Siam Country Club Waterside
Siam Waterside
I was lucky enough to get an invitation by the managing director of Siam Country Club, Khun Chai Phomprapha to join him for the golf course opening photoshoot for the new Siam Country Club Pattaya Waterside . As this course is about 3 minutes from my home in east Pattaya, and I had seen the changes going on over the last 8 months, I was keen to attend and see the progress
The access to the course is either off Soi Siam Country Club, just past the entrance to the Old Course, or if you are coming from the other direction, just drive past the entrance to Siam Plantation and go straight ahead and you will see the new course on the left.
While the course has about 7 holes fully grassed, the other holes are following quickly and the course is expected to open early March 2014.
Looking across at Hole 8
Looking towards first tee with clubhouse construction in background
As I looked around there was plenty of activity, but I saw a lot of bare areas which begged me to ask the question
“How long does it take for the greens and fairways to be ready?”
Khun Chai quickly answers
“ It takes approx 4-6 months for the fairways and greens to get complete coverage. We would like to turf the golf course entirely, but there is only one Donald Trump in the world (he smiles) We have approx 300-400 trees a month being delivered and the course is taking great shape.
As we drive around, Chai shows where the 9th green is located, as right now it’s a big pile of dirt with a flag put in there.
He points out the different coloured flags that is on every hole, one for the Black tees, one for white tees, green flags for the landing area on the fairways ( approx 270 yards from the black flags) or turning point on the hole, and one for the green.
On the first hole, the designers have put the single bunker on the left hand side of the fairway at 260-280 yards from the Black tee, on the right hand side the fairway slopes off into the huge lake.
The green sits at about 45* angle from the fairway and is protected by bunkers on the left and right of the green.
Towards 1st green from 140 yards
behind left hand bunker 1st hole
from 100 yards out 1st Hole
As I was talking to Chai about the course design, I asked him where does this design sit, in relation to the two other courses that he has overseen construction in the last 6 years.
He says
“Over the last few years having built 63 holes championship golf holes, we have built up a vast wealth of knowledge and experience what works and what doesn’t and we move forward with this information, Waterside will be more user friendly than the other two designs. We don’t have the high elevated greens that you see at Plantation, where if you miss the green, the ball will roll off, sometimes up to 30 yards from the pin. Similiarly the greens wont be as expansive with the green contours that you see at The Old Course, that type of design is good for the professionals , but we are selling enjoyment here, no one enjoys losing a dozen balls a round and 4 putting, you could top the ball along the ground onto these greens! (again another smile)
As we drive back to the site of the new club house he tell me the facilities here will be first class.
“I don’t understand you Aussies, tell them to bring a change of clothes with you and have a shower at the end of your round, I will guarantee you, my facilities are much better than the hotel you are staying in”.
I agree with his comments 100%, bring a change of clothes and enjoy the 180*views from balcony of the new course when it opens.
I will be updating with new photos as new holes open.