The History of Golf in Hawaii

[Sven Nilsen]

I stumbled across an interesting article from the Nov. 27, 1930 edition of the Prescott Evening Courier (copied below) discussing golf in Hawaii, including the description of a 19th hole where the player would launch a drive into a volcano.  The article notes that there were 20 courses on the four principal Hawaiian islands at that time:

Hilo - 7 courses
Maui - 4 courses
Kauai - 2 courses
Oahu - 7 courses (with an 18 hole municipal course being under construction)

Here are the courses that I know were in existence by around the time the article was written:

Ala Wai Municipal GC (Waikiki, Oahu) - possibly the municipal course that was under construction
Hilo CC (Hilo)
Kilauea GC (Hilo)
King Kalakua CC fka Schofield Barracks GC (Oahu)
Maui CC (Maui)
Mid Pacific CC (Honolulu, Oahu)
Oahu CC (Honolulu, Oahu)
Palolo Municipal GC (Palolo, Oahu) - another possibility for the new municipal course
Waialae CC (Honolulu, Oahu)
Waiehu Municipal Links (Wailuku, Maui)

That leaves the 2 courses on Kauai, 5 on Hilo, 2 on Maui and 2 on Oahu that are unaccounted for. 

[Jim_Kennedy]

On Oahu there was Haleiwa - a resort on the west coast, and Moanalua (became Honolulu GC near FT. Shafter, the private course of Mr. S. M. Damon that he opened for the public to use.

The opening of the Oahu CC
http://tinyurl.com/nynb98h

On Kauai there was the 9 hole Wailua golf course
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015411/1922-01-24/ed-1/seq-5.pdf

Haleiwa Golf Club Course, 2396 yards; bogie, 40.
Hilo Golf Club Course, 2296 yards; bogie, 41.
Honolulu Golf Club Course (Moanalua), 2154 yards; bogie 40.

There was a Nuuanu GC that was on Oahu, I think. Haven't pegged the location.
Manoa Golf Club Course, 2046 yards; bogie, 41.

There was a golf links at the Haleakala Ranch in Upper Makawao, Maui.

[Bill_McBride]

The really fun Navy Marine course near Pearl Harbor was designed by Billy Bell Sr and opened in 1948.   A foursome of admirals followed by a foursome of seaman deuces.   Similar to Presidio but only in that respect!

[DMoriarty]

Kukuiolono Golf Course (9 holes) on the south side of Kauai claims to date to 1928.   Haven't confirmed.