Royal Hua Hin Golf Course
Our History
Over 100 Years of Golf & Royal History
“Royal Hua Hin Golf Course is more than just a golf course. It's part of Thai sporting history, built by royal vision and loved by golfers for over 100 years.”
1924
Founded
Thailand's first golf course
A.O. Robin
Designer
Phetchaburi Railway Officer
6,678
Yards
Par 72 championship
100+
Years
Of golfing heritage
Origins
The Railway Connection
The history of Royal Hua Hin is inseparable from the story of the Hua Hin Railway Station. In the early 1920s, King Rama VI transformed Hua Hin from a quiet fishing village into a royal seaside retreat by extending the southern railway line from Bangkok. The iconic Hua Hin Railway Station, now one of Thailand's most photographed landmarks, was built directly across from where the golf course would rise.
It was this railway connection that brought A.O. Robin, a senior railway engineer, to Hua Hin. Working on the southern Thai rail line, Robin had both the engineering skills and the love of golf needed to create what would become Thailand's first international-standard golf course. The course and the station are forever linked, symbols of Hua Hin's transformation from village to royal resort.
1919 to Present
A Century Unfolded
Construction Begins
King Rama VI (Vajiravudh) envisions Hua Hin as a royal seaside retreat. He commissions the construction of Thailand's first standard golf course to complement the new railway connection to Bangkok and the grand Railway Hotel. The location is chosen for its natural beauty: rolling terrain, mature tropical trees, and proximity to the royal residences.
The Course Takes Shape
The first 9 holes are opened for play, making Royal Hua Hin Thailand's first international-standard golf course. Railway engineer A.O. Robin, the Phetchaburi Railway Officer, applies his knowledge of classic course design to create a layout that harmonizes with the natural landscape. An Italian architect also contributes to elements of the course and clubhouse design.
Royal Inauguration
King Rama VI officially inaugurates the course. The nine holes quickly become a favorite recreation for the royal court, visiting dignitaries, and the growing community of foreign diplomats and businessmen drawn to Hua Hin's seaside charm. This year is traditionally recognized as the official founding date of Royal Hua Hin Golf Course.
Full 18 Holes Complete
A.O. Robin completes the back nine under the patronage of King Rama VII (Prajadhipok), giving Royal Hua Hin its full 18-hole championship layout stretching 6,678 yards. The Par 72 design masterfully works with the natural landscape, incorporating gentle hills, old-growth rain trees, limestone outcrops, and the distinctive natural drainage of the Hua Hin terrain.
The Royal Era
King Rama VII, an avid golfer, played regularly at Royal Hua Hin with diplomats and Thai nobility. The royal connection put the course on the map and helped build Hua Hin's reputation as a top resort town. The nearby Klai Kangwon Palace ("Far From Worries") kept the course at the center of Hua Hin life.
Post-War Renaissance
After World War II, the course saw new interest from Thai golfers and the growing international golf scene in Southeast Asia. The trees had grown tall by then, creating the shaded, tunnel-like fairways that Royal Hua Hin is known for today.
The Royal Pavilion
The grand opening of the Royal Pavilion (originally called "Sala Phachadhipok") on the course grounds marks a significant milestone, honoring the deep connection between the Thai monarchy and Royal Hua Hin. The pavilion serves as a gathering point and memorial to the course's royal heritage.
Modern Management Begins
Management is transferred to Bonrod Co. Ltd., beginning a new chapter of professional stewardship. The new management invests in modernizing irrigation systems, course conditioning, and clubhouse facilities while carefully preserving the historic character of Robin's original design. The colonial-style clubhouse is restored to blend old-world charm with modern comfort.
International Recognition
Royal Hua Hin gains widespread recognition in international golf media. The course becomes a staple on "must-play" lists for Southeast Asian golf, rated 3+ stars by leading publications as "a good course with several memorable features." Players from Japan, Europe, Australia, and the Americas come to walk the same fairways where Thai kings once played.
Major Championship Hosting
Royal Hua Hin hosts the Thai LPGA Championship and the Hua Hin-Cha Am Golf Festival, showcasing the historic course's ability to challenge the game's best professional players while providing a unique and memorable competitive experience.
100 Years of Legend
Royal Hua Hin turns 100. The course hosts the SINGHA-SAT Hua Hin Centenary Championship, the SINGHA-SAT Thai LPGA Masters, Thailand National Golf Day celebrations, and the Future Junior Golf Tour. A hundred years after A.O. Robin built the first fairways here, the course is still going strong.
Photographs from the early days of Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, 1920s
The Architect
A.O. Robin, The Railway Engineer
A.O. Robin, a senior engineer with the Thai Railways stationed in Phetchaburi, was commissioned to design the course. Robin crafted a layout that worked with the natural terrain: gentle undulations, mature trees, and natural drainage, rather than imposing an artificial design. The first 9 holes were completed in 1924, with the full 18-hole championship layout finished by 1928.
Robin kept things natural. Instead of reshaping the land, he worked with the terrain as it was. The result is a course that feels like it's always been there, among the old trees and gentle hills near the Hua Hin coast. His design features tight tree-lined fairways, dogleg holes, and small elevated greens, all still there over 100 years later.
Robin worked with an Italian architect who helped design parts of the course and clubhouse, creating a mix of classic golf layout and colonial-style buildings that still defines Royal Hua Hin today.
A Royal Legacy
Royal Patronage
The course quickly became a favorite of the Thai royal family. King Rama VII (Prajadhipok) was a passionate golfer who played regularly at Royal Hua Hin, often with visiting dignitaries and foreign diplomats. The royal connection elevated the course's status and cemented Hua Hin's reputation as Thailand's premier resort destination.
The course is close to Klai Kangwon Palace ("Far From Worries"), the royal family's seaside home, which helped keep it at the heart of Hua Hin's identity as a royal resort town.
Royal Connections
- King Rama VI (Vajiravudh): Commissioned the course in 1919, inaugurated it in 1924
- King Rama VII (Prajadhipok): Expanded to 18 holes in 1928, played regularly with dignitaries
- Klai Kangwon Palace: Royal seaside residence adjacent to the course
- Sala Phachadhipok: Royal pavilion opened on the grounds in 1969
Stewardship
Professional Management
In 1985, management was transferred to Bonrod Co. Ltd., beginning a new era of professional stewardship for the historic course. The new management team undertook a comprehensive modernization program that included upgrading irrigation systems, improving course conditioning, and renovating the clubhouse facilities.
The guiding philosophy has always been to honor the century-old heritage while maintaining a quality golfing experience. Every improvement is carefully considered to ensure that Robin's original vision and the natural character of the course are preserved. The original clubhouse has been maintained near the current facility, standing between the 10th tee and 18th green as a tangible link to the past.
Today & Beyond
The Modern Era
In the 1980s, the course underwent a major renovation to bring it up to modern standards while preserving its historic character. The Bonrod Co. Ltd. took over management, investing in the clubhouse facilities, irrigation systems, and course conditioning. Today, Royal Hua Hin honors its century-old heritage while still providing a quality golfing experience.
In 2024, Royal Hua Hin proudly celebrated its centennial, hosting the SINGHA-SAT Hua Hin Centenary Championship, the Thai LPGA Masters, Thailand National Golf Day, and junior development tournaments. These events affirmed the course's continuing relevance and its role as a cornerstone of Thai golfing culture. As Royal Hua Hin enters its second century, it does so as both a guardian of the past and a vibrant, living testament to the game's power to connect generations.
