Amidst a web of science museums, historical sites and eco-friendly farms, the recently opened Stonehill golf club is emerging as a new landmark in Pathum Thani to promote sports tourism in Thailand.
It's a brainchild of Sarath and Saris Ratanavadi to elevate the calibre of Thai golf courses to meet international standards and provide services for a variety of purposes. Spread over 950 rai, the club was designed by renowned American architect Timothy Slattery of Hart Howerton, and designer Kyle Phillips was in charge of creating the golf course, which represents the preferences and ideals of guests. "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. As a result, our club offers hospitality services that are up to par with worldwide standards and fully functional golf course facilities," said Saris, executive director of Stonehill Estate.
"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. Modernity and traditionalism are combined in the design to produce something that is both up-to-date and classic. Its building utilised imported Italian limestone and Thai teak wood for the woodwork."
The golf course's architectural design concept was influenced by the Neo-Classic era to symbolise the coexistence of the old and the new. It offers the Firefly bar and the Ubuntu and Rock Creek restaurants, which are inspired by various cultures and cuisines. The layout of the golf course is challenging for players, the field's surface is composed of natural grass, and the presence of shrubs and trees in the immediate vicinity contributes to the serene environment.
