Yangon is the former capital city of Myanmar and the main city in the region of Myanmar known by the same name. The city was formerly known as Rangoon and was the capital of Myanmar up until 2005, when it was it was superseded by Naypyidaw.
The population of the Yangon region is over 5 million people and this makes it the largest population in Myanmar and the city continues to be the economic hub of the country. If you are considering a golf holiday in Myanmar, Yangon is a great place to start.
Golf in Yangon has developed greatly in recent years and there is now a choice of four excellent golf courses to play in this region of Myanmar. Not only that but each course is very close to the city itself, so if you decide to base yourself in the city when playing golf in Yangon, you will never have far to travel for a round of golf.
In fact, you can easily make a round trip from Yangon city to the each of the golf courses and this should take no more than 30 minutes. With travel time down to a minimum, you can concentrate on enjoying your golf in Yangon and the other attractions this area of Myanmar offers its visitors.
When planning on playing golf in Yangon, you must be aware of the climate. Yangon has a monsoonal climate and this gives the region three distinct seasons.
The best season for playing golf in Yangon is the cool season and this falls between November and February. This is the winter season in Yangon but that doesn’t mean it is cold, especially by northern hemisphere standards. The weather between November and February in Yangon is less humid, cooler and drier than any other period during the year.
This sees an influx of visitors to the region at this time and the prices of accommodation will be at their highest. However, the cost of accommodation and travel in Yangon is still cheap and you will have the greatest chance of spending every day on the golf course by visiting during this time.
If you cannot travel to play golf in Yangon between November and February, you could try the hot dry season between March and May or the rainy season between June and October. The weather will be hotter and wetter in each season respectively but you will still find plenty of time to play golf.
Onto the golf courses themselves and one of the top courses in Yangon must be Pun Hlaing Golf Club.
This golf course is just 12 kilometres west of Yangon city and can easily be reached from the centre of the city within 30 minutes. A Gary Player designed course, it opened for play in 2000 and features 18 holes at just over 7,000 yards.
Whether a beginner or experienced golfer, Pun Hlaing Golf Club is suitable for everyone and features fairways flanked by rivers and lakes, providing an exciting challenge, especially off the tee. However, thanks to the width of the fairways, which is very generous in places, the water should not come into play too many times, other than for those very wayward shots.
The views from the golf course are excellent and you can see the city and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. This is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar and is considered a must visit when away from the golf course.
Back to the golf course and Pun Hlaing Golf Club works hard to keep the golf course in good condition throughout the year, especially between the wet and dry seasons. The course is so well kept that it has been selected to host international tournaments and should be included on any Yangon golfing itinerary.
Another golf course which is within 30 minutes driving distance of the city centre is Yangon Golf Club.
This is one of the oldest golf courses in the country, having been established by the British over 100 years ago. Yangon Golf Club has been kept updated over the years and is run by a not for profit organisation, who have used the revenues from visitors to maintain and improve the course.
Host of the Asian PGA Tour, Yangon Golf Club provides a good challenge, with tee shots over water, several other water hazards and well-placed bunkering. The greens have been prepared to an international standard and with professional and knowledgeable caddies and staff, you are guaranteed a great day of golf.
A trip to play golf in Yangon would not be complete with a round at Yangon Golf Club.
You cannot plan a golf holiday in Yangon, without planning a visit to Yangon City Golf Resort. Here you will find not one but two 18-hole golf courses, the first of which was established in 1994 and the second two years later.
The first course, called Ngwe Thaw Tar plays to 7,000 yards while the second set of 18 holes, called Myakantha plays much shorter, to 6,200 yards. The courses offer a significantly different challenge so you should play both. Ngwe Thaw Tar has wide fairways and remains flat throughout, making it the easier of the two courses.
Myakantha features tighter fairways, lined by trees and this makes accuracy off the tee much more important for a low score. Both courses are well maintained throughout the year and Yangon City Golf Resort should be near the top of your list when playing golf in Yangon.
The fourth option when playing golf in Yangon is Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club. Just 20 kilometres away from the city centre, this course is a par-70 playing to 7,200 yards. Strategic bunkering and water hazards are the main features at Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club but it can be hard to keep your eyes on the course. The tremendous views of the Yangon countryside which surround Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club are there to be enjoyed during a round.
Playing golf in Yangon is a fantastic experience and with so many top-quality golf courses close to the city centre, you will have no trouble playing them all.
We can help you to book tee times at your chosen golf course in Yangon using our very simple booking engine which displays the exact green fees at all of the golf courses in Yangon