Santiburi Golf Chiang Rai

Santiburi Samai Beach Resort and Spa is in the north of the country near the border with Burma, not far from the city of Chiang Rai. The layout tempts players to take chances, but penalizes those who don't know their limits; success will come from a combination of precision and a solid short game. There topography varies considerably, but the course remains quite walkable, particularly in the cooler winter months. The front nine are set on fairly level ground—apart from the opening hole, a 621-yard dogleg that plays downhill, and the long par 4 9th, which plays up a ravine toward the clubhouse—and features abundant water and bunkering. The holes coming home wind among knolls and gullies, with a tough final two: the par 3 17th features a forced carry to a slanting green, and the par 5 18th is a double-dogleg with water all along the fairway.