The 10 Best Golf Courses in Asia and the Middle East to Play in 2027

Direct Answer

Golf across Asia and the Middle East ranges from Japan's revered MacKenzie-era classics to Dubai's floodlit desert resorts and Thailand's tropical parkland. Our Best Overall pick is Hirono Golf Club in Japan, a Charles Alison masterpiece where a 2027 visitor round runs about ¥35,000 (≈$235).

The Best Value play is Black Mountain Golf Club in Thailand at roughly THB 4,000 (≈$115), a multiple Asian Tour host of championship quality. This list is for golfers exploring the region's best courses, with fees spanning roughly $115 to $700. Every course below is a real, currently-operating venue ranked on design pedigree, conditioning, championship history, and overall experience.

1. Hirono Golf Club (Japan) 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Near Kobe, Hirono Golf Club is the consensus #1 course in Japan and one of the best in all of Asia, a Charles Alison design from 1932 routinely ranked among the world's top 50. It hosted the 2022 Women's World Amateur and is revered for its strategic bunkering and natural routing.

Visitor access is limited (member-hosted), with effective green fees about ¥35,000 (≈$235) for 2027.

Set among pines and ravines, its dramatic carry-bunkers — "Alison bunkers" — gave the term to Japanese golf, with deep, steep-faced hazards guarding the diagonal carries off the tee. A meticulous restoration in recent years recovered Alison's original design intent, sharpening the bunker shapes and reclaiming lost playing widths.

Hirono ranks #1 for its golden-age pedigree, world-elite status, and its standing as the definitive expression of classic course architecture in Asia. Because it is a private, member-hosted club, visiting golfers typically arrange access through an introduction or a specialist Japan golf-tour operator well in advance of their trip.

2. Emirates Golf Club (Majlis Course) (UAE)

In Dubai, the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club was the first grass course in the Middle East and hosts the long-running Dubai Desert Classic (a DP World Tour event won by stars from Woods to McIlroy). Visitor green fees run about AED 1,200 (≈$325) for 2027.

Set against the Dubai skyline with desert dunes framing lush fairways, its par-3 7th and dramatic par-4 8th are signatures. Immaculately conditioned and floodlit for night golf, it's the flagship of Gulf golf. Emirates ranks for its tour pedigree, iconic skyline setting, and status as the Middle East's most famous course.

The club's second 18, the Faldo Course, is fully floodlit for night golf in Dubai's intense climate, and the venue's central location near Dubai Marina puts it within easy reach of the city's luxury hotels, dining, and the other Gulf championship courses, making it the natural anchor of a winter golf-and-leisure trip to the Emirates.

3. Kawana (Fuji Course) (Japan)

On Japan's Izu Peninsula, the Fuji Course at Kawana is a stunning Charles Alison clifftop design overlooking Sagami Bay, often called the "Pebble Beach of Japan." Visitor green fees run about ¥30,000 (≈$200) for 2027.

Holes play along the coastline with views of Mount Fuji on clear days, blending dramatic ocean scenery with classic strategic design. Part of a historic resort, it's far more accessible to visitors than Hirono. Kawana ranks for its breathtaking coastal setting, Alison pedigree, and its appeal as Japan's most scenic resort course.

4. Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth Course) (UAE)

In Dubai, the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates hosts the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the climax of Europe's tour calendar. A Greg Norman design, it's a long, water-laced parkland test. Visitor green fees run about AED 1,000 (≈$270) for 2027.

Tree-lined fairways, large lakes, and a dramatic par-5 18th finishing hole make it a true championship venue. Immaculately maintained in the desert climate, it anchors a luxury residential community. Jumeirah's Earth Course ranks for its season-ending tour pedigree and its standing as one of the Gulf's premier modern championship courses.

5. Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) 💎 BEST VALUE

In Hua Hin, Black Mountain Golf Club is a multiple-time Asian Tour host (including the Thailand Open) routinely ranked the #1 course in Thailand. Visitor green fees run about THB 4,000 (≈$115) for 2027 — excellent value for a championship venue. It earns the Best Value badge.

Carved from an old pineapple plantation against a mountain backdrop, it offers rolling fairways, water hazards, and excellent conditioning. The tropical setting and warm hospitality make it a destination favorite, and the resort's on-site academy, accommodation, and second water-park-adjacent course make it an easy multi-day base.

Hua Hin's broader cluster of quality courses and its beach-town setting two-and-a-half hours from Bangkok make Black Mountain the anchor of one of Asia's best-value golf trips. Black Mountain ranks as the Best Value pick — genuine Asian Tour championship golf at a fraction of the region's marquee prices.

6. Sentosa Golf Club (Serapong Course) (Singapore)

On Sentosa Island, the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club hosts the Singapore Open and (in recent years) the HSBC Women's World Championship. Visitor green fees run about SGD 600 (≈$445) for 2027.

Set along the waterfront with views of the Singapore skyline and harbor, it's a lush, immaculately conditioned tropical parkland test with water on many holes. Frequently ranked among Asia's best, it's a showcase of city-state golf. Serapong ranks for its tour pedigree, stunning skyline-and-sea setting, and world-class conditioning in the tropics.

7. Yas Links (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

In Abu Dhabi, Yas Links is a Kyle Phillips (of Kingsbarns fame) design and one of the few true links-style courses in the Middle East, ranked the #1 course in the UAE. It hosted the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Visitor green fees run about AED 900 (≈$245) for 2027.

Built along the Arabian Gulf with seawater channels, dunes, and firm, fast turf, it brings genuine links character to the desert coast. Yas Links ranks for its links authenticity, Phillips pedigree, and its standing as the highest-rated course in the Emirates — a desert-coast standout.

8. Mission Hills (Olazabal Course) (China)

In Shenzhen, Mission Hills is the world's largest golf complex, and its Olazabal Course (designed with input from José María Olazábal) has hosted the World Cup of Golf and other international events. Visitor green fees run about CNY 1,500 (≈$210) for 2027.

With 12 courses across two sites, Mission Hills offers championship designs by a who's who of golf names. The Olazabal course is a demanding, well-conditioned test among rolling hills. Mission Hills ranks for its scale, tournament pedigree, and its role as the symbol of China's modern golf boom.

9. Naruo Golf Club (Japan)

Near Osaka, Naruo Golf Club is a Crane/Alison-influenced classic routinely ranked among Japan's top five, set on dramatic hillside terrain with ravines and elevation changes. Visitor access is limited (member-hosted), with effective green fees about ¥30,000 (≈$200) for 2027.

The course blends strategic golden-age design with stunning natural topography, demanding precise placement off the tee. Its seclusion and quality make it a connoisseur's favorite. Naruo ranks for its classic design pedigree and its standing alongside Hirono and Kawana among Japan's finest traditional courses.

10. Thai Country Club (Thailand)

Near Bangkok, Thai Country Club is a championship parkland course that hosted Tiger Woods's first professional win in Asia at the 1997 Asian Honda Classic and multiple Johnnie Walker Classics. Visitor green fees run about THB 5,500 (≈$160) for 2027.

Immaculately conditioned with broad fairways, water hazards, and mature trees, it's long been Thailand's premier tournament venue near the capital. Thai Country Club rounds out the list for its rich championship history, excellent conditioning, and convenient access from Bangkok — a polished, prestigious tropical test.

How to Choose

Golf across Asia and the Middle East spans dramatically different climates, cultures, and access models, so planning is essential. Climate drives timing: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are best from October to April when temperatures are mild and night golf under floodlights is an option, Japan shines in spring and autumn, and Thailand and Singapore play year-round, with the cooler November-to-February window most comfortable.

Access varies sharply — Japan's revered classics like Hirono and Naruo are private, member-hosted clubs requiring an introduction or a specialist tour operator, while Dubai's resort courses and Thailand's championship venues welcome visiting golfers freely. Costs range from the THB 4,000 (≈$115) value at Black Mountain to the SGD 600 (≈$445) premium at Sentosa, and the region's golf pairs naturally with world-class hospitality, food, and sightseeing.

Use these guidelines to build your itinerary:

• Match destination to climate. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are best October–April; Japan shines in spring and autumn; Thailand and Singapore play year-round (cooler Nov–Feb).
• Match fee to budget. Sentosa Serapong (~$445) and Emirates (~$325) are splurges; Black Mountain (~$115) and Thai Country Club (~$160) deliver championship golf cheaply.
• Arrange access to Japan's classics early. Hirono and Naruo are member-hosted private clubs — plan well ahead or use a specialist operator.
• Use Dubai for floodlit and resort golf. Emirates and Jumeirah offer night golf and luxury resort packages in the cooler months.
• Pair golf with the destination. Tokyo/Kyoto culture, Dubai luxury, and Thai beaches make regional golf a full vacation.

FAQ

What is the best golf course in Asia?

Hirono Golf Club near Kobe, Japan, is the consensus #1 in Asia, a 1932 Charles Alison design ranked among the world's top 50, revered for its strategic bunkering and classic golden-age architecture.

What is the best-value top course in the region?

Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, at about THB 4,000 (≈$115), offers a multiple-time Asian Tour championship venue for a fraction of the region's marquee fees, making it the standout value.

Where is the best golf in the Middle East?

Dubai and Abu Dhabi lead, with the Emirates Majlis Course (Dubai Desert Classic), Jumeirah's Earth Course (DP World Tour Championship), and Yas Links (the UAE's #1) all hosting major DP World Tour events.

Can visitors play Japan's classic courses?

Access is restricted. Hirono and Naruo are private, member-hosted clubs requiring an introduction or a specialist tour operator. Kawana's Fuji Course is a resort course far more open to visiting golfers.

Bottom Line

For the best of Asian and Middle Eastern golf, Hirono Golf Club in Japan at about ¥35,000 (≈$235) is the Best Overall — a world-top-50 Charles Alison classic. For incredible value, Black Mountain Golf Club in Thailand at roughly THB 4,000 (≈$115) delivers Asian Tour championship golf at a bargain.

Sources

• *Golf Digest* — World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses ranking
• *Top 100 Golf Courses* (top100golfcourses.com) — Asia and Middle East rankings
• DP World Tour and Asian Tour — event venue history
• *Golf Digest Japan* — Top 100 Japanese courses
• Emirates Golf Club and Sentosa Golf Club — official course information
• *Golf Asian* / *Asian Golf* magazine — regional course profiles
• *Links Magazine* — Asia and Middle East course reviews