Artitaya Golf & Resort

Artitaya Golf & Resort (formerly known as Nichigo Resort & Country Club) can certainly boast a very elegant and challenging 36 holes of golf course, laid out in the sort of environment where beautiful swans glide serenely across lily-filled ponds.

In its earlier 27-hole guise, the River-nine was fabulous, ably supported by the Lake and Mountain nines. The surrounding jungle-clad, craggy hills provide a spectacular backdrop for the course, which is generally characterised by holes lined with tall, mature trees, and plenty of water hazards in the form of small lakes.

On the River course you'll encounter two distinctive bridges. At the par-3 3rd, an ivy-covered, jungle-style "rope" bridge brings you from the tee-box across a water hazard to the green below. Behind the superb par-4 6th green there is a replica of the bridge in Kanchanaburi which is now dubbed the Bridge on the River Kwai. Only on the outside of the dog-leg on the par-5 4th (another excellent hole) will you get a glimpse of the famous river.

The Lake course is so called based on the par-4 3rd hole wrapping itself around a small lake, and the same lake providing a watery tee-to-green shot at the par-3 4th. Thereafter the Lake course becomes a classic example of a slightly undulating, wooded parkland layout, without too much water coming back into play.

Plenty of finesse is needed on the more undulating Mountain-nine, which wends its way over sloping terrain, flanked at times by a snaking creek and offering some of the most spectacular views of the limestone hills.

Often regarded as one of the best golf resorts in the River Kwai area, Aritiaya is now apparently Korean-owned, and attracts a large number of visiting Korean golf groups. This can have an impact on pace of play.