Santiburi Samui Country Club - Koh Samui, Thailand Review

INTRO
Part of the allure of golf is about being surrounded by nature and its incredible beauty. It is about seeing rolling green fairways set against a bright blue ocean. It is about feeling a cool breeze on a calm summer afternoon. It is about hearing the sounds of birds chirping and wildlife rustling in the woods. Never have I been more mesmerized with the natural beauty of a golf course and its surroundings than with Santiburi Samui Country Club on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand.

THE COURSE
The Santiburi golf course sits atop a small mountain that overlooks the entire island. The views on each and every hole are absolutely amazing. I attached some photographs to the review, but they do not begin to capture the beauty of the landscape. With the drastic changes in elevation on most of the holes, a golf cart is absolutely needed (and part of the green fee). A caddy also comes along for the ride. At least with my experience, the caddy was not very helpful with club selection and did not have any particularly useful insider tips. Given the changes in elevation and the often confusing meters (versus yards), club selection is often a "guess-timation". In all honesty, it would have been better to have a more knowledgeable caddy, but this is nit-picking. With a few mulligans here and there, it all worked out in the end!

QUALITY
Tee Boxes - flat and mown
Fairways - lush green and rolling forever
Sand - fluffy
Greens - somewhat inconsistent but in decent shape
Clubhouse/Pro Shop - brand new, large selection of everything

PRICE
Under 100USD (with exchange rates at the time). Given the scenic beauty, the overall quality of service, and the excellent course conditions, I would easily have paid twice that. It truly is an absolute must play course for the price.

TIPS

1. Ask for knowledgeable caddy
2. Play early or late in day to avoid heat
3. Bring change of clothes after using complimentary locker room shower