Two courses. Two completely different experiences. One spectacular island. If you are planning a golf holiday in Phuket and cannot decide between Red Mountain and Blue Canyon — you are asking the right question. This detailed guide will help you choose with confidence.
Ask any experienced golfer who has visited Phuket more than once and they will tell you the same thing: the debate between Red Mountain Golf Club and Blue Canyon Country Club is one of the most enjoyable conversations in Asian golf. Both are genuinely outstanding venues. Both attract golfers from Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe, and across Asia every single year. And both will give you a round that stays with you long after you have left the island.
But they are very different experiences — and understanding those differences before you book your tee time will make a real difference to your holiday. Let us break it down properly.
The Courses at a Glance
Red Mountain Golf Club sits in Kathu — right in the heart of Phuket, around 15 minutes from most Patong hotels and 20 minutes from the airport. Designed by Jon Morrow and Al Tikkanen and opened in 2007, it was built on a former tin mining site, and that heritage is very much part of its soul. The course sits among dramatic red-tinged earth, tropical jungle, and lake water that reflects the colour of the old mining terrain in a way you simply will not see anywhere else on the island.
Blue Canyon Country Club’s Canyon Course is located in the north of Phuket near the international airport — convenient if you are staying in Laguna or flying in for the day. Opened in 1991, it has hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic professional tournament multiple times, bringing some of the biggest names in world golf to Phuket. Blue Canyon also offers the Lakes Course — a second 18 holes that provides a completely different golfing experience on the same property.
The Golf: Course Design and Challenge
Red Mountain Golf Club
Red Mountain is widely regarded as one of the top three golf courses in Thailand, and from the moment you step onto the first tee it is easy to understand why. The course layout takes full advantage of its extraordinary terrain. Elevated tee boxes offer sweeping views across the island. Fairways wind through valleys and past the distinctive red-tinged lakes that give the course its name. Towering rubber trees and tropical vegetation frame almost every hole, making accurate ball-striking essential.
The par threes are particularly memorable — several require carries over water into elevated greens that demand both commitment and precision. The greens are consistently well-maintained and offer genuinely interesting, undulating putts that keep you thinking right until the ball drops. Red Mountain is not an overly long course, but it uses its terrain brilliantly to create difficulty without ever feeling unfair. It rewards smart golf above power golf, which makes it enjoyable for a wide range of handicaps.
Blue Canyon — Canyon Course
The Canyon Course at Blue Canyon is a different kind of challenge entirely. This is championship golf — wider fairways than you might expect, but with strategic bunkering, water hazards on multiple holes, and fast greens that reward local knowledge. The course has a confidence and authority built over decades of world-class play, and you feel that when you play it.
Course management is everything here. Players who think their way around Blue Canyon — choosing the right club off the tee, plotting their approach shots intelligently, and avoiding the temptation to overpower tight pin positions — consistently score better than those who try to muscle the course. The conditioning of fairways and greens is excellent throughout, reflecting the professional tournament standards the venue has maintained for over three decades.
Blue Canyon — Lakes Course
The Lakes Course offers a more open, flowing experience than its championship sibling. Water features prominently throughout, and the layout has a lush, accessible feel that makes it popular with golfers of all levels. Many visitors to Blue Canyon build a two-day itinerary around playing both courses — a highly recommended strategy if golf is the priority of your trip.
Both Red Mountain and Blue Canyon include a personal caddy and individual golf cart as standard in their green fees. Your caddy is an invaluable asset — particularly at Red Mountain where knowledge of the terrain makes a measurable difference to your score. Take the time to listen to their club recommendations.
Head-to-Head: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Red Mountain Golf Club | Blue Canyon (Canyon Course) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Kathu, central Phuket (~15 min from Patong) | Mai Khao, north Phuket (~10 min from airport) |
| Course length | 6,781 yards · Par 72 | 7,179 Yards(black tees) · Par 72 |
| Difficulty | Challenging — terrain-driven difficulty | Challenging — strategic, championship layout |
| Best for | All levels — especially scenic & experience seekers | Serious golfers, corporate groups, tournament fans |
| Scenery | Dramatic · raw · unforgettable mining landscape | Manicured · grand · classic parkland feel |
| Tournament history | No professional events | Johnnie Walker Classic (multiple editions) |
| Number of courses | 1 course (18 holes) | 2 courses — Canyon & Lakes (36 holes total) |
| Included in packages | Yes — most golf & hotel packages include Red Mountain | Yes — available across all package lengths |
| Clubhouse atmosphere | Warm, welcoming, relaxed | Prestigious, professional, resort-grade facilities |
| Caddy included | Yes — 1 caddy per golfer | Yes — 1 caddy per golfer |
| Individual cart | Yes | Yes |
Scenery and Atmosphere: Where the Two Courses Really Diverge
Red Mountain has a raw, cinematic beauty that is unlike anything else in Phuket. The old tin mining landscape gives it a rugged, natural character that no amount of landscaping could replicate — red earth banks, jungle-wrapped fairways, and that distinctive lake water create an atmosphere that feels entirely unique. Many golfers describe Red Mountain as one of the most visually memorable rounds they have ever played, anywhere in the world.
Blue Canyon offers a very different aesthetic — more manicured, more resort-polished, and appropriately grand for a venue with its professional tournament history. The grounds are impeccably presented, the facilities are world-class, and the overall experience carries the weight of international prestige. If you want to stand on the same ground where professional champions have competed, Blue Canyon delivers that feeling completely.
Visiting Phuket during high season (November to March)? Tee times at both Red Mountain and Blue Canyon fill up quickly — especially on weekends. Always book in advance through a trusted local agent to secure your preferred time and avoid disappointment. You can check availability and book here.
Who Should Play Which Course?
🏔️ Choose Red Mountain if you…
- Want the most visually dramatic round in Phuket
- Are staying in central Phuket or Patong
- Are playing your first round in Phuket
- Enjoy a course with character and personality
- Are a mid-to-high handicapper wanting an enjoyable challenge
- Want the course most Phuket regulars rank as their favourite
🏆 Choose Blue Canyon if you…
- Want championship golf in a world-class setting
- Are staying near the airport or Laguna area
- Are a serious low-handicapper seeking a real test
- Are organising a corporate golf day or group trip
- Want to play 36 holes across two different courses
- Value prestigious tournament heritage and facilities
The Honest Verdict: You Do Not Have to Choose
Here is what most experienced Phuket golfers will tell you: you do not have to pick just one. If you are visiting Phuket for a proper golf holiday, playing both Red Mountain and Blue Canyon is not an indulgence — it is the obvious plan. These two courses complement each other beautifully. The dramatic, intimate feel of Red Mountain alongside the championship grandeur of Blue Canyon’s Canyon Course gives you a genuinely complete picture of what Phuket golf has to offer at its very best.
Most of our Phuket golf and hotel packages are designed with exactly this pairing in mind. Our popular 3-day budget package includes Blue Canyon Lakes and Red Mountain with 2 nights at a 4-star resort — an ideal short break. For those with more time, our 5-day, 3-round package allows you to experience more of the island’s golf alongside a comfortable hotel stay, and our 7-day, 4-round package at the Grand Mercure is perfect for golfers who want a full week in Phuket without any compromise.
Golfers who genuinely must choose just one: if the question is which course produces the more unforgettable visual memory, most experienced Phuket players will say Red Mountain. If the question is which course provides the most prestigious, pure championship test, the answer is Blue Canyon Canyon Course. Either way, you will not leave disappointed.
Beyond Red Mountain and Blue Canyon: Explore All of Phuket’s Courses
While these two courses dominate the conversation, Phuket offers seven other exceptional venues that are well worth including in a longer golf itinerary. Loch Palm Golf Club is a beautifully mature layout set in a natural valley — one of the most relaxing and scenic rounds on the island. Laguna Golf Phuket sits within the prestigious Laguna complex and offers a resort golf experience with excellent conditioning. Mission Hills Golf Resort provides a solid challenge in a well-maintained setting, while Phuket Country Club is one of the island’s original courses with a loyal following among regular visitors. Aquella Golf & Country Club and Katathong Golf Resort round out the nine-course offering with their own distinct characters.
Explore All 9 Phuket Golf Courses:
Red Mountain Blue Canyon Canyon Blue Canyon Lakes Loch Palm Laguna Golf Mission Hills Phuket Country Club Aquella KatathongPractical Information: Booking Your Round
Both Red Mountain and Blue Canyon include caddies and individual golf carts as standard. Green fees vary by season, with peak months (November through March) seeing higher demand at both venues. Booking in advance is strongly recommended during high season — popular tee times at Red Mountain and Blue Canyon fill up weeks ahead, particularly on weekends.
VIP transfers from your hotel to either course can be arranged as part of your booking, taking all the logistics off your plate. If you are planning multiple rounds during your Phuket stay, bundling your tee times, transfers, and hotel accommodation into a single golf and hotel package consistently delivers better value than booking each element separately — and saves considerable planning time.
Ready to Book Your Round at Red Mountain or Blue Canyon?
Phuket Golf Leisure is Phuket’s most trusted local golf agent — no deposit required, free cancellation before 5PM, and VIP transfers included. We handle every detail so you can focus on your game.
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