Lotus Valley Golf Course is a superb option for golfers wanting to escape the bustle of Bangkok and enjoy a championship-standard course in peaceful Thai countryside. Located in Chachoengsao, around 50 minutes from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, it works brilliantly as part of a Bangkok golf holiday or as a relaxed stay-and-play experience at the neighbouring Grand Sappaya Hotel.

The 18-hole, par-72 course stretches to 7,015 yards from the back tees and was originally designed by nine-time Major champion Gary Player. The layout has since undergone extensive improvements, but the original design principles remain, with the course making excellent use of the natural landscape and providing enough variety to get most clubs in the bag involved during the round.

What we particularly like about Lotus Valley is the balance between playability and strategy. Landing areas are generally generous enough to give higher-handicap golfers confidence from the tee, but better players still need to think carefully about positioning. Water features, bunkering and shaped green complexes regularly influence the best line into the hole, so simply hitting the ball as far as possible is not always the answer.

Water is a major part of the visual character of the course and appears throughout the round, creating some particularly attractive approaches and tee shots. The fairways move gently across the landscape rather than featuring extreme changes in elevation, making Lotus Valley comfortable to play while still providing plenty of interest. The routing has also been designed to reduce direct sun glare during the day, a thoughtful touch when playing in Thailand's warm climate.

The practice facilities are another strong point. Golfers have access to a 400-yard driving range, putting and short-game areas and a three-hole practice course, giving you plenty of opportunity to loosen up before your round or spend additional time working on your game.

The clubhouse adds considerably to the experience. After golf, we would head straight for the Lotus Leaf Restaurant, where you can enjoy Thai and international food while looking back across the course. There is also a Japanese-style onsen, fitness facilities and a swimming pool, making it easy to relax once the clubs have been put away.

For golfers wanting to stay directly beside the course, Grand Sappaya Hotel provides modern accommodation overlooking the fairways. This makes Lotus Valley particularly appealing for a short golf escape from Bangkok, the first or final stop on a longer Thailand itinerary, or a dedicated stay-and-play break.

Speak to our Golf Travel Experts at Hashtag Golf Travel and we can include Lotus Valley Golf Course within a tailor-made Thailand golf holiday, combining your preferred rounds, accommodation and other leading courses around Bangkok.