Pattaya’s Premier Golfing Experience at Chee Chan Golf Resort with Passakorn R.

Discover how Chee Chan Golf Resort redefines modern golf in Pattaya. Situated beneath the iconic Buddha Mountain, this championship-level course was designed to deliver both world-class play and luxurious service. General Manager Passakorn Roddej reveals the philosophy behind its rise as a favorite among international golfers. From signature course design to premium hospitality, Chee Chan offers more than a round of golf. It’s a full experience that places Thailand firmly on the map of elite golf destinations.
 
Where world-class golf meets travel, Golfasian brings your dream golf trip to life.
Book your experience now at www.golfasian.com

Transcript

Mike Bridge:

So today we've come down to Chee Chan in Pattaya and I'm with the General Manager, Mr Passakorn Roddej  Welcome  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Thank you

Mike Bridge:

Quite a new course I think you opened up in 2018?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yes, we grand opened in December 2018

Mike Bridge:

Now I live in Pattaya and I remember it took a long time to develop

It was longer than normal, wasn't it?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

I wasn't here during the construction but I heard that it took about two and a half years

Mike Bridge:

Yes, but it's worth the effort

Now can you just describe a bit about the course, how long it is, who designed it, etc

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

The golf course designed by David Dale and then his company named Golfplan which is based in the US and then the yards from the back tee is a 7,500 yard

Mike Bridge:

Oh, so it's a long course  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

It's a long course  

Mike Bridge:

18 holes?  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

18 holes  

Mike Bridge:

Yeah

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

The concept of this golf course is that the co-owner gave the brief to David Dell, the designer, to be a championship golf course one day

Mike Bridge:

Yes, but I mean no expense spared so to speak

When it opened I actually was lucky enough to come to the opening and you had wagyu beef and everything It was a top class opening

But since then you've become one of the favorites in the region, haven't you?  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yes

Mike Bridge:

I mean we at Golfasian have hosted numerous tournaments here

And the feedback we get is that this is one of their favorite courses Not only in Pattaya but in Thailand. Why do you think the course has been so successful?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

For me, I like golf courses as my concept is about 2 things

The golf course is about hardware, and then the people who are the staff that work here are software

So these are the two areas we try to focus on because we know that when the customer wants to come and play golf here they spend a lot of money for the golf course condition and then also for the good service

Mike Bridge:

Well, how many people work in Chee Chan?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

In total right now it is about 120

Mike Bridge:

120 including caddies?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

No, not including caddies 

Mike Bridge:

Total how many all together?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Caddy is about 150  

Mike Bridge:

150

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

So that in total is about 270

Mike Bridge:

Now I was saying earlier we've had our tournaments here

Do you have any other tournaments?

Have you had any major events here?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

You mean like international or corporate?  

Mike Bridge:

Well both

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

International tournament

Not yet but It's in our plan

Mike Bridge:

Well, to have something like the Asian Tour?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, something like an Asian Tour or even Like a PGA tour  

Mike Bridge:

PGA tour?

Mike Bridge:

Yes, because our consultant is IMG

Mike Bridge:

All right  Okay

And I've noticed that the people who come here say that it's good fun playing but you've got a rather unique backdrop, haven't you? The mountain

Explain that to people who perhaps don't live in Thailand  What is the mountain?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

The mountain we call the Buddha mountain It is a Buddha picture engraving on the mountain cliff which is the King of Thailand project  

Mike Bridge:

Oh really?  How long has it been there?  Do you know?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

I think it's over like 40 years

Mike Bridge:

Oh, not that long

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah

Mike Bridge:

I thought it'd been there longer

So on every hole you can see the Buddha mountain which is another plus for Chee Chan

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

It is really unique the scenery in this area, even in Thailand 

We are so lucky that the golf course is built in front of the Buddha mountain  

Mike Bridge:

Yes

Now as far as Pattaya is concerned, where do you place Chee Chan?

Are you in the top end of the golf courses?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, the way we work, the way we work, we want to be one of the top for the people when they come to Pattaya, even in Thailand

That's why our CEO named this golf course as a golf destination in Pattaya

Mike Bridge:

But apart from the golf course, the facilities here are definitely 5 stars

You have a very top end restaurant overlooking the course

And do you have a sort of high standard of chefs who work here?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, because we receive a lot of VIP customers Especially our CEO is a business person and many times he hosts a lot of dinners

That's why our chef has to make sure that everything is of high standard 

Like food quality, freshness, something like that

Mike Bridge:

I know when Golfasian customers come to play here they also like to go into your pro shop because you particularly have a very good range of your unique shirts

How did you get organized, how did that all happen?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

You know like we call it a house brand and then it is done by our sales marketing team that comes up with the design and then gives the design and the concept, the cutting to the supplier

Mike Bridge:

Well you also work with one of our companies, “Fenix” 

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, it is

Mike Bridge:

So has the sales been up to the standard of what you expected?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, it is  It's a number one sale

Mike Bridge:

How many people in a year can play at Chee Chan?

How many people do you think you can get through?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Last year we did about 42,000 rounds

Mike Bridge:

Is that record for you?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, it's a high record for us 

Mike Bridge:

Because of course when you started, it was during COVID

So you've built and built and built 

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yep Every year

We are over 10% growth

Mike Bridge:

And what is the breakdown of the customers?

Obviously, we're a golf vacation company

What percentage are foreigners? 

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Foreigners are the majority of our customers  

Mike Bridge:

Really?  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yes I think because of the standard that we set up and then a lot of

We have a lot of customers from overseas, particularly from Golfasian  

Mike Bridge:

Yes

Mike Bridge:

So finally, let's talk about Pattaya itself

There are 28 courses here

There's a lot to do outside the course

You've obviously been here some time now

What are your favorite places to play?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

You mean in …

Mike Bridge:

Golf courses?

Well, let's start in Pattaya

You've obviously checked out the competition

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Of course, if not Chee Chan, I like to play Laem Chabang  

Mike Bridge:

Right

Which is a Jack Nicklaus course

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

It is, yes

Mike Bridge:

What about outside Pattaya?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Outside Pattaya…

In Thailand, I like the Alpine

Mike Bridge:

The Alpine In Bangkok?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

In Bangkok, Yeah

In the North, in Chiang Mai, I like Chiang Mai Highlands 

Mike Bridge:

Chiang Mai Highland  That's great  Yeah

And overseas, have you played in other Asian countries?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, I play like in Vietnam, I like Hoiana Shores

I like Ba Na Hills

And then in India, I like the DRF

Mike Bridge:

Oh, yes

That hosts the DP World  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah, it is

Mike Bridge:

Now, just going back to what you said earlier, I was quite surprised you said the PGA

Most golf courses would be looking at the Asian tour or the DP World

but to go to the top PGA, do you think that's actually possible?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

It is  Like I mentioned earlier Our consultant is IMG

So we, we in our…

Like, it is already in our plan that one day we want to go to that kind of level

Mike Bridge:

Well, that'd be a hell of a coup for the golf course

How long would you have to prepare for it?

Because there'd be a lot of marquees to build  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

It is, yeah

Mike Bridge:

So you're expecting Rory McElroy to walk up the path?  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

I don't know

Like, I don't know how long it's gonna be, but I hope by that time Rory is still on the top

Mike Bridge:

But going back to Golfasian, finally

I mean, we find our customers really like playing here, but it is a long course for them, isn't it?

Do you think that most players will probably play?

How many tee boxes do you have, for example?

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

We have

Originally we had 4 boxes

Black, blue, white and red

But right now, a lot of countries are facing old age society, especially in Asia

So this is why after the pandemic, we added up like one more in between red and white

We call it the yellow

But I would say about 6,000 yards for the yellow

Mike Bridge:

Older generation like me  

There was a time when all the Pattaya golf clubs got together and put down a silver tee because We didn't want to play on the ladies tee

We wanted to play our own tee, but that was it

Do you have silver tees?  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

No, we don't We have the yellow or the golden one  

Mike Bridge:

Okay  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Yeah  

Mike Bridge:

All right

Well, it's been great talking to you

We're going to show a lot of the golf course during the interview, so thank you very much  

Passakorn Roddej (GM of Chee Chan Golf Resort):

Thank you very much