A Familiar Destination That Doesn't Get Old

Phuket, the jewel of the Andaman Sea

- Ken Lye

About an hour’s drive away (depending on traffic) from Phuket International Airport to Phang Nga on the mainland, is a golf course that is set in a valley between three mountains, Khao Nang Hong, Khao Tao and Katathong Mountain. Although opened only in 2015, given the many mature palm trees that lined the fairways, Katathong Golf Resort & Spa looked like a course that has been around for a while. But through the facade of the overall mature look is a course that is in good condition, with the interior of the Sino-Portuguese architectural style clubhouse complementing the course very nicely.

Katathong Golf Resort & Spa

From the blue tees, which are its back tees, this par-72 course plays to 7,210 yards, which is quite meaty given the general narrowness of the layout. The white tees are a more manageable 6,568 yards. Built around the natural undulating hills and contours of an abandoned tin mine, this 48-hectare course offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains on almost every hole. The front nine is by far the tighter of the two nines with the back nine having much wider fairways. The mature palm trees lining the fairways on almost every hole makes for a tricky next shot if you decide to unintentionally borrow the next fairway. A punch shot back under the overhanging palms may be your best bet to save par.

This course is a shot-maker’s delight as one really needs to shape shots to get the best out of the course, especially with a good mix of holes that delight in shaping it off the tee. Risk-reward options are also aplenty off the tee such as on the par 4 opening hole and the par 4 7th. There is an option on both these holes to take a tiger line over the dog-legs to leave you with a flick wedge to the green, but if you don’t pull it off trouble awaits you in the form of OB or water. Of course, you can shape it around the dog-legs or hit a straight shot leaving you a long approach.