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The golf course at the Royal Gems Golf City is considered to be Asia's
first replica course. The front half is combined with nine internationally
well known holes and the back nine is a replica of the Augusta National
course. The geographically flat land has been piled up earth in order
to recreate the hills and valleys. The fact that this course has many
ups and downs makes it unusual for courses around Bangkok. The big differences
between this replica course and the Augusta National is the tree sizes
and the green surfaces, and their rolling speeds. Players will be able
to enjoy the ambience of the Augusta course once the trees at the Royal
Gems Golf City have matured.
The first nine replica holes are so well connected and combined that it
almost feels as if it is a new and perfectly designed golf course. This
course is strategically challenging and gives players a strong impression,
primarily because the design constricts of the collection of the best
holes from all of the world, which includes; #1 Oakmont CC #3, #2 Bay
Hill C&L #6, #3 TPC Sawgrass Stadium #17, #4 Doral R&CC #18, #5
Royal Troon GC Old Course #8, #6 St. Andrews Old Course #17, #7 Bethpage
State Park GC Black Course #4, #8 Winged Foot GC #10, #9 The Belfry GC
Brabazon Course #10.
Scorecard
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The opening hole is a tough par four with a relatively straight fairway.
There is a huge bunker that is placed on the left side of the fairway.
The grasses are planted on top of several narrowly raised soil in the
bunker, which look like church pew benches from the teeing ground. The
contrast of the white bunker and the green grass makes the fairway look
narrower, giving players more pressure off the tee box. The tee shot is
a downhill shot while the second shot is an uphill shot.
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The second hole is a par five that consists of a dogleg that bends around
a pond on the left side, shape like a crescent moon. The landing area
off the tee is relatively small and tilts down towards the left. Players
should also look out for the water hazard that lies near the landing area
of the tee shot. The fairway becomes narrower the closer it gets to the
green, meaning that accuracy will be a vital factor on the second and
third shots. The approach shots is also difficult, as the green is swung
further to the left and the ball hover over the water hazard. The green
isn’t deep and players should note that there is a bunker at the back
and the pond facing the front and left sides of the green.
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The third hole is a par three that is designed in the shape of an island
green. Players need to approach the floating small green with caution.
The internationally renowned concept of “island green holes” originated
at TPC Sawgrass Stadium #17. Since the hole’s creation, the concept has
been adapted all around the world across hundreds of different golf courses.
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This par four consists of a sharp dogleg that bends to the left. The
tee shot will hover both over a pond and a beach bunker that spreads out
on the left side of the fairway. The green is surrounded by another pond
in its front and left side; therefore, the second shot will require accuracy
in order for the ball to be carried over the water hazard. The green slopes
down sharply towards the left, making it difficult for players to read
the line of putting.
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A demanding par four that consists of a dogleg hole that bends towards the
right. The original design of this hole at St. Andrews requires the ball
to fly over The Old Course Hotel off the tee box. At this particular hole
the hotel is replaced with a bush. Players will need to use a wood on the
second shot in order to reach the hole in two shots. Nevertheless, players
will need accuracy to be on their side, as there is an extremely narrow
O.B. line on the right side of the green. The green is 50-yards wide and
consists of a complex undulation. The design around the green, the pot bunker
in front of the green and the long & narrow road at the back, in comparison
to the original hole is strikingly very similar. |
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The seventh hole is a par five that consists of a slight dogleg that
bends to the left. The tee shot will require the ball to be accurate in
order to avoid the left fairway bunker. While the second shot will only
require the ball to hover over a large bunker, both second and third shots
will require the ball to be hit on a tough uphill slope. There are two
large bunkers that are strategically placed in the far front of the green.
This will force players to think as they will need to decide which club
to use on the second shot. The bunker guarding in front of the green is
in play.
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The eighth hole is a par three that has an elevated green, guarded by deep
bunkers on both sides. |
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The eleventh hole is a par four with a dogleg that bends to the right. Players
may find their ball rolling down the hill if hit more than 225 yards off
the tee. Since the fairway tilts leftward, players should aim their tee
shot towards the right side. The green faces a body of water on both the
left and back sides, and it will make players decide on the second shot
wheter they arrecively attach the pin or play safe of the left side of the
green. The original hole’s length is 505 yards long. Therefore, at the Masters,
many golf professionals usually aim towards the right side of the green
to be safe in order to avoid the water hazard on the left. |
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The eleventh hole is a par four with a dogleg that bends to the right.
Players may find their ball rolling down the hill if hit more than 225
yards off the tee. Since the fairway tilts leftward, players should aim
their tee shot towards the right side. The green faces a body of water
on both the left and back sides, and it will make players decide on the
second shot wheter they arrecively attach the pin or play safe of the
left side of the green. The original hole’s length is 505 yards long.
Therefore, at the Masters, many golf professionals usually aim towards
the right side of the green to be safe in order to avoid the water hazard
on the left.
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The twelfth hole is a beautiful par three that consists of a tee shot that
carries the ball over a pond. The hole’s distance is not long, however,
when the wind velocity is blows stronger than six meters a second, it can
be considered to be the world’s most difficult Par 3. The green is guarded
by bunkers both in its front and back and has a depth of mere twenty yards.
It is also relatively wide and tilts towards the right. From the tee box,
this green can look as if it’s shaped in a straight line. If players lose
their sense of the distance throughout the course, it will be nearly impossible
to score a par. Especially if players land their ball in the back bunker,
a very sensitive shot will be required in order to get it out, or else the
ball will continue to roll throughout the green and enter the water hazard.
The distance of this hole is the same as the original hole. |
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This hole is a par five that consists of a sharp dogleg left bend. The best
way to tackle this hole is to hit a right to left ball off the tee. If the
tee shot goes straight, the second shot needs to be hit from the side hill
lie. A creek runs along the left side of the fairway and crosses the hole
right before it reaches the green. Players should note that the green slopes
down sharply, meaning that there’s a possibility for a three-putt. The original
hole is ten yards longer than this replica hole. |
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This par five is a straightly designed hole that consists of a wide fairway.
However, in order to reach the hole in two shots, players will need to
hit between the two high trees, only 50 yards wide. The landing area is
a downward slope, making it possible for some long hitters to successfully
hit the . Nevertheless, players should also be aware as there is a pond
placed right in front of the green. Players should also note that if the
shot surpasses the green, it will be difficult to approach onto the green
from the back. The original hole is 530 yards.
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The last hole is a tough uphill par four with a dogleg that bends to
the right. The tee shot will require the ball to fly through the narrow
corridor of teeing boxes franked by the trees, even though the trees are
currently young & small. Players are encouraged to aim at the the
fairway bunker that is placed 290 yards off the tee. A left to right ball
is also good. The second shot is an uphill blind shot towards the green.
There is also a deep bunker that is placed near the front left side of
green. The biggest difference players realize when they play at this hole
after they watch the Masters on television is the actual steepness of
the course. On TV, it looks relatively flat, but the hole is not less
than 24-yard uphill from the tee to the green. The original is 465 yards.
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It is a 50-minute drive from Central Bagkok.
Visitors need to be accompaned by menbers to play on Saturdays & Sundays.
The locker room at this golf course has a gorgeous design.
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Though I would rate this course 4.80 points, due to the fact that the
course is a replica of various famous international holes, I have decided
to rate it 4.55 on this course. Nevertheless, the course layout is quite
interesting and there is no doubt that this is a first class golf course.
According to the top100golfcourses.com
site, The Royal Gem's City was ranked 17th out of 300 (as of 2018) courses
in all of Thailand during its 2017 evaluation.
The other Ron Gal designed courses in Thailand are Alpine
GC and Chiangmai Lamphun GC (remodel).
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