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Golf
Golf is the most popular sport in Hua Hin, its not surprising with seven world class golf courses all within 45 minutes drive of town center. Tourists and expats alike choose Hua Hin for its golf courses, there are at least three local golf clubs in town and more being formed every year.

New golf courses in Hua Hin
= Two new golf courses are currently being built around Hua Hin including the long awaited =Banyan Golf Course (below) located 11km south west of town. The Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin will primarily serve the residents of its property development, the Banyan Estate. The teak clubhouse will accommodate a pro shop, changing rooms and a 5 star restaurant. From the upstairs veranda, golfers enjoying the 19th hole will view fellow golfers on the 9th and 18th green and 1st and 10th tees.
= The course has been thoughtfully designed by one of Thailand's best course design companies that will offer one of the best challenges in Hua Hin with far reaching spectacular views. Banyan Golf Club membership will be limited to only the purchasers of property on the Banyan Estate development however the course will be available for all to play on. Banyan Golf Club is due for completion in early 2008.

= Black Mountain is a new 18-hole golf course located on the other side of the hills on the west side of Palm Hills Golf Resort just 10km from central Hua Hin. Black Mountain Golf Course is due to open at the end of 2006 but it is unlikely this will happen.

= The construction began at the beginning of the year and at present the fairway grassing is almost complete. The greens have been grassed for a few months already and have a beautiful surface of bermuda grass. The fairways have been grassed with seashore paspalum. This is the first time this type of grass has been used in the Hua Hin area, and it gives a wonderful playing surface as well as a beautiful colour.
= A computer controlled irrigation system, which is connected to a weather station, has been installed, to allow the fairways to be watered and with just the right amount of water. This will produce fairways that are healthy and firm, rather that having dry and wet areas. No expense has been spared in the efforts to maintain the golf course to the very highest standards - even as far as having an underlay in the bunkers to hold the sand in place during heavy rainstorms.

= The project leader is Gavan Wilson. He is in charge of building and maintaining the golf course. Gavan has worked in Thailand for 15 years and is one of the most highly respected golf course superintendants in Thailand.
= The goal of black mountain golf is to ultimately be the best golf course in Asia. The intention is to hold many professional tournaments and try to attract some of the best golfers in the world. The golf course will be capable of providing a test for the top professionals but also be playable for the average golfers. The course architect, Phill Ryan, has made very clever use of the natural beauty of the site and the natural terrain. Features of the course are the rock faces set in to the mountains and the natural creeks that run trough the course. All the large rocks, found on site, have been used in the construction and as features on the golf course. Every consideration has been taken to make the course as visually stunning as possible. The location of the clubhouse was chosen to give a panoramic view over the whole course as well as positioning the 1st and 10th tees and 9th and 18th greens directly in front of the clubhouse.

When the golf course opens everybody will be welcome to use the facilities which will include driving range and practise area, restaurants, pro shops and of course golf course.

Golf Courses
The main popular courses are listed below, they can get busy at weekends and prices are likely to be higher also:

Majestic Creek Country Club
18 holes, 6961 yards, par 72
Designed by Sukitti Klangvisai, opened 1993
Distance from Hua Hin: 30 minutes
Approx cost for a round: 2,400

Palm Hills Resort and Country Club
18 holes, 6890 yards, par 72
Designed by Max Wexler, opened 1991
Distance from Hua Hin: 15 minutes
Approx cost for a round: 2,400

Royal Hua Hin Golf Course
18 holes, 6678 yards, par 72
Designed by O A Robins, opened 1924
Distance from Hua Hin: central
Approx cost for a round: 1,600

Hua Hin Seoul Country Club
18 holes, 6614 yards, par 72
Designed by Robert Mcfarland, opened 1992
Distance from Hua Hin: 25 minutes
Approx cost for a round: 1,600

Springfield Royal Country Club
18 holes, 7063 yards, par 72
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, opened 1993
Distance from Hua Hin: 25 minutes
Approx cost for a round: 3,700

Imperial Lake View
18 holes, 6915 yards, par 72. 9 holes, 3417 yards, par 36
Designed by Roger Packard, opened 1993
Distance from Hua Hin: 20 minutes
Approx cost for a round: 2,400

Sawang Resort Golf Club
18 holes, 6959 yards, par 72
Designed by Isao Ikatsumata, opened 1993
Distance from Hua Hin: 1 hour
Approx cost for a round: 1,800

There are a number of smaller courses and 9 hole golf courses such as Pranburi and Ao Manao, these are generally military courses where the fairways and greens are in poorer condition, ideal for hackers though and usually very cheap to play!

Driving Ranges and Pitch & Putt
Two driving ranges can be found in Hua Hin, the first is at Royal Hua Hin Golf course where a tray of balls sets you back 20 baht and the second is at Pae Mai along the canal road, slightly more expensive but the facilities are better here. There is another range and pitch and putt out at Palm Hills and a small nine hole par 3 course on Petchkasem road out near the airport.

Golf Resources
These can offer holiday golf packages, daily golf, lessons and more information on golf in Hua Hin:

Dining in Hua Hin
Nothing less than a feast awaits for your taste buds… Leaving the cooking to someone else is always an important part of a holiday experience, and the variety and quality of restaurants in and around Hua Hin will ensure the experience is a memorable one. Once an active fishing port, Hua Hin still has enough fishermen around to provide a steady supply of fresh seafood for its restaurants and those in neighbouring Cha-Am and Pranburi. Traditional Thai food is, of course, served everywhere, including food stalls along the beachfront and in Hua Hin's well-known Night Market.

There are numerous dining spots serving Western, Indian and Japanese food. For those looking for a drink after the sun goes down, there is an ample supply of bars and pubs, some of which have live music. In addition, all of the hotels have bars and lobby lounges, many featuring live entertainment. All the hotels and resorts have restaurants too, and these range from top-notch speciality and international cuisine, to light meals of Thai and Western varieties. Highly recommended are the buffet spreads laid on by top hotels for breakfast, lunch and dinner – definitely worth the expense since you'll get to sample an enormous variety of Thai, Asian and Western food. At some venues, these buffets consist of open cooking stations, including a Seafood BBQ, and often also offer live entertainment like traditional Thai music and dancing.

Seafood fresh from the ocean
Thais eat fish, prawns or other items foreigners think of as 'seafood' with virtually every meal. Basic condiments like fish sauce, shrimp paste, and ‘pla rah' are all made from fermented fish or seafood. ‘Tom yum gung', a delicious spicy and sour shrimp soup, is widely considered Thailand's national dish. Another regular is ‘tod man pla', an unusual melange of fried minced fish, curry paste, and sliced long beans – fish cakes, basically. Hearkening back to the days before refrigeration, dried and salted fish are served in a variety of ways and are still a mainstay of the Kingdom's diet. There will also be lots of squid, catfish, 'serpent head' fish, and Nile River Tilapia. All are day-to-day favourites in homes and ordinary restaurants.

However, when Thais go to a restaurant specializing in seafood, the menu broadens considerably. The items previously mentioned will be present, but will take a backseat to a host of other dishes with their culinary roots in China. Crab, cockles, mussels, oysters and lobsters will suddenly appear. Cooking methods and sauces will change and there will be items like crab with yellow curry cauce, lobster cooked in XO Sauce and grilled clams or cockles. Fish will be steamed and served with a variety of sauces, as well as grilled and fried. Lobster and giant prawns, pricey items for the average Thai, will play a big role and will often arrive at the table after spending time on a grill.

Going out for seafood is a big event for Thais and they always seem to have a good time. Joining them will be a highlight of any holiday, particularly when the restaurant is in the area around Hua Hin. Many of the restaurants are found in Hua Hin town on Naresdamri Road, just south of the pier. Ao Takiap beach, 5km to the south, has several famous places, and there are some excellent restaurants to the north as you approach Cha-Am. The least expensive, and most popular with Thais, are scattered along Phetkasem Road.

Where to Eat in Hua Hin
good start would be to have a look at these Hua Hin restaurant reviews for a collection of the finest places to try. But, your choices are unlimited, whether you're looking for Western or Thai food. If you have an adventurous palate, you'll have even more choices. A stroll around Hua Hin town will bring you to a smattering of authentic little eating places scattered about, street food is delicious, and the day or night market are excellent places to try out a few local delicacies.

Here are some more recommendations:

International and Seafood Restaurants

Taj Mahal
31/1 Naresdamri Road
Nice selection of northern Indian favourites.

Brasserie de Paris
3 Naresdamri Road
Charming French place adjacent to the pier.

Hagi Japanese Restaurant
1 Damnernkasem Road
Outstanding Japanese restaurant (Adjacent to Sofitel Centara Hotel Hua Hin).

Let's Sea, Hua Hin Beach Restaurant
83/155 Soi Talay 12
A big variety of delicious, affordable seafood.

Chao Lay Seafood
15 Naresdamri Rd. Hua Hin
Popular outdoor restaurant on pylons over the water by the pier.

Ketsarin Restaurant
17/1 Naresdamri Road
Big outdoor place right on Hua Hin's sea front near the pier.

Maharaja
25 Naresdamri Rd
Good northern Indian food served from 11:00 to 23:00

Thai Restaurants

Baan Monta Restaurant
51 Dechanuchit Rd
Excellent Thai food and seafood right in the middle of town.

Ban Nong Kae
Petchkassem Road
Modest surroundings with a good selection of basic Thai favourites

Orchids French & Thai Restaurant
110/1 Naresdamri Rd
Serves a mix of French and Thai dishes.

Sasi's ba Bar: Thai clasical dance shows
83/159 Nhongkae, near the Hyatt Hotel
Features a mix of Western and Thai food, lots of drinks and live music from 20:30 onwards.

Nightlife in Hua Hin
Hua Hin isn't the place to head to if you're looking for wild and untamed nightlife experiences . That said, with its diminutive but lively nightlife scene you can certainly find some fun if you look hard enough. Scattered about town are several clusters of beer bars (little ramshackle affairs where you can score a beer and a girl), a number of family-friendly pubs and bars (many of which are located in hotels), and one or two discos.

Though the above adds up to a tame after-dark scene compared to Bangkok, Phuket's Patong or Pattaya, there is fun to be found and several establishments open past the official 02:00 closing. With an annual jazz festival happening in Hua Hin, it's no surprise that there's also quite a lot of live music to be enjoyed, from cover bands to authentic Thai acts. And one thing you definitely won't find back home is ladyboy cabaret Blue Angel. Check this out for 60 minutes of drama, beauty, elegance and glam, as well as dazzling insight into Thailand's famous third sex.

Where to go in Hua Hin Nightlife
Hua Hin's nighlife scene is growing gradually, with new places opening up and widening the scope for visitors. There are a couple of tried and tested venues that have been around for a while – being popular with both locals and visitors – and we've lined them up for you here…

Hua Hin Nightlife Venues
Hua Hin isn't the place to head to if you're looking for wild and untamed nightlife experiences . That said, with its diminutive but lively nightlife scene you can certainly find some fun if you look hard enough. Scattered about town are several clusters of beer bars (little ramshackle affairs where you can score a beer and a girl), a number of family-friendly pubs and bars (many of which are located in hotels), and one or two discos.

Hua Hin Beach
Hua Hin's nighlife scene is growing gradually, with new places opening up and widening the scope for visitors. There are a couple of tried and tested venues that have been around for a while – being popular with both locals and visitors – and we've lined them up for you here…

Billy's Bar & Restaurant (Hua Hin Bazaar)
This place exudes pub atmosphere, and has lots of Brits in attendance. Food, darts, sports TV and all the other things that make for a good pub.

Blue Angel Cabaret (Soi Bintaban)
A nightly transvestite show at 20:00 and 21:45 and a midnight show on weekends. Probably different than anything you'll find back home.

Crawford's Irish Bar (Poolsuk Road)
Giant TV's, lots of drinks, and highly regarded pub grub. Popular with local expats and suitable for families.

Hua Hin Brewing Company Bar (next to Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa)
Decorated like a rustic fisherman's house, this is Hua Hin's busiest disco by far. Live music and DJs.

Johnnie Walkers Sports & Music Bar (Selakam Road)
Good pub food and lots of promotions. Popular with expats.

Jungle Juice (Selakam Road)
Pool and dart leagues, sports on the TV and lots of local expats downing beer and eating good pub grub.

P and P Bar (Poolsuk Road)
Lots of attractive girls here, and pool and 9-ball are free.

Octopussy (Selakam Road)
Popular beer bar with waitresses dressed in risqu? school uniforms. Sports can always be found on the TV.

Satchmo Club (Main Lobby of the Sofitel Central Hua Hin)
A live Filipino band play here every night. Satchmo's is also a great excuse for visiting this classic hotel, reputed to have been Hua Hin's first luxury hotel

Nightlife Activities
there is fun to be found and several establishments open past the official 02:00 closing. With an annual jazz festival happening in Hua Hin, it's no surprise that there's also quite a lot of live music to be enjoyed, from cover bands to authentic Thai acts. And one thing you definitely won't find back home is ladyboy cabaret Blue Angel. Check this out for 60 minutes of drama, beauty, elegance and glam, as well as dazzling insight into Thailand's famous third sex.

Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Hua Hin Beach is the focal point of Hua Hin – Thailand's first beach resort. Although it has a beautiful white sand beach and crystal clear water, Hua Hin is not as famous as resort towns like Pattaya and is still a bit off the beaten track as far as foreign tourists are concerned. As a result the beach is generally not so crowded, except at weekends when locals from Bangkok make the 190 kilometer journey to descend on the area.
It is though increasingly the destination of choice for foreign visitors interested in water sports. The beach is about six kilometers long and features a particularly good sunrise, and nice sunsets. Dotted along the beach are some great restaurants where you can enjoy local seafood. The beach does though cater for a growing expatriate community and the area hosts an increasing number of foreign restaurants and bars.

Details: Between March and August the water doesn't come up the beach as far as it does at other times in the year and there are a greater number of beach-based activities (such as horse riding) available. During the rainy season there are quite a few jelly fish and this can lead to a slightly stinging sensation while you are in the water. Avoid jelly fish at all costs! All year round water sports such as jet skiing are readily available.
How to get there: Hua Hin Beach is only a short distance from Hua Hin town centre and Songtaews are available for around 20 Baht to 30 Baht.

Restaurants and Bars

Mumtaaz
Address: 88 Naresdamri Road Hua Hin Prachuap Khiri Khan
Tel: 0-3253-1048

Mumtaaz Restaurant - authentic Indian restaurant offering vegetarian dishes and a good range of Thai cuisine. Attractive setting and efficient, friendly staff make Mumtaaz a good dining experience.

Taj Mahal Restaurants
Address: 112, Chomsin Road HUA HIN 31/1 Naresdamri Road HUA HIN Prachuap Khiri Khan
Tel: 0-3251-6615:0-1763-1746

Good Indian and Pakistani food available at two outlets in Hua Hin (Chomsin Road and Naresdamri Road). The restaurant makes the most of the fresh seafood caught daily in Hua Hin by specializing in dishes such as Prawn Pakora, Tandori Prawns and Prawn Biryani.

Contact person	:Mr.Veera (Mobile No.66-086-3350007, Fax. 66-032-522848 )
E-mail	: reservation@huahintagteam.com
Hua HIn Office	: 9.00 a.m. - 06.00 p.m. Monday - Saturday