Hawaii Golf Courses, Island by Island
Where to play, when to tee off and how to plan a golf trip to the islands.
Plan a Hawaii Golf TripGolf in Hawaii, Island by Island
Hawaii golf courses sit on lava fields, cliff tops, old plantation land and the slopes of volcanoes, so a round here is part sport and part sightseeing. Hawaii’s Best Golf is a planning guide for that kind of trip: which island suits your game, which notable courses are on each one, when the wind and weather help or hurt, whether to rent clubs or fly with them, and how to pair golf with a resort stay.
We keep to golf. For beaches, restaurants, sights and everything else on each island, we point you to our island guides, so you get one clear answer here rather than a repeat of what you can read there. We do not publish green fees, because they change by season, time of day and hotel package; your travel specialist can price a full trip for you.
Oahu
The most courses and the shortest drives, from city municipal layouts to resort golf on the west side and North Shore.
Maui
Kapalua, Kaanapali and Wailea: three resort areas with courses close to where most visitors stay.
Big Island
The Kohala Coast’s black-lava resort courses, plus cooler upland golf near Volcano.
Kauai & Lanai
Garden Island courses (check post-hurricane status) and Lanai’s single cliff-top course.
When to Play
Trade winds, morning vs afternoon tee times, wet and dry seasons, and heat.
Club Rentals
Renting vs bringing your set, airline and inter-island bag questions.
How to Choose From the Best Golf Courses Hawaii Has to Offer
There is no single list of the best golf courses Hawaii offers that works for everyone. A scratch golfer chasing tournament layouts, a couple who want nine relaxed holes before lunch, and a family where only one person plays all need different islands. These four questions narrow it down quickly:
- How many rounds? One or two rounds fit any island. Five or more rounds point to Maui or the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, where several courses sit within a short drive of each other.
- Where are you staying? Driving across Oahu at rush hour or from Wailea to Kapalua eats into the day. Pick courses near your hotel, or a hotel near your courses.
- How do you handle wind? Coastal courses can play several clubs longer when the trades are up. If wind ruins your game, favor morning tee times and more sheltered layouts.
- Is golf the trip or part of it? If non-golfers are along, base yourself where the beaches and sights are strong too, and use our island guides for their days.
Shortlisting the best golf courses Hawaii has for your own trip is mostly about base and timing. As a rough guide: Oahu suits travelers who want golf without changing hotels, and who also want Honolulu’s museums, dining and Pearl Harbor. Maui suits golfers who want resort courses near beach hotels. The Big Island’s Kohala Coast suits golfers who want sun and a run of championship-style rounds. Kauai suits travelers who want scenery first. Lanai suits a quiet splurge.
For a whole-state overview of islands, seasons and itineraries, start with My Hawaii Planner; this site then fills in the golf.
The Islands at a Glance
| Island | Golf character | Notable courses (examples) | Island guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oahu | Most courses; city municipal golf plus resort courses in the west and on the North Shore | Ko Olina Golf Club; Turtle Bay (Arnold Palmer and Fazio courses); Ala Wai Golf Course | Oahu Planner |
| Maui | Three resort areas on the west and south shores | Kapalua Plantation and Bay courses; Kaanapali’s two courses; Wailea Golf Club | Maui Planner |
| Hawaii Island | Resort courses carved through lava on the dry Kohala Coast | Mauna Kea Golf Course; Hapuna; Mauna Lani; Waikoloa Beach and Kings’ | Best of Hawaii Island |
| Kauai | Scenic courses on the north and south shores; recovering after Hurricane Lowell | Princeville Makai; Poipu Bay; Wailua (county course) | Best of Kauai |
| Lanai | One resort course on the cliffs above the sea | Manele Golf Course (Jack Nicklaus design) | Best of Lanai |
Molokai is not a golf destination; most visitors go for its quiet and its culture, which Molokai Planner covers in depth.
Planning a Hawaii Golf Vacation
Hawaii golf courses fill fastest in the winter high season, so book tee times as soon as your dates are firm, especially in the busy winter months and around holidays, and ask whether your hotel has preferred times at its own course. Allow for a rest day: heat, sun and wind add up over several rounds. Pack sun protection, a hat and more water than you think, and leave space in the schedule for weather, since a passing shower can delay a round.
Flights and hotels are usually the biggest part of the budget. Compare flights on Airfares for Less and hotel rates on Rooms Cheap, or let a specialist bundle flights, a golf resort and a rental car into one quote. If you are investing in a long trip or traveling with expensive equipment, read what a policy covers on Cruise & Travel Insurance.
Hawaii Golf Questions
Which island has the best golf courses in Hawaii?
Each island has a different strength. Maui and the Kohala Coast of the Big Island have the biggest clusters of resort courses, Oahu has the most courses overall and the easiest logistics, Kauai mixes ocean and mountain scenery, and Lanai offers a single quiet Nicklaus layout. The best choice depends on whether you want variety, convenience or seclusion.
Do I need to bring my own clubs to Hawaii?
No. Most resort and many public courses rent full sets, and rental sets at resort courses are usually current models. Bring your own if you play several rounds, are particular about fit, or want to avoid rental logistics; see our club rentals page for the trade-offs.
Can visitors play the private clubs?
Some of Hawaii’s best-known clubs are private or members-and-guests only. This site names them where they matter for context, but plan your trip around courses that welcome visitors, and confirm access directly with the course or through your travel specialist.
Hawaii’s Best Golf is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
Ask for a Hawaii golf quote and a travel specialist will plan the islands, hotels and tee-time timing with you personally — not a call center. Meet Mister Cruise →
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