Gassan Legacy GC- hole 3Gassan Legacy GC- hole 3 

Gassan Legacy GC

 

Gassan Legacy GC is located 45 minutes by car from the centre of Chiang Mai in Thailand.

The current course is a complete redesign by US architects Schmidt Curley who are known throughout Asia for their body of work which now includes Mission Hills Shenzhen & Haikou, Stoneforest, and the nearby Chiangmai Highlands.

The new course opened in 2014, and is beautifully maintained- certainly the greens were the best we played on in the area.

 

 

The course has five par 3's and five par 5's, and can play to a massive 6852 yards off the back tee.

The white tee at 5967 yards sounds short, but will prove more than a match to most as accuracy not length is the key to a successful round here.

 

Gassan Legacy GC- hole 7 (The Island Green)Gassan Legacy GC- hole 7 (The Island Green) 

 

The course starts quietly with a delightful par 5 opener which asks you to plot your way to the green past bunkers left, right and centre- it is the only hole where water does not feature...

 

Schmidt Curley worked with the gently rolling site and used a lot of bunkers to tighten up fairways and greens.

At times seem claustrophobically tight!

Inevitably, with the benefit of playing holes over, one will realise that there is perhaps a little more room than first realised.

This is where a good caddy could be invaluable, but our experience was that communication on strategy was difficult at times.

However the caddies were very helpful with straightforward matters such as distances and lines of putts... 

 

 

Did I mention the water?

Gassan Legacy is a tight course, demanding accuracy- but it is not the bunkers that will dominate your memories of Gassan Legacy.

After the first hole all 17 holes have water as a significant factor.

There are two island green par threes, and another three where water must be carried off the tee.

Gassan Legacy GC- hole 18Gassan Legacy GC- hole 18

 

  

There are quite a number of longer holes- both par 4 and par 5- where the tee shot must negotiate a water carry, often with water in play to the side of the fairway as well.

 

Playing off the white tees was pure fun as we encountered so many risk/reward shots where we had to decide how much we could take on.

At the same time the more timid, or less capable golfer is able to play a more conservative line on most ocassions.

 

Now, I love a short par 4 and Gassan Legacy has three short par 4's (- holes 6, 13 & 14), where the longer hitter could go for glory, but others can attack with accurate approach shots.

 

 One of the challenges playing on Asian courses is navigating the grain on the greens, and chipping from the fringes where the club can get caught.

At Gassan Legacy we found the playing surfaces immaculate and much easier to play.

 

Gassan Legacy GC- hole 11Gassan Legacy GC- hole 11

 

Gassan Legacy is a good test of golf.

It will have the thinking player plotting his way around the course.

The longer or more erratic hitter will need to consider putting the driver away at times in favour of hitting fairways.

But at other times will be given the opportunity of taking the course on.

Gassan Legacy is just great fun- but take lots of balls!

 

 Golf Tours

Gassan Legacy GC- hole 12Gassan Legacy GC- hole 12

 

Gassan Legacy GC is included as one of the preferred courses on The Travelling Golfer tours to Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai.

We offer hosted trips from time to time for ladies, gents, and couples groups which can feature top end spa resort accommodation.

We also tailor trips for groups who do not require a host.

 

Enquiries

 

Please complete our enquiry form if you have an interest in a golf tour to Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai

 

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