If Thailand has a spiritual home of golf, it is Hua Hin. This royal beach town on the Gulf of Thailand is where the Thai game began, where the country’s oldest course still sits beside the railway station, and where the modern era produced one of Asia’s most celebrated championship layouts. For travelling golfers, Hua Hin offers a rare combination: genuine heritage, a compact cluster of quality courses, a relaxed resort atmosphere, and a climate that is kinder than almost anywhere else in Thailand. This guide from the GongGolf editorial team covers what makes Hua Hin special, the courses worth building a trip around, and how it compares to Thailand’s other golf hubs.
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Why Hua Hin Is Thailand’s Original Golf Town
Hua Hin is the seat of Hua Hin district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, on the northern part of the Malay Peninsula. It sits on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand, roughly a two-and-a-half to three-hour drive from Bangkok (about 200–220 km) depending on traffic and which airport you start from. That proximity, combined with its royal history, is why the town became Thailand’s first true seaside resort.
The royal connection runs deep. Hua Hin has been a favoured holiday destination of the Thai Royal Family for the better part of a century, and it was royal patronage that put golf on the map here. Royal Hua Hin Golf Course — laid out by Scottish railway engineer A.O. Robin, with its first nine holes opening in 1922 during the reign of King Rama VI and the course formally inaugurated by the King in 1924 (a second nine was completed in 1928 under King Rama VII) — is recognised as the oldest golf course in Thailand. That heritage gives the town a status no other Thai golf destination can claim — this is where the sport in Thailand effectively started.
Today Hua Hin supports roughly eight to ten golf courses in and around town, from that century-old classic to world-ranked modern championship venues. The town itself has grown into a full resort destination with beachfront hotels, night markets, seafood restaurants and easy family activities, which makes it a strong pick for golfers travelling with non-golfing partners.
Black Mountain Golf Club: Hua Hin’s Flagship
No course defines modern Hua Hin more than Black Mountain Golf Club. Located about 10 km west of the town centre, it was founded by Swedish entrepreneur Stig Notlöv, with the original 18 holes opening on 20 April 2007 and a further nine holes (the West course) added in 2016, giving 27 holes in total.
Black Mountain’s reputation is built on both design and pedigree. In 2011 it was named the best course in Thailand and the best championship course in the Asia-Pacific region by Asian Golf Monthly, and in 2012 it became the first course in Thailand to appear in Golf Digest‘s list of the Best 100 Courses Outside the United States. Its tournament history is equally serious: it has hosted the Black Mountain Masters (Asian Tour, 2009–2010), the co-sanctioned Asian Tour/European Tour True Thailand Classic (2015–2016), the International Series Thailand (Asian Tour, 2022–2023) and the Black Mountain Championship (Asian Tour, 2024) — the last of which was voted Tournament of the Year on the 2024 Asian Tour.
The routing carves through former pineapple plantation and jungle-covered hillsides, with the “black mountain” backdrop giving the club its name. For most visiting golfers it is the single reason to base a trip in Hua Hin rather than elsewhere. Read our full breakdown on the dedicated Black Mountain Golf Club page for hole notes, facilities and how to play it.
The Other Hua Hin Courses Worth Playing
Royal Hua Hin Golf Course
The historic heart of Thai golf. Its first nine holes opened in 1922 and the King inaugurated the course in 1924, making this par-72 layout the oldest in Thailand. It sits right in town, just over the railway tracks and within walking distance of the beach — the clubhouse and first tee are a five-minute stroll from the centre. Designed by Scottish railway engineer A.O. Robin, it is a classic, walkable, tree-lined course with genuine old-world character rather than modern length. For golfers who care about the history of the game, playing here is close to a pilgrimage.
Banyan Golf Club (Pineapple Valley)
Opened in October 2008 and designed by leading Thai architect Pirapon Namatra, Banyan — officially rebranded as Pineapple Valley Golf Club Hua Hin in 2024 — was voted Best New Golf Course in Asia by readers of Asian Golf Monthly in 2009. Laid out through a working pineapple plantation with rolling terrain and sea views on the higher holes, it is consistently ranked among the region’s best and is a natural pairing with Black Mountain on a golf itinerary.
Springfield Royal Country Club
Set on the Cha-am/Hua Hin border, Springfield is a 27-hole facility whose original 18 holes were designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1993, with a third nine added in 2005 (by the Schmidt-Curley design team). Its Mountain, Lake and Valley nines offer gentle elevation changes and strategic shot values, and it is regularly cited among Thailand’s best-conditioned courses. The Nicklaus name and multiple tee options make it a favourite for groups of mixed ability.
Palm Hills Golf Resort & Country Club
Opened in 1992, Palm Hills was the first international-standard course in the Hua Hin area and hosted the inaugural Thailand World Pro-Am in 1993. Positioned on the lower foothills between Hua Hin and Cha-am near the airport, it remains a solid, accessible option.
Beyond these
The wider area also includes Lake View Resort & Golf Club (36 holes), Majestic Creek Country Club, Sea Pines Golf Club (a links-style layout along the Gulf), and Hua Hin Korea Golf Club (formerly Milford). Together they give a Hua Hin trip enough variety to fill a week without repeating a course.
When to Go: A Genuine Year-Round Destination
Hua Hin’s biggest practical advantage is its weather. It sits in one of the driest regions in Thailand and, unlike the far south, keeps plenty of sunny days even during the broader monsoon months. That makes it one of the most reliable places in the country to plan golf.
The prime window is November to April, Thailand’s dry season, when you get consistent sunshine, lower humidity and the firmest greens — December to February is the most pleasant of all. March to May turns hot, and June to October is technically the wet season, but rain here tends to come as short evening downpours rather than washouts, so the low season still delivers playable golf with thinner crowds and lower green fees. In short, Hua Hin works nearly year-round, with November–May as the sweet spot.
For a full month-by-month breakdown across the country, see our guide to the best time to play golf in Thailand.
Typical Costs
Hua Hin green fees sit broadly in line with Thailand’s other resort areas, with premium championship courses commanding the top of the range. As a general guide, expect roughly the following for 18 holes (verify current rates with each club, as prices vary by season, weekday/weekend and package):
| Course tier | Typical green fee, 18 holes (verify) |
|---|---|
| Championship (e.g. Black Mountain, Banyan) | THB 3,000–5,500 (verify) |
| Mid-range resort courses | THB 1,800–3,000 (verify) |
| Historic / value (Royal Hua Hin) | THB 1,200–2,500 (verify) |
Caddie fees, cart hire and tips are additional and are standard practice at every Thai course. For a detailed breakdown of what a golf trip here actually costs — green fees, caddies, transfers and packages — see our Thailand golf cost guide.
How Hua Hin Compares to Other Thai Golf Hubs
Hua Hin’s pitch is heritage plus reliability. Compared with the islands and the north, it offers the most consistent weather, the deepest history, and a compact set of high-quality courses within a short drive of one another.
- Versus Phuket: Phuket pairs golf with world-famous beaches and nightlife but sees heavier wet-season rain; Hua Hin is drier, quieter and more of a pure golf-and-relax town.
- Versus Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai delivers cool-season mountain golf and northern culture; Hua Hin is coastal, warmer year-round and far closer to Bangkok.
- Versus Bangkok and Pattaya: Both are closer to the capital’s airports, but Hua Hin trades a little travel time for a calmer resort setting and its unmatched royal golf heritage.
Planning Your Hua Hin Golf Trip
A classic Hua Hin itinerary is three to five nights, mixing one or two rounds at Black Mountain with Banyan, Springfield and a heritage round at Royal Hua Hin. Fly or drive down from Bangkok, base yourself near the beach, and use the town as an easy hub — most courses are within a 20–40 minute transfer. For the full framework on building a trip, from transfers to tee-time sequencing, start with our Golf in Thailand hub and the wider Thailand silo.
Hua Hin rewards golfers who want substance over spectacle: a genuine sense of history, dependable sunshine, and a short list of courses that punch well above the town’s size. For many, it is the most complete golf-and-relax destination in Thailand.