The New Red Mountain Golf Course

An Introduction

Loch Palm's second 18 holes course "THE RED MOUNTAIN" has now been completed. The first nine holes opened in August 2006 and the back nine opened in May 2007.

The new course Designed by Mr. Jon Morrow will complement rather than compete with her older sister. Few sites have presented the design team with such a dramatic raw canvas on which to sculpt a memorable Golf Course. The routing explores the 4 corners of the former tin mine property with dizzying elevation changes representing a memorable tour of Phuket's historical landscapes. Holes have been sculpted into and through rugged "rock" cliffs and canyons, perched on precipitous ledges climbing to a high plateau cut away from the mountain by decades of mining. This is undoubtedly the highest golf course on Phuket Island! Views are as dramatic as one would expect; the sounds of Tropical Rainforest a reminder of forgotten times.

Not long by modern standards, the course will stretch to just less than 7000 yards from the "Pro tees" playing to a standard 72. Keeping the course under this nominal "Championship" yardstick affords all levels of players the chance to enjoy the Golf Experience offered here. Par 4 lengths stretch the full range of distances; each 9 has an exciting "drivable" par 4 and another "shorty" that all can enjoy. But there also 4 "two shotters" ranging from 440 to 470 yards.

The par3's are not only demanding to play, but also to visually absorb. A hole with a vertical drop of 40 meters from tee to green through towering trees may be just too much to imagine. This is golf on steroids!

Par 5's are also unique. They have fit the holes to what nature presented. They are uphill and downhill. They are long and short. They are all memorable.

The tin mine theme is never far away. Rugged scars from open cast mining look strangely comfortable on a course which celebrates rather than tries to hide the past. Cliffs and gullies etched in sandy tailings over the years by storm waters feature on several holes; nature's waste bunkers belittle the work of man. Towering cliffs cut out of the hills and flooded canyons frame several other holes. Mounds of waste tailings have left a unique "moonscape" that could never be reproduced. Mini-alluvial plains also provide occasional flat holes.

Nature has healed itself and left a pleasantly surprising combination "Tin Mine" landscape and vegetation. Great care has been taken to route holes so that players have to face the full range of natures hazards; wind, water, slopes and elevation changes.

The concept of variety has been carried into all areas. There are large and small greens; some with subtle breaks, some with wilder contours. The latest Bermuda Hybrid grasses, noted for their shade tolerance, will allow fast, smooth putting surfaces even through Phuket's rainy season.

Fairways and tees are grassed with Seashore Paspalum; Golf's most environmentally friendly and opulent playing surface. No expense has been spared on drainage; fairways have been capped throughout with a deep, clean sand layer allowing perfect playing surfaces just minutes after the heaviest rains. Wild, local grasses have been used in some rough areas to complete the natural look.

This fabulous Golf Course will become THE Golf Course on Phuket Island and presents a fantastic challenge.