Golf & Country Clubs

Prices are in Thai baht; USD equivalents are generated live from the site's current rate. Green fees change with the season and the booking channel — the numbers below are agent/package rates for the 2026 season and should be treated as a guide, not a quote. Always confirm the current price and any weekday/weekend or Thai-resident rate when you book.

Chiang Mai is one of the best-value golf destinations in Asia, and for a relocating golfer it's a genuine perk of living here. Within about an hour of the city you have well over a dozen courses, several of them championship-standard designs (Schmidt-Curley, Ron Garl, Dennis Griffiths) set against mountain backdrops, plus a couple of cheap-and-cheerful in-town options for a quick nine after work. The catch is the same one that shapes the whole city's outdoor calendar: burning season (roughly late February to April) brings heat and heavy air pollution, so the prime golf months are the cool, clear window of November to February. Book those months ahead; play the shoulder months on a whim. For how the seasons shape everything else you do outdoors, see Health & Fitness and Festivals & Annual Calendar; for where the out-of-town courses sit relative to the residential districts, see Suburban Neighborhood Guides.

A few things worth knowing before you tee off:

• Green fee ≠ total. The advertised green fee is usually just the course. On top you'll pay a caddy fee (roughly ฿300–400 ($9–12), effectively compulsory — every course uses caddies) and a golf cart fee (roughly ฿600–800 ($18–24) if you take one). The "all-in" figures below bundle all three. A caddy tip of ฿300–500 ($9–15) at the end is customary and appreciated.
• Weekends and holidays cost more and fill up. Weekday mornings are cheapest and quietest.
• Booking through an agent (ChiangMaiGolfClub.com, GolfSavers, GolfChiangMai and similar) is often cheaper than walking up to the pro shop, because they buy blocks of tee times — and they'll arrange transfers. Booking direct is fine too; just ask about the resident rate.
• Rental clubs are available at most courses (roughly ฿500–1,000 ($15–30) a set) but keen golfers bring their own.

The championship courses (worth the drive)#

These are the destination courses — the ones you'd take a visiting friend to, or play for a special round. All are 30–60 minutes out of the city.

• Chiangmai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort (San Kamphaeng, ~30–40 min east) — widely rated the best conditioned course in the region. A Schmidt-Curley design with around 100 bunkers, dramatic elevation and a memorable finishing hole; it has an on-site resort and spa. Excellent value for the quality: around ฿2,800 ($83) all-in (green fee ฿1,650 + caddy ฿400 + cart ฿750) at 2026 package rates. This is the one to play first.
• Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai (San Kamphaeng, ~40 min) — a Ron Garl design that opened in 2008, laid out as 27 holes (Courses A/B/C) in forested, rolling terrain, with a 4-star resort attached and a history of hosting tournaments. The premium course in the area and priced accordingly: around ฿3,700 ($109) all-in (฿2,500 + ฿400 + ฿800).
• Summit Green Valley Country Club (Mae Rim, 20–30 min north) — a mature, palm-lined Dennis Griffiths parkland course (7,200 yds, par 72) with mountain views, and one of the closest quality courses to town. Split into morning and afternoon pricing: around ฿3,300 ($97) all-in in the morning, ฿3,200 ($94) afternoon (฿2,200/฿2,100 + ฿400 + ฿700).
• Royal Chiangmai Golf Resort (San Sai / Mae Faek, ~30–40 min northeast) — a scenic, good-value resort course, gentler on both the game and the wallet at around ฿2,100 ($62) all-in (฿1,050 + ฿350 + ฿700).

Mid-range and value courses#

Solid rounds without the championship price tag — good for regular play.

• Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort (Pa Phai, San Sai, ~20–30 min north) — a well-regarded, well-priced course close to town, around ฿2,850 ($84) all-in (฿1,650 + ฿400 + ฿800).
• North Hill Golf Club (Ban Waen, Hang Dong — about 15 minutes from the airport, so south-west of the city rather than north) — popular, and one of the few with night golf under floodlights, which is a real bonus in the hot months. Roughly ฿2,500 ($74) all-in in daytime (06:30–15:59) and ฿2,100 ($62) for night golf (16:00–20:00; the club's own site describes night tee-offs starting from 17:00 on holes 10–18, so confirm the window when you book).
• The Gassan group — three courses under the same operator, all keenly priced (from ~฿1,950 ($58) all-in): Gassan Legacy (with night golf), Gassan Khuntan and Gassan Panorama. These are further out (Lamphun direction, 45–60 min) but represent some of the cheapest 18 holes around.
• Chiangmai Inthanon Golf & Natural Resort (Chom Thong, toward Doi Inthanon, ~1 hr+ southwest) — remote and scenic; pricing on request.

In-town and quick-nine options#

For a casual round close to home rather than a day out.

• Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club (Nong Hoi, just southeast of the Old City) — a flat, tight 9-hole course, founded in 1898 and the oldest sports club in northern Thailand. Open to the public — no membership required to play — with cheap green fees; a favourite for a quick, walkable round or practice before tackling the bigger courses. Also a genuine country club in the fuller sense (see below).
• Lanna Sports Center / Lanna Golf Club (Chotana Rd, Chang Phueak, north edge of town, ~10 min from the Old City) — an in-town, army-run 27-hole course that's the budget, walk-up-friendly choice, and the most central golf in the city. Green fees are among the lowest in the region (often only a few hundred baht plus caddy), which makes it the go-to for locals wanting a cheap regular round. Confirm current rates at the pro shop — this one isn't usually on the agent sites.

Memberships & country clubs#

Most expat golfers here don't bother with a membership — the pay-and-play economics are so good (a top course all-in is under ฿3,700 ($109), a value course under ฿2,000 ($59)) that unless you're playing several times a week, green fees work out cheaper than annual dues. Where memberships do exist (the resort courses sell them, and prices vary widely), ask specifically about a Thai-resident or local rate, which is often much lower than the international/tourist rate and may require you to show proof of residence.

If it's the broader country-club lifestyle you're after — pool, tennis, dining, a social scene rather than just golf — the standout is the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club. Beyond its 9-hole course it has cricket pitches, floodlit tennis courts, air-conditioned squash courts, a swimming pool, a restaurant and bar, and a long-established social calendar; it's popular with the older/British expat crowd and runs affordable annual memberships. The larger resort courses (Highlands, Alpine, Summit Green Valley) also function as country clubs with spas, restaurants and accommodation, if you'd rather combine golf with somewhere to stay or entertain — see Spas, Massage & Onsen for how their spas compare with the in-town options.

Golf societies & finding a game#

If you're relocating rather than visiting, the single best thing you can do as a golfer is join a society. It solves the two hardest problems at once — meeting people and getting cheap, organised tee times — because societies negotiate group rates, arrange transport, run a handicap and turn a solo round into a social day out.

• Chiang Mai Social Golfers (CMSG) is the main expat/foreigner society and the obvious first port of call. It's open to everyone regardless of gender, ability or how long you're staying, and welcomes visitors as guests before you commit. The format is friendly but organised: a Stableford and a medal competition each month, plus bigger weekend competitions and matches against other societies through the year. Life membership is a one-off ฿1,000 ($30) joining fee — you then just pay your green fee and transport on the day. Check their site or Facebook for the fixture list and turn up as a guest to try it.
• Other societies & bar-based groups. Several pubs and expat venues run their own informal golf days; the Chiang Mai Expats Club also lists golf among its member activities. If CMSG's schedule doesn't suit, ask around the expat Facebook groups (see Community, Meetups & Making Friends) — there's almost always a game being got up.

The etiquette is simple: turn up on time, pay your society fee and green fee, tip your caddy, and stay for the meal and prize-giving afterwards — the social half is the point.

Tournaments, Pro-Ams & watching golf live#

Chiang Mai's courses aren't just for pay-and-play rounds — the region has a real competitive golf calendar, and several of the events are open to amateurs rather than being pure spectator affairs.

• Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai has the strongest tournament pedigree in the region: it hosted the Chiangmai Golf Classic, an Asian Tour event first played there in 2013, and its 27-hole championship layout (Ron Garl / Pirapon Nanatra) is built to tournament standard. Check the current Asian Tour and All Thailand Golf Tour schedules before assuming it's on in any given year — professional tour stops move around.
• The Singha Chiang Mai Open — "Beat the Pro", run under the All Thailand Golf Tour banner at Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort, is a mixed pro/amateur event that's a good example of the more accessible, locally-run tournaments that pop up through the year. The All Thailand Golf Tour and Thailand Golf Tournaments sites list the full amateur calendar if you want to enter one as a visiting or resident player.
• ASEAN PGA runs Pro-Ams around the region that welcome amateur entrants (typically in a team format alongside a touring pro) — a fun, one-off way to play a proper competitive round if the timing and course line up with your schedule.
• Watching golf. There's no fixed annual "watch the pros" date the way there is in some other Thai golf hubs, so treat any pro event here as a bonus rather than something to plan a season around — check the Asian Tour, All Thailand Golf Tour and Thailand Golf Tournaments sites a few months out if you want to catch one.

Driving ranges, lessons & academies#

You don't need to drive an hour out of town to hit balls. Most of the resort courses have their own ranges, and there are standalone ranges and coaching academies closer in — handy for a quick practice session or for getting a beginner started before they embarrass themselves on a real course.

• Lessons with a pro are cheap by Western standards: beginner-friendly packages with an English-speaking coach, balls and loaner clubs included run around ฿1,200–1,350 ($35–40) for a session, often with hotel pickup bundled in. Ongoing one-on-one coaching with a named pro is easy to arrange and still a fraction of home-country rates.
• Dynamic Golf Academy Thailand — private lessons in Thai and English with a PGA-of-America-certified instructor; a good pick for structured, technical coaching. It works by appointment rather than from a shopfront, so book through its Facebook page or LINE (see Essential Apps).
• Three-Generation Golf Academy — a purpose-built learning centre with a video studio about 25 km north of the city, geared toward instruction packages and swing analysis.
• Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club has its own driving range, pro shop and coaching, with lessons available individually or in small groups — convenient if you're in-town and want practice plus tuition in one place.
• Booking platforms like Deemples list bookable range and tee-time slots around the region if you want to reserve a bay online.

For a relocating golfer, a couple of lessons early on is money well spent — Thai pros are patient, English-speaking ones are easy to find, and it's far cheaper to fix your swing here than at home.

Junior & family golf#

If you're relocating with kids who already play — or who you'd like to get started — Chiang Mai has more structure around junior golf than you might expect for a regional city.

• Three-Generation Golf Academy (about 25 km north of the city, on the campus of Prem Tinsulanonda International School — see International Schools) is the serious option: it runs golf as part of the school's PE curriculum for boys and girls aged roughly 10–18, plus a "Team Elite" development programme for talented juniors with scholarship pathways attached, group lessons (one hour, 1–4 times a week) and private coaching, all out of a purpose-built learning centre with its own video studio.
• Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai is the other end of the junior pipeline — its 27-hole course is registered with U.S. Kids Golf and hosts local U.S. Kids events, and it ran the Alpine Chiangmai Junior Open 2026 plus a stop on the WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking) Junior Golf Series (6–7 June 2026), so a genuinely talented junior can get ranked-event experience without leaving the province.
• Traidhos Three-Generation Community for Learning runs family-style golf lessons aimed at parents and kids learning together rather than a competitive juniors-only track — a gentler entry point if you just want a Saturday activity the whole family can do.
• For a first taste rather than a programme, most of the driving ranges and academies above (Dynamic Golf Academy, the Gymkhana's range) will happily take a junior for an introductory lesson alongside an adult. For everything else on the family calendar, see Kids in Chiang Mai.

Buying & renting clubs#

Rental sets are available at essentially every course (roughly ฿500–1,000 ($15–30) a set), which is fine for the occasional round, but if you're staying you'll want your own clubs. Chiang Mai has a healthy second-hand market, which is the smart way to kit out — plenty of nearly-new gear passes through as visitors offload clubs before flying home.

• GoAgainGolf (101/11 Hang Dong Rd, Nong Kwai) — a recycled/second-hand club specialist with keen prices on full sets, irons, drivers, woods, putters, bags and balls, and a practice net on-site so you can try before you buy. It also re-grips and swaps shafts and heads. A strong first stop for a starter or replacement set. (Tel. 095-687-5618 for English.)
• Second-hand shops around town — a cluster of pre-owned specialists (variously trading as Chiang Mai Golf Depot, Golf Center, ProGolf and similar, some near Nimman/MAYA) carry inspected used Titleist/Ping/Callaway gear and will give fitting advice. Stock and shopfronts move around and none of them publishes a stable address, so ring ahead or check their Facebook before making the trip — that's why they aren't listed individually below.
• Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club pro shop sells clothing, balls, hats and second-hand clubs from the green-fee office.
• Facebook Marketplace and the expat groups are where a lot of clubs actually change hands — worth a scroll before you buy retail. For brand-new big-name gear at proper retail, Bangkok has far more choice, so many people buy new on a Bangkok trip (or online) and bring it up. If you're shipping a set in from home instead, see Shipping, Post & Couriers for what that costs and what customs will want.

Indoor golf & simulators (a burning-season lifesaver)#

When March–April heat and haze make a real round unpleasant, indoor simulators are how keen golfers keep swinging — air-conditioned, night-friendly and increasingly social.

• The Golf Club CNX (Nong Chom, San Sai) — a dedicated indoor simulator venue with three air-conditioned bays and a library of world courses; the go-to for serious simulator practice or a rainy/hazy-day round. Closed Mondays.
• The Wang Bar at the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel (3rd floor, 108 Chang Klan Rd) — private simulator rooms paired with a proper bar; more of a night-out-with-golf than a training session, and a fun group booking. See Nightlife & Bars for the rest of that scene.
• Palm Villa — private simulator with premium TaylorMade clubs and a launch monitor linked to a GSPro subscription (4,000+ courses), bookable direct. It's a villa resort rather than a public bay, so it suits a booked group rather than a drop-in practice hour.

These are also handy for evening play year-round and for keeping a beginner's confidence up between real rounds.

Playing through the rainy season (roughly May–October)#

November–February gets all the marketing, but Chiang Mai golf doesn't actually shut down for the other eight months, and it's worth knowing what to expect if you're relocating outside the cool season.

• The wet season runs roughly May to October, with the heaviest rain typically in August–September. Storms here tend to be short and violent rather than all-day — a torrential hour or so in the afternoon, then clearing — rather than the steady drizzle you might picture from a temperate rainy season.
• Courses generally stay open and drain fast. Most of the resort-standard courses (Highlands, Alpine, Summit Green Valley) are well-built and known for handling downpours without turning into a swamp; play often resumes within an hour of a storm passing. That said, individual nines do occasionally close for standing water or maintenance after a bad storm — it happens, and reviewers have flagged the odd nine-hole closure at Highlands after heavy rain — so it's worth a quick call to the pro shop on a day with a bad forecast rather than assuming a booking is guaranteed to go ahead as planned.
• Book early-morning tee times in wet season, the same as in burning season but for the opposite reason — mornings are more likely to be dry, with the storm risk building through the afternoon. It also means you're less likely to get caught out on the back nine.
• The upside: wet season is low season for pricing and availability. Courses and agents alike are hungrier for bookings, so it's a good window to ask about a discounted rate or a stay-and-play package, and you'll rarely be fighting for a tee time the way you would in peak December–January.
• Wet season is the one part of the year that's neither the pleasant cool season nor the smoky burning season, which makes it an underrated time to play if you don't mind carrying a light rain jacket in the bag.

Quick comparison#

All-in = green fee + caddy + cart, at package rates. Confirm on booking.

Practical tips#

• Time your season. November–February is the sweet spot: cool, clear, and the best months to invest in golf. Avoid March–April if you can — heat plus burning-season air quality make a full round genuinely unpleasant.
• Beat the heat and the crowds with an early-morning tee time; the first slots (05:30–06:30 at some courses) are prized for a reason.
• Getting there: most quality courses are 30–60 minutes out and not practical by Grab round-trip. Agents bundle transfers into their packages; otherwise a hired car/driver for the day is the easy option (see Getting Around).
• Book ahead in high season — the good courses fill their weekend and cool-season morning slots well in advance.
• Budgeting for it: a weekly round at a mid-range course is a real line item — see Cost of Living to slot it into a monthly figure, and Things to Do for the cheaper ways to fill the other days.

Every place named on this page#

• Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort~฿2,800 all-in (2026 package rate)
  Schmidt-Curley championship course with ~100 bunkers and big elevation change; widely rated the best-conditioned in the region. Resort and spa on site.
  Ontai, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai 50130 · Map
• Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai~฿3,700 all-in (green fee + caddy + cart, 2026 package rate)
  Ron Garl 27-hole championship layout, opened 2008; the premium course in the area and a U.S. Kids Golf registered junior venue.
  336 Moo 4, Banthi Road, San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai 50130 · Map
• Summit Green Valley Chiangmai Country Club~฿3,200–3,300 all-in (afternoon/morning, 2026 package rate)
  Mature Dennis Griffiths parkland course, ~7,200 yds par 72 — the closest quality course to town.
  186 Moo 1, Chotana Rd, Mae Sa, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180 · Map
• The Royal Chiangmai Golf Resort~฿2,100 all-in (2026 package rate)
  Peter Thomson design from 1996; the best-value of the resort courses.
  169 Moo 5, Mae Faek, San Sai District, Chiang Mai 50290 · Map
• Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort~฿2,850 all-in (2026 package rate)
  Well-priced 18 holes 20 minutes north; hosts the Singha Chiang Mai Open "Beat the Pro" pro-am.
  112 Moo 7, Ban Sriboonruang, Pa Phai, San Sai, Chiang Mai 50210 · Map
• North Hill Golf Club~฿2,500 all-in day / ~฿2,100 night golf
  Floodlit night golf ~15 min from the airport — note it is in Hang Dong, south-west of the city, not near Mae Jo.
  333 Moo 13, Ban Waen, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
• Gassan Legacy Golf Clubfrom ~฿1,950 all-in
  Built 2014; the group flagship and the one with night golf.
  88 Moo 7, Ban Thi, Lamphun 51180 · Map
• Gassan Panorama Golf Clubfrom ~฿1,950 all-in
  Built 2006; hill course in the Gassan group.
  Ban Thi, Lamphun 51180 — no street number published; roughly 3 km south of Gassan Legacy · Map
• Gassan Khuntan Golf & Resortfrom ~฿1,950 all-in
  Built 2004; the furthest of the three Gassan courses, ~47 km south-east of Legacy.
  222 Moo 3, Tha Pla Duk, Mae Tha, Lamphun 51140 · Map
• Chiangmai Inthanon Golf & Natural ResortOn request
  Remote and scenic, ~40 km south on the Doi Inthanon road; resort attached.
  99 Moo 13, Khuang Pao, Chom Thong, Chiang Mai 50160 (Hwy 108, ~km 49, Ta-Li intersection) · Map
• Chiangmai Gymkhana Golf and Sports ClubCheap green fees — confirm at the pro shop
  Founded 1898, the oldest sports club in northern Thailand: 9-hole course plus cricket, tennis, squash, pool, bar and driving range. Open to non-members.
  349 Chiang Mai–Lamphun Rd, Nong Hoi, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50000 · Map
• Lanna Golf Club (Lanna Sports Center)Few hundred baht + caddy
  Army-run 27-hole course opened 1974 — the most central golf in the city, walk-up friendly, rarely on the agent sites.
  Chotana Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50300 — sources disagree on the street number (183/2 and 33 both published); confirm before navigating · Map
• The Golf Club CNXFrom ฿600/hour
  Three premium indoor simulator bays with lounge and F&B; closed Mondays, otherwise 11:00 to 21:00–22:00. Coordinates taken from the venue’s own embedded map.
  299 Moo 10, Nong Chom, San Sai District, Chiang Mai 50210 · Map
• The Wang Bar (Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel)
  Private golf-simulator rooms, karaoke and a streaming room alongside a cocktail bar; daily 17:00–24:00. Reservations +66 53 253 510.
  3rd floor, Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel, 108 Chang Klan Rd, Chiang Mai 50100 · Map
• Palm Villa Chiang Mai
  Luxury pool-villa resort with a private golf simulator (TaylorMade clubs, Square launch monitor, GSPro) and an all-weather practice green — a booked-group venue, not a drop-in bay.
  San Sai, Chiang Mai — no street address published; book direct for directions · Map
• GoAgainGolf
  English-run second-hand and recycled club specialist with an on-site practice net, re-gripping and shaft/head work. Mon–Sat 09:00–17:00, Sun 10:00–16:00. Tel 095-687-5618 (English).
  101/11 Hang Dong Rd, Nong Kwai, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 · Map
• Three-Generation Golf Academy (TGGA)
  All-weather academy with a video studio on the Prem campus ~25 km north: junior curriculum golf, the Team Elite development squad with scholarship pathways, adult schools and private coaching.
  234 Moo 3, Huay Sai, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180 (Prem Tinsulanonda International School campus) · Map
• Dynamic Golf Academy Thailand
  Private lessons in Thai and English with a PGA-of-America / TPI / USGTF certified instructor.
  Chiang Mai — no street address published; lessons are by appointment, booked via Facebook or LINE · Map
• Traidhos Three-Generation Community for Learning
  Education and activity centre on the Prem campus; runs family golf lessons for parents and children together, plus barge, farm and environmental programmes.
  234 Moo 3, Huay Sai, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180 · Map

Sources for 2026 pricing & listings: ChiangMaiGolfClub.com rates, Chiangmai Highlands, GolfSavers Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club, Chiang Mai Social Golfers, The Golf Club CNX, GoAgainGolf, Three-Generation Golf Academy, Alpine Golf Resort, U.S. Kids Golf — Alpine, The Junior Golf Series (WAGR), All Thailand Golf Tour, Where2Golf — Chiangmai Classic. Rates are seasonal and channel-dependent — confirm at time of booking.