Black Mountain Golf Club
Weekday green fee
4,500THB
Weekend: 4,500 THB
Black Mountain Golf Club is widely regarded as the premier course in Hua Hin and one of the standout layouts in Southeast Asia. Designed by Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design and opened in 2007, it occupies a dramatic natural valley 12 kilometres west of Hua Hin, framed by the distinctive black granite outcrops that give the club its name. A nine-hole West Course added in 2016 brought the total to 27 holes. The course's reputation is well-documented: Golf Digest has included it in its list of the top 100 courses outside the United States every year since 2012, and it has hosted multiple Asian Tour events as well as the Royal Trophy. At 4,500 THB for an 18-hole green fee, it sits at the premium end of the Hua Hin market, a price point the course consistently justifies through conditioning, course variety, and on-site resort facilities including accommodation, spa, fitness centre, and multiple restaurants.
27
Holes
72
Par
230 km
From Bangkok
~3h
Drive time
Layout & playing experience
Black Mountain's 27 holes are divided into three nine-hole loops — East, North, and West — each with its own character. The original East and North nines opened in 2007 and were routed through a former pineapple plantation, weaving between rock formations, mature trees, and a series of natural creeks that come into play throughout the round. Water features are prominent on 12 of the 27 holes, demanding accurate positioning off the tee rather than raw length. The West Course, added in 2016, is the most challenging of the three loops: water comes into play on every hole, and Phil Ryan incorporated a higher density of bunkering than the original routing. From the back tees, the combined East-North layout plays to 7,343 yards. Greens are maintained to tour standard and run consistently fast. The signature hole is generally considered to be the par-3 11th on the East nine, where an island-style green requires a precise carry over water with the black granite hills as a backdrop. The par-5 18th on the North nine finishes in full view of the distinctive clubhouse and provides a dramatic conclusion to any combination round. Caddies are mandatory and will drive the cart, meaning solo carts per player rather than shared buggies.
Tips & what to know before you go
Book tee times at Black Mountain well in advance during the high season (November through March), when the course is popular with European tour groups and visiting golfers from Bangkok. Early morning tee times — before 8:00 — are strongly recommended both for cooler temperatures and faster pace of play. Hua Hin's climate is drier than much of Thailand thanks to the Tenasserim Hills to the west, but the southwest monsoon (May to October) can bring afternoon thunderstorms, making morning rounds the safer choice year-round. The West Course sees heavier traffic than the East and North nines during peak season; if pace of play is a priority, ask the starter for the quieter loop. Bring a sun hat and stay hydrated — midday temperatures regularly exceed 35°C from March through May. The on-site driving range and short-game area are useful for warming up before your round.
Location & getting there
Black Mountain Golf Club is located at 565 Moo 7, Nong Hieng Road, Hin Lek Fai, approximately 12 kilometres west of Hua Hin town centre, roughly 230 kilometres from Bangkok. The drive from central Bangkok takes approximately 3 hours by car via Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road). From Hua Hin town, the journey is around 20–25 minutes by taxi or Grab. Regular minivan services run from Bangkok's Victory Monument to Hua Hin (approximately 3.5 hours), from where a local taxi completes the journey to the course. Golf packages from Bangkok hotels including private transfer are available through multiple booking agents.
No clubs? No problem.
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