The uniqueness of visiting Phuket, Thailand, and having a round of golf is this - nowhere else can you find these many top courses amidst a hot and happening tourist destination with beaches, colour, great shopping and life.

Here, we have compiled a list of the best places to golf in Phuket. Not all of them are top of the range championship courses, but each and every one of them is unique and offers much more than just a round or two. They are truly holiday destinations to bring your partner, spouse or the entire family. These courses have been chosen for either their excellent non-golf related activities or their proximity to tourist spots.

Pick one, have a good holiday, play a round and enjoy!

Located not 30 minutes away from the airport, Laguna Phuket is in an excellent location for those who touchdown and want to immediately descend on the greens. It's also not far away from the town centre, giving families ample opportunity to take in the sights and to do a little shopping.

If you don't even want to travel that far to shop, on the resort grounds itself is Canal Shopping Village. Anyway, the best time to go and take in the sights and sounds of spectacular Phuket is probably in the last week of February during the Old Phuket Festival. It is during this time when three streets close down to traffic and for three consecutive nights, the island explodes in a sensory extravaganza of traditional dance, food and music. It essentially becomes a continuous party whereby all are more than welcome to participate.

The Loch Palm site used to be an abandoned tin mine and is now home to Red Mountains Golf Course. Located dead smack in the centre of Phuket rsland, the Red Mountains Course gives potential visitors and tourists the unique opportunity of playing a good round of golf while still being only a stone's throw away from the spectacular Datong and Karon beaches.

With the beaches a mere 15 minutes away, families have the option of transforming what would have been a golfing holiday for dad into a weekend of fun under the sun. While it sounds all fun and dandy, keep in mind that Red Mountains is Phuket's hilliest course, ensuring dad wouldn't be disappointed.

The perfect place for some rest and relaxation (after round upon round of golf), Mission Hills Phuket Golf Resort and Spa offers a captivatingly posh ambience that is traditionally Thai.

Located not far from the airport. Mission Hills is especially unique for its facilities that go far beyond those of just golf. The resort has private Jacuzzis, a gorgeous swimming pool, and even a pool bar. But before you think that Mission Hills is a course with more than its fair share of "water hazards", do not worry, for that is not the case. It does however, have incredible ocean views.

The home of the Lakes Course and the Canyon Course, Blue Canyon Country Club offers two extremely unique yet equally scenic surroundings. The Canyon Course is set in a secluded green' valley surrounded by the majestic Phang Nga Mountains and the Andaman Sea. The Lakes` Course, on the other hand, gives golfers the challenge of water hazards amidst natural canyons and woodlands.

But as you golf away the holiday, do take a break to enjoy the Blue Canyon spa where each spa has its very own private Jacuzzi. The trained staffs offer a wide range of beauty services including facials, makeovers, pedicures and manicures.

The home of 27-holes across two courses (one is 18 and the other' is 9 holes), Phuket Country Club is proud to be the first to build an 18-hole course on the island. The 9-hole course on the other hand has been rated as very challenging with plenty of water hazards that need much effort to negotiate. That being said, the Country Club course is meant for low handicappers.

Anyway as the club is located on the route between Patong Beach and Phukey town, visitors have an array of activities to choose from (besides golfing). Go down to the beach to revel in under-the-sun activities or watch the party lights turn on once the sun sets, the options are limitless for those with knack for finding fun.