Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club perfectly blends challenging golf strategy elements with the natural beauty of Northern Thailand and modern indulgent facilities. From wide fairways full of hidden traps, exotic andesite stone bunkers, expansive greens with elephant back contours, to its unique night golf experience, everything here is designed to create an unforgettable round of golf.
For professional golfers, this course offers a chance to hone course management strategies. For recreational golfers, Summit Green Valley is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed round amid cool air, rice field landscapes, pine forests, and the Chiang Mai mountains.
With competitive rates, flexible all-inclusive packages, captivating night golf, plus spa support, an organic restaurant, a modern driving range, and a grand clubhouse, Summit Green Valley stands as one of the best golf courses in Northern Thailand. If you’re planning a golf holiday to Chiang Mai, make sure Summit Green Valley tops your itinerary—as recommended by GoGolf.
History and Background of Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club
Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club is one of the most prestigious golf destinations in Northern Thailand. Located just about 20 minutes by car from downtown Chiang Mai, this club is a favorite not only for local golfers but also for expatriates and international visitors who come to enjoy golf in a lush natural environment.
The course was built in 1990 on what was once sprawling rice fields. Its development was entrusted to renowned American golf architect Dennis Griffiths, the same figure behind Thai Country Club in Bangkok—one of Southeast Asia’s most famous courses. With a vision to deliver a world-class golf experience, Griffiths transformed these lowlands into an international standard golf course spanning 7,202 yards with a par 72 configuration.
From the beginning, Summit Green Valley was designed to combine the luxury of modern facilities with the natural beauty of Chiang Mai’s landscapes, surrounded by green rice paddies, pine forests, and distant mountain views. The design philosophy also preserved local environmental elements, such as maintaining hundreds of palm trees that line the fairways.
Over more than three decades, Summit Green Valley has grown into an icon of golf in Northern Thailand. The course routinely hosts local and international golf tournaments, while also serving as a vehicle for sports tourism promotion, benefiting the local tourism and economy. This aligns with Thailand’s government strategy to keep developing golf tourism as a flagship attraction.
Another unique feature of Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club is its sustainability concept. The club has long implemented eco-friendly practices, such as recycling wastewater from nearby hotels for irrigation, and using local organic compost. This not only helps reduce chemical fertilizer usage by about 18%, but also prolongs the life of shade trees and course grass. It’s no wonder Summit Green Valley is often recognized for prioritizing ecosystem preservation.
With its long history, international-standard course design, and sustainability commitment, Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club is far more than just another place to play golf—it has become an integral part of Chiang Mai’s identity as a world-class sports tourism destination.
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Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club Course Design and Character: More Than Just Wide Fairways
At first glance, Summit Green Valley might seem to offer flat, wide fairways—inviting golfers to swing away without worry. But this welcoming impression is actually deceptive. Dennis Griffiths designed the course with very strategic placement of hazards, forcing players to think twice before every tee shot and approach.
This 18-hole course sprawls across what was originally flat rice fields, now filled with elements that create outstanding technical challenges. There are many large lakes that not only enhance the landscape but also serve as natural traps ready to swallow any careless ball. Additionally, there are bunkers with rugged andesite stone walls, adding rough texture and visual appeal, but also becoming formidable obstacles requiring precise bunker control.
One highlight of the course is the 18th hole, a par-5 featuring a small island green surrounded by water. To finish this hole, players must execute a perfect “all-carry” shot. This makes the closing hole dramatic and epic—ideal for ending a tense round.
Besides hole 18, the par-4 ninth hole also stands out as one of the course’s signature challenges. Players must drive over water and bunkers before approaching a slightly elevated green encircled by tall palm trees. The combination of psychological pressure and real risk of water hazards makes this hole unforgettable for anyone who plays here.
The fairways at Summit Green Valley are indeed generally wide, but the placement of bunkers and lakes forces players to always think about the best ball position, not just hitting as far as possible. Especially since the greens here are famously large with rolling contours, often described as “elephant backs,” which can roll the ball away from the target if not placed precisely. These complex contours bring a different dimension to putting strategy, meaning even a two-putt isn’t always guaranteed.
Overall, Summit Green Valley’s design can be summed up as a blend of inviting fairways, deceptive greens, and water plus bunker hazards that truly “punish” inaccurate shots. This character makes the course suitable for golfers of all levels—from professionals to amateurs looking to sharpen their strategy.
Complete Facilities and Premium Atmosphere
Summit Green Valley is known not just for its course quality, but also for its extensive clubhouse and recreational facilities. The main clubhouse is grandly designed with a spacious terrace overlooking the course, creating a relaxed social atmosphere before or after a round. Inside, there are modern locker rooms complete with showers, ensuring player comfort.
Elsewhere in the clubhouse is a pro shop stocked with everything from clubs, balls, and gloves to apparel from top international brands. This makes it easy for golfers to pick up any gear they might need without having to leave the course.
For dining, Summit Green Valley boasts a popular restaurant called Lake House, set by the lake, offering Thai-fusion dishes made with organic local ingredients from the Mae Rim area. Many expatriates in Chiang Mai love this spot not just for the food, but also the laid-back vibe with direct views of water and mountains.
For those wanting to unwind after their round, there is also a spa facility offering various traditional Thai massages and modern treatments. This spa helps relax tense muscles after conquering those bunkers or undulating greens.
Summit Green Valley also features a large driving range, uniquely equipped with floodlights to enable night golf. This is one of the club’s advantages over many other courses in Chiang Mai that close by late afternoon. Thanks to night golf, busy golfers can still play or practice shots into the cooler evening hours.
Additional facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, fitness center, chipping area, putting green, and meeting spaces for community events or corporate gatherings. All in all, Summit Green Valley offers a one-stop golf resort emphasizing comfort and relaxation.
Competitive Rates and Attractive Night Golf Option
Compared to some other golf courses in Thailand, where rates can be much higher, Summit Green Valley offers relatively competitive pricing for an international-standard course with full facilities.
Golf rates at Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club for 2025 are as follows:
- Summer Breeze Package (weekdays, Mon–Fri 06:00–14:59): 18-hole package at 2,000 Baht, including green fee, caddie, golf cart (smart score), and player insurance. Valid for Thai citizens and expatriates.
- Sparkling Night Golf Package: Green fee for 18 holes at night priced at 1,500 Baht, available daily from 15:00 to 19:00.
- Regular green fees:
- Weekdays around 2,000 Baht
- Weekends around 2,800 Baht, including caddie and golf cart.
This is considered competitive for an international-standard course near downtown Chiang Mai.
- All-inclusive golf packages with transport (High Season November–March):
- Player count & price per person (including green fee, caddie, golf cart, transport):
- 2 players: 7,900 Baht
- 3 players: 7,400 Baht
- 4 players: 7,300 Baht
- 5+ players: 7,100 Baht
- Player count & price per person (including green fee, caddie, golf cart, transport):
Note: Caddie tips around 400 Baht per round are not included in these packages.
These rates already cover professional caddie services and mandatory golf cart usage due to the course layout and terrain.
In summary, Summit Green Valley offers competitive green fees, especially with its weekday and night golf packages, complete facilities, and a strategic location close to Chiang Mai.
With this pricing structure, Summit Green Valley successfully attracts a wide range of golf tourists wanting to play in Chiang Mai without paying the very high rates seen at some of Thailand’s other famous golf resorts. The addition of night golf is a significant bonus, as it’s rarely available at many other premium courses.
