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Laguna Phuket Golf Club.
As I move from Bangkok through Hua Hin and now to Phucket the cost of a round of golf is increasing as is my acceptance of this increase. Today I am heading to Laguna Phucket Golf and Resort Course. Where the cost for 18 holes is 4000 baht (130.00 AUD) plus cart if you want one plus a caddie. At the moment it is low season and there is a 20% discount so 3500 baht including the caddie is my cost $112.00 AUD.
Laguna has strict dress code and all persons on the course must dress appropriately in proper golf attire. Turn up without the proper attire and you will have to buy what you need before they let you on the course. It's a bit aggressively enforced and that alone makes the welcome to Laguna a bit un-friendly. Teeing off at hole one a very short dogleg par 4 is a little confusing. You only need a four iron to reach the corner so I imagine it is easy to hit a longer club into trouble and make an opening bogey. The second a sweeping par 5 is deceptive throughout so just keep it in the fairway and take a par. Many of the holes here have water somewhere on them and like any course in Thailand requires you to keep hitting good shots to score well. One gets the impression that the course is relatively easy but it can sneak up on you. The par 4, 6th is a gorgeous hole which sweeps to the right to reveal a nicely set green. It requires a two really good shots to a well guarded green hiding the bottom of the pin. The seventh a long par three will test your long irons at 197mtrs and the ninth is one of the courses signature holes which requires a straight shot from the tee to a length of 220meters before turning left and revealing an island green with access only by narrow bridge. Reward for a good shot is a par whilst a poor shot could nett you a double bogey or worse.
The back nine is more challenging. Tighter fairways, smaller greens and holes that will require accuracy if you are to score well by avoiding the bemuda rough. The fifteenth hole is the best hole on the course and is followed by a really cute Short par 3. As you turn for home the 17th is a brut of a hole at 612 yards or 550 meters and you have to navigate water hazards both left and right. It will require a second shot to a second landing island before playing the last shot to the green. It's a bit like trying to skip a stone and jump the water. Any of of these shots can bring you into hazards harm just in time to ruin your round. The 18th again will test your nerve with a water hazard to the right. It's a fun track to play. Greens here are dead flat with little if any break however the greens are not the best surface discoloured by weed infection. However they are true enough and it does not affect ones putting.
Staff here are friendly but officious. I kind of appreciated the discounted round for low season. Laguna is one of the only ones to promote golf via a low season discount. But remember to dress appropriately or you will pay a premium in the pro shop till you are!
I quiet enjoyed my round here. It's worth playing even if it's just for a few signature holes . Holes worth the walk are 4,7,9,10,12,15 and 16 and if you like a challenge add in the par 5, 17th. To have memorable round make a par at the 9 th and you'll go home happy with your day.
Good luck playing Laguna.
- comments
son good photo's