What’s wonderful about playing golf in Phuket is the fact that the views seem to come looking for you rather than the other way around. I had flown in solely focused on my game, but Phuket clearly had another idea about what should hold my attention.
Even though I did not come into the game trying to take pictures of the most beautiful scenery, I found myself using my camera more than my sand wedge by the third hole on the first day.
The Mist at Loch Palm
My accidental discovery started at Loch Palm Golf Club. While I had planned for an early morning session to beat the scorching heat, nothing could have prepared me for the environment around me. As the sun emerged from behind the jungled hills of Kathu, a dense silver mist enveloped Crystal Lake.
Crystal Lake forms the center of the golf course, and standing at the tee box of the fourth hole, a daunting par-3 over Crystal Lake, made me realize that I was indeed playing among the reflections of palm trees.
By the time I hit the back nine, the mist had cleared, giving way to the brilliant, high-contrast Thai sunshine. This transition is a key part of the Phuket golf weather, which can shift from a cool, dewy morning to a bright, tropical afternoon in a matter of holes. As the heat intensifies, the vitality of the greens in relation to the limestone rocks also increases. It’s important to maintain your awareness of these changes and the resulting humidity in order to maintain concentration amidst the distractions. In my experience, the afternoon wind from the hills helped me maintain focus throughout the round, as long as I didn’t hurry my shots.
Scaling Red Mountain
If Loch Palm was a gentle introduction, Red Mountain Golf Club was the dramatic reveal. Built on the bones of an old tin mine, it is widely considered one of the most spectacular courses in Asia.
I found the best view here by sheer luck. While waiting for a group ahead, I walked to the edge of a ridge near the signature 17th hole. I was met with a sheer drop into a massive, lush ravine framed by stained red earth and dark jungle. The 17th is a par-3 that drops nearly 50 meters. Looking out from that height, you can see the distant shimmering roofs of the valley, and the scale of the landscape makes you feel incredibly small. It’s a prehistoric-looking environment that feels more like a nature trek than a round of golf.
Coastal Serenity at Mission Hills
I ended my unintentional scouting trip on the northeast coast at Mission Hills Phuket Golf Resort. Most travelers stick to the west coast for the famous beach clubs, but the east offers a quieter, more raw beauty.
This Jack Nicklaus design is the only one on the island that plays directly along the Andaman Sea. I reached the seaside stretch just as the golden hour hit. The tide was out, revealing the intricate, tangled roots of the mangroves. Unlike the crashing waves of the west, the water here was a still, pale turquoise that seemed to melt into the sky.
There is a specific moment on the 12th green where you are standing right on the water’s edge. As I putted out, the only sound was the faint lap of the sea and a distant long-tail boat. It wasn’t the most technical part of my game that day, but it was the moment that stuck with me. The salty air and the panoramic horizon turned a standard par into something that felt far more significant.
Why the Landscape Changes the Game
You might think that a scenic view is just a bonus, but in Phuket, the environment actually dictates how you play. The dramatic elevation at Red Mountain forces you to rethink your club selection entirely, while the coastal exposure at Mission Hills means you’re constantly negotiating with the sea breeze.
I didn’t have a map of the best photo spots when I landed. I just followed the fairways. But that is the unique draw of the island’s courses. Whether you’re tucked into a canyon or standing on the edge of the ocean, Phuket has a way of rewarding you for looking up from your ball.
If you are thinking about visiting the place in 2026, know that the popularity of this place means you will need to plan your visit well in advance. However, you should not overplan your trips around this place since there is always time to just get out there and experience the place from these amazing ridges and enjoy the view of the horizon. You may come for a game of golf, but you will stay for moments like these.