If you’re a golfer planning on visiting Thailand, then the Red Mountain Golf Club Phuket is one place you simply must check out during your stay. The Red Mountain golf course design has a unique character, able to offer a great challenge to even the most seasoned players, and a rugged natural beauty that really must be seen with your own eyes to appreciate. Let’s find out more about the Red Mountain Golf Club Phuket, what golfers can expect, and why many consider it a real golfing landmark among the courses in Phuket.
How To Reach Red Mountain Golf Club
The Red Mountain Golf Club is located in the Kathu district of Phuket, placing it in the heart of multiple tourist attractions and hotels. It’s a 15-minute drive from the beautiful sandy beaches of Patong on one side, and the colorful Phuket town on the other. You can find the entrance located between two very famous tourist attractions, the Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, and the Wat Kathu Buddhist temple along Vichitsongkram Road.
Red Mountain is located right next to another popular golf course, the Loch Palm Golf Club which is known as the most relaxing golf course in Phuket. Both Red Mountain and Loch Palm are operated by the same management from MBK Public Co. Ltd.
The Golf Course At Red Mountain
As soon as you get on a golf cart and start making your way through the fairways at Red Mountain Golf Club, one thing will become immediately apparent to you. The golf course is one of the most photogenic you’ll find on the island of Phuket, thanks to the lush jungle and bright red rocky hills all around. Even for those not playing golf, Red Mountain provides a breathtaking scenic tour, and you’ll get the chance to take plenty of pictures to show your friends at home
You’ll find a huge variety of colorful flora including wild orchids, exotic ferns, and Indian rhododendrons which have been loving left alone during the construction of the golf course. This was to maintain the natural scenery of the environment. Any animal lovers and bird watchers among the golfers will no doubt appreciate the many vibrant-looking species of birds and butterflies they will see at Red Mountain.
A Golf Course Design That Maintains Links To The Island’s Past
Image taken from www.mbkgolf.com/red-mountain/
Part of what makes the Red Mountain golf course such an exhilarating test for golfers is the unique landscape features of the tin mine era which left its mark here. The dizzying elevation changes and mining pits are the scars left over from these tin mining operations. While most people would’ve simply covered up these features to make a more traditional golf course, the designers at Red Mountain chose to keep this indelible link to an important era of Phuket’s past. In many cases, they imaginatively incorporated many of the features to create a very challenging course layout.
The 18-hole par-72 Red Mountain golf course layout was the brainchild of designer Jon Morrow and co-designer Al Tikkanen. Instead of filling in the abandoned tin mining pits, they were flooded to create water hazards. Some of the surrounding hills were landscaped to reveal more of the natural red clay which gives the area its name. The drainage system is also carefully designed to help golfers return to the greens quickly even after a heavy shower during the rainy season. There are also sand bunkers to further hinder your progress.
A Fun Playing Environment And Signature Holes
Image taken from //www.phuketgolf.net
The numerous risk and reward options create an undoubtedly challenging test of skills for even the most experienced golfers who play at the Red Mountain course. You’ll need to play a highly strategic game to take advantage of the cleverly routed natural landscape if you wish to score well here.
The greens have shade-tolerant Bermuda Hybrid grass, ensuring that all putting surfaces are fast and smooth no matter which season you play in. The fairways are wonderfully manicured and maintained as well, although some of them are tight requiring good aim from players. One such example is the hole-02 of the front nine. This is a par-05 hole where the green is hidden from the tee, and the fairway narrows as well. The par-04 hole-08 adds an exciting water hazard into the mix on both sides of the fairway here.
The signature holes of the second nine offer some of the most amazing views of the surroundings while ramping up the difficulty. A hundred-meter climb awaits you after completing hole 15. This makes hole 16 among the highest golf holes in all of Phuket, and if you look around, you’ll get a splendid view of the famous Phuket Big Buddha statute in the distance. After you make this one, hole 17 awaits at the bottom of a massive cliff nearly 40 meters below the tee.
The Green Fees At Red Mountain Golf Club
The best time to go for a round of golf in Thailand is in the early morning before the heat starts setting in. You’ll be able to enjoy a nice breeze, and the gorgeous views all around will look even more spectacular covered in morning mist and lit with the milder early morning sun rays. The morning tee time green fee price at Red Mountain is 2,300 Thai baht on weekdays and 3,100 on the more crowded weekends. The afternoon tee time green fee price is 1,800 baht. There is sadly no golf club membership program at Red Mountain at this moment.
Renting A Golf Cart And Caddy
Image taken from www.golfholidaysbymorgan.com
The elevation changes and the dramatic slopes mean that the course is fairly difficult to navigate on foot. This means that the 700 baht you will spend on the optional golf cart at the Red Mountain Golf Club will be money well spent. Keep in mind that only your caddy will be allowed to drive this golf cart.
Another important thing to note is that a golf caddy is mandatory in all Phuket and Thailand golf courses. The caddy fee is 400 baht, and you are also expected to tip your caddy a similar amount after your game is over. Many caddies speak English very well and are super helpful as they take you around the golf course. A caddy tip of 400 to 500 baht is recommended if you’re very impressed with their services.
Red Mountain Clubhouse Facilities
Apart from the enjoyable golf course itself, there are plenty of facilities at the Red Mountain clubhouse including well-maintained locker rooms, a driving range, a pro shop, and a restaurant that customers can utilize before and after their round of golf is over.
Practice Your Swing AT The Driving Range
If you’re a golfer that hasn’t visited a course in ages or are still a beginner, you can practice your swing at the Red Mountain driving before attempting the tough signature holes. There are 25 bays and a fully grassy area dedicated to helping the rusty golfer perfect their technique. You’ll even get premium quality golf balls to practice with.
Get Your Golf Accessories At The Red Mountain Pro Shop
Forgot to pack your golf gear for your Phuket holiday? The fully-equipped pro shop at Red Mountain has all the golf accessories you need from top-quality branded golf clubs to shoes for renting. There’s even Red Mountain-branded merchandise for you to purchase and take home with you.
Exclusive Dining At Red Mountain
Image taken from //www.phuketgolf.net
You’ll get some stunning views from the Red Mountain restaurant as you sink your teeth into your hearty early-morning breakfast before heading over to the fairways. There are many local Thai and international cuisine available on the menu. Furthermore, if you need a refreshing drink or a bite while you’re on the golf course, multiple kiosks provide cool beverages and light meals for golfers without having to return to the clubhouse.
Additionally, the Red Mountain clubhouse can be booked for private functions and corporate events. It’s spacious and able to accommodate large gatherings while proving an exclusive and scenic venue for functions. If you’re planning a corporate golf tournament, then Red Mountain clubhouse could be the perfect place to host your event.
Ready To Play Some World Class Golf At Red Mountain Golf Club?
The overall scheme at Red Mountain Golf Club course provides one of the most exciting and stimulating golfing experiences in Phuket Thailand. It’s great value for money, a true challenge for the golfer that’s looking for a difficult round of their favorite pastime, and provides jaw-dropping views all around. If you’re ready to visit this golf course, check out the Red Mountain Golf Club page for booking information.
If you wish to know more about Phuket golf courses, as well as other things to do in Thailand, the place to check out is Ushup. We have all the latest info on where to dine, play golf, and have a fun time in Phuket. Visit the Ushup blog today for everything on Phuket living!
FAQs
The Red Mountain golf course was created by Jon Morrow and Al Tikkanen of the Morrow Tikkanen company in 2004. They incorporated the natural landscape as well as many features left over from the tin mining operations that left their mark on the environment.
The standard green fee at the Red Moutain course is 2,300 baht on weekdays and 3,100 on weekends during the morning tee time. In the afternoon, the fee is 1,800 baht. The caddy fee is 400 baht, while the optional golf cart can be rented for 700 baht.
The island of Phuket in Thailand is home to nine golf courses. Each golf course offers a unique experience in terms of the course layout, the surrounding landscape, and the level of challenge a golfer can expect. Red Mountain, Loch Palms, Blue Canyon, and Laguna Golf are some of the popular courses where customers looking for a golfing experience on their holiday can go.
