Nikanti Golf Club

Nikanti Golf Club is a one-of-a-kind unique 18-hole track, situated in Nakhon Pathom province west of Bangkok. The work of Thai golf course designer and architect Piraporn Namatra of Golf East, Nikanti is revolutionary in more ways than one.

Nikanti sits in fresh air among former rice paddies. However, the Bangkok golf course is almost the complete opposite of what one usually finds around the city.  For a start, it measures a short 6,850 yards from the black tees. Then there is the routing. Rather than having a traditional front and back nine, Nikanti is made up of three loops of six, each one starting and ending at the main clubhouse. Finally, each circuit comprises two par-3s, two par-4s, and two par-5s. Having an equal number of par-3, par-4 and par-5 holes is somewhat controversial, but why not? Par-72 is still on offer, and it gives golfers the chance to play a wide variety of holes through the round. 

Also, more than the standard number of par-3 and par-5 hole gives golfers many more scoring opportunities than usual. However, in spite of the extra scoring holes, Nikanti is a course with a significant challenge, even for professional golfers. The fairways, while broad, feature plenty of mounding and elevation changes. Flat lies are the exception rather than the rule at Nikanti. Many of the greens, meanwhile, are strongly undulated, run fast especially downhill, and are guarded by bunker complexes. Water comes into play on many of the holes, especially on the par-5s.