Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa
Weekday green fee
1,000THB
Weekend: 1,600 THB
Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa is a championship 18-hole layout set on the southern edge of Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Nayok Province, approximately 90 kilometres northeast of central Bangkok. The course was opened in 1992 and designed by Robin Nelson and Rodney Wright of Belt Collins & Associates — the only Nelson & Wright design in Thailand. That distinction is not merely a marketing detail: the duo's signature approach of wide fairways with strategic risk-reward options and naturalistic bunkering is immediately apparent at Royal Hills, resulting in a course that rewards golfers who think their way around rather than those who simply overpower it. At 7,372 yards from the back tees and a par of 72, the layout challenges single-figure handicappers while remaining enjoyable for mid-handicap visitors through its multiple tee options. Green fees are 1,000 THB on weekdays and 1,600 THB on weekends — a fair price for a genuinely world-class architecture. The resort component adds spa treatments, a swimming pool, and on-site accommodation, making this a natural one-night golf getaway destination for Bangkok golfers.
18
Holes
72
Par
100 km
From Bangkok
~90 min
Drive time
Layout & playing experience
Royal Hills unfolds across a parkland-to-forest landscape shaped by the foothill terrain of Khao Yai's southern slopes. The Nelson & Wright design places a premium on tee-shot strategy: the wide fairways appear inviting from the tee, but approaching from the left side versus the right side of the fairway dramatically affects the difficulty of the subsequent approach. The par-4s are particularly well crafted — several dogleg through narrow tree corridors or over mature forest, requiring a calculated risk assessment of how close to the corner to fly the drive. Water hazards appear strategically on both nines; the front nine features three holes where water on the right edge creates a specific challenge for players who tend to fade their irons. The greens are built on TifEagle Bermuda grass, which provides a firmer, faster surface than many Thai resort courses — putts break more sharply and approach trajectory matters more than on slower greens. The back nine culminates in a demanding stretch of three consecutive par-4s over 420 yards, which tends to separate the scores before the home hole. Caddies are mandatory, know the course lines extremely well, and provide reliable club recommendations.
Tips & what to know before you go
Royal Hills requires advance booking of at least two days — call +66 37 385 090 or email info@royalhillsresort.com. Minimum group size is three, maximum five per tee time. The course is roughly 70 minutes from central Bangkok via Highway 305 toward Nakhon Nayok, then Highway 3049 toward Sarika — GPS coordinates 14.3184, 101.2751 are reliable. The combination of Khao Yai proximity and the cooler northeast monsoon makes November through February the peak season and the best conditions; the fairways are firmer and the roughs more defined than during the wet months. Caddie fees are a minimum 400 THB — budget an additional 100 THB tip for a helpful loop. Cart rental is 600 THB and while not compulsory, the 7,372-yard back tee layout benefits from a cart on hotter days. The resort spa makes a post-round treatment a logical addition; book in advance as treatment slots fill up during peak weekends. For golfers combining this with other courses, Kirimaya and Khao Yai Golf Club are within 60 minutes.
Location & getting there
Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa is located at 100/3 Moo 2, Sarika-Nangrong Road, Sarika, Muang, Nakhon Nayok 26000. From central Bangkok, the most efficient route is Highway 305 (Ratchadaphisek-Minburi Road) northeast to Nakhon Nayok, then south toward Sarika on Highway 3049, a journey of approximately 90 kilometres and 70 minutes in clear traffic. The nearest airport is Suvarnabhumi, approximately 60 kilometres to the southwest. On-site resort accommodation means golfers can drive up the evening before and play a relaxed morning round without the rush of a day trip. For golfers based in central Bangkok who want to combine golf with a Khao Yai National Park visit, Royal Hills provides a highly convenient base.
No clubs? No problem.
Heading to Royal Hills for a Nakhon Nayok golf weekend? LENGOLF rents TaylorMade and Callaway clubs delivered to your Bangkok hotel, so you can leave for the course with quality equipment and no luggage hassle.