Pattaya is one of Asia’s most concentrated golf destinations. Sitting on the Gulf of Thailand in Chonburi province, roughly a 90-minute drive southeast of Bangkok, the region packs more than 20 courses within easy reach of a single hotel base — several of them championship-grade layouts that have hosted professional tournaments. For visiting golfers, that density is the whole appeal: you can bank multiple rounds on genuinely world-class turf without repacking your bags or spending half of each day in a car.
This guide covers what makes Pattaya work as a golf trip — how it connects to Bangkok, when to play, and the signature venue you should build a trip around. For the wider picture of Thai golf travel, see our https://gonggolf.com/golf-in-thailand/; if you’re combining cities, our https://gonggolf.com/golf-in-thailand/bangkok/ guide pairs naturally with a Pattaya leg.
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Why Pattaya for Golf
Golf here is defined by two things: variety and proximity. The Pattaya area is home to more than 20 golf courses, making it one of the most course-dense regions in Thailand. Because the resort city is compact and the courses ring it from the surrounding countryside, many of the best layouts sit within a short drive of the main hotel zones. That turns a golf holiday into an efficient, high-volume trip — you can realistically play a different course every day and still be back at the beach or the dinner table by evening.
The other draw is quality at the top end. Pattaya isn’t just quantity; it is home to layouts that have hosted the LPGA Tour, the Thailand Open, and other professional events. That means the marquee courses are maintained to genuine championship conditioning — something you feel from the first tee to the greens.
Getting There: Proximity to Bangkok
Nearly every international golfer reaches Pattaya through Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the practical gateway: from there, Pattaya is roughly a 90-minute drive down the motorway (Motorway 7), depending on traffic and your exact hotel. That short transfer is a big part of why the two cities pair so well — you can fly into Bangkok, play a round or two around the capital, then move down to Pattaya for the back half of a trip.
Pattaya also sits close to U-Tapao (Rayong–Pattaya International Airport), around 30 minutes from the city. However, U-Tapao currently operates only a small slate of domestic flights — there are no scheduled international services — so essentially all overseas visitors will still route through Suvarnabhumi. Plan your arrival around Bangkok, and treat U-Tapao as a bonus option only if it usefully connects a domestic leg of your trip.
Once you’re in Pattaya, daily travel is minimal. Many of the region’s better courses are a short drive from the central hotel areas, so a typical golf day means a modest morning transfer, 18 holes, lunch, and you’re free by mid-afternoon.
When to Play
The prime window for a Pattaya golf trip is the cool, dry season from roughly November through February. During these months daytime highs sit around 30°C with overnight lows near 23°C, and rainfall is at its lowest — the most reliable stretch for getting your planned rounds in without weather disruption. The trade-off is demand: this is peak season, so accommodation, transfers, and green fees are at their highest and the best courses book up well in advance.
March through May is Thailand’s hot season. Golf is very much still on, but midday heat and humidity climb, so early tee times and disciplined hydration matter. The rainy season runs from around June to October, when tropical downpours become more frequent. Rain in this part of Thailand tends to arrive as short, heavy afternoon storms rather than all-day washouts, so many golfers still play through the green season and enjoy quieter courses and softer rates — just build some flexibility into your tee-time planning.
Whatever the month, Pattaya golf is warm-weather golf. Come prepared for heat and the chance of a shower: our guides to golf fitness and hydration and rain gear and weather protection are worth a look before you fly.
Courses
Pattaya’s course list is deep, but if you’re building a trip around one anchor, it should be the venue below.
Siam Country Club, Pattaya — Old Course
The Old Course at Siam Country Club is the headline act of Pattaya golf and one of the most decorated layouts in Thailand. It opened in 1971 as the country’s first privately owned course, and in 2007 it was comprehensively renovated by the American firm Schmidt-Curley Design (Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley), which modernized the layout to international championship standards while keeping its mature, tree-lined character.
Today the Old Course plays as a par 72 measuring about 7,162 yards from the back tees — a real championship test framed by mature tamarind and acacia trees. Its credentials are not marketing: the course hosts the LPGA Tour’s Honda LPGA Thailand, which the LPGA lists at Siam Country Club, Old Course in Pattaya, and it has staged the Thailand Open as well. It has also featured prominently in Golf Digest’s rankings of Thailand’s best courses, topping the list in the publication’s 2022 ranking.
For visitors, that pedigree translates into demanding but fair golf on excellent turf — the kind of round that justifies the trip on its own. Read our full write-up for the details before you book: Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course.
Green Fees & What to Expect
Green fees in Pattaya vary widely by course, season, and tee time. As a rough planning guide, marquee championship courses like the Siam Country Club Old Course sit at the premium end, while the many solid mid-tier layouts around the region are considerably cheaper — and peak-season (November–February) rates run higher than green-season rates. Because pricing changes frequently and packages often bundle transfers, caddies, and carts, always confirm the current rate at the operator or course site before you commit (verify at operator site).
A few norms worth knowing about Thai golf generally: caddies are standard and expected at most courses, and carts (buggies) are commonly available. Both are typically added to your green fee rather than included, and caddie tipping is customary. Confirm the specifics with each course when you book.
Building a Pattaya Golf Trip
The smartest Pattaya itineraries lean on the region’s density. Base yourself once, anchor the trip around a marquee round at Siam Country Club’s Old Course, and fill the surrounding days with the region’s deep bench of quality courses — all reachable in short daily drives. Because Bangkok is only about 90 minutes away, many visitors combine the two: a few rounds around the capital, then a move down to Pattaya, all off a single Suvarnabhumi arrival.
Before you go, brush up on course etiquette so you play comfortably alongside caddies and local groups, and plan around the heat. For the full regional overview and other destinations, start from our https://gonggolf.com/golf-in-thailand/, and see the https://gonggolf.com/golf-in-thailand/bangkok/ guide to plan the two-city combination that makes a Thailand golf trip so rewarding.