Mae Jo Golf Club – Not Recommended
On the advise of our hotel in Chiang Mai, we drove to Mae Jo Golf Club outside of Chiang Mai. Even with a working GPS system, it was not easy to find Mae Jo. There were few signs along the way, but after stopping a number of times, positioning with our GPS and looking at maps, we got there!
Unfortunately, getting their was a huge disappointment. There was no staff outside to greet us or provide any service what-so-ever. It was around 4:30 PM on a Sunday and the course seemed empty, the pro shop was closed, and only one table of beer drinkers were in the club house.
I ordered a “Thai Ice Tea” but instead, got a glass of Lipton, which is not what I asked for. The menu was not interesting, and there was no service. The Mae Joe Golf Club was like a ghost town!
There were no signs, no maps, and after asking a number of people, I found the driving range. It was a barren field with no targets, no flags, no greens, no traps, nothing. There was no service. It was very disappointing. In a nutshell, I do not recommend Mae Joe Golf Club and will not return anytime soon. There are much better clubs in Chiang Mai.
In fact, we highly recommend Stardome in Chiang Mai. Excellent service. Great atmosphere. You will be greeted when you drive up. Caddies are there from early morning until 10pm to take care of your clubs. This list goes on and on. Great food and menu. Nice coffee shop with super iced lattes. Lots of very nice staff. Top quality driving range. Also, second to Stardome, we recommend Lanna Golf. More on these great clubs later. Avoid Mae Jo Golf Club.
John says:
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 6:08am
We have been receiving three abusive emails from members of the Mae Jo Golf Club who do not respect the opinions of others. We visit many golf clubs in Chiang Mai (and across the world for that matter) and stand behind our negative review of Mae Jo Golf Club.
Furthermore, if Mae Jo Golf Club member have a different opinion, please post respectful comments, not negative, abusive ad hominum attacks against folks who you disagree with. Your abusive comment reflectly badly on the club and club members. Abusive comments will be promptly deleted.
Ian says:
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 12:03pm
Agree that Stardome and Lanna have better driving ranges and many shops around. However, if you are after a round of golf (18 holes), I do recommend to play at Mae Jo Golf Club & Resort.
Steve says:
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 8:46pm
I think you need to first explain what you expect of a golf course on a Sunday afternoon before you go ahead and recommend that others don’t go there. If you intended to have a meal and a bash on a driving range, then sure there are many better places to go.
If, however, one wishes to play 18 holes of golf around an attractive and interesting course that winds its way through a working fruit orchard….then Mae Jo must be highly recommended.
Fore Man says:
Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 7:16am
I am a local Chiang Mai ex-pat resident and have been for 5 years. I have enjoyed Mae Jo ever since I began playing there and have never seen any poor service as cited in your OP. The course is a dream to play…the terrain meanders through fruit orchards and up and down rolling hills. The par 3 #14 is shot from a highly-elevated tee that looks all over the surrounding land all the way back to the city in the far distance. I believe the OP’s main complaint is valid but he simply arrived at MJ too late in the day. Get there in the prime time and you will experience a totally different golf course. If you want to practice at a thriving driving range, then do go to Stardome….the best of them all in the area…plus they have night golf as well.
Rod Wilson says:
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 11:05pm
It was quite a shock to read such a negative report on Mae Jo Golf course .I fail to understand how anyone would be
unable to find the Course .My first game there I drove in the Dark and did not have a problem .Turn right at the lights by the University for appox 1 mile ,turn Left at the Large Sign that says Mae Jo Golf 3 Kil .Ther are large signs all the way
to the course from that point on .Which really leaves me scratching my head in disbelief !! How on earth could could a
comparison be made to Lanna or Stardome .Lanna is a Horrible course with Rock hard fairways and too many people
Stardome is really a plastic concoction and cannot be construed as a “Golf Course” .I would venture to say that for a
Quality Course with Quality staff there arent too many Golf Clubs that can compare to Mae Jo .
Philby says:
Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 12:06am
As with many others – enjoyed my rounds of golf at Mae Jo – one of the better courses in Chaing Mai.
However I am finding difficulty finding gps maps of the course.
Norm McKinnon says:
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 9:59pm
The driving range is drivel as this man says. They should have a better driving range for such a high quality course. The course is very good and well kept. Caddies could be better. Sand traps have too many pebbles, but the sand actually plays well. All in all, it is a very good corse. They should print the Slope and Course Ratings on the score cards.