The RG Golf City Dream Arena - Hole 3 in Bangkok, Thailand - Thailand's Top 18 Holes

With this installment at The RG Golf City Dream Arena, we have left one of the best for last in our Thailand’s Top 18 Holes series. We could really have picked half a dozen holes from this famous replica course, with the whole back nine an exact copy of the Augusta National (home of The Masters) with the 10^th , 11^th or 12^th were very tempting picks. The front nine has great holes from Troon, St Andrews, Oakmont and Bethpage Black, but in the end we went with what has become one of the most famous par 3s in the world, the 17^th at TPC Sawgrass, or hole 3 at The RG Golf City Dream Arena.
Some may say that it is not one of the best true holes in the country, but the experience of playing hole number 3 at The RG Golf City Dream Arena, and imagining yourself on a Sunday in contention at the Players.

As with many par 3s, it’s all about the tee shot on this one. However, due to the island green, there’s simply no room to miss hence even more pressure on hitting a good one off the tee. Measuring 140 yards from the black tees, 119 from the white tees and 98 yards from the red tees, one would think it is a fairly simple tee shot. However, the hole often plays longer than the yardage and the wind is very trick to manage. We recommend taking and extra club as the wind is usually quite strong into you, though you don’t feel it.

There are also very few ideal landing spots on the green. It is smaller than the actual TPC Sawgrass green, and the slopes are more steep, meaning the target area is very small. A high ball here will be ideal, as anything coming in low and hot will greatly struggle to hold the green.

The 3rd green at RG Golf City Dream Arena is one of the toughest greens on the golf course. If you have landed your ball on the top tier and the flag is in its usual position at the front of the green, it is a slippery putt down the hill with lots of break. Keeping it on the fringe or just around the hole is a phenomenal effort and will set you up with a great chance at a par.

If you have been aggressive (or lucky) and have been able to somehow keep the ball below the hole to a front flag, you’re in position 1A for birdie. This leaves an uphill putt which will not be very long. If the flag is at the back, it will be a swinging putt up the hill, but nothing overly difficult. It should be possible to walk away with a par provided you’ve hit the green.

If you’ve missed the green, well that’s a different story. There is a drop area up closer to the hole, and it is a very tough up-and-down from there. A ball in the water here most likely means a high score, and leaves you fighting to claw back the strokes through the rest of the round.

Either way, be sure to take a step back and enjoy the beauty of this hole, put yourself in the shoes of the pros, and take a few pictures which are great memories!

Have you played the 3rd at RG Golf City Dream Arena? Tell us how you fared on our Facebook page!