Hua Hin is one of the top regions in the whole of Asia for a golf holiday as there are some great golf courses in Hua Hin. The climate, accommodation, cuisine, people and nature make Hua Hin a lovely place for a break. However, it’s the Hua Hin golf courses which really steal the show and you have the pick of some amazing venues to play golf.
Most of the golf courses in Hua Hin are just two hours away from the capital city of Bangkok. So, whether you are planning a weekend golf getaway from the city or you are travelling from abroad to enjoy a longer Hua Hin golf holiday, it is easy to reach.
The only problem you will encounter is choosing which golf courses in Hua Hin to play. Thankfully, we have all the information you need to make an informed choice. There are ten top quality golf courses to choose from in Hua Hin. Some of which have played host to major professional golf tournaments and Black Mountain Golf Club is a great example.
Black Mountain opened for play in 2007 and quickly became established as one of the best layouts in Thailand. Located just 10 kilometres from Hua Hin, Black Mountain gets its name from the black granite rock which forms the mountains surrounding the golf course.
Black Mountain twice played host to the Thailand Classic, a joint professional tournament by the Asian and European Tour. Much of the course is natural, with the rock formations and creeks being used to good effect on many of the holes. An additional nine holes were created in 2016 and this has added to the overall allure of playing at Black Mountain. Risk and reward is one of the main features of the golf course and each hole offers a variety of opportunities for the creative golfer.
Moving from one world class venue to another and The Banyan Golf Club competes with Black Mountain for the title of best golf course in Hua Hin. Designed by Thai architect Pirapon Namatra, the course sits among pineapple groves and offers lovely mountain and ocean views.
The par-3 4th hole with a 150 yard carry over water and the 15th hole with fantastic views over the green to the island of Sing Toh are two of the standout holes at The Banyan Golf Club.
For those who enjoy playing at golf courses designed by former players, Springfield Country Club is a great choice in Hua Hin. There are 27 holes to play at this golf course and Nicklaus was responsible for the original set of 18 holes.
As one would expect from a Nicklaus course, waste bunkers come into play, especially on the back nine and water is also a major hazard throughout. The additional nine holes were designed by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley and are regarded by many as being tougher than the original course. The beauty of playing at Springfield Royal is you can combine any set of nine holes you like to make a complete round of golf.
If you would like to try your luck at a links style golf course when in Hua Hin, Sea Pines Golf Course is a good option. Established in 2010, it takes a matter of minutes to reach this golf course from the city, making it a popular choice for both visitors and locals.
Stretching out across the Gulf of Thailand, there are six holes which follow the coast, with the remainder playing toward the mountains. The level of difficulty can differ depending on the wind and when it picks up, Sea Pines Golf Course is a tough test. The final three hole are considered by many to the best in Hua Hin, with superb ocean views and plenty of decisions to make in terms of approach and club selection.
For the history buff, a round of golf at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course is a must when in this region of Thailand. Opened for play in 1924, this is the home of the first 18-hole international standard golf course in Thailand.
It is located close to the railway station which also boasts a proud history. If you are staying in city centre accommodation, you can easily walk to this golf course if you wish. The course itself has seen an upgrade over the years to try and keep it up to modern standards. While it does not match the quality of some of the new golf courses in Hua Hin, Royal Hua Hin Golf Course has a charm you will not find anywhere else in Thailand.
Moving further away from Hua Hin and into the foothills surrounding the city, you will find Majestic Creek Country Club. This course was designed by well-known Thai architect Dr. Sukkitti Klangvisai, who is responsible for other courses in the country including Loch Palm in Phuket.
It first opened for play in 1993 but has since undergone major renovations to bring the 27 holes up to a very high standard. There are several streams which wind their way around the course and these are fed from the valleys of the surrounding mountains. The bunkering is of the highest quality and you will find water hazards on most of the holes at Majestic Creek Country Club.
Accuracy is the key for a low score on this course but the fairways look very tempting from the tee. Finding the right balance between distance and precision is not always easy and sometimes it can be best to leave the driver in the bag.
One of the largest golf courses in Hua Hin is Lake View Golf Club. This golf course boasts 36 holes and many rate this as being the most scenic course in this region of Thailand. Local fruit farms surround the course which has four sets of nine holes.
The A and B Course is the original 18-hole layout at Lake View Golf Club and a large lake is the central feature, hence the name. The par-3 14th hole is the pick of the holes for many people. It includes not only a tee shot from an island but an island green which is 210 yards away from the back tee.
While water plays a big role in the original 18 holes, the Desert Course, which is Course C and the Links Course, which is Course D, offer something different. The latter has very few trees, making it reminiscent of a links course while the former is home to cactus, rocks and plenty of sand, earning it the nickname ‘Arizona Course’.
If you fancy a real adventure while enjoying a golf holiday in Hua Hin, you should make the trip to Kaeng Krachan Country Club. This golf course is located some 50 kilometres away from Hua Hin in the Kaeng Krachan National Park. It is a remote golf course in comparison to the others available but is very much worth the journey.
If you like playing golf in the middle of the hot season, you will find a round of golf at Kaeng Krachan Country Club to be very pleasant thanks to the altitude. Mountain ranges and forests dominate the view in this part of the country and the original 18 holes were designed by Thai golf architect Cherd Bunyaratavej.
The Lake and Valley Course make up the 18 holes and water comes into play on several holes, with the fairways lined by bamboo and trees. The additional nine holes, called the Mountain Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and as the name suggests, there are some dramatic elevation changes throughout. For those looking to get away from the more poplar courses closer to Hua Hin and try something different, Kaeng Krachan Country Club is perfect. There is accommodation on site if you wish to stay overnight.
Keeping to the rural theme and another golf course which requires a trip outside Hua Hin is Sawang Resort and Golf Course. It is located halfway between Bangkok and Hua Hin, making it an ideal stop for those making the journey between the two cities.
Fruit trees and rice fields surround the golf course which is split into three sets of nine holes. Designed by Isao Katsumata, Sawang Resort and Golf Course does not receive as many visitors as the other golf courses in Hua Hin, making it ideal for a quieter round of golf if that’s what you desire.
Most of the holes are either lined by water or trees but the fairways are generous and you will be happy to pull out the driver for the par-4 and par-5 holes. The par-4 17th hole is one of the best and requires an accurate tee shot to get a good position for an approach to an island green. While you may not find the same high standard playing surface of the major golf courses in Hua Hin, Sawang Resort and Golf Course is certainly worth a visit. You may even have much of the course to yourself if you are lucky.
Moving back toward the centre of Hua Hin you will find Palm Hills Golf Club. This was the first international standard golf course to open after Royal Hua Hin and differs to the other golf courses in the area thanks to the links feel of the layout.
However, there are many trees on this golf course and there is water and sand in abundance throughout the 18 holes. The 2nd and 3rd holes are prime examples with water both sides of the fairway and green on the former and three bunkers protecting the green on the latter. Look out for the beautiful views of the Gulf of Thailand and Hua Hin on the back nine holes which will have you reaching for your camera.
Last but not least in our extensive list of golf courses in Hua Hin is Korea Golf Club. The 18-hole course is designed by Robert McFarland and was formerly known as Milford Golf Club and Resort before changing name.
The location is tremendous and you will be playing golf in a valley among a chain of mountains. Not only that but the views extend to the ocean to make Korea Golf Club a spectacular venue for a round of golf. There are changes of elevation of many of the holes and this adds to the challenge of a course which can prove difficult for even the very best. Accurate tee shots are the key as some of the holes, especially the front nine are tight and balls can easily be found in the trees.
The greens can offer some tough breaking putts and planning where to leave the ball is vital to avoid anything more than a two putt.
So, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing Hua Hin golf courses. Regardless of whether you want to play historical, links style, parkland, scenic or challenging golf courses, you will find something to meet your taste in Hua Hin.