Known for routing designs that respect natural landscape
Dale's design for Chee Chan emphasises:
- Routing oriented for Khao Chi Chan visual presence
- "Scottish Highlands" playing experience — gently rolling hills, firm fairways, natural-look bunkering
- Strategic water hazards with risk-reward decision points
- Premium agronomy (TifEagle greens) for fast, true rolling
Course Architecture
Layout
- 18 holes
- Par 72
- 7,345 yards from championship tees
- 6,527 yards from front tees
- Multiple tee boxes for varied skill levels
Design Style — "Scottish Highlands in Thailand"
Unlike most Pattaya courses (lush parkland or tropical-jungle styles), Chee Chan presents:
- Gently rolling hills — natural elevation changes throughout
- Firm fairways offering good roll — distance gain on long drives
- Lightning-fast TifEagle greens — putts go further and faster than expected
- Naturalistic bunkering with rugged edges
- Open vistas rather than tree-lined corridors
This Scottish Highlands sensibility in Thailand is distinctive — most Asian championship courses lean tropical or American-parkland.
Water in Play
The course is water-heavy:
- Five of the first six holes feature water hazards
- All five holes of the closing stretch have water in play
- Every off-line shot has the risk of a watery end
This creates rhythm of decision-making — most holes require risk-vs-position thinking.
Premium Greens — TifEagle
The greens are seeded with TifEagle, a premium ultra-dwarf Bermuda hybrid that:
- Tolerates very low mowing heights (1.5mm or below)
- Produces faster green speeds (12+ stimpmeter routine)
- Holds true ball roll on slopes
- Requires specialised maintenance but pays off in playing quality
For visitors used to slower Thai-tropical greens, TifEagle at Chee Chan is a meaningful adjustment — putts that would die at 1m past the hole on slower greens roll 3m past at TifEagle pace.
Mandatory Cart Path Policy
- Golf carts must stay on cart paths at all times — strict policy
- Carts mandatory — no walking the course
- Slows play somewhat — players must walk from path to ball each shot
- Common at premium new courses — protects the turf, reduces wear
Pricing
Green Fees (2026 indicative)
Chee Chan is premium-tier pricing:
- Weekday green fee + caddy + cart: ~฿3,500-4,500
- Weekend green fee + caddy + cart: ~฿4,500-5,500
- Tournament rates for special events
- Package rates through golf operators discount
This places Chee Chan alongside Khao Kheow and Siam Country Club New in the premium tier — meaningfully more than the value courses (Treasure Hill, Bangpra) but the experience justifies the premium for many visitors.
Caddies
- Mandatory caddy — Thai standard
- Caddies trained for the course's distance estimation and green-reading challenges
- Tip: customary ฿400-700 per round given the premium tier
Clubhouse & Facilities
The clubhouse is modern and well-appointed:
- Locker rooms — premium quality
- Restaurant serving Thai, European, and Chinese food
- Extensive practice facilities — driving range, putting green, chipping area
- Pro shop with apparel and accessories
- Spa / wellness options
- Cart fleet of premium carts (mandatory for play)
The infrastructure is the most modern in the Pattaya region simply by virtue of being built newest (2018).
Getting There
- Na Jomtien / Sattahip — south of central Pattaya
- Approximately 25-30 minute drive from central Pattaya
- Closer to Pattaya than Khao Kheow / Laem Chabang (which are north)
- Combinable with Greta Sport Club, Wat Yannasangwararam visit
Pros
- Newest premier course in Pattaya (2018) — modern infrastructure
- Khao Chi Chan cliff Buddha visible from every hole — globally unique
- David Dale (Golfplan) design — quality American architecture
- 7,345-yard championship layout — full-tournament length
- TifEagle greens — premium fast surfaces
- "Scottish Highlands" feel — distinctive vs. tropical-parkland Pattaya norm
- Modern clubhouse and facilities
- Closer to Pattaya than the Bang Phra-area courses (25-30 min)
- Combinable with cultural tourism at Khao Chi Chan
- Multilingual service
Cons
- Premium pricing — among the higher Pattaya green fees
- Strategic difficulty — punishes high handicappers
- Lightning-fast greens lead to three-putt counts for unfamiliar players
- Mandatory cart-on-path policy slows play
- Water-heavy holes risk lost-ball anxiety
- No on-site resort accommodation — must arrange separately
Best For
- Premium golf experience seekers wanting the newest Pattaya course
- Photographers seeking iconic golf-and-Buddha shots
- Mid-to-low handicap players who can manage strategic demands
- Tournament-prep golfers wanting championship-grade conditions
- Cultural tourists combining golf with Khao Chi Chan visit
- Visitors wanting "Scottish Highlands" aesthetic in Asia
Not Best For
- Pure budget seekers (Treasure Hill, Bangpra cheaper)
- High handicappers intimidated by water and fast greens
- Walking-style golfers (mandatory carts)
- Old-school course pedigree purists preferring 50+ year-old courses
Quick Reference Card
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Address | Na Jomtien, Sattahip, Chonburi |
| Designer | David Dale (Golfplan) |
| Opened | 2018 |
| Holes | 18 |
| Par | 72 |
| Yardage | 7,345 (championship) / 6,527 (forward) |
| Land area | 580 Rai (229 acres / 92 hectares) |
| Signature | World's largest cliff Buddha visible from every hole |
| Greens | TifEagle (premium fast hybrid Bermuda) |
| Distance from Pattaya | 25-30 min drive |
| Green fee + cart + caddy | ~฿3,500-5,500 |
| Verified | 2026-04-27 |