Golfing in Oahu in September - need some suggestions!

[phatcatkev]

Hey GolfWRX Family! Need some help with a trip coming up. My girlfriend has to go to Oahu for work (I know, tough life) and I am tagging along. I have 4 days for golf and plan on playing all 4 days. I have done a lot of research and there is just not enough time to play everywhere I want! I am pretty set on playing the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay. I would love to play Waialae Country Club but I have no reciprocity (if someone does I am always open haha) so that is probably off the table.

 

The courses I have found and am interested in are Hawaii Kai, Ko'Olau, Hawaiian Prince, Ko Olina, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach. However, I am open to any suggestions!

 

Monday - Playing Royal Hawaiian (but open to change if suggested)

Tuesday - Open and have to play afternoon

Wednesday - Playing Turtle Bay Palmer

Thursday - Open and have to play morning

 

Please let me know your thoughts on where to play!

[Haloha]

> @phatcatkev said:

> Hey GolfWRX Family! Need some help with a trip coming up. My girlfriend has to go to Oahu for work (I know, tough life) and I am tagging along. I have 4 days for golf and plan on playing all 4 days. I have done a lot of research and there is just not enough time to play everywhere I want! I am pretty set on playing the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay. I would love to play Waialae Country Club but I have no reciprocity (if someone does I am always open haha) so that is probably off the table.

>

> The courses I have found and am interested in are Hawaii Kai, Ko'Olau, Hawaiian Prince, Ko Olina, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach. However, I am open to any suggestions!

>

> Monday - Playing Royal Hawaiian (but open to change if suggested)

> Tuesday - Open and have to play afternoon

> Wednesday - Playing Turtle Bay Palmer

> Thursday - Open and have to play morning

>

> Please let me know your thoughts on where to play!

 

Well Aloha, If its your first time at these courses, then I would suggest playing the best kept courses like Ko Olina/Kapolei (call for aeration scheduling) and maybe fly out to Maui to play the Plantation course. (fyi, the maui airport tsa is always backed up so plan to be there early)

[phatcatkev]

> @Haloha said:

> > @phatcatkev said:

> > Hey GolfWRX Family! Need some help with a trip coming up. My girlfriend has to go to Oahu for work (I know, tough life) and I am tagging along. I have 4 days for golf and plan on playing all 4 days. I have done a lot of research and there is just not enough time to play everywhere I want! I am pretty set on playing the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay. I would love to play Waialae Country Club but I have no reciprocity (if someone does I am always open haha) so that is probably off the table.

> >

> > The courses I have found and am interested in are Hawaii Kai, Ko'Olau, Hawaiian Prince, Ko Olina, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach. However, I am open to any suggestions!

> >

> > Monday - Playing Royal Hawaiian (but open to change if suggested)

> > Tuesday - Open and have to play afternoon

> > Wednesday - Playing Turtle Bay Palmer

> > Thursday - Open and have to play morning

> >

> > Please let me know your thoughts on where to play!

>

> Well Aloha, If its your first time at these courses, then I would suggest playing the best kept courses like Ko Olina/Kapolei (call for aeration scheduling) and maybe fly out to Maui to play the Plantation course. (fyi, the maui airport tsa is always backed up so plan to be there early)

 

I will definitely look into playing that Plantation course. Do you prefer Kapolei and Ko Olina over Ko Olau?

[Muffy]

Plantation is closed for renovation....they are targeting reopening in November or December

[tad950]

Haven’t been to Oahu in quite a while, so my suggestions might not be spot on.

 

I would keep Royal Hawaiian on the list. The back 9 is like Jurassic Park. I used to play Royal Kunia a lot. Distant views of Pearl Harbor. Pearl CC is a nice local kind of golf course. I prefer Kapolei over Ko’Olina, it’s cheaper. Hawaii Kai is just ok. Ala Wai is a stones throw from Waikiki. A flat track, and super busy, but convenient. Olomana is another local kind of course on the windward side. A lot of people say the Palmer course is too pricey, but I’ve always enjoyed playing there. People say the 3 nines at Hawaii Prince are too flat, but I’ve always enjoyed playing there. And you may have access to the military courses on Oahu. Basically I’m just happy to be playing golf in Hawaii, so I’m not that critical.

 

Just allow extra drive time going to the courses. Traffic can be brutal on Oahu.

 

[Haloha]

> @phatcatkev said:

> > @Haloha said:

> > > @phatcatkev said:

> > > Hey GolfWRX Family! Need some help with a trip coming up. My girlfriend has to go to Oahu for work (I know, tough life) and I am tagging along. I have 4 days for golf and plan on playing all 4 days. I have done a lot of research and there is just not enough time to play everywhere I want! I am pretty set on playing the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay. I would love to play Waialae Country Club but I have no reciprocity (if someone does I am always open haha) so that is probably off the table.

> > >

> > > The courses I have found and am interested in are Hawaii Kai, Ko'Olau, Hawaiian Prince, Ko Olina, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach. However, I am open to any suggestions!

> > >

> > > Monday - Playing Royal Hawaiian (but open to change if suggested)

> > > Tuesday - Open and have to play afternoon

> > > Wednesday - Playing Turtle Bay Palmer

> > > Thursday - Open and have to play morning

> > >

> > > Please let me know your thoughts on where to play!

> >

> > Well Aloha, If its your first time at these courses, then I would suggest playing the best kept courses like Ko Olina/Kapolei (call for aeration scheduling) and maybe fly out to Maui to play the Plantation course. (fyi, the maui airport tsa is always backed up so plan to be there early)

>

> I will definitely look into playing that Plantation course. Do you prefer Kapolei and Ko Olina over Ko Olau?

 

Just my .02 since its your first time, both Ko Olina (hosts lpga in April) & Kapolei (past lpga/sr's host) are beautiful and usually are in great condition, meaning the greens should be rolling great!

Ko Olau will be soggy even when its not raining, seriously research it because its not what it used to be, but the clubhouse is big and beautiful.

[Haloha]

> @Muffy said:

> Plantation is closed for renovation....they are targeting reopening in November or December

 

 

Sorry, I knew that but I received an email that its re-opened? Maybe it was to announce a re-opening in the near future lol, oops I didn't really read the email thoroughly.

[Haloha]

> @tad950 said:

> Haven’t been to Oahu in quite a while, so my suggestions might not be spot on.

>

> I would keep Royal Hawaiian on the list. The back 9 is like Jurassic Park. I used to play Royal Kunia a lot. Distant views of Pearl Harbor. Pearl CC is a nice local kind of golf course. I prefer Kapolei over Ko’Olina, it’s cheaper. Hawaii Kai is just ok. Ala Wai is a stones throw from Waikiki. A flat track, and super busy, but convenient. Olomana is another local kind of course on the windward side. A lot of people say the Palmer course is too pricey, but I’ve always enjoyed playing there. People say the 3 nines at Hawaii Prince are too flat, but I’ve always enjoyed playing there. And you may have access to the military courses on Oahu. Basically I’m just happy to be playing golf in Hawaii, so I’m not that critical.

>

> Just allow extra drive time going to the courses. Traffic can be brutal on Oahu.

>

great tips!

 

[phatcatkev]

Thank you everyone for the tips!

I just got some sad news...Palmer course is aerating today - Thursday and my tee time is next Wed. The proshop said that the greens will be okay (obviously not perfect) but I wanted to ask the experts if you think it is worth still playing (granted much cheaper.)

[titleistek]

Ko olau is one of the hardest courses I’ve ever played. Wet, muddy, jungle etc. but the views are spectacular! You are at the base of a huge mountain. I don’t know if I would play it regularly but I think get it in and call it a day. Check the weather before you go.

[phatcatkev]

Thanks for everyone's input. I ended up playing 3 courses and detailed them below!

Royal Hawaiian - Prettiest views out of the bunch but the course was by far in the worst condition. The fairway grass was more of a weed and was extremely difficult for me to get used to.

 

Ko Olina - Course was in spectacular shape. You could tell that it was really cared for. The wind there was more brutal than anywhere else which also made it the toughest course to play but was still a really great time.

 

Turtle Bay (Palmer) - Even with recently aerated greens, this was by far my favorite course. Conditions of the course were close to Ko Olina's but the layout in my opinion was much better. Hole 17 may be my favorite hole I have ever played...the ocean being 20 feet behind the green was an amazing view.

[Haloha]

It looks like you had a great time! Since you like the palmer course, on your next trip you will have to try the other islands golf courses as a lot of them are on the water, and its just a few bucks to get there.

 

> @phatcatkev said:

> Thanks for everyone's input. I ended up playing 3 courses and detailed them below!

> Royal Hawaiian - Prettiest views out of the bunch but the course was by far in the worst condition. The fairway grass was more of a weed and was extremely difficult for me to get used to.

>

> Ko Olina - Course was in spectacular shape. You could tell that it was really cared for. The wind there was more brutal than anywhere else which also made it the toughest course to play but was still a really great time.

>

> Turtle Bay (Palmer) - Even with recently aerated greens, this was by far my favorite course. Conditions of the course were close to Ko Olina's but the layout in my opinion was much better. Hole 17 may be my favorite hole I have ever played...the ocean being 20 feet behind the green was an amazing view.

 

[PixlPutterman]

I know this is way past when you took your trip, but getting onto MCBH for Kaneohe is a treat, especially if there are C130's taking off that day......