Cheap golf courses

[HIO]

I visit Hua Hin for the third time this month and look forward for go back there. I also have play some golf but I find it to expensive. Are there someone out there could give me some information where I could get tickets for play some courses to a low price? I think 2000 and up is to much.

Is there some tickets for to use at different courses to bay? Some member can invite me for a lower price? Hope some could give me some information about that.

Thanks a lot....

[lomuamart]

You're probably aware of the major courses around HH and as you say they are expensive. If you can go with a member there are reduced prices for guests but I'm not sure what they are.
You do have some choices a bit further afield though.
Tannarat in Pranburi is an army course. 18 holes, some of them pretty challenging. That's about 1,000THB incl caddie (if I remember rightly). It's about a 30 min drive away. I did hear just a few days ago that it's dry at the moment.
Kaeng Krachan is a great course. 27 holes. The C or Mountain 9 is always in top-class condition condition. You'd be best to combine that with either of the other original 9's, Lake or Valley. I'm sure they're back to doing their discounted Sports days again which are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Price is 800THB incl caddie. It's about a 45 min drive away.
Around Ratchaburi there's Dragon Hills and Royal Ratchaburi. Both are excellent courses. The former is 760 THB incl caddie, the latter 740 THB. Dragon Hills sometimes do promotions and costs can drop to the 500 THB mark incl lunch. I don't know if the promotion is running yet this year. There's a third course - Panarangsi - which is military and supposedly good as well. I havn't played there yet. That, I believe, is cheaper than the other two. Journey time to all three is about 1hr 45min.
So, you'll need transport which is going to hike the overall price up, but there is good value for money out there. If you go to Ratchaburi, think about hiring a car for a couple of days and play Dragon Hills and Royal Ratchaburi. You'll find more than adequate accommodation for next to nothing up that way.
Here's a link to the above courses - http://www.tourismhuahin.com/golf-huahin.php - with contact numbers so give them a ring and see what they're offering. I don't think you'll get discounted days at the main HH courses.
Sea Pines is also worth a look. Again, reputedly in excellent condition and a good test of golf. About 20 min drive. Note, I think the prices have gone up to about 2,000 THB incl caddie now.
Have fun.

[hhfarang]

The last time I played Dhanarat in Pranburi, it was 600 baht weekdays plus 200 (I think, may have only been 150) for caddy fee and Lomu is correct about it being dry. The fairways were 80% brown dead grass. They were only watering the landing zones where you would end up if you hit a perfect shots... of course I was always in the brown dead grass (or jungle or water!). Greens were ok but a bit slow. If you do play it, try to get a caddy that speaks English or go with someone who knows the course. It is a technical or "thinking" course where you cannot use a driver (or even a wood) on many of the par 4 holes from the tee. Number one for instance, unless you can hit a high accurate drive over a dogleg of very tall trees, has to be played from the tee with a 6, 7, or 8 iron depending on your distance. Then your second shot down the other leg will be an 8 iron to a wedge over water depending on how well you placed your drive. Don't trust the distance markers or the scorecard either. You will need a knowledgeable caddy for that too unless you are very good at judging it yourself.

Another cheap(ish) one that Lomu didn't mention is Milford Eagle and it's only about 20 minutes south of town. I haven't played there since late last year, but it was 1000 baht weekdays with a 250 caddy fee. It has had a new owner for over a year now and the condition is much better than it was under the previous owner and it has an interesting layout with a "normal" somewhat flat front nine and a back nine in the mountains with sea views on some holes. If you're not in fairly good shape you may not want to walk the back nine or you can just play the front nine twice as I have many times. Outside high season in previous years they have also had sports days on Wednesdays and Thursdays where the fee was only 400 baht, but I haven't been this year yet so I don't know if they are doing that again or yet. The last time I played it (again, late last year) the fairways were green and in good shape, the greens variable, some not so good, some lightning fast.

I've only played one of the "premium" courses here as a guest of a member and it was still no bargain. That was Springfield (last year) and the guest of member fee was 1750 + 300 (and tip) for caddy so still over 2k baht.

You may want to plan your next visit for August or September if golf is your main activity. In past years those two months were the Hua Hin golf festival months and almost all the courses put their prices at 800 baht. I think all the local courses participated last year except that Black Mountain and Banyan were a bit higher (1250 or 1500). I assume they will keep that up every year, but of course this is Thailand so nothing is guaranteed.

[lomuamart]

Here's a link to Dragon Hills. The promotion is running at the moment:
http://www.dragonhillsgolf.com/web_Eng/promotion_e.htm
Caddie fee is 200.

[HIO]

Thanks a lot for good information. I already play almost all courses who take all my money as
Royal Hua Hin, Black Mountain, Banyan, Palm Hills, Springfield Royal etc. I love the game but hate
thoose prices. Yes I play a lot when the festival was last year but this time I have to cool down
and not spend to much money.

Thanks to "hhfarang" and "lomuamart" I write down your information.... if another have some good tips for get low price for playing I will be very happy for your word.

Thanks again

[hhfarang]

Well, there's also a free 9 hole course in Dolphin Bay (about 45 minutes south of Hua Hin). While it has a very interesting and challenging layout, I would call it only a practice course as the course conditions are usually terrible (what can you expect for free?).

[BUSHWHACKER]

There is a very cheap 9 hole course at Ao Manao at Prachuapkhirikan. I played last week and I think it cost me less than 200 baht. Play 9, 18, 27 or however many you want to play. Ao Manao is a beautiful place to visit and the hotel on the beach is a very good value. The golf course & the beach area are all property of the Thai air force and the hotel is dedicated primarily for Thai military use but anyone can stay there is space is available.

We have a group of Cheap Charlie hackers who cannot afford the high prices charged at most golf course as well as our other expensive habits and so we go to Dolphin Bay, Ao Manao, and the formerly famous 'Che Am Villa Golf Course' which went belly up years ago. The greens are gone but the fairways are kept open and clear by the grazing cattle and goats. Lots of driving and chipping fun here but you must bring your own caddie and 19th hole. The clubhouse still stands but beware of the many wasp nests in the eaves.

Sometimes we golf at Kaengkrachan and at Sawang and Dragon Hills. Sawang is running promotion coupons right now and it is a beautiful course.

If you want to golf free or golf cheap and want to do it in the company of hackers who think the same, take a look at: http://www.huahin-hhh.com/bushwhackers%20golf.htm

[kalbow]

Hey Don, 20 July, I'm soooooo back, book me in for some bushwacking!

Kalbow

[Phil D]

Can someone provide info re Ao Manao. How far is it from Hua Hin? How do you book for a round of golf?

[lomuamart]

Ao Manao is basically Prachuabkirikhan, so takes about an hour by car.
I don't think there's any need to book a tee time.

[JW]

Hey Don,

Love the sound of you Bushwhackers! Playing golf the right way, for fun!

Keep on whacking!!!!

[tood ling]

love to join you bushwackers in 13 months and 7 days. although my game might slow you guys down a bit.

[BUSHWHACKER]

To get to the golf course at Ao Manao just drive into the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan and get on the road that runs parallel to seawall. Follow it south until you come to a right turn that must be taken. Soon you will come to a gate that enters air force base. Enter the gate, follow the road across the runway (watch out for planes) and you will soon come to the golf course. No need to book. The office does not open til 0900 but you can play anyway. Pay up when finished. Generally you can grab a handcart even of the place is not open.
If you want to join some hackers in 'Bushwhacking' just e-mail me: donaltetley@yahoo.com
Actually there will be four of us hitting the great links of Cha Am Villa Golf Course at 0700 on Wednesday, 13 July.

[Phil D]

The bushwackers golf sounds good fun. Will be there in August with six of us three of whom are lady golfers. Having been involved in various social golf clubs they have generally been men only arrangements. Are ladies able to play or would we have to send them shopping. The latter is high risk to the finances.

Phil D

[hhfarang]

Donald, I may join the bushwhackers soon, as my finances and my current golf abilities sound like they may be on "par" with the courses you play! Problem is I have two diametrically opposed issues with playing golf here... I'm not a morning person so can't drag myself out to play at the best (coolest) time of the day and later on, I can't take the heat so I play but am miserable. I need a night time lighted course!