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For golfers, ‘The King' refers not to Elvis Presley but to Arnold Palmer, the first golf superstar and at Bangpoo Golf & Sports Club you can test your golf  on one of the handful of Arnold Palmer designs in Asia and the only golf course in Bangkok which he built. Although close to the sea, you won’t find too many water hazards on the course which will be welcome news to the less able golfer who will find that this is a course where they can score well and not lose too many balls. However when the wind gets up the course can show its teeth so you need to keep your concentration especially when selecting the right club. Unlike many newly opened golf courses which look bare and open due to the lack of mature trees, Bangpoo Golf & Sports Club has been open long enough for the trees to mature, and the wonderful flowers make this course a joy to play.

A fairly easy start to your round with a wide open fairway to aim at but beware the deep greenside bunker.  The 3^rd is a dogleg right with water all along one side with the elevated and heavily contoured green protected by five bunkers.  The 5^th is another scenic dogleg with water along the right but if you play too conservatively you could end up in the cluster of fairway bunkers at the apex of the dogleg.  An uphill approach to a wide but narrow 2-tier green with bunkers in front and behind.  Challenging par 4 to finish and you need to avoid the large fairway bunkers protecting the right side and then it’s a mid-iron to a very large green which offer a birdie opportunity if you can find the right level.

Another easy start to the back nine with a long par 4 dogleg and opportunity to score if you can avoid the three greenside bunkers.  This is followed by the longest par 3 on the course often played into the prevailing wind to a green protected by three menacing bunkers.  On the 12^th you need a good tee shot to carry the fairway bunkers along the right and you approach also needs to be accurate to avoid the water right of the green. The 13^th is a long par 5 and providing you can keep on the fairway you have a chance of reaching the green which is circled by 7 bunkers. The 17^th is our favourite hole with a narrow landing area off the tee with water and bunkers along the right and the green is also well protected with water left and OB right.

Some fairways are a little worn and could do with some work, and it can be difficult to find, but the cheap green fees that make this course so popular with the locals are more than enough to compensate for such minor gripes.

Tee Times at Bangpoo Golf & Sports Club

 Green fees are very reasonable at Bangpoo Golf & Sports Club so it’s very popular with golfers in Bangkok and you are advised to book your tee times well in advance, especially at weekends