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7 Best Golf Courses in Khao Yai

Highland golf paradise just 2 hours from Bangkok. Escape the heat with cooler mountain courses near Thailand's most beautiful national park.

Updated January 2026

Key Takeaways

Best Overall

Rancho Charnvee - Bob McFarland design with notoriously fast greens

Best Value

Khao Yai Country Club - Jack Nicklaus design at ฿1,900

Best Resort

Kirimaya - Jack Nicklaus through UNESCO wilderness

Best Scenery

Toscana Valley - Italian-themed mountain views

Khao Yai is Thailand's premier golf destination, with world-class courses designed by legends like Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, and Robert Trent Jones Jr. From the LPGA-hosting Siam Country Club to Asia's only floating green at Amata Spring, these 12 courses represent the best golf Khao Yai has to offer in 2026.

The Rankings

Rancho Charnvee Golf Course
#1

Rancho Charnvee Golf Course

Khao Yai's most demanding golf course paired with European luxury.

4.5
Bob McFarland · 2002Khao Yai
Weekday
฿2,000
Weekend
฿3,000
  • Lightning-fast greens challenge even scratch golfers
  • European resort elegance just two hours from Bangkok
  • Mountain scenery creates stunning backdrop for every hole
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Our Take

Rancho Charnvee delivers the complete package that's rare in Thailand's golf resort market. The course earns its #1 Khao Yai ranking through pure difficulty, particularly those notorious greens that separate weekend warriors from serious players. At 2000 THB, you're paying premium rates, but the European-inspired luxury resort experience justifies every baht.

Signature Hole

Fast, sloped greens that punish poor approach shots and reward precise putting.

Pro Tip

Study green contours carefully as these surfaces will expose any weakness in your short game.

Toscana Valley
#2

Toscana Valley

Khao Yai's most exclusive mountain course delivers championship-level difficulty in stunning surroundings.

4.6
Bob McFarland and Chanat Ruangkritya · 2003Khao Yai
Weekday
฿4,700
Weekend
฿5,700
  • Spectacular mountain views within Khao Yai National Park boundaries
  • Multi-tiered elevated tees create dramatic visual impact
  • Tuscany-themed clubhouse and luxury residential setting
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Our Take

Bob McFarland's original design got the full Thai treatment, resulting in a beast that makes scratch golfers weep. The American architect's initial drawings were extensively modified by local designers who clearly believe subtlety is overrated. What emerged is Thailand's most punishing mountain course, where raised greens, razor-sharp fairway drop-offs, and 200-yard water carries separate pretenders from contenders.

Signature Hole

Hole 12 (Par 4) - Multi-tiered tees overlook water carry to severely sloped elevated green.

Pro Tip

Accept that par is a victory on most holes given the severe green contours and water hazards.

Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa
#3

Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa

Nicklaus masterpiece through UNESCO parkland delivers Thailand's most naturally stunning golf.

4.5
Jack Nicklaus · 2002Khao Yai
Weekday
฿2,500
Weekend
฿2,500
  • Nicklaus design team calls it one of their three best in Asia
  • Jungle-clad hills and wetlands create unforgettable natural beauty
  • Five-star tented villa resort offers luxury mountain escape
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Our Take

Jack Nicklaus was clearly inspired when he routed this masterpiece through Khao Yai's pristine wilderness. The Golden Bear's design team doesn't throw around superlatives lightly, so their claim that this ranks among their three finest Asian courses carries serious weight. What makes Kirimaya special isn't just the golf, it's the complete sensory experience of playing through UNESCO World Heritage parkland.

Signature Hole

Hole 16 (Par 4) - Dogleg around ancient tree to water-guarded green is pure artistry.

Pro Tip

Take extra clubs on approach shots as thick vegetation punishes anything short of greens.

Khao Yai Country Club
#4

Khao Yai Country Club

Nicklaus design with dramatic elevation changes and mountain views at budget price.

4.3
Jack Nicklaus · 2002Khao Yai
Weekday
฿1,900
Weekend
฿1,900
  • Jack Nicklaus routing through stunning Khao Yai mountain valleys
  • Dramatic 40-meter drop on signature par-3 17th hole
  • Excellent value at 1900 THB for championship design
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Our Take

Khao Yai Country Club represents both the promise and peril of Thai golf development. Nicklaus delivered a routing that maximizes the natural drama of the mountain setting, particularly through the valley holes 10 and 11, which rank among the region's finest back-to-back sequences. The Golden Bear's signature touches remain evident in the strategic bunkering and risk-reward opportunities, especially on the downhill par-5 2nd.

Signature Hole

Hole 17 (Par 3) - Spectacular 40-meter drop from elevated tee to green below.

Pro Tip

Bring extra balls for the mountain holes and prepare for lightning-fast greens.

Bonanza Golf & Country Club
#5

Bonanza Golf & Country Club

Mountain golf at 7,480 yards with elevation changes near Khao Yai National Park.

4
John Gray · 1996Khao Yai
Weekday
฿1,600
Weekend
฿1,600
  • Cooler temperatures at higher elevation provide relief from Bangkok heat
  • Strategic layout with 120 feet of elevation changes challenges all skill levels
  • Tree-lined fairways and scenic valley setting create memorable mountain golf
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Our Take

Bonanza delivers legitimate championship golf in Thailand's cooler mountains. The 7,480-yard layout from designer Bob McFarland (despite conflicting attribution to John Gray) uses natural elevation brilliantly, creating strategic interest without gimmicky design. The 120 feet of elevation change flows naturally across the valley terrain.

Signature Hole

Hole 18 (Par 4) - Dramatic downhill finish with reservoir views tests nerve and club selection.

Pro Tip

Bring extra layers as temperatures drop significantly in early morning and evening rounds.

Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa
#6

Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa

Championship golf meets UNESCO wilderness at Thailand's premier mountain resort.

4.3
Nelson & Wright (Belt Collins) · 2002Khao Yai
Weekday
฿2,000
  • Only Nelson & Wright design in Thailand
  • Borders UNESCO World Heritage Khao Yai National Park
  • Full resort with spa, dining, outdoor adventures
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Our Take

Royal Hills delivers the complete Thai golf resort package. Nelson & Wright's only Southeast Asian design showcases their trademark strategic bunkering and undulating greens across 7,021 yards of rolling terrain. The UNESCO World Heritage location provides stunning backdrops of protected wilderness.

Signature Hole

Hole 18 (Par 4) - Dramatic finishing hole with elevated green overlooking national park.

Pro Tip

Book accommodation to fully experience the resort's hiking, rafting, and spa facilities beyond golf.

Narai Hill Golf Resort & Country Club
#7

Narai Hill Golf Resort & Country Club

Scenic 27-hole layout with strategic fairway trees and challenging sloping greens.

4.4
Veeryot Pethbuasak · 2006Khao Yai
Weekday
฿1,599
  • Rolling terrain with panoramic mountain views throughout the round
  • Strategic fairway trees create unique targeting challenges
  • Rock Course offers the most interesting and memorable holes
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Our Take

Major Veeryot Pethbuasak created something genuinely different at Narai Hill with fairway trees positioned as strategic elements rather than obstacles. The concept works brilliantly, forcing golfers to think beyond typical target golf and use the trees as aiming points.

Signature Hole

Hole 5 (Par 5) - Narrow layup around lake forces aggressive second shot decision.

Pro Tip

Study 18th green early in your round since the uphill approach is blind.

Ready to Play?

Check real-time weather forecasts for all 19 Khao Yai courses and find the perfect day for your round.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Khao Yai golf courses special compared to Bangkok courses?
Khao Yai courses offer cooler mountain temperatures, dramatic elevation changes, and stunning natural scenery within UNESCO World Heritage park boundaries. Courses like Toscana Valley and Kirimaya feature multi-tiered tees and jungle-clad hills impossible to find in Bangkok's flat terrain.
Which Khao Yai course offers the best value for championship-level golf?
Khao Yai Country Club delivers exceptional value at ฿1,900 for a Jack Nicklaus design. The course features dramatic 40-meter elevation drops and stunning mountain valley routing that rivals courses costing twice as much.
What are the green fees for Khao Yai's top golf courses?
Khao Yai green fees range from ฿1,599 (Narai Hill) to ฿4,700 (Toscana Valley). Mid-range options include Rancho Charnvee (฿2,000), Kirimaya (฿2,500), and Royal Hills (฿2,000), all offering excellent mountain golf experiences.
Which course designer has the most courses in Khao Yai?
Jack Nicklaus has two courses in Khao Yai: Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa and Khao Yai Country Club, both opened in 2002. Bob McFarland designed both Rancho Charnvee and co-designed Toscana Valley with Chanat Ruangkritya.
What's the most challenging course in Khao Yai for skilled golfers?
Rancho Charnvee offers Khao Yai's most demanding golf with lightning-fast greens that challenge scratch golfers. Toscana Valley provides championship-level difficulty with elevated tees and mountain terrain, while both Nicklaus courses feature strategic layouts with significant elevation changes.
Can I play 27 holes at any Khao Yai course?
Yes, Narai Hill Golf Resort & Country Club offers 27 holes with their Rock Course being the most interesting and memorable. The other six courses are traditional 18-hole layouts, but many offer different tee combinations to vary the experience.

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