I'd like to get feedback from folks who have a good bit of knowledge on the golf in Hawaii.

I am preparing a major travel piece for a few speciality magazines and I'd like to get some sense of the best "pure golf" experience. Just to be clear -- I'm not speaking about the food, the pool, the spa, the views from the hotel -- yada, yada, yada. Just the golf -- pure and simple.

If you can assist with the top five courses on each of thes three islands listed below it would be most appreciated. Please list courses no matter the classification. Many thanks and happy holidays ...

*Oahu
*Maui
*Big Island

One other thing -- if you mention a course that you have played from say 5 years or more please make note of it because the most current info is always the more reliable.

Slag:

Do you have any Website info? Can you provide any other course specifics -- like approximate total length, designer, par for each nine, memorable holes beyond the 8th.

It sounds quite inviting.

I know my wife will enjoy the snorkeling part.

Thanks ...

Slag: I never imagined anyone on this DG would have played Kahuku. It's great fun and it's actually on the East shore of Oahu, as Turtle Bay is the end of the North Shore.

Matt: It really is a step back in time and you'll get to know some locals, so if you want to go surfing they can take you or you can at least drop their names so you don't get too "vibed" in the water. BTW, if you don't surf--at least try it once, go to Waikiki, home of the best beginner wave in the world.

It seems like you would dig Koolau which you can access from the East shore or the Honolulu area. It has some insanely high slope rating, 150ish as I recall.

 There's also Coral Creek (Robin Nelson) west of Honolulu that, on it's 10th hole, has a huge waterfall behind the green.  Other than that it has a lot of fun stuff.  

  http://www.coralcreekgolfhawaii.com/

 Andy, Jonathan C has also played it and has a great story to tell of Kaneohe Marine Base Golf Course, which has a few great holes.

 I wanted to play Ko'olau but ran out of time.  I was warned about it's severity but also that it was quite beautiful.  Next time for sure.

You can't beat the Kapalua Plantation course on Maui.  Great golf course, unbelievable views, etc. etc.  I also played the Palmer course there (Village?), which was decent resort golf, but nowhere near the Plantation course.

On the Big Island I played Mauna Kea, and was a little underwhelmed.

Hi Matt - The family & I are headed that way in January.
I was there last year as well on the Big Island.
Here's what I liked:

Hualulai - Nicklaus course - Senior PGA Tour stop in Jan.
Best greens I've seen in Hawaii.
Some of the holes are quite ordinary, others are exceptional.

I toured the Weiskopf 9 holes last year - didn't play it.
Seemed like too much elevation change for my taste.

Mauna Lani - North & South
OK - You asked for pure golf - the scenery and excitement of hitting the shots on the par 3's over water are fantastic.  Maybe it's not a purist's heaven, but I love the uniqueness of it.

Kapulua - Dilapidated.

Gentlemen:

Appreciate the help. I'll be in Hawaii the beginning of February for two weeks and since my wife and I will be with another couple (fortunately the guy does play golf) I'll need a good combination of golf options.

I'm grateful for those who have pinpointed a few places that are modest in the green fees department. I will only have two days in Oahu before venturing to the Big Island for a week and then a about 4-5 days in Maui.

Just a quick question for those who may know --

How worthwhile is playing The Price Course on Kaui? It's been consistently rated among the 4-5 best courses in all of the islands and wanted to get some feedback.

Jonathan:

Thanks for the heads-up on Koolau although I have to add that from what I have heard the course is perpetually wet and a few of the "forced carries" from the tips can be a bit much. Nonetheless, it might be something to see.

I'll contact you after Xmas for a few thoughts.

One last thing --

On Oahu I'm looking to play something that fits the Hawaiian landscape with some real architectural elements that are beyond the r-e-s-o-r-t-i-s-h type stuff that dots the landscape. If someone has the "one" place on Oahu that fits the bill I'm all ears.

On the Big Island there seems to be a mixed bag regarding Kapulua -- some rave about it and yet I have heard from a few others that it doesn't have the complete package for the entire round.

P.S. I hope to check out Nanea and play the new Nicklaus course for Lyle Anderson called The Club at Hokuli'a -- both on the Big Island.

Appreciate all the feedback and suggestions ...

Maui has a lot of good golf courses, but price could be a factor.  Kapalua Bay is just beautiful.  The hotel there is in a gorgeous spot and the snorkling there is first rate.  The Plantation course is definitely worth playing and I have always enjoyed the Bay Course with it's ocean vistas.  Makena is also very good. The Trent Jones Jr. North course is a challenging and pretty layout. The Sands at Maui Lani is a  links course near the airport.  Very windy, it is an ok layout but reasonable in price.  My good friend Bill Greenleaf, former head pro at Sunningdale in Scarsdale, N.Y. is the director of instruction and is an awesome teacher. If you had a lot of time, it's certainly worth going to Lanai-  the Lodge at Koele is fabulous and the Greg Norman Experience at Koele is  very nice with one of the most spectacular driving holes you will every see.
     On the Big Island, the Mauna Kea is the best course- it is very classy and architecturally excellent. I think it's the best course I have played in Hawaii. In the winter you can often see whales. The Mauna Lani courses are fun because of the stark contrast between the fairways and the black lava.
     If you did get to Kauai, Princeville is terrific although you have to play it a couple of times because you can run out of fairway on some holes, and Kauai Lagoons is a lot of fun.  Poipu, although well known is not that great in my book.  

Matt:

Will get back on this one but 2 quick thoughts:

1) I'm the only guy I know that doesn't think The Prince is the best course in Hawai'i.  Like Hudson National, it's a fine effort on a tough piece of property.  The other courses on Kauai are just as good IMO - one of them a hidden gem called Grove Farms that Steve Case just bought and finished the last 4 holes.

I also like Maidstone a lot so consider the source of this opinion.

2) The purest golf on Oahu is Oahu CC, IMO.  Mid-Pac is close behind and Kaneohe Clipper at the Marine Corps base on the north side of the island has some absolutely world-class holes down by the ocean.  OCC and MPCC are private clubs - let me know if you need help getting on.

    On the Big Island, the Mauna Kea is the best course- it is very classy and architecturally excellent. I think it's the best course I have played in Hawaii. In the winter you can often see whales. The Mauna Lani courses are fun because of the stark contrast between the fairways and the black lava.
     If you did get to Kauai, Princeville is terrific although you have to play it a couple of times because you can run out of fairway on some holes, and Kauai Lagoons is a lot of fun.  Poipu, although well known is not that great in my book.  

I have to disagree with Mauna Kea, I thought it was terrible.  Its basically a 1 hole golf course (the 3rd) and its too hard for the average resort player.  The conditions are horid and staff rude.

Nanea up on the hill is supposdly very difficult but very interesting and I'm hearing some pretty good things about the Big Island CC.

On Kauai, I've played Princville once and lost a dozen balls so can't really comment although its very pretty.  I liked Kauai Lagoons quite a bit, some good variety, interesting holes.

On Oahu, I think you could narrow it down to three courses, with the new Robin Nelson course called Royal Kunia probably being the best.  Its up on a mountain by the airport with great views.  

Matt:  If you want to talk with Robin Nelson who has designed 30+ courses in Hawaii let me know.

Matt: I've played the Prince course about a dozen times, all of them before I became more attuned to design, so my memories as more visceral than specific. That said, what I took away from the course was amazing beauty, poor greens, heroic carries on a number of holes and the feeling that whenever I parred a hole, it was a quite a triumph.

The 1st hole is the hardest opening hole I've ever played. The 10th is a goofy horsehose like par 5 which I hate. Very curious as to others thoughts on this hole.  Still, IMO it far outshines Poipu and the Lagoons course near the airport.

I spend a good bit of time on the Big Island every year for R&R, but usually play little golf.  Of the ones I've seen or played, though, would rate them as follows (no differentation of private/public).  Also, my criteria is fun, not rankings, as this is why you play vacation golf.

Nanea, Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani (Ocean), Makalei, Big Island, Hualalai.  

I thought Nanea was pretty interesting.  Doesnt' look like much from the road (golf on a steady sideslope) but many more subleties on site that Kidd and his talented crew (Jay, Paul) did a good job with.  

Heard Mauna Kea was looking more encroached of late with mansions.  Agree it's not really up to the ratings it's gotten, but still plenty of good and fun holes...would say more than just #3, certainly.

Just played Makalei.  Similar to Big Island, in that it's "inland", up at an elevation of 2-3,000 feet or so, core golf, Dye group (I think) and diverse in it's vegetation from what you're used to down by the water.  Felt a bit like Jurasic Park!  Is 900' of elevation change, which amazed me (and they display it on the card like that's a good thing!).  Of course, cart-golf, but had some really fun holes.  I liked it better than Big Island, in that it had fewer railroad tie-lakes, and better shaping.  Is in worse shape, though.  Intrawest took over Big Island, and supposedly in good shape now.

Need to see Hokulia (new Nicklaus), as I've heard it's good, and heard from Kidd group that Waikaloa Kings course was interesting, but haven't seen it.

Have fun!  That's what I do there.  It's not the best golf in the world, but can be very enjoyable.

Matt,

Kapalua Plantation is one of my favourite courses anywhere--which means you'll hate it   As others mentioned above, terrific ground game options, lots of width, a decent challenge if the wind is up and some QUIRK due to the sloping terrain and grain. However, you won't feel that your driving game is challenged, Matt, and that's why you won't like it...  Note: do NOT hit driver on the Plantation's first hole, Matt, or you'll perhaps walk off after hitting only a single shot!  

I always found the Kapalua Village course (Palmer/Seay) to be more challenging and think you would too but I believe they've messed it up some, eg the 18th is now a tame par 3 I think.

Matt, knowing your game and predilections as I do, I think you'd enjoy the short trip from Lahaina to Lanai to the Manele Bay Hotel (take your wife along and have her do a spa/pool day there) to play Nicklaus's Challenge at Manele. Some decent par 4s, a couple of cool over-ocean carries and a fun day trip.

Happy Holidays,