Santiburi Country Club Chiang Rai

Course Data
LocationChiang Rai, Thailand
Yardage6982 yards Par 72
Course Rating 
Playing Date27 Jul. 2006
DesignerRobert Trent Jones Jr.
Opened1993
CaddyYes
Golf CartYes (Can be driven on the fairways) 
Rating
Overall Rating
4.65
Course Layout
5
Difficulty Level
4
Greens Condition
5
Fairways Condition
5
Landscaping & Views
4
 
The course is set on contours of rolling hills and is laid out with vast fairways and clever placement of water hazards and bunkers. The fairways and greens are elegantly manicured. The course can be summarized into two distinct characteristics. The front 9, with a series of gently undulating holes, has water affecting play on 7 of them while the back 9, in complete contrast, flows and turns over and around a series of wooded hills, with strategic water only apparent on the closing 2 holes. It also features that many greens do not slope from back to front but sideways (from the left to the right or the right to the left). The course is well maintained. The course is one of rare treats that keep you wanting to come back again and play more. 


A view from the clubhouse

4th green seen from the 2nd hole


6th hole seen from the side

A view seen from behind the 18th green

Flowers to color the course

 
1st  Par 5 621 yards

A straight & long par 5. The tee and second shots are gentle downhill. The landing area of the second shot is narrowed by rough on both sides. A bunker protecting the front side of the green is in play.


1st Par 5 621 yards (3)

1st Par 5 621 yards (2)

1st Par 5 621 yards (1)
 
2nd  Par 4 403 yards

2nd Par 4 403 yards (2)

2nd Par 4 403 yards (1)
A sharp dogleg to the left, a beautiful hole. The tee shot is over a lake and a carry of 250 yards is needed to clear bunkers on the left corner. The green is guarded by water on the left and bunkers on both sides.
 
4th Par 4 382 yards

4th Par 4 382 yards (2)

4th Par 4 382 yards (1)
An almost straight hole with a lake along the entire left side. The fairway is tight and a bunker on the right side 240 yards off the tee is in play. Not long but it demands an accurate approach as it is threatened by a semi-hidden lake bordering front of the shallow, sloping green. The right half of the green is also surrounded by the water. The green slopes from back to front.
 
6th Par 5 573 yards

6th Par 5 573 yards (2)

6th Par 5 573 yards (1)
A slight dogleg to the right. The large tree on the right and trees on the left come into play off the tee. If you drive to the right side, the second shot might be hindered by the large tree, making it difficult to hit the green in regulation. The second shot is over a creek and if you slice the shot too much, a lake on the right will catch the ball. The third shot is slightly uphill to be hit onto a narrow green sloping from right to left.
 
8th Par 4 370 yards

A straight & short par 4 with a green swung to the left. The fairway slopes from right to left. A series of bunkers in the center of the fairway are reachable 230 yards off the tee. The front side of the green faces water and the second shot requires a full carry to the small green. The layout of this hole is similar to the 4th hole.


8th Par 4 370 yards (3)

8th Par 4 370 yards (2)

8th Par 4 370 yards (1)
 
12th  Par 3 159 yards

12th Par 3 159 yards
A short slightly downhill,par 3. The green is surrounded by bunkers, and it slopes from right to left.
 
15th  Par 4 421 yards

15th Par 4 421 yards (2)

15th Par 4 421 yards (1)

A beautiful hole that doglegs right.. A bunker on the right is reachable 230 yards off the tee. The second shot is slightly uphill and a bunker guarding the right side of the green should be avoided as it is deep. The green is narrow and slopes from right to left.

 
17th  Par 3 200 yards

17th Par 3 200 yards (2)

17th Par 3 200 yards (1)
A par 3 over a lake onto a shallow, angled green, bunkered back and front. The green touches the water in the front and on the right. The distance to the green is hard to read. The green itself offers a series of subtle slopes.
 
18th  Par 5 566 yards

A signature hole. and a double-dogleg to the left first and then to the right. It is a great par 5. The drive must avoid water along the left, which then cuts across to from a right lake all the way to the green, so the water on the right comes into play on the second shot. The third shot is over the water. An accurate approach shot is needed to hit onto a double-tiered green from right to left that is protected by a bunker and the water in the front. The green is divided into two sides, so you must hit it onto the correct side.


18th Par 5 566 yards (3)

18th Par 5 566 yards (2)

18th Par 5 566 yards (1)
 
19th hole

It is a 20 minutes drive from Chiang Rai and a 30 minutes drive from the Chiang Rai Airport. It is a 3 hours drive from Chiang Mai. I was able to play from the longest tees to show the starter a single-digit handicap certificate.

As of the evaluation of 2005 top100golfcourses.co.uk, the course is selected the 10th best course in Thalind There are around 270 courses in Tailand in 2005.

The other Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed courses in Thailand are Navatanee GC, Green Valley CC, Eastern Star GC and President CC.