COURSE
Although the club is located within the city limits, it certainly doesn’t feel as if it is. Some traffic can be heard in a couple of corners of the course, but otherwise it is more akin to strolling through gentle tropical parkland. Those who are excited by the modern design concepts of vast water hazards and flashy bunkering might not immediately take to Navatanee. Like the majority of courses situated around the Thai capital, Navatanee is generally flat; but unlike, say, Thai Country Club or Amata Spring (two excellent private members’ clubs on the fringes of the city), its features are far more subtle in nature. Mature Rosewood trees and great swathes of colourful Bougainvilea flank many of the generous landing areas, while the bunkering is refreshingly modest; neither especially deep nor excessively penal, the traps here, although thoughtfully placed, don’t cause too much concern for the recreational golfer. Where water is used, its placement is purely strategic. The greens, while not outrageously contoured, feature enough movement (and grain) to keep things interesting. In terms of memorability, the sixth—a classic par-four that asks for a danger-packed approach over a lotus-filled pond—and the ninth—a meaty par-five that wraps its way around a lake in front of the sprawling low-rise clubhouse—score highly.
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