St. Andrews 2000
Pattaya.

St Andrews 2000 Golf Club

Overview

St Andrews 2000 is the most architecturally daring golf course in the Pattaya / Eastern Seaboard region — a Desmond Muirhead-designed hilltop layout in Ban Chang, Rayong that opened in 2000 and is most famous for its two par-6 holes both stretching over 800 yards — features extraordinarily rare in Thailand and almost nowhere else in Asia. Where the Pete Dye-designed Khao Kheow delivers strategic stadium-style golf, where Yoshikazu Kato's Treasure Hill weaves through jungle, and where the new David Dale Chee Chan presents a "Scottish Highlands" feel, St Andrews 2000 is the unapologetic showman of the region — elevated tees, dramatic vistas, split fairways, double fairways, and gargantuan greens that reward bold play and punish hesitation.

The course is 45 minutes from Pattaya in Ban Chang, Rayong — slightly outside Chonburi province but firmly inside the Eastern Seaboard golf circuit that Pattaya golfers travel routinely. The name "St Andrews 2000" is a millennial-era nod to the original Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland — though the course bears no resemblance to its Scottish namesake beyond the symbolic homage. Muirhead's actual design language is closer to dramatic American resort golf than links tradition.

For golfers who appreciate architectural drama, dramatic risk-reward decision-making, and the rare opportunity to play par-6 holes at world-record-approaching distances, St Andrews 2000 is one of the most distinctive courses in all of Thailand.

Position in the Pattaya / Eastern Seaboard Golf Market

The Eastern Seaboard's architecturally distinguished tier:

Muirhead's creative vision puts St Andrews 2000 in a separate aesthetic category from any other Pattaya-area course.

Course Designer — Desmond Muirhead

The course was designed by Desmond Muirhead (1923-2002), an English-born, American-trained golf architect with one of the most original and divisive portfolios in late-20th-century golf design:

• British education + American practice — distinct fusion
• Theme-based course designs — Muirhead is known for designing courses with narrative themes (Aladdin, Stone Harbor) where holes reference cultural / mythological themes
• Dramatic shaping — bold mounding, exaggerated bunker outlines, oversized greens
• Polarizing reputation — golf architects deeply divided on his work; some consider him a visionary, others a gimmick artist
• Notable courses: Aberdeen Country Club (Florida), Stone Harbor Golf Club (NJ), various international projects
• St Andrews 2000 is one of his last major works — opened just two years before his death in 2002

Muirhead's St Andrews 2000 design exhibits his signature traits:

• Dramatic elevation changes with elevated tees and greens
• Tight landing zones demanding accuracy
• Split fairways and double fairways — risk-reward route choices
• Huge putting surfaces rewarding approach precision and creating long putts
• Extreme distance variation — including the famous par-6 holes
• Visual showmanship — the course is meant to be seen as much as played

Course Architecture

Layout

• 18 holes
• Par 72 (standard total despite the par-6 holes — other holes are shorter par-3s and par-4s)
• Hilltop / elevated terrain in Ban Chang
• Multiple tee boxes for varied skill levels

The Two Par-6 Holes — A World Rarity

The course's most famous feature is two par-6 holes, each over 800 yards:

• Par 6 is rare globally — most golf courses max out at par 5 (typically 480-650 yards)
• 800-yard par 6 approaches the world record range for course length
• Three-shot positioning is the strategic norm — even strong golfers can't reach the green in 4
• Conservative play yields par 6 with three good shots + putt
• Aggressive play risks bogey 7+ with errant long shots compounding

These holes alone make St Andrews 2000 a bucket-list course for golfers who want the par-6 experience. Globally, par-6 holes exist at perhaps 50-100 courses worldwide, and two par-6 holes on one course is even rarer.

Elevated Tees & Greens

• Many holes feature significantly elevated tee boxes — dramatic shot vistas
• Greens often elevated above the surrounding terrain — creating uphill approach demands
• Risk of low-flying shots falling short of elevated greens
• Reward for bold, high approaches that hold the elevated putting surface

Tight Landing Zones

• Narrow fairway landing zones off the tee
• Trouble (rough, water, trees) lining wayward shots
• Driver isn't always the right club — strategic play required

Split Fairways

Several holes feature split fairways — two distinct fairway routes from tee to green:

• High-risk / high-reward route — typically the shorter / more aggressive line
• Conservative route — longer / safer line
• Strategic decision-making at the tee
• Skills + course knowledge rewarded by repeat play

Huge Putting Surfaces

• Greens larger than tour standard — sometimes 5,000-7,000 sq ft
• Multiple distinct hole locations create dramatically different challenges day-to-day
• 30-foot putts common if not approaching the right green section
• Three-putts realistic for golfers unfamiliar with size

Back Nine — The Dramatic Stretch

The back nine in particular features significant elevation changes and views of the surrounding hillsides:

• Most dramatic vistas of the round
• Up-and-down terrain challenges club selection and stance
• Memorable closing stretch for groups finishing the round

Conditions

The course is generally well-maintained:

• Bermuda fairways — appropriate for the hilltop/Eastern Seaboard climate
• Bent / Tifeagle hybrid greens depending on era of recent renovation
• Bunkers raked and properly filled
• Tee surfaces functional, occasional maintenance issues in shoulder seasons

Conditions are mid-tier premium — not Old Course-pristine, but solid championship maintenance.

Pricing

Green Fees (2026 indicative)

• Weekday green fee + caddy + cart: ~฿2,500-3,200
• Weekend green fee + caddy + cart: ~฿3,200-4,200
• Discount packages through Pattaya golf operators

This is mid-premium tier pricing — comparable to Khao Kheow or Mountain Shadow, slightly below the absolute premium tier (Siam Country Club Old, Chee Chan).

Caddies

• Mandatory caddy assignment — Thai golf standard
• Caddies trained for the par-6 distance estimation and split-fairway decision-making
• Tip: customary ฿300-500 per round

Clubhouse & Facilities

• Modern clubhouse with locker rooms, pro shop, restaurant
• Restaurant — Thai and Western cuisine
• Practice green at clubhouse
• Driving range for pre-round warm-up
• Pro shop with apparel and accessories
• Dramatic course views from clubhouse position

Getting There

• Ban Chang, Rayong — slightly outside Chonburi
• 45 minutes from Pattaya
• 2 hours from Bangkok
• Often combined with Phoenix Gold or Burapha for two-course Pattaya golf days
• Closer to U-Tapao Airport than Pattaya (small advantage for fly-in visitors)

Pros

• Desmond Muirhead design — distinctive architectural vision
• Two par-6 holes 800+ yards each — world-rare feature
• Dramatic hilltop terrain with elevated tees and greens
• Split fairways for strategic decision-making
• Huge greens challenging approach and putting precision
• Significant back nine elevation for visual drama
• Memorable round for any visitor
• Mid-premium pricing for the experience
• 45 minutes from Pattaya — manageable distance
• Multi-language caddy support

Cons

• Strategic difficulty punishes high handicappers
• Par-6 holes can feel exhausting / discouraging for slower players
• Pace of play can be slow due to architectural drama
• Hilltop terrain physically demanding for older or less mobile players
• Tight landing zones unforgiving for erratic drivers
• Polarizing design — some golfers find Muirhead's style "gimmicky"
• Distance from Pattaya — 45 min drive

Best For

• Architectural-design connoisseurs seeking Muirhead's vision
• Bucket-list golfers wanting par-6 experience
• Mid-to-low handicap players who can manage strategic demands
• Photography-minded players — dramatic vistas everywhere
• Repeat Pattaya golfers who've played the headline courses
• Group rounds where the pace doesn't matter
• Players seeking memorable rather than predictable golf

Not Best For

• Pure beginners who'll struggle with the strategic and physical demands
• Pace-of-play priority players — the design slows things down
• Traditional architecture purists who dislike Muirhead's signature dramatic style
• Mobility-limited golfers — hilltop terrain demands walking and varied stance
• Time-pressed travellers — the Ban Chang location adds drive time

Quick Reference Card