If you've spent any time in Bangkok between May and October, you know the drill. The sky darkens at 2 PM, the first drops fall by 3, and by 3:15 the streets are rivers. Bangkok's rainy season is intense, unpredictable, and responsible for ruining more holiday plans than delayed flights and closed temples combined.
Most guides will tell you to head to a shopping mall, catch a movie, or book a cooking class. Those are fine options — but they're passive. If you want to actually do something fun, competitive, and social while the storm rages outside, there's a much better answer: indoor golf.
Why Rainy Season Demands Better Indoor Options
Bangkok's rainy season isn't a light drizzle. We're talking tropical downpours that can dump 30mm of rain in an hour. Outdoor plans — from temple visits to rooftop bars — get wiped out regularly. And unlike a European rainy day where you can tough it out with an umbrella, Bangkok's combination of heavy rain, flooding sidewalks, and intense humidity makes staying outside genuinely miserable.
The typical rainy-day fallbacks have their limits. Shopping malls get overcrowded during storms. Cooking classes need advance booking. Spa treatments are relaxing but solitary. What's missing is something active and social — an experience where a group of friends, a couple on a date, or a family with teenagers can all have a great time together.
Golf Simulators: The Rainy Day Activity You Didn't Know You Needed
A golf simulator session checks every box for a perfect rainy-day activity:
- Fully air-conditioned — no humidity, no sweat, just comfortable indoor conditions while the monsoon rages outside
- No skill required — complete beginners can pick up a club and start hitting balls immediately, with instant feedback on every swing
- Social by design — up to five people can share a bay, making it ideal for groups, couples, or families
- Active, not passive — you're on your feet, swinging, competing, and laughing, not sitting in a dark cinema
- Time-flexible — whether you have one hour to kill or want to make an entire afternoon of it, sessions fit your schedule
Unlike outdoor driving ranges (which obviously shut down in heavy rain) or actual golf courses (unplayable in monsoon conditions), a simulator session is completely weather-independent. The worse it gets outside, the better the decision to be inside.
What a Rainy Afternoon at LENGOLF Looks Like
Here's a typical scenario. It's 2 PM on a Saturday in July. The forecast says rain from 3 PM onwards. Instead of scrambling, you head to BTS Chidlom and walk directly into The Mercury Ville — no need to step outside in the rain, since the mall connects to the BTS station.
At LENGOLF on the 4th floor, you grab a bay with your friends. The Bravo simulators fire up instantly, showing a choice of over 100 championship golf courses from around the world. Someone suggests Pebble Beach. Someone else wants to try St Andrews. You pick one and start playing.
Over the next couple of hours, you rotate through driving practice, closest-to-the-pin challenges, and a few holes of simulated course play. The bar serves drinks and food to your bay. By the time you wrap up, the rain has passed, the sun is peeking through, and you've had one of the best afternoons of your trip — no weather anxiety involved.
Why BTS Chidlom Makes the Difference
Location matters even more in rainy season. When it's pouring, you don't want to be stuck in a taxi crawling through flooded streets to reach some venue in the suburbs. LENGOLF sits directly at BTS Chidlom, in the heart of Bangkok's commercial district. The Mercury Ville mall connects to the BTS walkway, meaning you can get from the train to the venue without touching a raindrop.
After your session, you're already in one of Bangkok's best areas for dining and entertainment. Mercury Ville itself has restaurants, and the surrounding Chidlom and Ploenchit area is packed with options — from street food to fine dining.
Rainy Season Tips for Planning Your Visit
- Book ahead on weekends — rainy Saturday and Sunday afternoons are popular, especially during peak monsoon months (August-September)
- Afternoons are prime rain time — storms typically hit between 2 PM and 6 PM, so plan your session around that window
- Combine with Mercury Ville — grab lunch first, play golf during the storm, then dinner after
- Groups get the best value — up to five people per bay with no extra charge per person, so bring the whole crew
Don't Let the Rain Ruin Your Bangkok Plans
Bangkok's rainy season is unavoidable, but being stuck indoors with nothing to do is entirely optional. Indoor golf gives you something most rainy-day activities can't: a genuinely fun, active, social experience that works for everyone regardless of skill level. Next time the forecast turns grey, skip the mall and pick up a club instead.
LENGOLF is open daily from 10 AM to 11 PM at The Mercury Ville @ BTS Chidlom, Floor 4. Walk-ins welcome, or book your bay in advance at booking.len.golf.