Going to Oahu, HI - recommendations!?!?

[GoTime]

Posted in some other hawaii threads and didn't get any response. I am going to be on Oahu for several weeks and will have my clubs and a rental car. I'm staying near Waikiki. While I'm there for work and am not sure what and when my free time will be, I'd like some recommendations on where to play and where to avoid. Also looking to hook up with some locals to play if anyone would like to. I'm about a 9 handicap.

[agray94]

TURTLE BAY! it's beautiful, 3 course to choose, easy to get to most of the time (we went during surf season and the roads are packed but summer should be great- winds should also be down.

[Medic]

Leilehui is a nice track. Off the so-called beaten path.

Turtle Bay is incredible.

Kahuku on the north side.

And I really enjoyed Royal Hawaiian.

Have a blast over there. Just take lots of sunscreen!

[GoTime]

google maps puts turtle bay 90 minutes from Waikiki. Yikes.

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

Navy Marine GC
Hickham AFB
Kaneohe Bay
Ko'Olau
Milllilani
Alawei

[WhiZ]

[quote name='Go_Time' timestamp='1404185643' post='9613189']
google maps puts turtle bay 90 minutes from Waikiki. Yikes.
[/quote]

They're on opposite sides of the Island so that's about right. The nice thing about Oahu is you're never far from anywhere.

Just got back from HI but only had time to play one course on Oahu - Royal Hawaiian. Got a deal on Golfnow. Course was OK, but it's a lot of elevation changes and blind shots. Not my cup of tea but if you like that sort of thing... Drove by Turtle Bay on a tour and it looked amazing. Will play there for sure if I ever go back.

WhiZ

[aliikane]

My top 3.

+1 Turtle Bay, Palmer course is the one to play.
Ko'olau - At one time the highest slope rating. Just amazing views from this course.
Royal Hawaiian (formerly call Luana Hills)- Pete Dye course. Carved out of rainforest in Kailua, looks like scene from Predator. Extremely unique course but bring bug spray.

Pretty good ones also.

Royal Kunia is pretty good views and decent course.
Ko'olina is decent resort course.
Kapolei is decent also.

[bmaas03]

Turtle Bay will be a 90 minute drive from Waikiki on a good day. If you leave town in the afternoon it will take you longer. If you haven't already heard or read, traffic in Honolulu challenges Los Angeles every year for worst in the USA. Pick your battles wisely.

Royal Hawaiian (Luana Hills) is a fun course if you enjoy elevation changes, forced carries, etc. The scenery is beautiful. However, they've done some course changes and in my opinion the course is not what it once was. The greens in particular are very soft/sandy and haven't recovered very well.
Ko'Olau is similar to Royal Hawaiian in scenery/style, except it is more difficult.
Ko'Olina is a resort course and you'll have to make a tee time early to battle the number of players. Do not make a tee time later than 2 pm or you may not finish. Kapolei is also in good shape. Ko Olina and Kapolei are both public courses and host LPGA/Champions tour tournies every year.
Ewa Beach has a few decent courses - Hoakelei is an Ernie Els course - private, but if you can get on you'll enjoy it. Ewa Country club is shorter but always in good condition. Coral Creek is also a good course. Hawaii Prince has 27 holes, is wide-open and usually in good condition, but wind there seems to be the biggest challenge (as is all of Ewa area).

If you'll be in Hawaii for several weeks, I'd explore some interisland trips if I were you. Oahu doesn't have nearly the scenery that Manele Bay on Lanai has for example (or several others on the other islands), and it is a 30 minute flight away.

[GoTime]

I would be open to interisland trips, however my schedule only allows to last minute planning so I'm thinking it wouldn't be very reasonable to try and do such things. I will likely be relegated to playing mostly military courses and may get out for one or two of the above courses. I will play turtle bay if I get a whole day off.

[_R5_]

I know I'm in the minority here but Turtle Bay was way overrated when you take into account cost. Not a bad course by any means, but just not worth the money either. I played Turtle Bay Palmer & Ko Olina last summer. All things considered I actually enjoyed Ko Olina more. Now granted Ko Olina is literally across the street from where we stay so that obviously is huge. The course was also in better shape than TB though & was significantly cheaper overall. Some people write off Ko Olina bc its a "resort course", don't sleep on it though. I enjoyed it very much & plan on playing it again this summer when we're there. It's also a much easier drive for you from Waikiki, probably about 30-45 mins.

[GoTime]

[quote name='agray94' timestamp='1404179227' post='9612415']
TURTLE BAY! it's beautiful, 3 course to choose, easy to get to most of the time (we went during surf season and the roads are packed but summer should be great- winds should also be down.
[/quote]

I played turtle bay and was INCREDIBLE disappointed. This course was in poor condition by municipal standards and after the drive...not even remotely worth it. I wouldn't pay over $30 for that course riding, especially when I can play Klipper for $35 riding. God what a dump - must have taken a severe financial beating since you all played there. $70 absolutely flushed.

[bmaas03]

[quote name='Go_Time' timestamp='1406179959' post='9773439']
[quote name='agray94' timestamp='1404179227' post='9612415']
TURTLE BAY! it's beautiful, 3 course to choose, easy to get to most of the time (we went during surf season and the roads are packed but summer should be great- winds should also be down.
[/quote]

I played turtle bay and was INCREDIBLE disappointed. This course was in poor condition by municipal standards and after the drive...not even remotely worth it. I wouldn't pay over $30 for that course riding, especially when I can play Klipper for $35 riding. God what a dump - must have taken a severe financial beating since you all played there. $70 absolutely flushed.
[/quote]

Wow. That's a surprise but good to know. I was debating a trip up there in a couple of weeks. Can you be more descriptive in the course condition? Greens? Fairways? All of the above? Thanks.

[GoTime]

[quote name='bmaas03' timestamp='1406318335' post='9785521']
[quote name='Go_Time' timestamp='1406179959' post='9773439']
[quote name='agray94' timestamp='1404179227' post='9612415']
TURTLE BAY! it's beautiful, 3 course to choose, easy to get to most of the time (we went during surf season and the roads are packed but summer should be great- winds should also be down.
[/quote]

I played turtle bay and was INCREDIBLE disappointed. This course was in poor condition by municipal standards and after the drive...not even remotely worth it. I wouldn't pay over $30 for that course riding, especially when I can play Klipper for $35 riding. God what a dump - must have taken a severe financial beating since you all played there. $70 absolutely flushed.
[/quote]

Wow. That's a surprise but good to know. I was debating a trip up there in a couple of weeks. Can you be more descriptive in the course condition? Greens? Fairways? All of the above? Thanks.
[/quote]

First off, the course is not on the ocean, so don't expect anything special there. I think there might be one green on the palmer course where you can see the ocean in the distance

- Greens: Probably 9/18 are on good shape. The rest are long/shaggy and have some type of burn/disease and are full of potholes that look to me like winter kill. Obviously not winter kill, but that's what it looks like where I'm from. They were also literally punching and seeding/sanding two greens AS WE WERE PLAYING. There as no mention of this or other course construction when I made my tee time. I'd be furious had I paid the full tourist rate.

-Fairways...not bad...probably the least of their problems.

-Rough: very long and very dry/dead, lots of brown. Not a lush supple green rough that you would expect on a tropical course. It also looked like they had let it grow for a month and then cut it in half. Giant piles of clippings EVERYWHERE.

-Bunkers: 3-4 under heavy construction (like backhoes and dump trucks construction). Again, no mention of this when I made my time.

-Range: minefield. Maybe 10 stalls, short range no drivers allowed. Free balls which is nice but no club washers...what the hell?

-Layout: nothing special, no great views, no memorable holes. Again, bland.

-Overall: just lacked the pristine manicure that I would expect from such a highly recommended course. I am not exaggerating when I say it is in municipal like condition. I play a few municipals at home and it reminded me a lot of them. No attention to detail, cutting corners, no precision in the caretaking, poor cart paths, poor edging, mowing right next to players throughout the day. Just shuffling players through. If it was closer I would play it again for maybe 35-40 dollars.

[GoTime]

Play Ko Olina today and it was in much better condition, but nothing spectacular. I guess I had just expected more out of Oahu golf. I would liken the conditions at Ko Olina to a typical Las Vegas course, but obviously much more money. The daily rate at Ko Olina is $199.....and you still have to pay for range balls! haha

[spiffdogxl]

I've played in a few tournaments at TB and the Palmer course was always immaculate. That's disappointing that you managed to hit the course when the conditions were poor.

KoOlina is nice, but very much a resort course.

[GoTime]

Played Koolau, too. Greens were nice as were most fairways. Some were very wet/muddy so I was playing clean/place. Given the courses location I would call a head and see how the weather has been that week. It will usually be muddy, especially outside of the fairway. I only felt maybe three holes were flukey, the rest were very reasonably laid out and if I play a second time I'd be much more comfortable. I played the gold tees which is 6750ish and 75.4/150. I shot 82 and probably lost 3-4 strokes just not knowing the course and the different blind shots. Would recommend the course just for the experience/layout/scenery.

I would say Koolau and Klipper are the two must plays on the island.