Golf in Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand's golf is the country's most scenic and its most comfortable, a ring of mountain framed courses around an ancient walled city, cooler than the south and rich in temples, markets and food. The courses that matter, the cool season, the costs and how to plan a trip.
Photograph: Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai, via Google
Why golf in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the most rewarding golf base in Thailand for travelers who want more than fairways. The old Lanna capital sits in a broad valley ringed by forested mountains, and a dozen courses spread out into the hills around it, set against backdrops of jungle ridges and the sacred peak of Doi Suthep. The northern climate is the real draw: in the cool season from November to February, mornings are crisp and the afternoons sit in the mid 20s Celsius, far more comfortable for a full round than the humidity of Bangkok or the coast. The golf is genuinely good too, led by the 27 hole championship layout at Alpine and the scenic test at Chiang Mai Highlands.
The appeal is the combination. Chiang Mai pairs its golf with one of Asia's great cultural cities, full of ancient temples, night markets, cooking schools, elephant sanctuaries and some of the best and cheapest food in Thailand, which makes it as good for a couple or a mixed group as for a buddies trip. The international airport is minutes from the old city, the courses lie within an hour of the centre, and a round here costs a fraction of what the same golf would in Europe or the United States. Caddies, mandatory at every Thai course, add to the relaxed, well looked after feel.
The areas
San Kamphaeng and the east
The forested hills east of the city, home to Alpine Golf Resort and Chiang Mai Highlands, the region's two best courses, about 30 to 45 minutes from the centre through rice country.
Hang Dong and the southwest
The valley toward Doi Suthep, where Summit Green Valley sits among palms close to town, the most convenient quality round and a short hop from the old city.
Mae Rim and the north
The resort and elephant country north of the city, home to Royal Chiang Mai and North Hill, with mountain views and the boutique lodges of the Mae Rim valley.
Lamphun and Khuntan
The province just south, where the Gassan courses spread across lakes and foothills, a slightly longer drive rewarded with quiet, scenic golf among the mountains.
The Old City
The moated, temple filled heart of Chiang Mai, the natural base for hotels, markets, cooking schools and dining, within easy reach of every course in the valley.
The Ping Valley and beyond
The wider countryside of rice paddies, hill tribe villages and Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, an easy add on for a non golf day between rounds.
The courses that matter
Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai
The region's flagship, a 27 hole championship course laid out in a valley among the San Kamphaeng forests, with a resort and academy on site and a record of hosting professional events. The must play round of the valley.
Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa
The most scenic course in the area, opened in 2005 and routed through the eastern foothills with dramatic elevation, water and mountain views, plus a spa resort for a stay and play base.
Summit Green Valley
A Dennis Griffiths design, the same architect as Thai Country Club in Bangkok, kept in fine condition and lined with hundreds of palms, only 20 minutes from the centre, the most convenient quality round.
Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club
The area's original course, opened in 1979 north of the city, with beautiful views of Doi Suthep and a relaxed, established feel, a good value and historic round in the Mae Rim valley.
North Hill City Golf Club
A well regarded course close to the city in the Mae Rim direction, with mountain views and a friendly, walkable layout, a solid and accessible round to pair with the marquee names.
The Gassan courses
Gassan Khuntan, Gassan Legacy and Gassan Marina spread across lakes and foothills just south in Lamphun, a cluster of scenic, good value layouts for a group wanting a quieter day among the mountains.
Course details verified June 2026. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. A caddie is mandatory at every Thai course; carts and caddie fees are additional to the green fee. Always confirm availability and rates directly before planning.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| November to February | Cool, dry, around 20 to 28 degrees Celsius | Peak golf season, the prime window, clear skies and the busiest |
| March to April | Hot, with possible agricultural haze | Playable but check air quality; the northern burning season can reduce visibility |
| May to October | Warm and wet, lush green landscapes | The green season, the best value, light rain jackets and flexible tee times advised |
The cool, dry months of November to February are by far the best time for golf in Chiang Mai, with comfortable temperatures and clear mountain views. March and April are hot and northern Thailand can experience haze from agricultural burning, so check air quality if traveling then. The June to October green season brings afternoon rain but the lowest rates and the greenest scenery. Always confirm conditions before you travel.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Championship green fee | Around 3,000 to 3,500 baht | Alpine and the marquee courses, roughly 90 US dollars, season dependent |
| Value course green fee | From around 1,500 baht | Royal Chiang Mai, North Hill and similar, lower in green season |
| Caddie and cart | A few hundred baht each, plus tip | Caddie mandatory at every Thai course; cart usually extra |
| A trip, all in | Around US$1,200 to US$3,000 per person | Good hotel, several rounds, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown in Thai baht and US dollars to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Chiang Mai International Airport sits just minutes from the old city and has frequent connections from Bangkok, a little over an hour by air, along with direct flights from several Asian hubs, making the north easy to reach. The courses cluster within an hour of the centre, so the daily golf is close, but a private driver or a hire car is the simplest way to move between the San Kamphaeng courses, the Mae Rim valley and the city, and traffic is light by Thai standards. Many golfers use a driver for the trip and leave the navigation to a local.
Where to stay
The old city and the Nimman district are the natural bases, putting the temples, markets, cooking schools and dining on the doorstep with every course within reach, and the choice runs from boutique guesthouses to luxury riverside resorts. For a quieter, more scenic stay, the Mae Rim valley offers spa lodges among the hills, and Chiang Mai Highlands has its own on site resort for a stay and play base. One planner can match the base to your courses, your group and your dates, and fold in the culture, the food and the mountains.
Plan your Chiang Mai golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Chiang Mai golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Chiang Mai?
November to February is the prime season, the cool dry months when temperatures sit around 20 to 28 degrees Celsius with low humidity and clear skies, ideal for golf. March and April are hot and can bring agricultural haze across northern Thailand, so check air quality before traveling in those months. The green season from June to October is wet but lush and the best value, with light rain jackets advisable.
Which is the best golf course in Chiang Mai?
Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai, the 27 hole championship course set in a valley in the San Kamphaeng forests east of the city, is widely regarded as the best in the region and has hosted professional events. Chiang Mai Highlands, opened in 2005 in the eastern hills, is the scenic challenger, and Summit Green Valley, a Dennis Griffiths design close to the city, is the most convenient quality round. Royal Chiang Mai, the area's original course from 1979, adds views of Doi Suthep.
How much does golf cost in Chiang Mai in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 1,500 baht at the value courses to roughly 3,000 to 3,500 baht, about 90 US dollars, at the championship venues such as Alpine. A caddie is mandatory at every Thai course for a modest fee plus a customary tip, and a cart is extra. A Chiang Mai golf trip with a good hotel and several rounds typically lands between 1,200 and 3,000 US dollars per head excluding flights. Always confirm directly before booking.
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