Nong Samrong Golf Course Udon Thani
Nong Samrong Golf Course, just north of Udon Thani is run and maintained by the Thai Army. By European and American standards, the course and facilities are a little rough and ready, but all the same it is a course worth visiting and it's 9 holes are challenging for the average player and features mainly par 3 and par 4 holes. The fairways are wide but littered with water hazards and several of the fairways are lined with trees. There are no water features adjacent to the greens with the exception of holes 2 and 4. There are plenty of bunkers to make approach shots something to think about, and several of the greens have a reasonably considerable slope from back to front. Hole 7 has a green that looks like there is a difference of some 4 foot, although there are no serious breaks, the same applies to most greens. A number of the greens have re-laid grass that look add and are a little longer than the rest of the green, more like an extension of the fairway. The greens, somewhat curiously, have no fringe to speak of, and the grass that surround the greens is effectively fairway and not 'rough'. Some greens have the odd bare patch too but in general the greens are not too bad.
Some of the fairways are a little threadbare in places also but they are sufficiently wide should you be a bit of novice whose aim may tend to go a bit wayward a lot of the time. Most pins are in a central location with the odd one or two near the back of the green, up the slope.
Hole 9 is the only par 5 hole on the course and you need to be able to drive about 230 yards to have a chance of getting par for the hole, as there is a 90 degree bend to the left here, which is followed by a water course, which can easily be found with your next shot. In general, this may not be an ideal course for the beginner and could prove costly in balls lost in the many water hazards, however all that water just may help you to sharpen up your technique a little quicker if it is proving too costly!
Adjacent to hole 5 is a small shop selling drinks, which are most welcome on the normally hot days. To the side of the building you will find mens and ladies toilets as well.
The driving range is pretty good and of course features a nearby restaurant with food and drinks available.
Some of the fairways are a little threadbare in places also but they are sufficiently wide should you be a bit of novice whose aim may tend to go a bit wayward a lot of the time. Most pins are in a central location with the odd one or two near the back of the green, up the slope.
Hole 9 is the only par 5 hole on the course and you need to be able to drive about 230 yards to have a chance of getting par for the hole, as there is a 90 degree bend to the left here, which is followed by a water course, which can easily be found with your next shot. In general, this may not be an ideal course for the beginner and could prove costly in balls lost in the many water hazards, however all that water just may help you to sharpen up your technique a little quicker if it is proving too costly!
Adjacent to hole 5 is a small shop selling drinks, which are most welcome on the normally hot days. To the side of the building you will find mens and ladies toilets as well.
The driving range is pretty good and of course features a nearby restaurant with food and drinks available.
Where is Nong Samrong Golf Course?
Address
Nong Samrong Road
Banbonam
Udon Thani 41000
Telephone
042 222 927
Opening times
06:00 - 18:00
Nong Samrong Road
Banbonam
Udon Thani 41000
Telephone
042 222 927
Opening times
06:00 - 18:00
Facilities at Nong Samrong Golf Course?
The facilities at Nong Samrong Golf Course are pretty reasonable, with a chip & putting green, driving range, restaurant, toilets and showers. There is a small pro shop here but only sells the very basic equipment, and this is also where you pay for your round of golf. The cost of 250 baht which includes the cost of the caddie, so all you have to pay them is whatever tip you feel is appropriate.
There is a new building being erected which will be a clubhouse and hopefully the pro shop will be relocated here too. It is a fair sized building and looks like it will be complete by the end of 2015.
The green where you can practice your short game with chip & putt is not very good unfortunately, as when putting the ball bounces along on many parts of the green, often causing the ball to bounce over the cup. If you leave the flag-stick in the hole, the chances of getting a ball to drop in the cup are minimal.
The restaurant serves Thai food of course so if you are not in to their cuisine, there is not going to be much available to you. There is a reasonable range of cold drinks available though.
There are a good number of club sets available for hire, and if you only require a wedge and putter, you can hire these two clubs for just 20 baht.
There is a new building being erected which will be a clubhouse and hopefully the pro shop will be relocated here too. It is a fair sized building and looks like it will be complete by the end of 2015.
The green where you can practice your short game with chip & putt is not very good unfortunately, as when putting the ball bounces along on many parts of the green, often causing the ball to bounce over the cup. If you leave the flag-stick in the hole, the chances of getting a ball to drop in the cup are minimal.
The restaurant serves Thai food of course so if you are not in to their cuisine, there is not going to be much available to you. There is a reasonable range of cold drinks available though.
There are a good number of club sets available for hire, and if you only require a wedge and putter, you can hire these two clubs for just 20 baht.
Caddies at Nong Samrong Golf Course
There are lots of caddies available every day. Most are female and very few have much English in their vocabulary. The caddies cost 240 baht for 18 holes, and I would guess as a ferang, a tip is likely to be expected, which would do no harm.
All the caddies are easily recognised by their bright orange jackets (the traditional colour of Udon Thani). The ages range from late teens through to the 40's (from what I could see), and if you are a ferang visiting alone, do not be surprised if a heightened level of interest is shown by some of the younger girls. Many romances have begun here, as well as the other local golf courses, so if you play golf, are looking for a nice Thai lady, and don't want to go 'shopping' in the nightlife parts of Udon Thani, Nong Samrong might the place to meet the future love of your life. |
Facilities
9 Holes, Par 34, 2345 Yards (White Tees)
Driving range - Yes, 50 baht for 40 balls Chip & Putting green - Yes, 40 baht for 40 balls Club hire available - Yes Booking required? - No, but can get busy on Wednesday and at the weekends Club House - Coming soon |
Showers - Yes
Restaurant - Yes Lockers - No Website - No Caddies - 240 baht Karts - No Caddies - Yes, lots of them, and they are mandatory and included in the cost of the green fees. |
Nong Samrong Golf Course - Hole by Hole
Hole 1
Hole 2
Par 3
Men's Tee Ladies Tee Hole 2 is the shortest hole on the course but also features plenty of water on its surrounds. This is a good test of your accuracy and judgement of power required to hit the green first time. Under or over-hitting is likely to see you end up in the water if you push the ball a little to the right, or in to some trees if you pull it to the left. The distance between the first tree and the water hazard is about 22 yards. |
Hole 3
Hole 4
Par 3
Men's Tee Ladies Tee Hole 4 has a water hazard to cross, with the green sitting on the far side, sloping up from the front. With a reasonably accurate shot, this hole should not present too many difficulties as there are no bunkers to contend with. Your caddie will leave the trolley on the 5th fairway just before you cross the bridge to the 4th green, and will normally carry a wedge and putter only. This is worth bearing in mind if you are considering using another club, so it can be retrieved before approaching the green. |
Hole 5
Par 4
Men's Tee Ladies Tee The Hole 5 Tee has recently been moved and removes the need to cross over a large water course. is behind the green on hole 4, taking you back over another part of the lake you previously crossed. There is however a smaller water hazard to cross with a well guarded green waiting in the distance. There are some trees surrounding the green too, and over-hitting on to the green could prove costly. |
Hole 6
Hole 7
Par 3
Men's Tee Ladies Tee Guarded by three bunkers, with a water feature to cross to reach it, and a reasonably severe drop from back to front, hole 7 is arguably the trickiest. Get it right and par can be fairly easy to make, but if you just a little wayward with your tee shot, 5 or 6 could end up being a good score. |
Hole 8
Par 4
Men's Tee Ladies Tee Hole 8 has a water hazard about half way down the fairway, so one mistimed shot and in you go, as it is almost as wide as the fairway. Then you have three well placed bunkers to avoid, to leave a putting opportunity. As long as your contact is clean, you will normally make par here, or bogie at worst, depending on your putting ability. |
Hole 9
Par 5
Men's Tee Ladies Tee The par 5 ninth hole is a little difficult, certainly for beginners. To get an ideal 2nd shot, you need to be able to drive in the region of 230 yards, as there is a sharp bend to the left, which takes you up to a strategically placed water hazard, which often catches the bigger hitters out. Once you make your way round the bend and over the water, there is still a large bunker at the front of the green to avoid. The green itself is quite steep, with the pin set towards the rear. |
Should be unlucky enough to play and a storm comes over, the chances are that your round will come to an abrupt end as the water that falls heavily, typically sits on the surface for some time after, including on the greens, making the course unplayable. You will not get a refund if this happens either as much of your money goes to the caddie, and she certainly will not want to lose any of it.