Thailand, and especially Hua Hin, are not well known around the world for their golf courses though they should be.  There is great golf to be played here, in addition to the many activities available to the non-golfers in the family.  Courses are well maintained and service is excellent.

Hua Hin is actually home to the first golf course in Thailand.  The Royal Hua Hin, just five minutes walk from the town centre, was built during the reign of King Rama VI in 1924.  Still in wonderful condition and a 'must play' for most golf tourists, it now competes with five other golf courses in the area, all of which are now between twelve and fourteen years of age and well established.  Though the condition of one, (which is not included in the Fairway Golf Tours itinerary), falls short of the mark, the condition of the other four courses varies from very good to excellent.  Two of these courses are also in the process of upgrading by adding nine additional holes, offering more variety to golf visitors in the near future.

NEW GOLF COURSE
Black Mountain golf Club Hua Hin
•Tel: +66 (0) 326 186 66 Website: www.bmghuahin.com
A golf course challenging for top golfers while enjoyable and playable to the average golfer, opened April 20th 2007.  Peaceful tranquil surroundings, with valley meeting mountain range create the backdrop for the Black Mountain golf course.  


CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS (OPENING 2008)
The Banyan Estate Golf Club
•TEL: +66 (0) 3253 2829 WEBSITE: www.banyanestatehuahin.com
The Banyan Golf Club is due to be completed late 2008.  Situated in pineapple plantations just south of Hua Hin, the course will provide spectacular scenery against a backdrop of mountains.  It will be 18 holes, par 72 with a length of 7,030 yds

Royal Hua Hin Golf Course
• Par 72, 6,654 yards
• Club rental
• Driving range and practice green
• Tel: Bangkok (02) 241-1360
• Hua Hin (032) 512 475
The aristocrat of golf courses in Thailand, the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course was designed in 1924 by Scottish railway engineer, A.O. Robins. While perhaps not possessing the skills of Jack Nicklaus' team, Robins' creation has impressed golfers from all over the world for decades.  As one local English expat says, "This is like an English country course.  If it wasn't for the temperature, you could be playing in England".

With an area of over 180 acres, the RHHGC sits at the base of the Khao Hin Lek Fai hill, just across the tracks from the Hua Hin Railway station.  As you walk the course, you're afforded views of the hills, temples, and the sea, and some very good golf--with not a water hazard to be seen!

Only a 5 minute walk from the beach with the most natural surroundings of any course in the country, complete with resident monkeys, this is truly the course in Thailand for any visitor to try.

Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country Club
• Par 72, 6,915 yards
• Club rental
• Driving range and practice green
• Pro shop
• Electric carts
• 1444 Petchkasem Rd., Cha Am
• Tel: Bangkok (02) 233-2922
• Cha Am (032) 520 800
About 10 km north of Hua Hin in Cha Am, near the Dusit Resort, Palm Hills was designed by Max Wexler and opened to the public in 1991.  Two distinct nine hole sections are separated by the beautiful clubhouse and an outcropping from the hills around which Palm Hills has been constructed.  There is plenty of water on this course that winds around lakes and escarpments but not so that the average golfer should stock up on balls.
Greens at Palm Hills can be Augusta fast and those who hit their pitch shots hard should be very careful.  Last year's problems with the roughs on the front nine have all been solved and Palm Hills is once again a beautiful garden.  The fairways are in good shape and have been wide.  However, there are many new trees being planted on some fairways that will be giving even serious hitters a problem in a few years.  Squash, badminton, and tennis courts, outdoor pool, fitness center, snooker room, sauna and children's playground also available.  Inquire about their annual resident memberships.  This is a very popular course, probably due both to its beauty and its easily reached location midway between Cha Am and Hua Hin on Petchkasem Rd.

Lake View Princess Resort and Golf Club
• Par 72, 6,915 yards and the newly opened Desert nine holes
• Club rental
• Pro shop
• Electric carts
• 70 Moo 2 Thumbol Sampraya, Cha Am
• Tel: Cha Am (032) 520 091
Near the Cha Am-Pranburi bypass, Lake View is easily accessible from Hua Hin, Cha Am and Bangkok.  Designed by Roger Packard in an area originally knows for its pineapple production, Lake View has beautiful fairways often leading to hidden greens.  Opened to the public in 1993, Lake View has thousands of palms and native trees on its undulating hills that make one wonder how it could have ever been a plantation--a credit to Packard's ability.  Lake View also offers a first class hotel with 75 rooms for those on a business holiday or wanting to get in more than a mere 18 holes each day.  The hotel offers function rooms, Thai and international restaurants and tennis and squash courts.  An ideal place for a day of golf or to schedule a seminar or retreat where work is not the only thing on the participants minds.

Springfield Royal Country Club
• Par 72, 7,063 yards, Tifway 419 Bermuda grass fairways and Tifdwarf greens
• Club rental
• Driving range, chipping and putting greens
• Pro shop w/resident PGA Professional
• Electric carts
• 193 Huay-Sai Nua, Petchkasem Rd, Cha Am
• Tel: Bangkok (02) 231-2244
• Cha Am (032) 471 303
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Springfield is considered to be one of the finest golf resorts in Thailand with amenities as good as anywhere in the world and a course designed to meet the demands of a recognized championship venue.  With Kelly Cherkowski as the resident professional, there are few courses with the professional services of Springfield.  There are five tees for each hole but only the brave will dare the gold distance.  This course will challenge the expert but not overwhelm one who does not play so regularly.  With such a beautiful clubhouse and the Jack Nicklaus name, I was afraid of this course until I played it.  While not easy--no course is easy when you don't even rate a handicap!--this course is so beautiful and so well maintained, Springfield is a true pleasure to play.

Majestic Creek Country Club and Beach Resort
• Par 72, 7,123 yards
• Club rental
• Pro shop
• Electric carts
• 164 Moo 4 Tubtai, Hua Hin
• Tel: Bangkok (02) 315-5971
• Hua Hin (032) 520 162
One of the newest courses in the area, Majestic Creek is as exciting as any in the area.  With water hazards that will challenge the most adventurous, MCCC has many natural streams waiting for those who forget.
Some of the holes here are very foreboding but the pleasure gained from walking through the beautiful environment will take some of the scare away.  Whether it's because Majestic Creek is further away from town than some courses or a lack of advertising, there are seldom crowds here so it's ideal for those looking for a leisurely day of golf but forget to call ahead for tee-off times.  The often small and hidden and very undulating greens and sometimes sadistic pin placement will bring you back to reality after the walk down the fairways though.  The distance between many greens and tees can be quite long so a cart is necessary for many here.  In fact, should you not get a cart, some of the caddies here can get downright surly.  On this score, Majestic Creek could learn a lot from Palm Hills.  A local Zoysia grass is used on both fairways and greens.  This spongy grass provides incredible lies, as long as you stay in bounds, and using a native grass requires less water and chemicals than non-native varieties.  Though located inland from the beach, the Majestic Creek also has a beach resort, located just north of the Royal Summer Palace in Hua Hin.  The resort offers 48 rooms, each with a view of the Gulf of Thailand.  There is a free shuttle running between the resort and country club throughout the day.

Cha Am Villa
• 27 holes
• 55/1 Moo 6, Thumbol Khaoyal
• Tel: Cha Am (032) 471 974
Cha Am Villa opened with 18 holes in 1992 and another 9 in 1993.

Milford Golf Club
• 18 holes, Par 72
• Tambon Paknampron, Pranburi
• Tel: Bangkok (02) 235-2871
Tanarat Golf Course
• 18 holes, Par 72
• Tanarat Camp, Pranburi
• Tel:. (032) 621 022 ext. 238
 
WING 53 - MANAW BEACH GOLF CLUB
• 9 holes, Par 36
• Manaw Beach