Loch Palm Golf Club

The Loch Palm 18 hole par 72, 6,555 yards golf course is one of the most enjoyable and consistent Phuket golf courses.  Nestling beneath a panoramic range of jungle-clad hills, Loch Palm is easy going although still capable of throwing down many challenges and giving any Phuket golfer a thorough workout. As the club’s name suggests, palm trees are liberally dotted around this parkland layout, although never too densely.

On the front-nine the main objective is keeping the golf ball on dry land; many holes are played alongside the loch a sizeable lake, which has a habit of cutting across some of the gently undulating fairways.

The short 2nd hole is one of many holes that tests golfer’s nerves around water. A par 5 with significant amount of large and open bunkering also comes into play. Shots too wayward require significantly longer lengths to avoid finding the perimeter real estate or worse out-of-bounds. The back nine has some tighter and more undulating holes, starting with the short but testing downhill par 4 10th. The equally tight and challenging par 5 11th hasnew villas flanking the left side of the hole; be ready to shout Fore. Among several excellent holes on the back-nine, one of the best is the 14th, a par 3 played downhill to a green surrounded on three sides by water.

Golf carts are available as an option and the course is always in top playing condition. The club house serves good Thai food at reasonable prices. However, the facility itself is in need of a makeover as it shows its age especially in the smallish locker rooms and around the eating and sitting areas.