Siam Country Club Plantation Course (Sugar Cane) - Hole 5 in Pattaya, Thailand - Thailand's Top 18 Holes

The next entry in our Thailand’s Top 18 Holes feature is the 5th hole on the Sugar Cane course at Siam Country Club’s Plantation course. This hole is one heck of a challenge from tee-to-green, and is one of the most memorable golf holes in Pattaya, Thailand.

The 596 yard monster plays up hill the entire way, is a dog-leg right, and takes 3 big hits to get it there for most golfers (some maybe even 4!). The hole starts with a tee shot up the hill, which features bunkers dotted throughout the landing area. The fairway is a split fairway, due to the bunkers, thus giving golfers a choice of the more aggressive line to the left or the more conservative line to the right. Right leaves more fairway and a wider stretch of fairway, but leaves a more difficult approach up to the green. Left has a much tighter landing area, and brings more bunkers in to play depending on the risk-reward line you choose, but leaves a straight approach into the green.

The second shot is up hill all the way. There are some trees up the middle splitting the two fairways most of the way up, so a good whack with a wood straight up the hill to advance the ball further towards the green is what is required here. There is some danger on the right side of the right-hand fairway and left side of the left-hand fairway, however it would take a wayward shot to end up in the forest with a lost ball. The good news about the second shot is the bunker trouble has passed, and it opens up for the rest of the hole.

The third shot is where things get interesting again. The green is well above the ball, thus it is hard to see the flag and get a good judgement for where the flag is and where to land. It’s best to really get your caddie’s advice on this one, and play to what she says! If coming in from the left, the angle is much better, the uphill slope is far less than the right side, and more of the green will be visible. If coming in from the right, the uphill slope is significant, there’s green side bunkers to carry, and the green is very narrow from that angle. Precision, distance control and trusting in your shot is very key on the 3rd shot.

After a good shot into the green, the challenge continues with one of Siam Country Club Plantation Course’s typical crowned greens with lots of slope and break. The green will rarely give a straight putt, and some of the downhill putts will be very difficult to leave close. A two putt on this green is a great way to cap a long and challenging hole.

Have you played this hole before? We’d love to hear how you played it. Please leave a comment on our Facebook post for this hole.