Hua Hin vs Phuket for a Golf Holiday
Thailand's two best golf destinations, and two very different trips. Hua Hin is the quiet Gulf coast town where the golf comes first, led by the brilliant Black Mountain and Banyan a short drive apart. Phuket is the Andaman island with the dramatic, world ranked courses cut from old tin mines, and a holiday scene to match. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Black Mountain Golf Club, Charles Arnestad, via Google
The verdict
For a golf first trip, Hua Hin shades it. The town is relaxed and unhurried, the two headline courses are genuinely world class, and Black Mountain in particular, the Phil Ryan design opened in 2007 that has hosted European and Asian Tour events, is among the finest courses in the country. Add Banyan and a clutch of solid supporting courses within easy reach, the calm royal resort town atmosphere and the value, and you have the most efficient pure golf week in Thailand.
But Phuket has the more spectacular golf and the bigger holiday. Blue Canyon's Canyon Course, the Yoshikazu Kato design from 1991 that hosted Tiger Woods and the Johnnie Walker Classic, and Red Mountain, carved from a former tin mine and widely rated the best in Phuket, are as dramatic as resort golf gets in Asia. Around them sit the beaches, the dining and the nightlife of a full island destination. Pick Hua Hin for concentrated, value led golf and calm. Pick Phuket for the most dramatic courses and a complete island holiday. Neither disappoints.
Head to head
| Hua Hin | Phuket | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | Black Mountain (Phil Ryan, 2007), with European and Asian Tour pedigree, plus Banyan, Sea Pines and Imperial Lake View nearby | Blue Canyon Canyon Course (Yoshikazu Kato, 1991), Red Mountain (2007), Laguna Phuket and Loch Palm |
| Course character | Inland parkland and hillside layouts, well conditioned, framed by the mountains behind the town | Dramatic, sculpted courses through old tin mines and jungle, with bold elevation and water |
| Indicative green fees | Premium courses around 3,000 to 4,500 baht in 2026 high season, very roughly 85 to 125 US dollars, caddie extra | Marquee courses around 3,500 to 5,500 baht, very roughly 100 to 155 US dollars, caddie extra |
| The trip around the golf | Quiet royal resort town, beach, night market, easy and unhurried; golf is the main event | Full island holiday: famous beaches, dining, nightlife and day trips, with golf one of many draws |
| Best season | November to February, cool and dry on the Gulf coast; hotter spring, wetter summer | November to April, dry on the Andaman coast; heavier monsoon rain June to October |
| Getting there | Around two and a half hours by road south of Bangkok; no major airport in town | Phuket International Airport with direct regional flights and a short hop from Bangkok |
| Who it suits | Golf focused groups wanting quality, value and calm with minimal fuss | Players wanting spectacular courses inside a beach holiday for mixed golf and non golf groups |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026; baht to dollar values are approximate and fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Hua Hin if
You want the golf to be the point. Hua Hin clusters two world class courses, Black Mountain and Banyan, with a handful of good supporting layouts, all within a short drive, in a calm royal resort town that is easy on the nerves and the wallet. It suits a focused golf group, a quieter couple's trip or anyone who wants quality and value without the island crowds. Start with Black Mountain and Banyan.
Pick Phuket if
You want the most dramatic courses and a full island holiday around them. Phuket pairs Blue Canyon and Red Mountain, two of the most spectacular resort courses in Asia, with famous beaches, dining and nightlife, which makes it ideal for a mixed group of golfers and non golfers or a trip that is as much holiday as golf. Build it around the Canyon Course and Red Mountain.
Plan your Thailand golf trip
Hua Hin, Phuket or a combination of the two. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, caddies, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Hua Hin vs Phuket questions
Is Hua Hin or Phuket better for golf?
Both are excellent. Hua Hin is the quieter, more golf focused choice on the Gulf coast, with the acclaimed Black Mountain and Banyan a short drive apart and an easy, value led feel. Phuket is the island resort with the dramatic, world ranked courses carved from former tin mines, led by Blue Canyon and Red Mountain, plus a far bigger beach and nightlife scene. Choose Hua Hin for relaxed, concentrated golf and value, Phuket for spectacular courses and a full island holiday.
How much does golf cost in Hua Hin and Phuket?
Premium courses in both areas sit indicatively around 3,000 to 5,500 Thai baht for an 18 hole green fee in the 2026 high season, very roughly 85 to 155 US dollars, with a caddie required and tipped on top. Black Mountain and Banyan in Hua Hin and Blue Canyon and Red Mountain in Phuket are at the upper end. Phuket carries a small premium for the marquee courses. These are indicative figures, so always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Thailand?
The cool, dry season from November to February is the best time to play in both Hua Hin and Phuket, with warm days, lower humidity and the least rain. March to May is hotter, and the monsoon months from roughly June to October bring heavier rain, especially on Phuket's Andaman coast, though golf continues year round and green fees fall in the low season. Always confirm conditions and rates before booking.
Can you combine Hua Hin and Phuket on one trip?
Yes, though they are not close. Hua Hin is a roughly two and a half hour drive south of Bangkok on the Gulf coast, while Phuket is an island in the Andaman Sea served by its own international airport and a short domestic flight from Bangkok. Many golfers pair a few relaxed days in Hua Hin with the bigger courses and beaches of Phuket, linked by a flight through Bangkok. We build the routing around the tee times and travel days.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.