Navatanee Golf Course
Weekday green fee
5,300THB
Navatanee Golf Course occupies a singular place in Thai golf history. Built in 1973 specifically to host the 23rd World Cup of Golf in 1975 — won by the United States (Johnny Miller and Lou Graham) — it was the first course in Asia designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and remains one of the most historically significant layouts in Southeast Asia. Golf Digest USA ranked it the top course in Thailand in 1999. It is a private members' club, strictly members-only on weekends, though international visitors are welcomed on weekdays. Weekday all-in packages (green fee, caddie, and cart inclusive) run approximately 5,300 THB, placing it firmly in the premium tier. There is no driving range, only a quality practice putting green — par for a course whose reputation is built on the playing experience itself rather than facility quantity.
18
Holes
72
Par
20 km
From Bangkok
~20 min
Drive time
Layout & playing experience
The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches 6,902 yards through mature Bangkok parkland lined with towering trees that give the course a timeless, slightly shaded atmosphere quite unlike the modern resort courses further out of the city. Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s design rewards patience and shot-making precision — water hazards are strategically placed rather than omnipresent, and the greens are famously fast and subtly contoured. The par-4 6th hole, a 445-yard challenge with water guarding the left side and the green, is widely considered the course's hardest hole. The par-5 9th plays long and strategic along the water. The 2015 renovation of the clubhouse's changing and shower facilities brought modern comfort without disturbing the classic atmosphere.
Tips & what to know before you go
Visitors must book weekday tee times in advance — the course does not accommodate walk-ins. Weekends are strictly for members. Golf carts are compulsory, and caddies are used by all players (the all-in fee covers both). The recommended caddie tip is 400 THB, paid in cash after the round. There is no driving range; warm up on the putting green before your round. Expect a brisk pace — the club maintains a four-hour maximum for a four-ball. Dress code is enforced: collared shirt and soft spikes required.
Location & getting there
Navatanee is located at 22 Navatanee Road, Kannayao district, Bangkok 10230 — within Bangkok city limits, making it one of the closest championship courses to the city centre. It sits along the Outer Ring Road in northeast Bangkok, approximately 20 km and 20 minutes from central Bangkok in light traffic. Access by car via the expressway is straightforward. Grab or taxi from Sukhumvit or Silom takes 25–40 minutes depending on time of day. No convenient BTS/MRT link exists, but it is the most centrally located of Bangkok's premium courses.
No clubs? No problem.
Navatanee's premium fee structure assumes serious golfers — LENGOLF club rentals let you show up with tour-quality equipment without the hassle of packing clubs on a flight. LENGOLF delivers to Bangkok hotels city-wide, so your gear arrives before you do.