Palm Hills Golf Club and Residence

Palm Hills Golf Club is located between Hua Hin and Cha Am, near the airport and on the lower foot hills above town. 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.

The golf course is laid out on a long strip of undulating terrain which gives the course a Scottish "links" feel, which is different from all the other courses in the area. The Max Wexler layout goes from east to west, with lakes at each end, separated by the clubhouse and an interesting rocky outcrop extending from the mountain range.

The Palm Hills course is lined with hundreds of palm trees, and has plenty of hillside lies, thus the name Palm Hills. Thousands of brightly colored frangipani trees and bougainvillea shrubs add to the natural beauty. he back nine, which plays on top of the mountains and provides stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand and Hua Hin.

Whilst Palm Hills is one of the easier Hua Hin golf courses. The Bermuda fairways are generous and wide, making this course popular with golfers of all abilities. However, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards, with extremely fast Tiff Eagle greens ensure that good scores are by no means easy to achieve. In fact, the greens can be some of the fastest in the area, especially when putting down grain.

The 10th through to the 14th holes are the best holes on the golf course and require accurate shot placement. The signature hole is the 11th, a long par three uphill into the sea breeze and requires at least a club more than normal to reach in regulation.

The 14th 338 yards par 4, although short, is one of the more interesting tests on Palm Hills. It’s a dog-leg left with water guarding the inside and some of the fairway, so choose the right club off the tee is critical. Negotiate the drive well and the hole is an easy par or birdie.

Palm Hills Golf Club is one of the better maintained courses in Hua Hin year in and year out. There is an abundance of beautiful landscaping throughout the golf course and at certain times of the year the course is enveloped in the exotic fragrance of the blooms from the frangipani tree lined fairways.

Facilities including locker rooms, practice areas, and clubhouse are rather basic and could use some freshening up.  However, as with many Thai golf clubs, the restaurant serves food that reasonably priced and tasty. It is best enjoyed with a cold beer, or fresh fruit juice.