Bhumibol Dam Golf Course

Bhumibol Dam Golf Course is an 18-hole course built into the hillside beside Thailand’s tallest dam, in Sam Ngao district of Tak province. It’s run by EGAT, the state utility that operates the dam, but green fees are open to the public rather than restricted to staff or members — 300 THB on weekdays and 400 THB on weekends per EGAT’s posted rates, with caddie (250 THB) and cart (400-600 THB) hire extra.

The course sits beside the 154-metre concrete arch of Bhumibol Dam, completed in 1964 as Thailand’s first major hydroelectric dam, with several holes running along the edge of the reservoir it created on the Ping River. That setting is the real draw — not championship-level course design, but a genuinely unusual backdrop of dam wall, hills and open water that you won’t find on courses closer to Bangkok. Expect a quieter round than at a resort course: fewer groups, less infrastructure, and a working-facility feel rather than a polished golf-tourism operation.

Watch out: this isn’t a resort with a dedicated booking system — call ahead through the EGAT office (Khun Sai Chol Villa) to confirm tee times and current green fees before making the long drive out, since availability and pricing aren’t listed on a standard booking platform.

The course is roughly 480 km from Bangkok, about a six-hour drive, which puts it well outside day-trip range from the capital. It makes more sense paired with a stay in Tak town or a visit to the dam itself than as a standalone golf outing. November to February brings the coolest, most comfortable playing conditions; expect more heat and humidity outside that window.