Golf Courses in Siem Reap
A guide from the Siem Reap & Angkor Wat travel guide — see all guides in Visual Guides.
Siem Reap is not only temples. The town has three good 18-hole golf courses, all within about half an hour of the centre, set among rice fields, palms and lotus ponds. Green fees are lower than in many Asian capitals, the courses are rarely crowded, and a round fits easily into a temple trip: Angkor one morning, golf the next.
The three courses
Angkor Golf Resort, a short drive west of town, was designed by the English champion Nick Faldo and opened in 2007. It is the best-known course in Siem Reap, with wide fairways, plenty of water and sand, and a good clubhouse. Phokeethra Country Club, east of town off National Road 6, is a mature, tree-lined course that has hosted Asian Tour events, and an old stone bridge from the Angkor era stands on the property. Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club is a Korean-run course, popular with group tours from Korea, with a relaxed pace and a simple clubhouse restaurant.
When to play
The best months are November to February, when the air is dry and mornings are cool. March to May is very hot, so book the first tee time of the day. From June to October, short heavy rain storms often arrive in the afternoon, but the courses stay green and quiet. All year round, tee off between 06:30 and 08:00 if you can, carry plenty of water, and wear a hat and strong sunscreen.
Caddies, carts and costs
Every group plays with a caddie at all three courses. The caddie fee is sometimes part of the green fee and sometimes paid on the day, and a tip of a few US dollars is expected. Caddies know every green well, so ask them how each putt breaks. Carts can be added for a small extra fee, and good rental clubs and shoes are available, so you do not need to fly with your own bag. Prices change by season and many hotels sell packages with transfers, so ask your hotel or the course for the current rate before you go.
Making a day of it
Most hotels can arrange a car or tuk-tuk to the course, and the drive is part of the fun, past stilt houses and water buffalo in the fields. After your round, have lunch in the clubhouse, then rest by the pool through the hottest hours. In the evening head back into town for a massage, dinner near the river, or a show at Phare, The Cambodian Circus. Non-golfers in your group can spend the morning at the Angkor National Museum or a cooking class.