Best Public Golf Courses in Honolulu, Hawaii

Updated February 2024 to update booking information.

My wife, kids, and I never ended up making it to Hawaii last year because of COVID.  Out of all the travel I do every year, I’d be lying if I said our annual trip to Hawaii wasn’t my favorite. 

Sure, the weather’s great and the sites are beautiful, but there’s just something special about being in Hawaii that I can’t put my finger on.  Maybe it’s Island Time and the slow pace of life, or the fact that my mind quits racing and I find inner peace, my center, zen, or whatever.

Now that I’ve got my philosophical ramble out of the way, let’s get to the real reason you’re reading this article.  We’re here to talk about golf, specifically golf in Honolulu.  While I spend time doing plenty of other, family-type things when I’m on vacation, everybody knows Daddy’s got to squeeze in some golf.

I’ve played a fair amount of golf in Honolulu, but not as much as some of our readers.  My experience, combined largely with their input, is what culminated in this course guide.

Mahalo!

Explore the stunning Royal Hawaiian Golf Club, nestled between the Koolau Mountains and Mount Olomana, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding natural beauty.

This iconic course is a must-visit when experiencing Oahu Golf, as it’s renowned as one of the best golf courses on the Hawaiian island. Designed by none other than the legendary Arnold Palmer, this course has attracted both amateur and professional golfers alike.

Its challenging layout, featuring undulating greens and strategic water hazards, has even caught the attention of the PGA Tour, hosting various PGA Tours in the past.

The club takes pride in offering a memorable golfing experience, with impeccable course maintenance ensuring a high-quality playing surface. Additionally, the course provides multiple tees catering to different skill levels, making it accessible to a wide range of golfers.

With its serene setting, complete with beautiful floral gardens and lakes, Royal Hawaiian Golf Club provides a truly picturesque backdrop for a day of golfing on the Hawaiian island.

Nestled alongside the stunning Royal Hawaiian Golf Club, Ko Olina Golf Club offers an equally captivating golfing experience with its premier course and distinctive water features. Designed by Ted Robinson and opened in 1990, this Hawaiian gem provides an exceptional golfing experience on the island of Oahu. The course’s wide fairways cater to powerful drives, while the undulating greens and strategic water hazards demand precision and skillful approach shots.

Ko Olina Golf Club, spanning 190 acres of a former sugar cane plantation, has garnered acclaim for its beauty and challenging layout. It has been recognized as one of Golf Digest’s Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S. and has hosted prestigious events such as the LPGA Lotte Championship. Additionally, it serves as the home course of the renowned golfer Michelle Wie-West.

Whether you’re a seasoned PGA professional or a casual golfer, Ko Olina Golf Club offers a memorable and challenging experience. With excellent practice facilities and a picturesque setting, this club provides an opportunity for players of all levels to enjoy the beauty and excitement of golf in Hawaii.

Overlooking the iconic Pearl Harbor, Pearl Country Club offers golfers panoramic vistas and a challenging, undulating terrain to test their skills. This exceptional course demands strategic play due to its undulating terrain and water hazards, providing a true shot makers test with challenging features.

Designed by renowned architect Ted Robinson, the club offers an exceptional golfing experience. It consistently ranks as one of the best public golf courses in Oahu, Hawaii. The stunning views of Pearl Harbor add to the allure of this course, making it a must-visit for any golf enthusiast touring the island. The course’s unique layout and design make it a standout among the golf courses in Hawaii.

With its strategic challenges and beautiful surroundings, Pearl Country Club provides an unforgettable golfing experience that will appeal to both serious golfers and casual players alike. If you’re looking for a memorable round of golf during your visit to Oahu, Pearl Country Club is a top choice.

You’ll find Bayview Golf Course to be a charming and character-filled option for a round of golf in Honolulu. Known for its tight fairways and small, sloping greens, this shorter 3,400-yard course offers a unique and memorable golf experience.

Bayview Golf Course provides great value for golfers seeking an enjoyable round in a picturesque setting. The course’s tight fairways and undulating greens, coupled with its strategic layout, present a delightful challenge, requiring thoughtful shot-making.

Bayview Golf Course is a must-visit for those looking for a distinctive and enjoyable golfing experience on Oahu.

While Bayview Golf Course may not be as well-known as Waialae Country Club, Ko Olina, or the Prince or Palmer courses at Turtle Bay, it offers its own special appeal. Located in Ewa Beach, not far from the Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and the Kapolei Golf Club, it provides a unique golfing option in the Honolulu area.

Whether you’re a local resident or visiting for events like the Sony Open, Bayview Golf Course is a charming and affordable choice for a round of golf.

Situated on the sunny Ewa Plain, Hawaii Prince Golf Club offers golfers a stunning and strategic golfing experience with its impeccable maintenance and variety of unique nine-hole layouts.

Spanning 270 acres of undisturbed beauty, the course provides a serene escape with no houses or commercial buildings in sight. Renowned architect Ted Robinson’s design presents a challenging and strategic golfing experience, boasting undulating greens and stunning water hazards.

The course’s three distinct nine-hole layouts offer a variety of options for golfers to navigate the palm tree-lined fairways and enjoy breathtaking views of the Koolau Mountains. Hawaii Prince Golf Club is celebrated for its stunning water features and strategic layout, making it a premier golf destination on Oahu.

Golf enthusiasts can revel in the absence of houses or commercial edifices surrounding the course, allowing for an uninterrupted connection with nature. With its immaculate maintenance and practice facilities, this club offers a laid-back yet engaging golf experience in the heart of sunny Ewa.

Moving from the serene and strategic setting of Hawaii Prince Golf Club, the Waikele Country Club offers golfers splendid views of Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, providing a unique and challenging golf experience. The course provides a stern test for skilled players with water features and elevation changes.

Waikele Country Club’s Tiff Eagle greens are highly regarded, adding to the challenge and excitement of play. The layout and design of the course offer a rewarding experience, making it a top choice for those seeking a memorable round of golf. The setting of the club, from Pearl Harbor to Diamond Head, provides a backdrop that adds to the allure of the game.

• Challenging course with water features and elevation changes
• Highly regarded Tiff Eagle greens
• Unique and rewarding golf experience with splendid views
• Strategic layout and design for a memorable round of golf
• Stunning setting from Pearl Harbor to Diamond Head

Waikele Country Club truly stands out as one of the best public golf courses in Honolulu, Hawaii, offering a challenging and picturesque play for golf enthusiasts.

Located in Central Oahu, Waikele Country Club offers splendid views of both Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head. 

Designed by none other than Ted Robinson, this course provides a stern test for the best players, while being enjoyable for even the most rank beginners.  Water features and elevation changes can be found throughout. 

The course’s Tiff Eagle greens are also said to be some of the best on the island.  You just might get hot with the putter.

A true country club experience at a daily fee price, don’t miss out on Waikele Country Club.

The no-questions asked local’s favorite is the Championship Course at Hawaii Kai. 

Noticeable doglegs and frequent elevation changes can be found throughout this course.  Club selection and proper course management are what’s needed to play well. 

The good news is there are multiple sets of tees, and the fairways give you ample room with which to work. 

This track is what we can safely call Honolulu’s muni.  And you guys know I love munis.  I play here at least once every time I visit, and it never gets old.

Ted Robinson also designed Kapolei Golf Club, one of the finest public facilities in all of Hawaii. 

Over the years, Kapolei has played host to tournaments on both the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. 

The course sits on 190 acres of what was formerly a sugar cane plantation.  Suffice it to say the soil is fertile here and it’s easy to grow grass. 

Floral gardens and five crystalline lakes add to this course’s splendid beauty.  Not to mention there’s never a blade of grass out of place anywhere. 

Even though this isn’t the cheapest round of golf in the Honolulu area, it’s more than worth the price of admission.

Most of the golf in and around Honolulu is exquisitely manicured and otherworldly breathtaking.

What makes Hawaii Country Club special is that it’s not the most perfectly kept course in the world.  But that’s part of its beauty as far as I’m concerned.  Golf doesn’t always have to be about pomp and circumstance.

In fact, all this facility asks is that you be wearing clothes when you show up to play.  It doesn’t matter what they are or how they look.

The atmosphere is relaxed.  No one really cares if you shoot 66 or 106.  The point is that everyone should have fun. 

Hawaii Country Club is also the best value on the island too.  On the weekends you can play 18 holes for just $40, cart included.  That’s pretty tough to beat in my book.

Conclusion

Just writing this article has me thinking about sunsets over the Pacific, a tropical breeze waving through my hair, and a mai thai in my hand.  I hope with everything I’ve got I get to go back to Hawaii this year. 

Alright, enough is enough.

In all seriousness, there’s more than enough quality public golf in Honolulu to whet any appetite.  Even though some of it’s on the pricey side, golf here is an unforgettable experience.  You just have to go and find out for yourself.

I’d like to extend a special thanks to everyone that contributed to this course guide.  It sounds like many of you are anxious to get back to your favorite island too.  Let’s hope it happens sooner than later.