Black Mountain (East & North)

Hin LekFai, Prachaubkirikhan

Rankings

Address565 Moo7 Nong Hieng Road Hin LekFai Amphoe Hua Hin, Prachaubkirikhan 77110, Thailand

As the Nordic Group of investors developed the Black Mountain resort, it seems only appropriate that Swedish player Johan Edfors won the first professional tournament held on the course – the 2009 Asian tour-sanctioned Black Mountain Masters.

Situated close to the beach resort of Hua Hin, a long-time vacation spot of the Thai royal family, the East and North nines form the original 18-hole layout at Black Mountain Golf Club, which Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design laid out in 2007 to cater for championship and resort-style golfers.

The main course sits within a mountain valley where creeks have been incorporated into the design and distinctive native red grass frames many of the holes. Aquatic hazards are plentiful, the most memorable of which are the lake surrounding the island green at the par four 4th and the waterfall to the left of the green at the short 11th hole.

Many think the East's long par five 6th is the signature hole at Black Mountain. Played from tees benched into a hillside, it’s downhill all the way to a putting surface that sits behind a sizeable lake. Only the foolhardy will risk going for the green in two over water, sand and trees – much better to avoid these dangers by following the safe route to the right of the target.

In February 2015, Black Mountain hosted and presented the inaugural Thailand Classic, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. In preparation for the event the course was toughened by firming the greens and growing the rough. Australian Andrew Dodt won the tournament after graduating from Qualifying School in November 2014. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and fellow Aussie Scott Hend finished one shot back.

At the end of 2016, a new nine called the West course opened for play.