Royal Gems Golf City

The verdict

Replica courses divide opinion, and Royal Gems is the boldest of them all. Billed as Asia's first replica course, the Dream Arena layout sets out to recreate some of the most famous holes in the game on a single property in Pathum Thani, an hour from central Bangkok. The front nine borrows from the great links and championship courses of Britain, while the back nine attempts the near impossible: a hole by hole copy of the back nine at Augusta National, Amen Corner and all.

It will never be mistaken for the originals, and the purist may scoff, but as a novelty round on a Bangkok golf trip it is genuinely fun. Where else can you stand on a version of the 12th at Augusta in the morning and the Road Hole in the afternoon? Take it in the spirit intended, enjoy comparing your shots to the famous ones you have watched on television, and it earns its place on an itinerary. The conditioning and the experience are geared to the visiting golfer, and it makes a memorable change of pace from Thailand's resort courses.

The holes worth the trip

The front nine is a tour of the British game. The recreation of the Road Hole at St Andrews asks for the same nervy drive over the corner and the same fearful pitch to a green guarded by the road and the famous bunker, while the version of the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon is a tiny, terrifying par 3 that punishes anything off line. The copy of a hole from The Belfry adds a Ryder Cup flavour to the mix.

It is the back nine that draws the crowds. Royal Gems reproduces the closing stretch at Augusta National, scaled to match the lengths and elevations of the originals, so you play your way down to the version of Amen Corner with the same water and the same temptations that have decided so many Masters. Standing on a replica of the 12th, with a copy of Rae's Creek in front of you, is a thrill no amount of cynicism quite erases.

None of it plays exactly like the real thing, and the surrounds and the soil tell you where you are, but the holes are recognizable enough to spark the memory and the conversation. Royal Gems is best enjoyed as a novelty and a celebration of the game's great holes, a round you will talk about long after the trip is over.

Where to stay nearby

Most golfers base themselves in central Bangkok and drive out to the courses, and Royal Gems works well as a day trip from a city hotel. Bangkok offers world class accommodation at every level, superb dining and plenty to do on a non golf day, from the temples and river to the markets and rooftop bars.

For a golf focused trip, Royal Gems pairs naturally with the strong cluster of courses north and east of the city, where championship layouts and replica novelty sit within easy reach. It is an ideal region to build a multi course Bangkok itinerary around, with the replica round as the talking point.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Royal Gems Golf City.