Blue Canyon (Canyon) - Southern Thailand - Thailand

Designed by Mr Yoshi Kato the Canyon course plays through a terrain that includes significant elevation change, thick jungle, tight fairways, water on 14 holes, some 80 bunkers, and a big finish that involves hitting over and around the gorges.

At one stage the Canyon course was considered the best course in Thailand, but newer layouts like Black Mountain & Red Mountain have thrown down the gauntlet, challenging Blue Canyon's reign.

Although it struggles sometimes with conditioning, the bones of the course are are very good. And it is a challenge for any level of golfer! The course has a championship feel.

The back nine in particular has real spectator appeal with the canyon holes and water in play- it is brilliant theatre!

While the front nine is 'quieter' each hole demands your attention.

I particularly liked the long par 4 third hole with a giant Calabash tree guarding the shot to the green. The twisting, turning par 5 sixth hole was also a favourite.

On the back nine things get even more interesting with a number of gorges and water carries to challenge you.

Twelve is a super hole, with water in play down the right and in front of the picturesque green.

Thirteen is know as 'The Tiger hole' as Tiger Woods drove the green.

For mere mortals it is a terrifying prospect with a sharp dogleg offering fairway beyond a rather imposing gorge.

Of course one is given the option of playing safely left, but no one surely would travel all that way to play Blue Canyon and take the safe option, would they?

Hole 14 is a drop dead gorgeous par 3, with a tee shot from an elevated tee to a spectacular curved green surrounded almost entirely by water.. Yeeks!

Another memorable hole is the par 3 seventeenth- described by Fred Couples as 'one of the best par 3's anywhere in the world'. It is a long par 3 with water carry and water all the way down the right hand side. The left to right sliding green is partially hidden by the gorge wall. It is a pretty hole with a hell of a sting in the tail!

Blue Canyon's Canyon course offers a dramatic golfing experience. Combine it with golf at Red Mountain, a warm sunny climate, golden beaches and some magnificent accommodation.. It makes Phuket a compelling golfing destination.

Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer – click the link to read his full review.

Having played at Blue Canyon for the first time in 2010, I was back there in late 2019. There has been some adverse feedback on the golf course over the last couple of years. Well of course, the layout has not changed and the delightful holes that once made Blue Canyon are still there. But the course condition has surely deteriorated. While not everyone is looking for pristine golf course conditions and the layout has its own importance, I think the point here is how much are you paying for it. And on that count, you may want to miss it unless it gets back to its original glory. Its a shame because its an incredible setting for a golf course and the layout presents endless thrills and challenges.

The ranking of the golf courses in Phuket continues to evolve due to the changes in maintenance standards. To read more about Phuket golf courses visit my blog https://www.golftripz.com/blog/the-latest-review-o...

Played the course in January. Not bad, but not great, overall slightly underwhelmed by it. Can someone please explain how this course is rated above Loch Palm, let alone above Red Mountain, which is excellent!!

Played the course earlier this year and it was not in great condition. The caddie was also pretty grumpy. Some really nice holes but overall no comparison to the much nicer Red Canyon. I was expecting a lot more given the price and am not even sure it is worth the premium over the lake course.

I played here in January 2008. I would rate this as a great golf course despite having one of the worst rounds of my life here. No pars in 18 holes which says something about the tight driving and exceedingly quick and undulating greens. The whole set up smacks of a tournament course which is testified to by the club house facilities including amateur course record by Tiger Woods set in 1994. The fact that he "only" shot 71 suggests how tricky this course is although double that and you'll be closer to my effort. I thoroughly recommend this course and although I haven't played it the Lakes course on the same resort looks great value too.

Played here last December when it was really hot and humid. Great fun course in good condition, quite long but great design, utilizing the topography. Lots of gorges and small canyons to hit over, hence the name. We found the greens to be probably the hardest part as they were quick and very undulating. You can probably remember from watching the Jonny Walker that there are some fantastic par 3s with the island green 14th and the long 17th being the pick of the bunch. Didn't think there were any really weak holes and I would definitely reccommend anyone coming to Phuket to put this at the top of their list...it is expensive but it is worth it. Enjoy.