Ayodhya Links
Course Date
Location Bangkok, Thailand
Yardage 7626 yards Par 72
Coursre Rating 75.4
Playing Date 12 Feb. & 5 June 2015
Designer (Pitak Intrawityanunt
Opned 2007
Caddie Yes
Golf Cart Yes (Can be driven onto the fairways)
Rating
Overall Rating
5.20
Course Layout
5
Difficulty Level
6
Greens Conditions
5
Fairways Conditions
6
Landscaping & Views
5
Satisfaction Level
5

The Ayodhya Links Golf Course is located above a vast marshland has been dug up and turned into a undulating terrain. The streams and lakes, which lie throughout the course, are made by pumping up water from under the ground. Although the land is large enough to build 36 holes, this course only has a total of 18 holes. The course consists of quite a lot of memorable and impressive holes, many of which end up being unique in its own special way. The course distances itself over a total of 7,600 yards. There are many strategically placed bunkers and water hazards throughout this extremely long course making it very challenging for both amateurs and professionals. The greens’ surfaces are boldly undulated and highly contoured, making the overall putting experience very difficult. Players won't be able to see any man-made structures except for the clubhouse.



A view from clubhouse

A view from clubhouse

HIghly undulating two-tiered 8th green

The playing intervals off the first tee are every 15 minutes, double of many other regular courses. Players will seldom encounter the front and back groups during their play, making the players feel as if they are occupying the entire course themselves. A combination of solitude and natural beauty will make players feel as if they are playing in a paradise & utopia world. Ayodhya Links proves to be at the frontier of eco-friendliness, as the club only uses organic fertilizers, as supposed to chemically produced ones, when maintaining their course. During the winter, migratory birds, some traveling from as far as Alaska, may be seen at this golf course. While regular courses just install a few kilometer-long drainage, Ayodhya Links has a whopping 70 kilometer-long drainage system underneath the entire course, allowing golf carts to be able to be driven onto the fairway, even during heavy rains.

Scorecard
 
2nd Par 4 457 yards

2nd Par 4 457 yards (2)

2nd Par 4 457 yards (1)

The second hole is a long par 4 with a dogleg that bends to the left. The hole consists of a beautiful lake that is placed on the left, and a canal that runs along the right hand side. If players are starting from the blue or black tee, they will be required to hit their tee shot over the lake. There are three big bunkers that are strategically placed off the tee. The green is surrounded by three additional bunkers and the canal, which runs along the green’s right and rear sides. The green is angulated, narrow, and slopes severely from the back left to the front right.

 
3rd Par 5 611 yards

The third hole is a long par 5 with a dogleg that bends to the left. The lake on the right is intimidating off the tee especially if you are left to right players. The fairway, while relatively generous, consists of water hazards on both sides which players should try to avoid. The landing area of the second shot becomes narrower due to the tight fairway that is squeezed by the lakes. Although the fairway swings approximately 90 degrees to the left, 60 yards shy of the green, players only need to aim approximately 45 degrees to the left on their third shot and hit their ball over the left lake in order to reach the green. Long hitters have the option do this on their second shot, if they believe that they will be able to carry the large body of water onto the green. The green is vertically long, double-tiered and borders the lake on the front-left side, and a series of trees on the back side.

 

3rd Par 5 611 yards (3)

3rd Par 5 611 yards (2)

3rd Par 5 611 yards (1)
 
5th Par 4 476 yards
An almost straight and long par 4. This par 4 consists of several fairway bunkers on both the left and right side of the hole. There is also a lake on the left hand side that will come into play off the tee. The green is double-tiered and the lower green’s surface slopes severely from the center of the green to the front of the green.
 

5th Par 4 476 yards (3)

5th Par 4 476 yards (2)

5th Par 4 476 yards (1)
 
6th Par 4 421 yards

This par 4 is a uphill hole with a dogleg that bends to the left. The landing area off the tee is quite small due to four strategically placed bunkers, one on the right and three on the left, that are placed along the fairway and roughs. The green is horizontally long and undulated. There is a mound that is placed on the center on the green. The green slopes to the back right, and is protected by two bunkers to its left.

 

6th Par 4 421 yards (3)

6th Par 4 421 yards (2)

6th Par 4 421 yards (1)
 
7th Par 3 198 yards

7th Par 3 198 yards

The 7th hole is a par 3 that will require the ball to conquer three whole bunkers in order to reach the green. Although the green is not deep, it is wide as its width spans 43 yards. There is a mound at the center of the shallow green, making putting from one side to another very difficult.

 
8th Par 5 623 yards

A long par five with a dogleg that bends to the left. The landing area off the tee shot is quite narrow due to the placement of the water hazard on the left and the fairway bunkers on both sides. Player will need to decide whether to lay up short, or hit their ball over a creek on the second shot. If players decide to hit over the creek, both the water hazard and the bunker will come into play. If players decide to lay up safely, they will have to endure a long third shot. The green is double tiered both to the left and right and slopes from back left to front right. A large bunker protects the left side of the green. If the pin in in the left back position, players will need to carry the bunker. Even if players manage to land their ball on the green, it would be difficult to stop the ball rolling as the back left of the green is not deep at all.

 

8th Par 5 623 yards (3)

8th Par 5 623 yards (2)

8th Par 5 623 yards (1)
 
9th Par 4 496 yards
A very long par 4 with a dogleg to the left. A large mound in the center will force players to decide whether to hit towards the left or right. Aiming towards the left will allow a shorter play, but at a higher risk as the narrow fairway borders a lake and a long beach bunker. Aiming towards the right will require a longer play but be less of a risk as there there is only one bunker that is placed about 270 yards from the tee. Despite the direction, the longer the tee shot is hit, the narrower both the fairway and the landing area becomes. The second shot will be very demanding due to the fact that the green is guarded by a huge bunker both at the front and right hand sides. There is also a body of water in front of the green which players should avoid. Players will need to make a decision whether to carry their ball over the hazards, or to play it safe and hit towards the right side of the green. The green slopes from the top left to the bottom right and has a horizontal ridge that runs through the center, making it very difficult to put. If the ball lands on the opposite side of the ridge in relation to the hole, putting will become a big challenge.
 

9th Par 4 496 yards (3)

9th Par 4 496 yards (2)

9th Par 4 496 yards (1)
 
12th Par3 188 yards

The 12th hole is a picturesque hole that is designed on top of an island green. The green is surrounded by a body of water and a total of three bunkers; two on the right and one at the back. The green is deep and around 40-yard wide. There are three distinct putting surfaces; two higher levels on the left and right, and a concave center. The putting from different surfaces offers another challenge to players.

 

12th Par3 188 yards

12th Par3 188 yards

12th Par3 188 yards 
 
13th Par 5 535 yards

A 535 yard par 5 with a slight dogleg to the right. This hole is engulfed by a long and twisted lake, dividing the the hole into four sections; the tee area, two fairways, and a green. Most players will generally aim their ball onto the first fairway on their tee shot. If players hit too short or too long, they may risk dropping their ball into the lake. Long hitters must not surpass 260 yards on their tee shot in order to avoid the lake. However, it is said that a few years ago, when professional golfer John Daly arrived at this hole, he was told carry of 290 yards was needed to clear the lake. Without a moment of consideration, he decided to use his driver, and miraculously managed to cleared his ball over the lake and land it on the second fairway. From the second fairway, players will need to overcome another section of the lake in order to land their ball safely on the green. The green is steep and double-tiered. The front side of the green slopes heavily to front and players will need to carry over the first tier, or else the ball would roll back down into the lake.

 

13th Par 5 535 yards (3)

13th Par 5 535 yards (2)

13th Par 5 535 yards (1)
 
15th Par 4 400 yards

15th Par 4 400 yards (2)

15th Par 4 400 yards (1)
The 15th hole is a medium length par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. The opening shot onto the fairway is very generous, and while there is a water hazard on the left and a 200-yard long fairway bunker on the right, players should be safe as long as they are able to hit their ball within the width of the wide fairway. However, the second shot can be quite difficult. There are two deep bunkers that protect the front of the small and heavily elevated green. Unless players can spin their ball, the ball will roll down and continue to roll beyond the green. There is a large ridge in the center of the green, forcing the ball to slope either to the front and back upon landing. The green is vertically narrow with difficult recovery chip shots from the closely mown grass if approached either from the left or right sides of the highly plateau green.
 
17th Par 5 566 yards

A par 5 with a dogleg that bends to the right. Players should pay attention to the three strategically placed fairway bunker and water hazards on both sides off the tee. There are two bunkers and a lake on the left hand side that players should look out for on their second shot. For those who are average hitters, there is a lake on the right hand side that may possibly come into play. The third shot will require the ball to be hit over a creek. The double-tiered green has a big step with a bunker on the left and the lake on the right. The front of the green has a mound that players must hit over. If players don’t manage to overcome the mound, the ball will most likely run down into the creek.

 

17th Par 5 566 yards (3)

17th Par 5 566 yards (2)

17th Par 5 566 yards (1)
 
18th Par 4 523 yards

The finishing hole is a tremendously long par four with a dogleg to the left. Players should be aware of the lake that runs along the left side. Despite this, the landing area off the tee is quite generous, so players can drive their opening shot as hard as as they can. However, if players hit too much to the right, they may find their ball either in a big beach bunker or another body of water. Players should be aware that when they lay up on the second shot, the landing area will be narrow due to the lake on the right. The green is double-tiered and the back tier slopes sharply from left to the right.

 

18th Par 4 523 yards (3)

18th Par 4 523 yards (2)

18th Par 4 523 yards (1)
 
Hole 19
Ayodhya Links Golf Club is a 50-minute drive from Central Bangkok. Players must be accompanied by a member in order to be able to play. There are only 250 members that are invited by the golf club, making it one of the most exclusive golf clubs in Asia. A farm nearby the golf club, owned by the chairman himself, produces fresh and organic vegetables that are served at the restaurant of the golf club. The members parking lot of the golf club is 10 meters away from the clubhouse and the entire area, including the area from the parking lot to the clubhouse, is covered under a roof. Therefore, players will never get wet on a rainy day upon arrival. The caddies are called “butlers” and they are well educated and professionally trained, offering players first-class services. During the players play, butlers will always park the golf carts in one straight row near the greens, fix the players divots, and remove the weeds on the fairways for the players benefit. Overall, in great confidence I can say that the management of this golf club takes care of its members with great support and care.


Caddies

Menbers's parking lot


Restaurant

Lunch

GOLF Magazine ranked Ahyodhya Links the 76th best course in the world in 2015, the first course entering a world top 100 in ASEAN countries. The other selected courses in Asia are Hirono GC (Japan 42nd), The Club at Nine Bridges (Korea, 43rd), Shanqin Bay GC (China, 47th), Kawana Fuji Course (Japan, 68th) and Tokyo GC (Japan, 96th).

Also, according to the top100golfcourses.co.uk site, Ayodhya Links was ranked 1st out of the 270 (as of 2015) courses in all of Thailand during its 2015 evaluation.

Though Peter Thomson were the original creators of the course’s ground plan, it was Pitak Intrawityanunt, the current owner chairman, who completed the detailed design of the course. I am highly impressed that Mr. Intrawityanunt, back then an amateur course designer, was able to create a course that ultimately ended up in what is generally universally accepted as one of the top hundred courses in the world. Over the past couple years, I’ve had the honor of knowing Chairman Paitak and have managed to understand and highly respect his knowledge on topics such as the architectural complexity of course design and his wealth of insight on the importance of green and fairway maintenance.