THAILAND GOLF · KOH SAMUI
Koh Samui is a small-scale golf destination rather than a high-volume one. That is part of its appeal: a stay here can combine one established 18-hole championship course, a more compact mountain option, beach time and a relaxed island pace. This guide covers the two conventional golf venues that can currently be planned into a Koh Samui stay, plus the practical details worth confirming before you travel.
Share the essentials and a Thailand golf specialist can check current tee-time, hotel and transfer options for your dates.
At a glance: golf on Koh Samui
- Santiburi Samui Country Club is the island’s established 18-hole, par-72 course, set in the hills of the north coast.
- Royal Samui Golf & Country Club is a 9-hole mountain layout in the Lamai area, often considered as a shorter or more informal contrast to Santiburi.
- Bophut Hills should not be included in a conventional golf itinerary: current sources describe it as closed to ball golf.
- Golf availability, green fees, carts, caddies, transfers and weather conditions should all be reconfirmed for the actual dates of travel.
Santiburi Samui Country Club
Santiburi is the principal full-length course on Koh Samui. The club describes an 18-hole, par-72 championship layout in the island’s northern hills, with fairways that move through slopes, palms, creeks and coastal viewpoints. The course is not a flat resort loop: elevation change is a defining part of the round, so course selection and tee choice matter more than simply chasing distance.
Course facts and playing character
- Format: 18 holes, par 72.
- Setting: northern Koh Samui hills, with mountain and Gulf of Thailand views.
- Play: undulating terrain, changes in elevation and natural water features make thoughtful club selection useful.
- Visitor arrangements: the club asks golfers to reserve in advance; one cart and one caddie are compulsory per golfer under its published rules.
Facilities and practicalities
The club currently lists a driving range, putting green, locker rooms, pro shop, sea-view restaurant and rental equipment. Lessons are available on request. These are useful additions if you want a warm-up, are travelling without clubs, or would like a coaching element built around one round. Exact rental availability, lesson times, current fees and transfer arrangements should be checked when the itinerary is being confirmed.
Royal Samui Golf & Country Club
Royal Samui offers a different kind of island round. Current booking and course-listing sources identify it as a 9-hole course in the Lamai area, with a hillside setting and views across the island. It can work well for golfers who would enjoy a shorter round, or as a second golf day alongside Santiburi rather than as a replacement for an 18-hole championship experience.
Who it suits
- Golfers looking to add a flexible 9-hole option to a beach or resort stay.
- Travellers who enjoy a hillier, less conventional course environment.
- Groups that want variety after an 18-hole round at Santiburi.
Royal Samui is a venue to plan with current local advice rather than assumptions. Confirm the tee-time format, course condition, equipment, transport and access arrangements before it is committed to the itinerary. That allows the day to be built around the right vehicle, journey time and playing plan for your party.
What happened to Bophut Hills?
Older Koh Samui golf articles may still list Bophut Hills as a small 9-hole or pitch-and-putt option. Current local sources identify the venue as closed for conventional golf, with one current guide reporting that it has been converted to disc golf. For that reason, it should not be used as a confirmed ball-golf option in a current Koh Samui itinerary.
When to plan a Koh Samui golf trip
Koh Samui’s seasonal pattern differs from some of Thailand’s other golf regions, so avoid treating a country-wide weather guide as a guarantee for the island. In broad terms, December to April is commonly favoured for drier conditions; May to August can be a quieter period with tropical showers; and October to early December can bring wetter conditions. The sensible approach is to select dates around your tolerance for heat and rain, then check the current forecast close to travel.
Planning tip: build a little flexibility into the golf order. If weather or access changes, a well-planned itinerary can move a round, change a tee-time window or make more room for the island itself.
Planning the stay: golf, resort and transport together
A Koh Samui golf trip works best when the hotel base, course transfers and number of rounds are planned together. A single-base stay can leave time for Santiburi, an optional shorter Royal Samui round, practice, beach time and non-golf activities without turning the holiday into a race between tee boxes. If you are comparing Koh Samui with other regions, start with our Thailand golf holiday guide, browse Thailand golf itineraries, or use our tailor-made Thailand planning guide to shape the wider route.
What Asia Golf Breaks can arrange
- Current availability checks for golf, accommodation and transfers.
- A Koh Samui stay built around the number of rounds and pace that suit your group.
- Private airport and golf-course transfer planning, subject to the confirmed itinerary.
- Accommodation, golf and island experiences coordinated in one clear proposal.
Start a Koh Samui golf conversation
Tell us your approximate dates, group size and what you want from the island stay. We will use that as a starting point to check the current practical details and shape a tailored recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
How many golf courses are currently available on Koh Samui?
For a conventional golf itinerary, current sources support Santiburi Samui Country Club as the island’s 18-hole course and Royal Samui as a 9-hole option. Bophut Hills should not be included because current sources list it as closed to ball golf.
Do I need to book Santiburi in advance?
Yes. Santiburi’s published playing rules ask visitors to make reservations in advance. Confirm the preferred tee-time window, caddie and cart arrangements, current fees and any rental requirements before travel.
Can Royal Samui be added as a second round?
It can be considered as a contrasting 9-hole mountain round. Its format, course condition, transport and access should be checked for the intended date before it is included in a final itinerary.
When is the best time to play golf in Koh Samui?
December to April is commonly favoured for drier conditions, but weather can vary by week and by area of the island. Check the current forecast before you travel and allow a degree of flexibility in the golf schedule.
Can Asia Golf Breaks arrange a Koh Samui golf holiday?
Yes. We can build a tailored starting point around your dates, preferred number of rounds, accommodation style, transport needs and non-golf interests, then check availability before anything is confirmed.
Sources and fact-checking note
This guide was reviewed on 10 October 2026 against the Santiburi Samui Country Club course information, the Santiburi resort golf page, current Samui Golf booking information, a current Royal Samui listing, the Thai Meteorological Department’s Samui forecast service, and current Bophut status sources. Course operations, fees, availability, weather and access arrangements can change, so all booking-specific details should be reconfirmed before travel.
