Hawaii is filled to the brim with memorable experiences. Volcanoes, sunsets, and stunning beaches await the visitor at every single turn. If none of those things float your boat, you can always hit a little white ball around on the grass. Here is my official guide to playing golf on Hawaii’s big island.
Out of all the Hawaiian islands, the west side of the big island provides the most dense option for high quality golf. You have several top 100 caliber public courses, several budget options and a handful of private courses that will make your mouth water. So what’s next after you pick up your clubs at KOA baggage claim?
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Where to Stay
A good golf trip needs an operational HQ that allows quick and easy access to all golf destinations. The big island offers you plenty of options to set up shop.
The Four Seasons, The Marriott, The Hilton, Mauna Lani, The Hapuna Westin, and Mauna Kea all offer a first class ocean front experience with easy access to golf. These options also come with a substantial price tag.
Airbnb is your next best option and you can find some affordable lounging if you stray slightly from the coast. We opted for a little condo up in Waikoloa Village that set us back $1400 for a week. All golf was still within a 30 minute drive and the Waikoloa Village course was right in our backyard.
The Waikoloa Village golf club
The Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Tower Waikoloa Village
Must Play Public Options
There are 4 public golf courses all within a 30 minute drive that you will need to see. All of these golf courses are premier ocean front experiences that should not be missed.
Hapuna Golf Course
Hapuna is the sister course of the highly ranked Mauna Kea. While most golfers will miss this gem located just above the Mauna Kea, I am here to suggest that you don’t skimp out on Hapuna. While it might not have the ocean side holes, it still boasts plenty of ocean views.
Hualalai Golf Course
Located right next to the Four Seasons resort, Hualalai is a member of Golf Digest’s 100 greatest public golf courses. I would pay the green fee just to play the 17th hole alone. Fortunately, they will let you play the other 17 holes as well.
The signature 17th at Hualalai.
The sand pits on 17
The inland holes in Hawaii are often overlooked, but should not be dismissed.
Mauna Kea
If your travel circumstances allow for only one round of golf, Mauna Kea should be your selection. The elevation change on the inland holes set this golf course a step ahead of its neighbors. The 3rd and 11th holes offer dramatic ocean side opportunities for a glorious hole-in-one.
This stunning 3rd hole at Mauna Kea kicks up the heat early on in the round.
I attempt to drive the green on #9. I came up 140 yards short.
The par 5 10th hole at Mauna Kea
Personal Brag Alert. I made a pretty radical birdie from under the trees on the 6th hole.
Mauna Lani - South
The south course at Mauna Lani is worth the price of admission for the par 3 15th hole alone. At 196 yards from the back tees this golf hole is amongst the best one-shotters in Hawaii. We went snorkeling in the little bay below the green as the sun began to set. I took plenty of pictures.
The 15th hole at sunset
The back tee box on 15 is a total vibe and one of my favorite spots in Hawaii.
The 7th at Mauna Lani South is somehow overshadowed by 15.
Mauna Lani - North
The north course at Mauna Lani doesn’t get as much play due to it’s lack of dramatic ocean front holes, but it should not be missed. A more target oriented approach affords the golfer plenty of challenge and some equally scenic inland holes.
The finish hole on Mauna Lani’s North course
Budget Friendly Golf
Most of the options on the big island are expensive and the premier tee times will set you back around $350. The courses listed below will satisfy your Hawaiian golfing desires without causing you to miss rent.
Waikoloa Beach
You have options with 27 holes of Hawaiian golf at Waikoloa Beach. The Lake, Beach, and Kings’ nine are all worth the walk out the backdoor of the Hilton. 18 hole rates are just north of $100.
Waikoloa Village
Just a 15 minute trek inland will put you into Waikoloa Village and at one of the most affordable options on the Big Island. This is one of the few options where you can play for less than $100.
Makani Golf Club
This Perry Dye golf course will very quickly remind you of Pete Dye’s most famous designs. Even the 17th hole is a representation of the iconic 17th at TPC Sawgrass. As a lover of Pete Dye designs, I immediately took a liking to the golf course. It’s lack of forgiveness could give some golfers trouble but it certainly makes up for some difficulty with a few very scoreable and scenic golf holes.
Makani Golf Club could easily be a part of the must play public golf list, but a change of ownership has lead to a lack of funding to properly care for the golf course.
Kona Country Club
Located just south of the Kona airport is the very enjoyable Kona Country Club. With most of the resorts getting the tourist traffic, Kona Country Club is able to fly under the radar even while being the best value on the big island.
With a stretch of 3 holes on the front nine and 2 holes on the back nine, Kona Country Club has a total of 5 golf holes that touch the ocean. That’s golf course never strays far from the sea and the inland golf holes do a great job of bridging the gap between ocean side stretches.
I have tirelessly scoured the island and Makalei is the only other budget friendly option that I have identified on the island. I have yet to visit, but I will provide a full scouting report in a future update.
Side Action
I have been told that Hawaii has some interesting sights to see that don’t involve a fairway and a pin flag, so I set out to see some of this side action for myself. First thing I did was climb a tree to see what was good.
On my lookout, I immediately noticed Onomea Bay and the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Gardens. It’s about an hour drive over the Saddle Road to the other side of the island and well worth it. Be sure to pay a visit to the Kaumana Caves along the way. It’s right off the road and an easy stop to make.
“I just may spend all day at Onomea Bay, what do you say? ”
Onomea Bay
Girlfriend tree at Onomea Bay
Located right next to Onomea Bay is the Hawaii Tropic Bioreserve & Gardens. The HTBG contains over 2,000 species of plants and flowers, representing more than 125 families and 750 genera. I managed to capture a few of my favorites with my camera.
“This place is freakin’ rad”
After some farmers’ market action in Hilo and a quick visit to Rainbow Falls we headed back over the Saddle Road for more golf. It must be noted that there is a waterfall named Peepee Falls in the area. We didn’t visit and it is my lone regret from this trip to Hawaii.
Sunset over the Saddle Road.
Private Golf
The private golf courses of America usually offer the highest quality golf and Hawaii is no exception. If you have the chance to snag a tee time at any of these courses, you should stop, drop and roll out immediately.
Hokulia Golf Club
There is only one Jack Nicklaus design on the big island and his effort at Hokulia is one of his finest. The golf course takes full advantage of its ocean side location with views of the sea from every single golf hole.
There are a lot of great golf holes at Hokulia, but my favorite might have been the lava rock ridden 8th hole. Playing back towards the ocean, this one shotter
Kukio Golf & Beach Club
The lone Tom Fazio design in Hawaii offers up some serious eye candy as it winds through the lava rock.
“The execution of building over jagged lava was difficult. We had to ‘walk’ a bulldozer over the lava flow to evaluate where to situate the course in relation to the coastline. The resources afforded to me has produced a course that is as good as any in the world.”
Kohaniki Golf Club
Somehow this gem manages to fly under the radar on the Big Island. With a back nine that offers some serious ocean front vistas this Rees Jones’ design is one of the best on the Big Island. The 580 yard 12th hole is also one of the longest.
The finishing 18th at Kohanaiki.
Nanea Golf Club
The best golf course in the state of Hawaii is Nanea. As far as I am concerned it’s not even close. This David McLay Kidd checks all the boxes as one of the best golf courses in America.
