Khao Kheow Country Club

Overview

Khao Kheow Country Club is one of the most architecturally significant golf courses in the Pattaya/Eastern Seaboard region — a 27-hole Pete Dye-designed championship facility that opened in 1992 and has hosted multiple Asian Tour events including the Thailand Open. The Pete Dye signature is unmistakable: railroad-tie bunker walls, severe contouring, large strategic ponds, mounded fairways, and the iconic island-green par-3 17th that plays as the defining shot in any Khao Kheow round.

The 27-hole layout — divided into Courses A, B, and C — gives the club a level of routing variety that 18-hole-only Pattaya courses can't match. Players combine any two nines for an 18-hole round, with each combination presenting a different shot sequence and difficulty profile. Course A and B together typically play as the championship combination used in Asian Tour competition.

For golfers who appreciate strategic, design-led architecture from one of golf history's defining course architects, and for those wanting a course that hosts professional tournaments rather than just package tourists, Khao Kheow is among the most distinguished options in Pattaya.

Position in the Pattaya Golf Market

Pattaya/Eastern Seaboard's championship-tier courses include:

| Course | Designer | Distinction | |---|---|---| | Khao Kheow | Pete Dye | 27 holes, Asian Tour host, island green | | Laem Chabang International | Jack Nicklaus | 27 holes, Nicklaus Signature design | | Siam Country Club Old/New/Plantation | Tom Wishon, Schmidt-Curley | LPGA Honda Tour host | | Burapha Golf Club | Andy Dye, Stuart Owen | 36 holes, value-tier | | St Andrews 2000 | Roger Packard | Links-style, hilltop | | Mountain Shadow | Ron Fream | Renovated 2004, narrow strategic |

Khao Kheow's specific positioning is "the Pete Dye experience" — a defining American golf design school not heavily represented in Asia.

Course Designer — Pete Dye

The course's signature is its association with Pete Dye (1925-2020), one of the most influential American golf course architects of the 20th century. Dye's portfolio includes:

• TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) — home of The Players Championship and the iconic 17th island green
• Whistling Straits — host of multiple PGA Championships and the 2020 Ryder Cup
• Kiawah Island Ocean Course — host of multiple PGA Championships
• Harbour Town Golf Links — annual PGA Tour stop
• Numerous other tour-hosting courses globally

Dye's design language is consistently:

• Visually intimidating — even when the actual landing zone is generous, the eye sees danger
• Strategically demanding — bombing driver isn't the answer; positioning matters
• Penalty-aware — water hazards and waste areas where wayward shots can't be recovered
• Mounded and contoured — flat lies are rare
• Railroad-tie bunkers — wooden bulkhead-and-sleeper construction (visual signature)

Khao Kheow was one of Dye's earlier Asian designs and helped establish his template for subsequent regional projects.

Course Architecture

Layout

• 27 holes total — Courses A, B, C
• 9 holes each — combine any two for 18-hole round
• Par 72 for the typical 18-hole round
• Multiple tee boxes — championship to forward (5+ tees per hole common)

Course A — The Championship Stretch

Generally regarded as the most demanding of the three nines:

• Driving accuracy at premium — narrow fairways with water/waste in play
• Fast greens with significant slope
• Combined with Course B for tournament play

Course B — Strategic Mid-Tier

A balanced layout that combines well with either A or C:

• More open driving lines than A
• Approach shot demands elevated
• Several memorable risk-reward holes

Course C — Most Accessible

The friendliest nine for high handicappers:

• Wider fairways
• Less water in play than A
• Good for mixed-ability groups

Signature Hole — The Island Green Par-3 17th

The defining hole on the championship combination is the par-3 17th:

• Short by championship standards — typically 130-160 yards
• Plays to an island green surrounded by water
• Direct Pete Dye nod to TPC Sawgrass 17 (the most famous par-3 in tournament golf)
• No bailout — water front, sides, and back
• Wind makes club selection critical
• Memorable shot for every visitor regardless of score

The hole has become the photographic and conversational centerpiece of the Khao Kheow experience.

Asian Tour Heritage

Khao Kheow has hosted multiple Asian Tour events including the Thailand Open — Asia's most established professional golf tournament outside Japan. Hosting Asian Tour competition requires:

• USGA-rated agronomy
• Tournament-grade greens rolling to professional speeds
• Tee complexes pushed back for full distance challenge
• Accommodation logistics for player field and media
• Long-form course preparation in tournament weeks

This heritage means Khao Kheow's stated yardages and difficulty ratings reflect actual professional play — not inflated marketing numbers.

Conditions & Maintenance

The course is consistently well-maintained to support tournament hosting:

• Bermuda fairways — well-irrigated, healthy turf
• Tifeagle / Mini Verde greens — fast, true rolling
• Sand bunkers raked and properly filled
• Cart paths well-marked — required to stay on path on some holes
• Tee surfaces consistently maintained even on busy days

Pricing & Tee Times

Green Fees (2026 indicative)

• Weekday green fee + caddy + cart: ~฿2,800-3,500
• Weekend / holiday green fee + caddy + cart: ~฿3,500-4,500
• Tournament rates when professional events are scheduled
• Package rates through Pattaya golf operators discount further

This is mid-premium tier pricing — meaningfully above value courses (Treasure Hill, Phoenix Gold) but below the absolute premium (Siam Country Club Old).

Caddies

• Mandatory caddy assignment (Thai golf standard)
• Caddies generally well-trained for the course's strategic demands
• Tip: customary ฿300-500 per round

Tee Time Booking

• Direct booking by phone or website
• Online platforms: GolfSavers, Golfasian, Golf Pattaya
• Recommended: book 5-10 days advance for weekend play during high season (Nov-Mar)

Clubhouse & Facilities

• Modern clubhouse with locker rooms, pro shop, restaurant
• Restaurant — Thai, Western, Japanese options
• Driving range for warm-up
• Practice green at clubhouse
• Pro shop with apparel and accessories
• Caddy area organized for fast assignment

The facilities are tournament-ready scale — large enough to handle Asian Tour field logistics — meaning casual rounds benefit from the broader infrastructure.

Getting There

• 40-50 km north of central Pattaya depending on route
• 35-40 minute drive typical
• From Sukhumvit / Pattaya: north to Si Racha, then west toward Khao Kheow Open Zoo
• From Bangkok: ~110-120 km, ~1.5 hour drive
• Often combined with Bangpra International for Bang Phra-area golf trips

Pros

• Pete Dye design — among the most architecturally significant courses in Asia
• 27 holes — variety unmatched by 18-hole-only competitors
• Asian Tour Thailand Open host — tournament-grade pedigree
• Iconic par-3 17th island green
• Excellent maintenance — tournament-ready surfaces year-round
• Three difficulty levels via course-combination flexibility
• Strong infrastructure — clubhouse, range, practice areas
• Reasonable distance from Pattaya — 35-40 min drive
• Multiple-language caddy support
• Multiple-tee design for skill variety

Cons

• Premium pricing — meaningfully above value courses
• Strategic difficulty punishes high handicappers
• Pete Dye visuals can intimidate beginners
• Weekend booking competitive during peak season
• Cart-on-path mandates on some holes slow play
• Distance from Pattaya makes for early-morning starts

Best For

• Mid-to-low handicap players who appreciate strategic design
• Course-architecture connoisseurs — Pete Dye admirers especially
• Players seeking tournament-grade conditions
• Repeat Pattaya golf visitors who want a distinguished course
• 27-hole golfers wanting variety in a single venue
• Photography-minded players — the island green is iconic

Not Best For

• Pure beginners who'll struggle with the strategic demands
• Bombers who can't shape shots or position off the tee
• Budget-tier seekers (Burapha, Treasure Hill cheaper)
• Travelers based in central Pattaya wanting walkable courses

Quick Reference Card

| Field | Value | |---|---| | Designer | Pete Dye | | Opened | 1992 | | Holes | 27 (Courses A, B, C — combine for 18) | | Par | 72 | | Tournament heritage | Asian Tour Thailand Open host | | Signature hole | Par-3 17th — island green (Pete Dye TPC Sawgrass nod) | | Distance from Pattaya | 40-50 km / 35-40 min drive | | Green fee + cart + caddy | ~฿2,800-4,500 | | Verified | 2026-04-27 |