Southern Hills Golf & Country Club
Weekday green fee
950THB
Weekend: 1,400 THB
Southern Hills Golf & Country Club is the premier golf destination in Hat Yai — an 18-hole, par 72 layout designed by Perry Dye and opened in 1999 in Ban Phru, Songkhla province. The course stretches to 7,045 yards from the championship tees and is widely regarded as the best in the lower south, drawing golfers from Hat Yai city, from across the Thai-Malaysian border, and from Phuket-based visitors making the trip south along the peninsula. Perry Dye's routing channels the natural character of the site: two nine-hole loops wind along a narrow river valley flanked by dense jungle, with water a persistent presence on the front nine and a memorable island-green par-3 17th and water-flanked par-4 18th providing a dramatic finish. Green fees of 950 THB on weekdays and 1,400 THB on weekends are competitive for a course of this quality. Club rental is available, as are carts and caddies.
18
Holes
72
Par
950 km
From Bangkok
~13h
Drive time
Layout & playing experience
Perry Dye — son of the legendary Pete Dye and a designer in his own right — built Southern Hills into its jungle valley setting with a routing that uses the natural topography as both frame and hazard. The two loops of nine follow the contours of the valley floor, with the front nine playing alongside a series of small lakes that push water into play on several consecutive holes and demand precise decision-making off the tee. At 7,045 yards, the course plays as a genuine championship test from the back tees — one of the longest courses in the south of Thailand. The fairways, laid over Bermuda 419 grass, are well-maintained and reasonably wide, but the tree-lined valley walls and water features create a demanding corridor that punishes wayward shots. Greens are Tifdwarf — fast and responsive, with subtle breaks that reward familiarity with local conditions. The signature island-green par-3 17th is the most photographed hole on the course: a precise carry over water, with no margin for error, to a green ringed by jungle. The par-4 18th, running alongside a lake along its full length, ensures the round finishes with the same strategic pressure with which it began. The combination of these two closing holes makes Southern Hills one of the most memorable finishing sequences in southern Thailand. The course draws a strong cross-border clientele — Malaysian golfers crossing the border at Sadao or Padang Besar find Hat Yai's golf scene a compelling reason to make the trip, and Southern Hills is their primary destination. This mix of Thai, Malaysian, and international visitors gives the club a livelier atmosphere than more remote southern courses.
Tips & what to know before you go
Book tee times in advance by phone (+66 74 553 682) or via the club website at southernhills-golf.com — weekends attract a heavy cross-border crowd from Malaysia, and popular morning slots fill quickly. Budget for a caddie and cart in addition to the green fee (950 THB weekday, 1,400 THB weekend): fees for both are not confirmed on the official site, so call ahead to confirm current rates. Hat Yai is Thailand's largest southern city and a regional hub, well-served by domestic flights from Bangkok (approximately 1.5 hours from Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi). The course is approximately 20 km from the city centre in the Ban Phru area. Local transport is available by Grab or taxi from Hat Yai hotels. The lower south has a wetter climate than the Gulf or Andaman coasts: Songkhla province receives rain in two distinct seasons, with the northeast monsoon bringing heavier rain from October to January. The driest period is typically February to August — prime golf season for the area. Morning tee times avoid the heat and any afternoon build-up.
Location & getting there
Southern Hills Golf & Country Club is located at 128 Moo 8, Kanchanavanich Road, Ban Phru, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110 — approximately 20 km east of Hat Yai city centre and around 950 km south of Bangkok. Hat Yai International Airport is served by multiple daily flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi) in approximately 1.5 hours; the course is a 25–30 minute drive from the airport. For travellers from Malaysia, Hat Yai is accessible via the Sadao border crossing or by train from Butterworth/Penang. Grab and local taxis serve the route from the city and airport.
No clubs? No problem.
Travelling to Hat Yai for a round at Southern Hills? LENGOLF can deliver premium rental clubs to your Bangkok hotel before you fly south — arrive ready to play without checking equipment on the plane.