Kyle Phillips is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost golf course architects, who has worked his magic at world-famous courses such as Kingsbarns in Scotland, and Yas Links in Abu Dhabi.

Yet his creation at Stonehill in Pathum Thani, just an hour north of Bangkok, Thailand must surely rank as one his proudest, given what Philips has managed to create out of the barren landscape he inherited.

The brainchild of Thai businessman Sarath Ratanavadi, Stonehill took five years to complete, and was opened for play in the summer of 2022.

And in October 2022, just a few months after opening, Stonehill hosted the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok with Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra – finishing on 19 under, three shots clear of Patrick Reed – winning the event, pocketing a cool $4 million in prize money.

However, it was the condition of the course which won widespread acclaim, with Indian golfer, Anirban Lahiri saying: “I think in terms of the conditions, it’s pristine. It’s literally the holy ground as it’s so pure, and I would say that this is the closest you’d come to maybe comparing conditions to Augusta, just in terms of the pure turf conditions.

“It’s phenomenal, and it’s ridiculous how good it is,” Lahiri enthused who finished with a score of four under for the tournament.

Such a ringing endorsement must be music to the ears of Australian-born director of agronomy, Darren Moore, who joined Stonehill at the beginning of 2020 just before the pandemic and has overseen the grow-in process.

“Every step of the way, from design to construction, we have selected the most high-quality options and ensured adherence to internationally accepted standards,” said Moore.

“Course maintenance is a never-ending battle that has many routines, and we expect the highest standards of turf maintenance machines and suppliers. It gives me great peace of mind knowing we can expect that level of excellence from our partners.”

Stonehill was imagined as a private members club, and built to elevate the golf experience in Thailand. The clubhouse was designed by American architect Timothy Slattery of Hart Howerton, with Phillips charged with crafting a ‘world-class’ golf course out of a landscape bereft of character.

“My father gave me a chance to develop Stonehill and it was challenging to figure out how to make it more than just a golf course,” said Ing, son of Sarath, who is the executive director of Stonehill.

“As a result, our club offers hospitality services that are up to par with worldwide standards and fully functional golf course facilities. I selected the best at every level for the Stonehill project, from design and construction to the choice of every individual involved.

“To bring our golf course up to pace with, if not better than, the rest of the world, I only used systems that adhered to internationally accepted standards.

“We painstakingly built this piece of land up, step by careful step, from bare ground,” added Ing, and it shows.

Built on what was once flat, uninspiring mud land, Phillips has crafted an incredible golf experience on the 375-acre site incorporating native fauna as well as planting over 4,000 trees and over 40 varying species from the surrounding areas.

These specimen ‘rain trees’ are dotted around the course providing shade and adding to the overall aesthetics of the landscape.

The 7,861-yard, par 72 course features beautiful rolling terrain and a man-made stream that comes into play on seven holes, including the spectacular par four, 5th hole which plays to a well-guarded green surrounded by water.

The stream next comes into play on what could arguably be defined as the signature hole – the par three, 7th – which plays from an elevated position looking down onto the green with the stream meandering its way just in front of the green.

The credentials for the signature hole however are challenged on the next hole – the par four, 8th – which is the toughest on the course at stroke index one. Playing downhill, the aforementioned stream needs to be crossed once again in order to find the green which is accessed by two stoned bridges adding to the overall appeal and playability of the hole.

To Phillip’s credit, there really isn’t a weak hole on the course, and for those fortunate enough to be able to play Stonehill – either as a member, or as a guest – the opportunity really should not be passed up.

The visitor journey, as you would expect, is seamless, with mandatory caddies on-hand to add to the overall experience once golfers pass through the small, but functional golf shop in the clubhouse which leads to the buggy park.

The first tee is adjacent to the first of many hospitality buildings dotted around the course, with the 1,270m² putting green and practice facilities close by also.

The clubhouse, which forms the backdrop to the course, was built using imported Italian limestone and Thai teak woodwork and was influenced by the Neo-Classic era to symbolise the co-existence of the old and the new.

Food is a large part of Thai culture, and Stonehill has created two eateries – Ubuntu and Rock Creek – together with Firefly Bar. Built at the exact point of first and last light, the Firefly Bar was named after the eponymous creatures that are native to the site.

By day, Firefly has the relaxed, continental atmosphere of a Parisian café, serving coffee, tea and light bites. By night, the venue transforms into a chandelier-lit cocktail bar, where guests gather like the fireflies beyond.

In contrast, the main restaurant, Ubuntu is named after an African philosophy that views community as central to humanity, that celebrates sharing, bonding and giving through food.

Serving international fare on locally crafted ceramic stoneware, Ubuntu’s skylit space brings cuisines and epicureans together beneath an ever-changing skyscape.

By contrast, Rock Creek is an upscale dining concept centred around the restaurant’s Josper oven offering a modern European grill with Asian accents. The impressive dining room provides a 360-degree view of the golf course, allowing members and visitors the option to reminisce about their round over their meal.

Stonehill is exceptional – there really is no other word to define it – and the condition and playability of the course really are, as Lahiri alluded to, on par with Augusta.

The only drawback is given its exclusivity, sadly not many golfers will ever get the opportunity to play one of Kyle Phillip’s best creations. I’m just glad that thankfully, I won’t be one of them.