Alpine Golf Club

Course Data

Location	Bangkok, Thailand
Yardage	7100 yards　Par 72
Course Rating
Playing Date	14 Feb. 2004 & 10 Feb. 2015
Desingner	Ron Garl
Opened	1996
Caddy	Yes
Golf Cart	Yes

Rating

Overall Rating

4.70

Course Layout	5
Difficulty Level	5
Greens Conditions	5
Fairways Conditions	4
Landscaping & Views	4
Satisfaction Level	5

The Alpine Golf Club course is located at a rare altitude on the outskirts of Bangkok. What was once a relatively flat paddy field, transformed into an exceptionally wonderful golf course. The course is often known for its strong rough turfs from where it is hard to hit the right distance . Players whose tee shots are not stable will often face trouble when landing outside of the fairway. The holes consist of a series of strategic holes in the splendid terrain. The ponds, bunkers, and trees at every hole are all skillfully arranged. The greens are also well maintained and fast, with most of them being two tiered. The approach shot should be accurate to avoid a three putt hitting from the different tier.

A view of 3rd hole

A view from 8th hole

A view of 10th green

Scorecard

Hole 2　Par 4　434 yards

Hole 2　Par 4　434 yards (2)

Hole 2　Par 4　434 yards (1)

The second hole is a relatively straight par four. Players should consider drawing the ball off the tee to avoid the groves. The second shot is over a pond. The green, sloping back to front, is guarded by the pond on the right and a bunker to its left.

Hole 3　Par 3　207 yards

Hole 3　Par 3　207 yards (2)

Hole 3　Par 3　207 yards (1)

An over-a-pond par three with a large beach bunker. The green has a width of 40 yards and elevates high in the center, sloping downwards towards the sides.

Hole 6　Par 3　238 yards　

Hole 6　Par 3　238 yards (2)

Hole 6　Par 3　238 yards (1)

The sixth hole is a very long par three. Not only do players have to be wary of the distance, but they must also keep an eye out for the pond that stretches all the way to the green. Furthermore, the green is shallow and is guarded by several bunkers to its left and right. The greens slopes strongly from back to front, and has a width of 45 yards.

Hole 7　Par 5　555 yards

A relatively straight par five. Long hitters will have to decide whether to go for the green in two or to play safely by landing their second shots in front of a pond. The green is wide and surrounded by the pond. A bunker is also placed at its front right. Since the green inclines to the left, approach shots should be aimed towards the left side of the pin.

Hole 7　Par 5　555 yards (3)

Hole 7　Par 5　555 yards (2)

Hole 7　Par 5　555 yards (1)

Hole 8　Par 4　441 yards

Hole 8　Par 4　441 yards (2)

Hole 8　Par 4　441 yards (1)

The eighth hole is a very tough and relatively straight hole. With a narrow landing area off the tee, players should watch out for the forest on the left and the four bunkers on the left & right sides of the fairway. Furthermore, five additional bunkers await players around the shallow green area. Players will not only require accuracy on the second shot, but must spin and stop a ball on a right-tilting green.

Hole 9　Par 4　380 yards　

Hole 9　Par 4　380 yards (2)

Hole 9　Par 4　380 yards (1)

A slight dogleg to the left. The tee shot is over a hug bunker, and players also keep an eye out for another hidden huge fairway bunker towards the left side on the tee shot. The shallow green is by a deep bunker and a pond in the right. There are additional two bunkers placed at the back of the green.

Hole 11　Par 4　412 yards

Hole 11　Par 4　412 yards (2)

Hole 11　Par 4　412 yards (1)

A dogleg to the right. Players should be aware that a pond to its right and a forest to its left flanker a relatively large fairway. Furthermore, the pond surround all three sides of the green, and a bunker on the right side awaits for too safe approach shot avoiding the water. This is a hole in which an accurate approach shot will be required.

Hole 12　Par 3　200 yards

A par three that requires the tee shot crossing over a huge bunker. The horizontally long, two-tiered green inclines to the right.

12 green seen from the rear

Hole 12　Par 3　200 yards (2)

Hole 12　Par 3　200 yards (1)

Hole 14　Par 5　546 yards

A beautiful dogleg to the left. Off the tee a carry of 220 yards is necessary in order to cross the left fairway bunker. While there is another fairway bunker to the right, the landing area is quite narrow. On the second shot, players should be aware of a series of fairway bunkers positioned to the left. A deep bunker guards the front of the right-tilting green.

Hole 14　Par 5　546 yards (3)

Hole 14　Par 5　546 yards (2)

Hole 14　Par 5　546 yards (1)

Hole 16　Par 4　355 yards

Hole 16　Par 4　355 yards (2)

Hole 16　Par 4　355 yards (1)

A dogleg to the left, short par four. The tee shot is over a pond, the same pond on the right of the fairway is in play. The green, strongly sloping from back to front, is protected by the pond and a bunker on the right.

Hole 18　Par 4　402 yards

Hole 18　Par 4　402 yards (2)

Hole 18　Par 4　402 yards (1)

The finishing hole is a right bending dogleg with a pond spread out to its right. Off the tee shot, a forest on both sides gives players the illusion of a narrow landing area, which in fact is not the case as it is actually quite spacious. The second shot crosses over the pond, with bunkers and down slopes on both left and right sides of the green awaiting any errant shots.

19th hole

Alpine Golf Club is a 50-minute ride from Bangkok city center. Tiger Woods won the 2000 European men's championship tour Johnnie Walker Classic, making the course world-famous.

Restaurant

Lunch

Ron Garl is known for his designs of golf courses throughout the United States, especially in Florida. This golf course was Garl’s first design in Asia. Other design courses include Royal Gems Golf City and Chiangmai Lamphun GC (remodel) in Thailand, and General Kowloon Mountain GC in China. The 2017 edition of the Top 100 Golf Course of the World (top 100 golfcourses.com) ranked this course as No. 2 in its category of best 50 courses in Thailand. As of 2017 there are a total of 300 courses in Thailand.

St. Regis Bangkok　

Royal Bangkok SC overlooking from room

During my time at the course, I stayed at St. Regis Bangkok. The hotel is very comfortable and overlooks the golf course of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club from the hotel room.