Muang Kaew Golf Course

Course Data

Location	Bangkok, Thailand
Yardage	7015 yards Par 72
Course Rating
Playing Date	29 Sep. 2004
Desingner	Lee Schmidt & Brian Curley (redesign)
Opened	1993
Caddy	Yes
Golf Cart	Yes

Rating

Overall Rating

4.00

Course Layout	4
Difficulty Level	4
Greens Conditions	4
Fairways Conditions	4
Landscaping & Views	4

A view from the clubhouse

The course is flat, being punctuated by elevated, well-contoured greens and strategically placed water hazards & relatively deep bunkers, so it is challenging. The course has improved after it underwent major renovations in 2003. Then only drawback is that you don’t feel pressure on your tee-shots for several holes because the trees separating the holes are few and small. However, you will never get bored playing here because of the excellent layout. The greens are much faster than average Thai greens, which will surely attract advanced players.

3rd Par 3 149 yards

3rd Par 3 149 yards (2)

3rd Par 3 149 yards (1)

A short par 3 over a pond. There is a pond and bunkers in front of the green and bunkers at the back. The green is wide but only 20 yards deep, so you need to hit a high ball.

4th Par 4 499 yards

The left fairway faces a pond and then the pond crosses the fairway 50-60 yards off the green, so it is not easy to hit the green is 2, even for a long hitter. The contoured and slightly elevated green is pretty.

4th hole seen from the green

4th Par 4 499 yards (2)

4th Par 4 499 yards (1)

7th Par 3 134 yards

A par 3 over a lake. This hole is short, too, but difficult due to the lake bordering the front of the green.

8th Par 4 414 yards

8th Par 4 414 yards (2)

8th Par 4 414 yards (1)

A dogleg to the right with a lake facing the right side of the fairway. The green is elevated and guarded by bunkers.

13th Par 5 570 yards

13th Par 5 570 yards (2)

13th Par 5 570 yards (1)

A long par 5 with an excellent layout. The tee shot is a sharp dogleg to the right followed by a second dogleg to the left. A lake bordering the left side of the fairway comes into play on the second shot. There is a big, deep bunker facing the entire left side of the green, so it would be difficult to save par if you hit into the bunker. It is regrettable that your drive is blind and you do not know where to hit it, which could be corrected by making new, elevated tees. Then, you would have a great view of the entire hole from the tees.

15th Par 4 464 yards

15th Par 4 464 yards (2)

15th Par 4 464 yards (1)

Because it is a very long par 4, you should hit your drive hard. A long iron or a fairway wood is used on your second shot which needs to be accurate because there is a deep bunker on the right of the green and a pond in front to the left.

16th Par 4 323 yards

16th Par 4 323 yards (2)

16th Par 4 323 yards (1)

This is a very short par 4 but a series of bunkers in front of the green could catch your ball if your drive is 250-280 yards long. If your tee shot avoids those bunkers, a birdie chance will come. This is a beautiful hole having a clear view of the entire hole from the tee.

17th Par 3 179 yards

A uniquely shaped green and bunkers are impressive on this par 3.

19th hole

It takes only 30 minutes by car from Central Bangkok.

The other Lee Schmidt & Brian Curley designed courses in Asia are Agile (雅居楽長江) G&CC - B Course in China, Chiang Mai Highlands G&SR, Amata Spring CC in Thailand, Grande Hamanako GC in Japan. Lee Schmidt worked for Pete Dye for seven years as an assistant and then seven years as Senior Design Associate for Nicklaus Design with extensive international experience.

Lee Schmidt & Brian Curley’s joint works with Jack Nicklaus are Spring City (春城) Ｇ＆ＬＲ - Mountain Course, Chung Shan Hot Spring (中山温泉) GC - Jack Nicklaus Course in China, Ishioka GC, Rokkou Kokusai GC (remodel), The Tradition GC, President GC, Sanyo GC (remodel), New Capital GG, Sun Belgravia GC, Bear Paws Japan GC in Japan, Sungai Long CC in Malaysia, and Springfield Royal CC in Thailand. Also, they are joint designers of 8 out of 10 courses of Mission Hills GG, the largest golf complex in the world, such as Faldo Course or Ozaki Course.