Golf Special Edition: What about Phuket Country Club’s New Course?
The Phuket Country Club was established in 1989, and was the host to the Ladies’ Kosaido Thailand Open in 1992 while also The Prince Bernard Cup. The club consists of two courses by the names of Old and New. Here is the profile of the New Course, which was
recently voted as the best course in Thailand.
Hole 1
The New Course starts with trouble. The first tee is a complete package of challenge as the shot has to plunge over lakes, and the fairway of par five. There is a water hazard on each side and if that’s not enough, then there is a series of bunkers also
along the left. Moreover, a gorge guards the edge of the water on the right. So, in case the ball gets stuck in the gorge, the minimum score to be posted on the scorecard would be a bogey 3.
However, trouble doesn’t seem to pack its bag here as from mid-fairway, pines and a bunker intrude on the right with out-of-bounds beyond and a water hazard on the left. As for the green, it is steeply sloped and rolls back at a distance of 40 yards. It
is also surrounded by bunkers and mounds.
Hole 2
The second hole is stretched on par 4 and has a water hazard cutting the fairway, diagonally. The tee betrays the player on first sight and it almost gives an impression that the fairway was designed for another tee position, off to the right. Also, there
are rocks, bunkers and grass that enhance the difficulty level. To make it worse, there is a point where the water and out-of-bounds almost meet, thereby, enlarging the surface area of the hazards.
Hole 3
From the tee, a small bridge swirls across the swans' lake with circulating water surging in and out, distorting the perspective of the player. The tee shot aiming towards the left will probably be caught in the bunker. But, this is not it as the second
shot aimed towards the fairway will surely land right into the area where there is a tree surrounded by a longitudinal bunker.
This spot has the highest percentage of bogeys recorded. Moreover, the fairway slopes steeply into the ravine. If a shot is taken slightly towards the left with a 7 – iron, it will definitely reach the green and will avoid the bunkers in the front and right.
Hole 4
This is a par 3 hole and water isn’t much of a problem here. However, trees and bunkers around the green surely send shiver down the spine. The green has little elevation but then it slopes down which means the strategy to reach the pin should be extreme
accuracy coupled with an excellent wedge game.
Hole 5
It is a hole similar to the first one except for the fact that it is par 4. There is a water hazard on the left side of the tee and if a long straight shot is taken with a driver, then it will definitely go out of bounds. As for the fairway, it is designed
for a lateral tee, as the fairway narrows down into a water source with a bunker in the right.
Hole 7
Now comes the seventh hole with water cutting diagonally in from the right, and also with trees and out-of-bounds pointing to the left while fairway bunkers scattered to the left and right.
Hole 8
The second last hole of the New Course is of par 5 with a couple of trees in the fairway’s middle. Then there is an out-of-bounds to the left and a bunker located at the spot where the fairway peaks. The only trouble possible here is until the fairway ends
as the green is smooth and flat.
Hole 9
The last hole is a par 5 as well. The tee is welcomed by the bunkers on the left. The second shot has to be taken with a driver as it has to plunge over the small lake in between the fairway.
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