Stuart Roberts visit's Santaburi Golf Club, Koh Samui, Thailand
04th January 2012
Santaburi is a privately owned club ( owner of Singha beer) with relatively few full time members, but as it is Koh Samui's premier club without question - it has a very busy daily visitor schedule.
We visited during the heavy monsoon season ( on a day without rain) and although not stuck for a tee time, there were ample players on the course. During this season, a rain check is given if playing between the first and thirteenth and your round cannot be resumed after a downpour.
Santaburi Golf Club
We should start by saying, as a result of our personal observations we can underwrite a statement on the clubs' own website:
" Samui Country Golf Club is a championship golf course landscaped on the mountain of Samui Island. Each of the 18 holes on this 6,930 yards, par-72 course, has its own unique character and challenges. From steep uphill and downhill slopes to winding fairways that cuts into the coconut forest to cliffs and mountain creeks, the club sports simply one of the most unique golf courses and is built in perfect harmony with its natural setting . . ."
The entire course is very well maintained and the holes positioned along different altitudes of the natural hills which does provide an up-and-down-hill game.
The front nine is primarily downhill whilst the back nine primarily uphill with a steep downhill finish to the 18th. The course incorporates some natural features as challenging hazards including blind sumits and 35 metre drops from the tee box together with ravines and ponds thrown in strategically for good measure. Generally water plays a small role in the hazard stakes, but off fairway landings generally mean almost certainly lost balls on most holes with long grass and very steep or cliff faced slopes leading to streams or dense vegetation.
Par 3's Santaburi Golf Club
It genuinely is such a picturesque, interesting and entertaining course to play with panoramic views of the ocean and beaches at many points along the course. The architectural design goes on to enhance this natural beauty and blends it seemlessly into the surroundings of dense coconut jungle.
Having arrived early, we sampled an enjoyable and very reasonably priced 'Full English' breakfast before setting off and on our return were timely positioned to sample some equally reasonably priced, fine Asian cuisine for lunch washed down with a Singha Lite ( well, you do have to count calories sometime no?). Refreshments are also available at the 9th and 14th to top up your buggies' cooler en route.
Buggies and 'caddies' are mandatory and account should be taken when reviewing the cost of a round. Each player has his/her own buggie and driver / caddie. The quotation marks around caddie indicate contrary findings to some independant reviews which suggest that these smartly attired ladies are merely drivers. Our findings confirmed a very good knowledge of club selection, course management and very assured assessment of distances (using knowledge rather than any measuring devices or course books) from most given lies. Our caddies each had over seven years experience on the course and friendly banter over distances showed consistency of between 1 - 2 metres variance in their judgement.
Caddies at Santaburi Golf Club
The practice putting green was pretty standard, except it set with a panoramic view just below the front of the clubhouse terrace and was highly indicative of the green speed and undulations ahead of us. The unusual driving range set into the hillside, with varying distances at different heights proved interesting and useful in warming up and preparing for what was to come.
Facilities within the airconditioned clubhouse were of the highest standard to be found anywhere in the world with immaculate, tended locker rooms and plentiful sparkling luxurious hot showers (complete with sandals, aftershave, powder, gels and all the tools of the trade) required to produce a sweet smelling immaculately groomed golfer after an enjoyable round in up to 40 degrees and 90% humidity . . .
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