Santiburi Country Club Chiang Rai
Weekday green fee
1,900THB
Weekend: 2,300 THB
Santiburi Country Club Chiang Rai is the standout golf destination in Northern Thailand — a Robert Trent Jones Jr. Signature design that has held the title of the region's most acclaimed course since it opened in 1992. Set in the green hills of Wiang Chai district, about 15 kilometres south of Chiang Rai city, the course plays 18 holes at par 72 and combines the precision demands of a true championship layout with the lush highland scenery the region is known for. Jones Jr.'s routing makes clever use of the undulating terrain, natural water features, and mature tree lines to produce a course that rewards strategic play at every level. Green fees run approximately 1,900 THB on weekdays and 2,300 THB at weekends — a bargain for a designer course of this calibre. Caddies and carts are mandatory, adding an extra layer of local knowledge and course management support. The facility is impeccably maintained and offers a driving range, well-stocked pro shop, and a comfortable clubhouse — making it the natural first choice for touring golfers flying into Chiang Rai International Airport.
18
Holes
72
Par
860 km
From Bangkok
~12h
Drive time
Layout & playing experience
Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s routing at Santiburi Chiang Rai is widely considered his best Thailand work — a course that occupies a spacious site in the Wiang Chai hills and uses every contour to full effect. The layout is defined by generous but sloping fairways that require careful positioning from the tee, and greens that are subtle in their undulation but firm in their demands for accurate approach play. Water features are a recurring theme: lakes and irrigation channels come into play on a dozen or more holes, and the course's strategy depends heavily on knowing when to challenge a carry and when to take a safer line. The par-5s are reachable in two for longer hitters but tempt even mid-handicappers into risk-reward decisions that determine their scorecards. The par-3s range in length and character — from short irons to mid-iron carries over water — and collectively represent one of the course's strongest features. The back nine is generally considered the more demanding half, building to a closing stretch that requires both length and precision. Caddies at Santiburi are knowledgeable and helpful, familiar with the local breaks and seasonal ground conditions, making the mandatory caddie a genuine asset rather than a formality. The fairways and greens are maintained to resort standard throughout the year, aided by the highland climate that keeps temperatures cooler and more forgiving than coastal courses.
Tips & what to know before you go
The best time to play Santiburi Chiang Rai is during the cool-season months from November through February, when Chiang Rai's highland temperatures sit comfortably between 15–28°C and the course is at its most lush and challenging. March and April are drier and hotter; the rainy season (May to October) brings softer conditions and occasional delays, though the course remains playable and green fees are unchanged. Tee times are generally available without long lead times except during Thai public holidays and the high-season peak of December and January, when advance booking of at least a week is advised. The club is approximately 15 kilometres from Chiang Rai city — a 20-minute drive from the main tourist hotels — and around 25 kilometres from Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI). Transfers can be arranged through most city hotels or the course itself. Budget 1,900–2,300 THB for green fees, 300 THB for caddie, 600 THB for cart, and allow 4.5 hours for the round.
Location & getting there
Santiburi Country Club Chiang Rai is located at 12 Moo 3, Wiang Chai district, approximately 15 kilometres southwest of Chiang Rai city and about 25 kilometres from Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI). Chiang Rai is a short 1 hour 15 minute flight from Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang — multiple daily Bangkok–Chiang Rai services are operated by Thai Airways, AirAsia, and Nok Air. From the airport, the course is a 30–35 minute drive. Most city-centre hotels are within 20 minutes. The surrounding Wiang Chai hills are scenic and the approach road passes through rice paddies and highland farms.
No clubs? No problem.
Travelling Bangkok–Chiang Rai with Santiburi on the itinerary? LENGOLF delivers premium rental sets to your Bangkok hotel — Callaway Paradym, Warbird, Majesty — so you fly north without checked club fees and step onto Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s finest Thailand layout fully equipped.