[David Stamm]

Just wanted to get some suggestions for public golf options on Oahu. Makaha and Luana Hills seem okay. Any others?

[Tim Leahy]

Ko olau is very tough and very good. If you have any military contacts there are some very good courses like Hickam and Kanaohe among others.

[Jeff Evagues]

Ewa Beach and Royal Kunia.

[G Jones]

one warning, just in case something possesses you to go to kaua'i to play Princeville... don't! That it is in the top 100 of anything is crazy. I've never played somewhere so disappointing on such a great piece of land.

[David Stamm]

one warning, just in case something possesses you to go to kaua'i to play Princeville... don't! That it is in the top 100 of anything is crazy. I've never played somewhere so disappointing on such a great piece of land.

Well, there was talk of heading over to Kaua'i and I did consider trying to play there. What was it you didn't like?

[Evan Fleisher]

You may try Mid Pacific CC...worth a looksy.

Ko'olau might also be worth it, if you can get a discounted tee time from www.stand-bygolf.com ...it is interesting but very tight most of the way around.

[DBE]

Try the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay.  If the wind is less than 20 mph, it's very good...and I'm not a fan of that design firm's work!  Besides, you'll drive right past some of the best surfing spots in the world.

[Greg Ohlendorf]

Turtle Bay - Palmer is probably the best of the bunch. Two very different nines and worth the drive around the island. As David says, check out the surfing near the course. Those guys are crazy!!

[Jon Spaulding]

Turtle Bay is very enjoyable....and I got married there. No gay jokes please.

There are a few strong holes on the course. It's an interesting setting.

There won't be much surf on the North Shore for a couple more months. They did film a crappy show @ Turtle Bay which was on Fox a few years ago, and I saw Ari Gold there once.

[Guy Nicholson]

You may try Mid Pacific CC...worth a looksy.

Ko'olau might also be worth it, if you can get a discounted tee time from www.stand-bygolf.com ...it is interesting but very tight most of the way around.

Makes me sweat just thinking about it. I played it last fall and enjoyed the punishment: 10 lost balls from the resort tees.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guynick/2010129363/in/set-72157602870025237/

[Lynn_Shackelford]

Can someone describe whether Kahuku, the little funky 9 hole course is worth a visit.  From Google it appears to have some Scotish looking dunes.

[David Stamm]

Can someone describe whether Kahuku, the little funky 9 hole course is worth a visit.  From Google it appears to have some Scotish looking dunes.

Good question, Lynn. I've been wodering about it myself.

[Matt Bosela]

one warning, just in case something possesses you to go to kaua'i to play Princeville... don't! That it is in the top 100 of anything is crazy. I've never played somewhere so disappointing on such a great piece of land.

Well, there was talk of heading over to Kaua'i and I did consider trying to play there. What was it you didn't like?

I stayed at Princeville for my honeymoon and played the Prince Course along with Poipu Bay while on the island.  Beautiful island, great scenery and even better people - fantastic place to take a low-key vacation.

Regarding The Prince Course, like G Jones, I find it hard to believe that this is a top 100 in the world type of course.  It's extremely penal, for one, especially off the tee.  For the money you pay out there, conditioning is very subpar as well.  I was also extremely disappointed in the fact that the routing rarely takes you toward the ocean...what a waste!

If you are heading to Kauai for a few days to do some other things (helicopter rides, hike, etc) it's probably worthwhile to try to get a game in at the Prince.  However, the course likely isn't good enough to warrant a trip by itself, in my opinion.

All that being said, I still enjoyed my round there but I *love* a challenge and that is something that the Prince offers in spades.  If you stay at the resort, you get a break on the green fee.  I will say that there are a number of pretty good golf holes out there, especially on the back nine.  I have plenty of photos of the course and the Princeville resort...let me know if you'd like a link to my photo tour/course writeup that I did for my blog.

[David Stamm]

one warning, just in case something possesses you to go to kaua'i to play Princeville... don't! That it is in the top 100 of anything is crazy. I've never played somewhere so disappointing on such a great piece of land.

Well, there was talk of heading over to Kaua'i and I did consider trying to play there. What was it you didn't like?

 let me know if you'd like a link to my photo tour/course writeup that I did for my blog.

 

Matt, thanks. I'd like to see it.

[Matt Bosela]

one warning, just in case something possesses you to go to kaua'i to play Princeville... don't! That it is in the top 100 of anything is crazy. I've never played somewhere so disappointing on such a great piece of land.

Well, there was talk of heading over to Kaua'i and I did consider trying to play there. What was it you didn't like?

 let me know if you'd like a link to my photo tour/course writeup that I did for my blog.

 

Matt, thanks. I'd like to see it.

David,

PM sent, with link.

Cheers!

[Sean Leary]

I agree with the above posters on Princeville 100 percent. Of all the courses on all the lists, Princeville is the one that makes least sense to me.

[Peter_Herreid]

WRT Kahuku, it never ceases to amaze me which courses pop up here from time to time...

Kahuku is not worth any modicum of extra effort to play; think the interior back nine holes at Sharp Park with different vegetation and inferior conditioning...

It is, however, in one of the most phenomenal settings for a golf course one could imagine, and wind is definitely a factor...

I can't see leaving Honolulu to go there to play, but if one happened to be on that side of the island for something else (the cultural center, surfing, whatever) then it is a very pleasant location...

A far more rewarding expense of energy is to ride horses on the beach right there in Kahuku (Kahuku Kai Horses, e.g.)--now that's truly a breathtaking experience on the North Shore...

[G Jones]

one warning, just in case something possesses you to go to kaua'i to play Princeville... don't! That it is in the top 100 of anything is crazy. I've never played somewhere so disappointing on such a great piece of land.

Well, there was talk of heading over to Kaua'i and I did consider trying to play there. What was it you didn't like?

I stayed at Princeville for my honeymoon and played the Prince Course along with Poipu Bay while on the island.  Beautiful island, great scenery and even better people - fantastic place to take a low-key vacation.

Regarding The Prince Course, like G Jones, I find it hard to believe that this is a top 100 in the world type of course.  It's extremely penal, for one, especially off the tee.  For the money you pay out there, conditioning is very subpar as well.  I was also extremely disappointed in the fact that the routing rarely takes you toward the ocean...what a waste!

If you are heading to Kauai for a few days to do some other things (helicopter rides, hike, etc) it's probably worthwhile to try to get a game in at the Prince.  However, the course likely isn't good enough to warrant a trip by itself, in my opinion.

All that being said, I still enjoyed my round there but I *love* a challenge and that is something that the Prince offers in spades.  If you stay at the resort, you get a break on the green fee.  I will say that there are a number of pretty good golf holes out there, especially on the back nine.  I have plenty of photos of the course and the Princeville resort...let me know if you'd like a link to my photo tour/course writeup that I did for my blog.

The thing about Princeville is that the last 7 or so holes are actually great (though a little extreme maybe), as is the par 3 nearest the sea on the front 9 and the hole directly before it. The bad thing is that the other holes are just about the worse sub-par resort course type holes through a sea of houses that I have ever seen. And also I agree with the above comment that the course conditioning is bad. I was there in early June, which I assume must be one of the best times to be there, and it was still terrible. Add to that the fact that so many of those terrible holes seem to have bunkers in pointless places, and you get the feeling that the whole point of the course is to host the drunken old men in hawai'ian shirts, driving carts, and shooting in the low 120's.

[Stewart Abramson]

There are several very old threads about courses on Oahu. Rather than start a new one I'm bumping this. I'm visiting Hawaii for the first time this winter. I'll have one day on Oahu and plan to visit Pearl Harbor. I'll have time for one round and need to stay near there. I won't have time to go to the north side of the Island, so Turtle Bay, Kahuku and Kaneohe Klipper are not in the cards, nor are any private clubs.

I'd appreciate any input regarding the following courses, most of which were mentioned in one or more of the old threads:

Royal Kunia

Royal Hawaiian (f/k/a Luana Hills)

Ewa Beach

Hawaii Prince

Kapoloei

Ko Olina

Waikele

[Jeff Evagues]

Royal Hawaiian would be last and its also the farthest away from where you are staying. Ko Olina, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach would lead this list.

[Joe_Tucholski]

I'm the opposite opinion of Jeff.


I lived on Oahu a couple years ago.  Golf is honestly a let down on the island and not a single course really thrilled me.


None of the courses you listed are particularly exciting golf.  Waikele is the only course on your list I never played, but we often went to the outlet mall right there and I never felt compelled to book a time.


My recommendation is Royal Hawaiian, because it's a unique experience.  Lots of forced carries, and lush vegetation so loosing balls is definitely likely.  It's a cart course with long transitions.  Conditioning was occasionally an issue with some greens.  It's full of things to dislike but playing at the base of the mountains gives you a feeling I've only had playing golf in Hawaii.  If Ko'olau was still open I'd recommend that because it truly was like playing in a scene from Jurassic park.  Not sure it's current status (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-GSTZ238B0).


The other courses are what they are...resort courses catering to tourists with a golf itch.

[Tom_Doak]

No one has mentioned Waialae C.C.  It is a very busy place and hard to get on without a member, but I think the Kahala Hotel [which is adjacent to it] might be able to get you out there.  It's certainly not one of Raynor's best courses, after they took away three oceanfront holes for real estate in the 1960s, but it's still better than anything else on the island.


Ko'olau was often compared to Jurassic Park, but I guess that means Jurassic Park would have been a zero on the Doak Scale.

[Stewart Abramson]

Thanks for the replies.


Joe, the Video about Ko'Olau was fascinating. I laughed at Erik Anders Lang playing the overgrown back nine. Your description of Royal Hawaiian (lots of  forced carries, loosing balls, cart course with long transitions and conditioning issues) doesn't sound very appealing, despite it's unique and attractive setting.
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[/size]Tom, I inquired about Waialae, but had no luck. [/color]
[/size][/color]
[/size]Jeff, I'll look into [/color][/size]Ko Olina  Ewa[/color][/size] Beach and [/color]Kapoloei.[/color][/font][/color]

[Cal Carlisle]

No one has mentioned Waialae C.C.  It is a very busy place and hard to get on without a member, but I think the Kahala Hotel [which is adjacent to it] might be able to get you out there.  It's certainly not one of Raynor's best courses, after they took away three oceanfront holes for real estate in the 1960s, but it's still better than anything else on the island.


Ko'olau was often compared to Jurassic Park, but I guess that means Jurassic Park would have been a zero on the Doak Scale.

Yes, if you stay at the hotel you can get on Waialae. If you stay at The Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki they also have a very limited number of tee times available.

I played Ko'olau twenty years ago, just an absolutely brutal round of golf. I don't know what it is with the soil there, but it just destroys old golf balls. All you saw everywhere in the deep rough was decaying golf balls. Soaking wet turf, too.

[Joe_Tucholski]

No one has mentioned Waialae C.C.  It is a very busy place and hard to get on without a member, but I think the Kahala Hotel [which is adjacent to it] might be able to get you out there.  It's certainly not one of Raynor's best courses, after they took away three oceanfront holes for real estate in the 1960s, but it's still better than anything else on the island.


Ko'olau was often compared to Jurassic Park, but I guess that means Jurassic Park would have been a zero on the Doak Scale.

My experience with Waialae was attending the Sony Open.  Nice looking course. 


I agree that both Royal Hawaiian and Ko'olau fit the bill of a 0.  Never should have been built.  Cost a lot to maintain.  They are basically in a rain forest where mother nature will win, but again playing the courses is something I appreciated experiencing.  To me it's a unique experience unlike the other courses listed.  I played most of my golf at Hickam or Marine Memorial (Doak 1).  Kaneohe has a couple nice holes on the water but if I was going over to that side I played Mid Pacific.  I got local rates at other courses but didn't play too many of them more than once.

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