This short par 4 is an excellent starting point for the golf course. Large trees line the right side of the fairway, and long hitters can gamble by cutting the corner. The hole bends from left to right. The straight hitter will be rewarded with an easy approach onto this flat but small green.

A drive over the lagoon starts this hole as it follows the natural landscape up a small hill. The green is tucked behind a ridge that runs the entire length of its right side. The safe route on the second shot is down the center of the fairway between the numerous traps that guard the landing area. Long hitters may opt to carry the coconut grove that hides the green.

With the green perched on top
of a small ridge, the surrounding mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to this medium length par 3. Many golfers choose to play one club short to avoid the bunkers on the left and back of the green.

With water running along the entire left side of the hole, the tee shot is very demanding. The bunker on the right defines the optimum placement, while the two-tiered green makes for an interesting target.

This long par 5 is the most difficult on the course. With water perilously close to the left side of the landing area, you are wise to keep to the right on the tee shot. Having successfully negotiated that, you must then master an uphill shot into a narrow landing area with bunkers on the right and a coconut grove on the left. The short third shot is also uphill towards the large green.

This straightaway par 4 looks easier than it is. A large bunker absorbs the left side of the fairway. Longer hitters can try to play over the bunker; however, a tee shot short of the bunker leaves an open second to this well protected green.

Definitely the longest par 3 on the course. Though it plays slightly down hill, this hole requires a masterful long iron shot to land on the green, as it is well protected by bunkers on the left and water on the right.

H

Some say this is the hardest hole on the golf course. With water on the left and three gaping bunkers to the right, a straight tee shot is the key to this long dogleg right par 4. Once safely on the fairway, a delicate approach is needed to play onto the steep, sloping green.

With the Andaman Sea as the backdrop, the tee shot is quite dramatic on the sharp dogleg left par 4. The green is set in a small hillock, so the approach shot is a formidable challenge.

A great golf hole. The nature of the back 9 holes is dictated by the long 10th hole. With the green set out on a promontory in the surrounding lake, the second shot is the most difficult iron shot on the course. Between the lake and the green lies a sweeping bunker of almost 100 yards that runs into the water. A pin placement in the back right corner of the green makes this a championship caliber hole.

Though this is the shortest hole on the course, it is the most treacherous. Perched above the lake, the 11th green is an intimidating target. Water will catch any shots veering to the right, and large mounding protects the left side. A chip from above the mounding will be difficult to keep on the putting surface.

At 386 yards, this sharp dogleg right around the environmental reserve area demands accuracy. Bunkers and a small creek define the left side of the driving area, and a drive on the fairway is a must. The long and straight hitters face the challenge of biting off as much of the reserve area as their talents permit. The circular green is in the middle of a large bunker that engulfs the putting area. The short second shot is a tough one.

The adjacent mountains are a perfect backdrop to this attractive hole. Players will want to hit one extra club to avoid the large bunker that sits short and left of the green. This undulating green presents a challenge once you reach the putting surface.

Golfers beware on this short par 4. Though it looks straightforward and simple, don't think it is a pushover.
Water looms directly behind the green site, so be sure to keep the ball in front of the flagstick. Water also comes into play on the tee shot, and a long iron shot off the tee for optimum placement is not a bad decision.

This hole offers quite a contrast to the relatively flat nature of the Banyan Tree Club. The green site is tucked into a large mound with the entry to the green carved beautifully out of the natural landforms. Two pot bunkers front the left and right of the green. This hole is a challenge.

A straight and accurate middle iron shot is required to reach the green that is encased by twelve large bunkers. With the dramatic views of the Andaman Sea, this is the Banyan Tree Club's most scenic hole.

At 612 yards, accuracy and distance are required to navigate this monster of a par 5, the longest hole in Thailand. A large water hazard runs along the entire length of the right side, and a small lake comes into play on the tee shot. A precise lay-up is needed on the second shot as the lake protrudes into the fairway just short of the large tree, the optimum target here. A long third shot is needed to complete the challenge, but the large green provides a generous target. Par will be a great score on this hole.

As the second of the back-to-back par 5 finishing holes, the long 18th provides the final challenge of the Banyan Tree Club. The tee shot goes through a complex of mounds into a tight landing zone. The environmental reserve area occupies the right side of the fairway, and the long second shot must navigate a myriad of bunkers. As the green is quite narrow, it certainly ensures interest in the third shot.