PHUKET'S RED MOUNTAIN AND LOCH PALM

Two sibling courses, side by side, beguile golfers who visit this tropical Thai isle

- BENNY TEO

The Thai resort island of Phuket was one of the first to open during the days of the pandemic - how far away that seems to feel now - but recalling how restricted we were in the things that we could do, places that we could go, it was a heavenly respite from a long-drawn gloom and doom.

Pristine as it has always been, as the normal hustle and bustle of tourists slowly started returning to the island, one may be forgiven to think that nothing had actually changed over the past three years.

And it really hasn't. The sandy beaches, the smiling locals, now more relieved than anything else to welcome the 'Pharangs' back with their tourism dollars, and well, the golf, which thankfully maintained its quality play throughout the difficult years.

And one cannot have a discussion about golfing in Phuket without mentioning Red Mountain Golf Club and Loch Palm Golf Club. These sibling courses are two MBK Golf properties based in the popular holiday island that has mesmerised golf lovers far and wide over the years and continue to do so.

The elder of the two, Loch Palm Golf Club was designed in 1996 Dr. Sukitti Klangwisai around Crystal Lake, which provides a central theme and the source of challenging water hazards, to the otherwise benign golf course.

Though it is almost 30 years old, the 18-hole layout is still one that engages player's senses as it journeys from level undulations across balmy palm trees to distinct elevation changes that zips here and there through hilly slopes, ravines and plateaus particularly around the back nine.

At 6,422 yards, it is one of the shorter courses around. However, due to its length, or lack thereof, the water hazards on the front nine become especially tough to negotiate.

The loch (lake in Gaelic) casually cuts across many fairways making tee shots and approaches something to ponder a little more.