Palm Hills Golf Club

Palm Hills Golf Club, designed by Max Wechsler and opened in 1992, was the first golf course in Hua Hin that met international standards, These were put to the test a year later in the inaugural Thailand World Pro Am tournament. The course is located on the way to Cha-am, near Hua Hin airport in a slightly hilly area.

Proximity to the sea with often strong winds and the long-stretched layout make for a "links-feel".

Palm Hills is lined with hundreds of eponymous palm trees and has plenty of hillside lies. Thousands of brightly colored frangipani trees and bougainvillea shrubs add to the natural beauty. The back nine play on top of the mountains and provide stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand and Hua Hin.

The rather flat landscape and generous fairways make Palm Hills one of the easier courses in the area, ideally suited for beginners.

However, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards in combination with extremely fast Tiff Eagle greens ensure that good scores are not easy to achieve, even for stronger players. In fact, the greens can be some of the fastest in the Hua Hin area. Putting downhill can be heartbreaking and may require the help of experienced caddies.

The second nine start with five spectacular holes that require some precision, with the signature 11th a par-3 that plays as a par 4 thanks to the uphill position of the green and head winds from the sea.

Palm Hills Golf Club is one of the best-maintained courses in Hua Hin year round with beautiful vegetation of fragrant frangipanis and blooming flowers.

Facilities include a generous club house with locker rooms and practice areas. 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.