Bangpra Golf Course
Bangpra
I like to try and get around to most of the golf courses in Pattaya and play them at least once a year, but its difficult when there are over 40 courses within an hours drive of downtown Pattaya.
One of the golf courses that i have neglected to play in over 2 years has been Bangpra. Well this week, I managed to get out and play and what a surprise I got.
Last time I played here the greens were very grainy and the speed was inconsistent from green to green, and the fairways and bunkers were not maintained, and I didn’t really enjoy the experience and was wondering what I was going to get this time !
On the day, I was greeted with a course that was in great shape, since I had played last, they had done renovations on approx. 5 greens and fairways and it was a pleasure to play.
This course is a parkland style and was designed in the late 1950s, and has a mixture of undulating, flat and monkey holes.
Yes, you read correct, monkeys.
These monkeys usually hang around the holes near the mountain and you see them on holes 5, 6, 7 and 8. The caddies have slingshots to keep them coming to the golf bags and taking phones and golf balls!!
The course while designed in the 60’s, has a great mix of short holes, doglegs and elevated greens and tees , something you don’t see in courses designed in that era, typically its just up and back design.
The 12th hole, a quaint little par 3 completely over water with a large bunker guarding the right hand side, was voted one of the top 500 golf holes. For me, the stretch of holes 11, 12 and 13 are probably the best 3 holes on the course, a little Amen Corner if you will.
11th hole is a 560 yard par 5 with an open driving area on the left hand side and flanked by tall tree on the right hand side. Your second shot should be played up the left hand side, avoiding the water that comes into play from 150 yards all the way to the green. The green is quite generous and flat and with a good caddy read, a birdie is possible.
The 13th hole is a 350 yard par 4 with the fairway finishing at 260 yards with a creek that runs across the front of the fairway. A hybrid or 3 wood from the tee leaves a 130 yard shot across the water to an elevated green that is relatively flat green.
This course tests you all the way to the final hole, with the 18th a par 4, with trees on both sides and the fairway getting narrower as you get closer to the green, with a bunker on the right sides of the green, ready to catch the weak second shot.
The newly renovated lockers rooms have full length lockers and the showers are quite large and modern with new tiles floors.
The clubhouse is quite large and has seating for 150+ people for lunches or dinner.
All in all, quite an enjoyable day at a golf course that has been diligent in maintaining and renovating its facilities to attract more golfers.