Neil Aronson Southern Thailand, as is all of Thailand, has become a golf destination. Many new top courses have been built in the last 20 years. From Hua Hin down the tip of Thailand, there are some of the countries best golf courses in the country.
The region is home to some excellent golf courses, offering a combination of world-class facilities, stunning landscapes, and challenging layouts. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing round or a more competitive challenge, the region has a range of options. Here’s a guide to golf in Southern Thailand.
Also if you don’t want to bring your clubs to play the best golf courses, most can supply you with all you need for a small rental fee.
I would always recommend asking first what sort of promotions or deals they are offering. Don’t be afraid to do a little bargaining as well especially if you are there in the off season, which is the rainy summer months.
Tip: If your not going to Thailand primarily to golf, and you don’t want to haul your clubs around, most courses rent decent ones for about 300 baht. Also note that most international airlines allow you to bring your clubs as part of your check baggage allowance. I have done so on multiple airlines with no issues.
If you are planning to play some of the best golf courses in Thailand, you will need to do some research. This is because there are so many amazing courses all over the country. You don’t really need to plan a region in Thailand to go to to play the best golf, because all the major areas have plenty. Check out our guide to the best golf in Chiang Mai province.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes. Do the Chiang Mai Golf Challenge from Viator.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Bangkok’s Best Golf Courses
Hua Hin Golf
Black Mountain Golf Club (Hua Hin)
Black Mountain Golf Club is often ranked as one of the best golf courses in Thailand, Black Mountain is set in a stunning landscape with mountains surrounding the course. It has hosted several major tournaments, including the *Asian Tour* events.
Opened in 2007, Black Mountain offers 27 holes across three distinct nines: the East, North, and West courses. Designed by Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design, the course seamlessly blends into the rolling landscape at the foot of striking, tree-clad black granite mountains. Renowned for its tour-standard greens, pristine fairways and bunkers, and picturesque water features, the course has become a bucket-list destination for golfers worldwide.
Pineapple Valley Golf Club (Hua Hin)
Pineapple Valley Golf Club Hua Hin (formerly Banyan Golf Club) opened in 2009, and despite being newer, it is leading the pack for golf in Hua Hin. Built on the site of a former pineapple plantation, the golf course features many elevated greens, sloping fairways, meandering creeks, and well-placed bunkers. Pineapple Valley Golf Club has been awarded as “The Best New Course in the Asia Pacific” in 2009 by the readers of Asian Golf Monthly.
Royal Hua Hin
Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, the oldest in Thailand, combines historical charm with challenging holes, and is a national treasure. The preserved nature within the golf course offers a sight of wildlife and plants. Unique fairway design is the impressive feature of the course. It is a 18 hole, Par 72, with 6,678 yards for the men and 5,713 yards for the ladies.
Palm Hills Golf Resort (Hua Hin)
Palm Hills Golf Club located close to Hua Hin center the Hua Hin airport, is in the lower foothills. It was the first international standard Hua Hin golf course and opened in 1992. The following year Palm Hills hosted to the inaugural Thailand World Pro-Am tournament.
Where to Stay in Hua Hin
InterContinental Hua Hin Resort is a luxurious beachfront property with stunning ocean views, multiple dining options, a large pool, and a serene spa. Known for its excellent service and prime location near Hua Hin’s night market.
Anantara Hua Hin Resort is known for its peaceful, tropical ambiance, Anantara is a stunning resort located just outside the main town. It features expansive gardens, a private beach, luxurious villas, and an excellent spa.
Marrakesh Hua Hin Resort & Spa With its unique Moroccan-inspired architecture, this boutique resort stands out in Hua Hin. It offers a tranquil atmosphere, spacious rooms, and is only a short walk from the beach.
Amari Hua Hin is a well-rounded resort with a perfect balance of style and comfort. Offering modern rooms, a large pool, great dining options, and a prime location just a short drive from Hua Hin’s downtown.
Phuket Area Golf
Blue Canyon Country Club
This is one of Thailand’s most famous courses, particularly its Canyon Course, which has hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic. It’s a beautiful but challenging course with tricky water hazards and deep canyons.
Red Mountain Golf Club
Red Mountain Golf Club is known for its dramatic topography, this course is set amidst rocky outcrops and offers a challenging layout for golfers of all levels. It’s particularly beautiful and a favorite for scenic views.
Red Mountain Golf Course opened in 2007 and is now considered Phuket’s most spectacular golf course. It is harder, however, to imagine how such a dramatically undulating landscape, where soft red rock and dense jungle were the principal ingredients, could be transformed into a challenging, yet playable layout.
Laguna Golf Phuket
Part of the luxury Laguna Phuket resort complex, this course is designed to be both enjoyable and challenging, with a lot of water hazards and sand traps. Laguna Golf Phuket features a resort golf course with pleasant breezes from the Andaman Sea. The course reflects the natural beauty and tropical surroundings as it’s set on a valley floor overlooked by low wooded hills and marshlands. The golf course was re-designed in 2014, and now the Laguna Golf Phuket is both more challenging and memorable.
Stay at the Banyan Tree Resort next door.
Phuket Country Club
Phuket Country Club is one of Phuket’s oldest golf courses, offering two 18-hole courses: the Old Course and the newer Green Course. It’s a more affordable option with excellent facilities.
Phuket Country Club made its debut as the resort island’s first championship-standard 18-hole golf course. Its central location makes the Phuket resort only a short drive from all beach and hotel areas. Next to the property is the spectacular Jantra Residence, for a luxurious place to stay.
The Phuket golf course is set in a valley, with the golf course meandering through hills and limestone cliffs and traversing three distinct environments.
Kathathong Golf Resort & Spa
Katathong Golf Resort & Spa is a one of most challenging golf course in southern Thailand. It’s one hour drive from hotel in Khao Lak area, in Phang Nga. It has been converted from Old Tin Mine into a challenging golf course. It’s named “a valley of Dreams” as it is surrounded by the mountains, waterfall and streams. You will enjoy the challenges offered with a natural by the narrow fairways, big ponds and streams that require more strategic thinking, precision and accuracy.
The golf resort location is in a valley in Phang Nga province near national parks, original rain forests, and endangered species. It takes around 1 hour to reach by car from Phuket. Book on Expedia.
Krabi & Koh Samui
Hula Hula Golf Club
Google Map Location
Hula Hula Golf Club, is a relatively small course but still an enjoyable place to play, with a beautiful natural setting surrounded by hills and mangrove trees. It officially opened in 2018 and is conveniently located near the Krai airport and Krabi town. It provides a full 18-hole experience, albeit short at 5,964 yards, using two sets of tee boxes and nine greens.
This Krabi golf course plays around a large freshwater lake, is relatively flat, and is maintained in average condition. Besides the course, the Thai-styled clubhouse looks over the surrounding mountains and lakes. Facilities consist of a pro shop, separate men and ladies locker rooms, and a souvenir shop.
There are two hotel options, The Hula Hula Resort, and The Pineapple Hotel.
Santiburi Samui CC
Google Map Location
Santiburi Samui Country Club is the most famous course on the island. Santiburi is set in the hills and offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Thailand. It’s a challenging course with undulating fairways and significant elevation changes.
The Santiburi Samui Country Club was Koh Samui’s first golf course and provides both challenge and charm with a lush tropical setting. The 18-hole championship golf course came to fame when it hosted the 2006 Bangkok Airways Open. Located on a hillside on Koh Samui’s north shore and amidst old coconut gardens. The Santiburi Resort is one of the nicest on the island.
Royal Samui Golf
Google Map Location
Royal Samui Golf and Country Club. This course is set in a more tranquil location, offering scenic views of the island’s natural beauty, though it’s a little less challenging than Santiburi. Founded in 2006, and 9 holes, by a small group of golf enthusiasts with the aim to offer an affordable but enjoyable golfing experience in a relaxed and scenic environment. Clinging to the mountainside above the pristine Chaweng and Lamai beaches. Stay at the Coral Cliff Beach Resort nearby.
As you can see there is not shortage of amazing golf in Southern Thailand, in addition to everything else there is to do.
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