It’s not too late to get in a round or two at one of the world’s most unique municipal golf courses. Owned and managed by the Royal Thai Air Force since its construction in 1952, Kantarat Golf Course in Bangkok, Thailand (a must-add to any food lover’s bucket list) is located smack-dab between two active runways at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), one of the oldest operating airports in the world. Kantarat may not be right for golfers who play better in a hushed environment, where even a subtle distraction, like a pinging phone or loud chatter, is considered rude and intrusive. An average of 55 individual aircraft take off and land every hour, so the roar of jet engines is part of the environment. That said, it’s a must-play course for golfers who thrive on chalking up extraordinary golfing experiences. But timing may be of the essence.
In early 2024, the Thai government announced it had completed negotiations with the Royal Thai Air Force to sell the golf course to Airports of Thailand, the management company responsible for overseeing operations at Don Mueang International Airport. It also manages Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Phuket International Airport (HKT) — the Southeast Asian island known for beautiful beaches and fun water adventures — Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI), and Hat Yai International Airport (HDY).
While no definitive plans have been revealed, there is speculation that the sale could lead to the demise of Kantarat Golf Course in favor of airport expansion. In the meantime, the transfer remains in the air pending funding of the agreed-upon sale price of ฿1 billion (about $31 million). If playing a round or two on a golf course between two active runways sounds intriguing, it may be time to book a flight to Don Mueang International Airport. Once you’re there, getting onto the course is surprisingly easy, especially in light of its high-security location.
The 18-hole course is open to the public
Open to the public, Kantarat Golf Course is a full-sized 18-hole course with greens arranged in a long, narrow layout. It’s a 6,366-yard, par-72 course with reasonable greens fees of less than $10 on weekdays and about $20 on weekends. There’s a putting green plus an on-site pro shop offering club, pull-cart, and cart rentals. Caddie services are available, and the golf course restaurant specializes in Thai food. Private vehicles are not allowed on the property, so there’s a bit of lugging involved if you bring your own clubs. There’s also an unusual twist. Given its location, all patrons must pass through an airport-grade security checkpoint complete with a metal detector. Carts and caddies are requirements. For security reasons, no one is allowed to walk the course. Hit a ball out of bounds? Kiss it goodbye. The heightened security also means there’s no chasing lost balls.
Although Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport was considered the gateway to Thailand when it opened to commercial traffic in 1924, it was replaced by Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in 2006. It closed temporarily, but eventually reopened, focusing on serving regional and low-cost carriers. The days of getting ready to tee off in the shadow of a Boeing 747 taking flight are long gone, but there’s still plenty of impressive air traffic, including various models of Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.
At least one netizen on Instagram couldn’t resist imagining the difference the option to play a round would make during a long layover. Under an Instagram post, a commenter declared, “This could be the best thing ever. Imagine having a 6 hour layover and saying you know what I’ll go play 18. If an airport had this it would immediately become the best airport ever.”
