3 Day Chiang Mai Golf Itinerary
Chiang Mai is the cool, green counterpoint to Thailand's beach golf: championship courses laid out in mountain valleys and foothills, all within 45 minutes of a relaxed city of temples and night markets, at some of the best value in Asia. Here is the long weekend, round by round, with the drive times and the 2026 numbers.
Photograph: Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the itinerary for golfers who want Thailand's golf without the heat and the crowds of the southern resorts: a buddies group, a couple who both play, or anyone adding a few rounds to a northern Thailand trip. Chiang Mai's courses sit in cooler upland air, the city is calm and full of character, and because green fees and caddies are inexpensive, three quality rounds cost a fraction of what they would in Europe or the United States. Fly into Chiang Mai International, ten minutes from town, and you are teeing off the same afternoon.
Groups with more time can fold this into the 5 day Thailand itinerary or pair Chiang Mai with the beaches; this version concentrates on the three courses that define the north. Context, rankings and hotel pairings live on our Chiang Mai golf hub, the best courses in Chiang Mai list and the Thailand golf holidays page.
The 3 day plan
| Day | The golf | The travel | The night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Land Chiang Mai by midday, check in, afternoon round at Summit Green Valley, the Dennis Griffiths design near the airport, with deceptive fairways and water; an ideal jet lag opener close to the city | Airport to course, about 15 minutes | Chiang Mai |
| Day 2 | Alpine Golf Resort, Ron Garl's mountain valley course set in the San Kamphaeng forest, host of the Asian Tour Chiang Mai Classic in 2013 and 2014 and the headline round of the trip; indicatively 2,500 to 3,500 baht plus caddie in 2026 | City to San Kamphaeng, about 40 minutes | Chiang Mai |
| Day 3 | Chiang Mai Highlands, the Schmidt and Curley layout opened in 2005, tumbling through the foothills with elevation changes and long views; the dramatic finisher before a late flight home | City to the foothills, about 30 to 40 minutes; airport after the round | Homeward |
Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026; fees are seasonal and caddies are extra. Always confirm directly before booking. Check Chiang Mai tee time availability.
Why this routing works
The order is an escalation. Summit Green Valley, minutes from the airport, lets your swing settle on a fair, well kept parkland; Alpine ups the ambition with a genuine tournament course in a forested valley; and Chiang Mai Highlands, all elevation and mountain backdrops, is the round you will describe at home. None is more than about 45 minutes from a central hotel, so there are no transfer mornings and a missed alarm costs a warm up bucket rather than a tee time. Take a caddie at each, mandatory here and worth every baht for the lines on the hillier holes, and a cart in the warmth.
Time it for the cool, dry season from November to February, when the mornings are crisp, the humidity low and the courses at their best; the hot months and the spring burning season are better avoided in the valley. Compare the wider roster in the best courses in Chiang Mai list and the profile of Chiang Mai Highlands, weigh the budget in the Thailand green fee guide, and if the group is large, the Thailand golf hub and our Chiang Mai hub cover the stay and play options and the logistics. Book the hotel and the golf together for the smoothest, best value trip.
Have us build this trip
Tell us roughly when and who is traveling, and one concierge locks the hotel, the three tee times with caddies and carts, and the transfers, and costs the whole weekend to the head. We reply within one working day, with no obligation.
Chiang Mai itinerary questions
How much does a 3 day Chiang Mai golf trip cost in 2026?
Green fees at the leading Chiang Mai courses run indicatively from about 2,000 to 3,500 baht per round in the 2026 cool season, with caddies mandatory and inexpensive on top, plus a modest cart or caddie fee. That makes three quality rounds the most affordable part of the trip; the bigger costs are flights and the hotel. Northern Thailand remains some of the best value championship golf in Asia. All fees indicative; always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Chiang Mai?
The cool, dry season from November to February is the prime window, with comfortable mornings, low humidity and the courses in fine condition. March and April are hot, and the burning season can affect air quality in the valley in those months, while the green season from roughly May to October brings warm afternoon rains but lush courses and the lowest rates. For a first trip, aim for the November to February cool season.
Which Chiang Mai courses should I play in three days?
The strongest three day rotation is Summit Green Valley, a Dennis Griffiths design near the airport that makes a fine opener, Alpine Golf Resort, Ron Garl's mountain valley course in the San Kamphaeng forest that hosted the Asian Tour Chiang Mai Classic, and Chiang Mai Highlands, the Schmidt and Curley layout from 2005 in the foothills that is the dramatic finisher. All three sit within about 45 minutes of the city, so there is no long transfer day.
Do you need a caddie to play golf in Chiang Mai?
Yes. As across Thailand, caddies are mandatory at Chiang Mai courses and are part of the experience, reading the greens, judging the lines and looking after your bag for a modest fee plus a tip. They are inexpensive by Western standards and well worth it, especially on the hillier layouts where local knowledge of the slopes matters. Carts are usually available as well, and many golfers take both a caddie and a cart in the heat.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.