While many golf courses have private airstrips or are located next to them, did you know that one airport has an 18-hole golf course between its two runways? Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok, Thailand, has a 6,366-yard par 72 18-hole golf course between its 12,139-foot 03L/21R and 11,483-foot 03R/21L runways. Generally, golf courses are serene, quiet places where people go to play a leisurely round of golf. In fact, if you have ever attended a golf tournament, stewards will hold up signs telling the crowd to be quiet while golfers take their shots.
At Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok, Thailand, those quiet rules do not apply as golfers used to have to play their shots while aircraft took off and landed next to them. Constructed by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) in 1952, it was the first ever golf course built in the Thai capital and is the second oldest in the country after Hua Hin Royal Golf Course, which was built in 1924.
The Royal Thai Air Force Kantarat Golf Course
The long and highly narrow course offers one of the world’s strangest golf experiences and is a must for any aviation enthusiast who also plays golf. Because it is a public course and not private, the green fees are incredibly reasonable, at 320TBH ($9.62) during the week and 620TBH ($18.63) on Saturday and Sunday. Facilities on the course include a pro shop and a small Thai restaurant that serves local food.
The best way to get to Kantarat Golf Course is by taxi, as the entrance is hidden away at the back of the airport. The guards at the gate will not allow taxis to access the road to the clubhouse, so you will need to walk the rest of the way. To play the course, you must rent a cart and have a caddy accompany you at all times for security reasons.
Before starting your round, you must also pass through an explosive scanner. As we said, the course is long and narrow, meaning if you hook or slice a ball and it lands near the runways, it is a lost ball you are not permitted to retrieve. No prices were available for the cart hire and cost of the caddy, but given that it is a public course, the prices are probably in line with the green fees.
About Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)
Originally an airfield, Don Mueang was Thailand’s second airfield after an airfield built at the Sra Pathum Racecourse in Bangkok. Because the racecourse airfield was located in a flood-prone area during the monsoon season, once Don Mueang was opened in 1914, the Air Corp, which later evolved into the Royal Thai Air Force, was relocated there.
In 1933, the airfield was attacked after an attempted coup to overthrow the ruling government. Called the “Boworadet Rebellion,” it never succeeded but was a turning point in Siam politics. On December 8, 1941, Japan invaded Thailand, and after a brief battle, a treaty was signed with Thailand, siding with Japan for the remainder of WWII. Now, with Don Mueang being used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, the airfield was attacked by Allied forces on several occasions.
Following Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945, Don Mueang became home to the 211 Squadron of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and its de Havilland Mosquito aircraft. A year later, the 211 Squadron was disbanded, and the airfield was turned over to the Thai government to use as a joint air force base and commercial airport.
The Thai government wanted a new airport for Bangkok
In the early 1970s, the Thai government saw the need for a new, larger airport for Bangkok. However, all plans to build the new facility were shelved after protests led to the overthrow of Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn’s military government. Construction finally began in the mid-1990s, and despite delays, it eventually opened in 2006.
Photo: Maverrick | Shutterstock
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) officially closed to commercial traffic on September 28, 2006, with all airline flights now operating from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Higher operating costs and cracked runways at the new airport had many carriers pushing for the reopening of Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
On March 25, 2007, DMK reopened to domestic flights but was closed again for a brief time in 2011 following flooding that affected Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. In 2012, to help ease the congestion at Suvarnabhumi the government ordered all low-cost carriers and budget airlines to relocate to DMK.
Airports of Thailand (AOT) wants to buy Kantarat Golf Course
While the airport remains open today, the increase in traffic has caused the Airports of Thailand (AOT) to want to buy the golf course to expand the airport. In 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) said that they would be willing to sell the golf course but wanted the billion Baht ($90,149,700) for it. The AOT thinks the asking price is too much, yet the TRAF says it includes 30 years of compensation for the golf course workers who would lose their jobs.
Photo: Binder.Donedat | Flickr
Following a pivotal meeting between Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit and Air Chief Marshal Phanpakdee Pattanakul last April, the future of Kantarat Golf Course remains uncertain. The Airports of Thailand plan to improve DMK so that it can handle 65 flights an hour, which is ten more than it can currently handle.
While no final decision has been made on the golf course’s future, it’s probably safe to assume that its days are numbered.
Source: Simple Flying
