Santiburi Samui Country Club, Maenam — Green Fees & Guide

Overview

Santiburi Samui Country Club is Koh Samui’s only 18-hole golf course, cut into the steep hills above Maenam on the island’s north coast. Opened in 2003, the par-72 layout climbs from about 30 meters near the clubhouse to close to 290 meters at its highest point, running through former coconut plantations with views over the Gulf of Thailand and Koh Phangan. General green fees run ฿5,800 (~166 USD) for 18 holes, with an early-bird rate of ฿3,550 (~101 USD) for tee times between 06:00 and 07:00, as published on the club’s own site in September 2026.

Key takeaways

• Koh Samui’s only full 18-hole course — par 72, roughly 6,900 yards from the back tees, elevation 30-290 meters.
• Opened in 2003, designed by Edward Thiele and Pirapon Namatra across hillside coconut-plantation terrain above Maenam.
• Green fees run ฿1,675-5,800 (~48-166 USD) depending on early-bird, general or twilight tee times, as of September 2026.
• TripAdvisor reviews were still being posted as of July 2026.
• Children under 12 are not permitted on the course, and groups are capped at five golfers.

Key Facts

Santiburi Samui Country Club operates from a single hillside site above Maenam village, reached by a signed access road off the north-coast ring road.

The Hillside Course

Santiburi Samui Country Club’s signature feature is its hillside routing — a trait that separates it from every other golf option on Koh Samui. Fairways climb and drop across a former coconut plantation, with elevation swinging from about 30 meters near the clubhouse to close to 290 meters at the highest point on the course. Designers Edward Thiele and Pirapon Namatra opened the course in 2003, routing holes around cliffs, streams and mature palms rather than flattening the hillside first.

The terrain rewards accurate shot-making over raw distance: fairways narrow on several holes as they climb or drop, while the greens are built wide enough to make approach shots more forgiving than the tee shots that set them up. Golf carts are effectively mandatory here — the slopes are too steep for most players to comfortably walk a full 18 holes in Samui’s heat. TripAdvisor reviewers consistently single out the caddies and the panoramic views toward the Gulf of Thailand and Koh Phangan, alongside occasional complaints about course conditioning during the wettest months, worth checking locally before booking a round in the September-to-November window (TripAdvisor listing).

Green Fees (2026)

Green fees at Santiburi Samui Country Club are published in three bands by tee time, current as of September 2026 on the club’s own site.

A separate cart-and-caddy breakdown published by course directories lists an 18-hole green fee of ฿4,000, a caddy fee of ฿550 and a cart fee of ฿750 — a combination that lands close to the club’s own general rate once bundled together. The club’s site also references seasonal discounted packages of up to 42% off standard rates without listing fixed figures; current promotions are published directly on santiburigolfsamui.com rather than repeated here. Extra equipment — golf sets, shoes, umbrellas — rents separately at the pro shop.

Getting There

Santiburi Samui Country Club sits in the hills roughly 5 minutes’ drive from the Santiburi Koh Samui resort and about 30 minutes from Chaweng Beach by car, according to course-directory listings current in 2026. The access road climbs steeply from the north-coast ring road (Route 4169), so a rental scooter is a poor choice for the final approach — a car, taxi, or hotel transfer is the practical option. No confirmed taxi fare for this specific route turned up in the sources checked for this page; ask a hotel concierge or driver for a current quote before setting off.

Nearby

Santiburi Samui Country Club sits directly above Maenam Beach, which runs along the coastline below the course and makes an easy stop before or after a round. The Chinese Temple of Maenam sits in the village center a few minutes downhill, and the Maenam to Magic Garden Traverse hiking route climbs through the same range of hills a little further inland. For the wider area, Maenam covers the village, beach and where-to-stay picture, and golf in Koh Samui puts this course alongside the island’s other golf and football-golf options. Bang Po Beach, quieter again than Maenam, lies a short drive further west.

Pros and Cons

Santiburi Samui Country Club’s biggest strength is scarcity value: it is the only full 18-hole course on the island, so anyone wanting a serious round on Samui has one option, and it happens to be a genuinely scenic one, with hillside fairways and Gulf-of-Thailand views that few Thai courses can match. The three-tier fee structure also gives some flexibility — an early or twilight round costs meaningfully less than the general daytime rate. Set against that, the hillside routing is demanding rather than relaxing: steep elevation changes, mandatory carts and Samui’s heat make it a tougher day out than a resort-flat course, and TripAdvisor reviews flag inconsistent course conditioning in the wet season. Children under 12 cannot play, and the climb up the access road rules out a scooter visit, so budget for a car, taxi or hotel transfer on top of the green fee.

FAQ

How much are green fees at Santiburi Samui Country Club?

Green fees run ฿3,550 (~101 USD) for an early-bird 18-hole round between 06:00 and 07:00, ฿5,800 (~166 USD) for the general 18-hole rate, and ฿1,675 (~48 USD) for a twilight 9-hole round from 15:30 onward. These are the rates published on santiburigolfsamui.com as of September 2026; seasonal discounts apply on top.

Is Santiburi Samui Country Club the only golf course on Koh Samui?

Yes — Santiburi Samui Country Club is the island’s only full 18-hole golf course. Koh Samui also has Samui Football Golf near Big Buddha, a footgolf course rather than a traditional club, covered alongside Santiburi on the site’s golf in Koh Samui guide.

What par and yardage does the course play?

The course is a par-72 layout playing approximately 6,900 yards from the back tees, though published yardage varies slightly (6,824-6,930 yards) between course directories. It opened in 2003, designed by Edward Thiele and Pirapon Namatra across hillside terrain rising from about 30 to 290 meters in elevation.

Can children play at Santiburi Samui Country Club?

No — the club does not permit children under 12 on the course. Groups are capped at a maximum of five golfers, and a full round typically takes around 4 hours 30 minutes to complete.

How do I get to Santiburi Samui Country Club?

The course sits in the hills above Maenam, about 5 minutes’ drive from the Santiburi Koh Samui resort and roughly 30 minutes from Chaweng Beach. The final approach road climbs steeply, so arrive by car, taxi or hotel transfer rather than scooter.

Is Santiburi Samui Country Club still open in 2026?

Yes. The club’s own website published course-maintenance and news updates in August 2026, and TripAdvisor reviews were still being posted as of July 2026, both consistent with normal, current operation.