I'm going to Hua Hin for a short golf break and am planning to play at Springfield. As it now occurs to me that the green fees are the same for hotel guests and non hotel guests, I'm wondering if I should stay at Marriott or Hilton instead of the Springfield Golf Resort. I found a lot of people like Hilton and Marriott but can't find much on Springfield Golf Resort.

They 'used to' give discount, surprised they have stopped it. The pool is being renoved Aug 15 to Sept 9th durting which time they are only charging USD 30 a night including tax, breakfast etc.
It's a high rise right on the beach and quite nice, I guess they may still do the free transfer to and from the Golf Couse/resort. Springfield is one of the nice courses, also close to Lakeview.
Another high rise in the same area as Springfield is the Golden Sands which is now called the Novotel Tipviman Resort, if you wanted boutique style the Veranda or Casa Papaya Cha Am are nice.
I am now a lover of the Hilton as although nice rooms I don't really like high rise places, the distance you are from courses would make the Hyatt Regency just a little further, but then again the Hyatt is closer to Milford Course which is also nice. If you are looking in the USD100-120 range I would look at the Hyatt Regency, if you want boutique style then Casa papaya or Veranda in Cha Am or better still to be closer to restaurants and shopping the Kaban Tamor or Baan Talay Dao if you want boutique style in Hua Hin. A simple site that splits the hotels into type/range is www.hua-hin.8k.com, also shows clear which are 'on the beach' and which are near the beach and which are not.

How much does it cost to play golf in Hau Hin and what equipment is it essential to take with you ?

All the courses have the pretty much the same green fee and for a walk in it should run you around 2,000 to 2,500 baht(inc caddie). If you're a member at one of the course in Hua Hin then you can get a good rate for the other courses there about 1,500 baht(inc caddie).

Golf club rentals are ok(Mostly Galloway's & Taylor Made) at most courses(Lake View, Springfield, Railway etc). I would bring my own shoe or buy a pair of Footjoy while you're in Bangkok for about 2,000 baht.

Best course for condition of the the grass and good upkeep are Lake View and Springfield. I prefer Lake View because it has 27 holes and course "C" is a desert theme, sort of like playing in Arizona. Springfield is a Nicklaus design and very well kept.

Glad Hanuman has given those points as I am certainly no expert on the courses whatsoever, I believe though and sure hanuman can confirm that green fees are way less during the week?

don't stay at the hilton...ugh

I didn't know that the swmming pool at Springfield Golf Resort is under renovation and only charging US$30 per night. How did you find that rate? My travel agent quoted me US$120 per room and golf fee is about US$88 excl caddy and cart.

and why is Hilton no good?

You can find that rate on local site:

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/huahin/springfield/

Hilton is a high rise tower type hotel, nice rooms but high rise

Springfiled also have the Golf Village wqhicvh is at the course so not near the coast, you can see photos and a map showing relation of those places on

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/hu...lage/pictures/

Also the Hilton has no beach, only rocks. The Marriott does have a nice beach, but I prefer the Hyatt.

I always think the Hyatt at about USD 105 all in is good value, it is more than the marriott or Hilton, but worth it.