Koolau Golf Club---W/PICS!

[pitbull808]

The Worlds Most Challenging Golf Course

I was out at Koolau Golf Club this morning at 6am for the first tee time and a round of "solo golf'. :( Thanks to PM Hacker cancelling out on our weekly round. :lol: I love playing solo and first out because there's nothing like being totally alone with the roosters crowing and birds chirping. Nothing but me and the golf course. If there's heaven on earth, a golf course has got to be it.

For those who don't know, Koolau was once rated the most challenging course in the world. It's since been made a little easier by them removing a lot of the bunkers. It's still quite a handful but I feel it's one of the most beautiful courses on Oahu. If you are ever on Oahu, this is a must play course.

Here's some pictures I took. Enjoy!

1st Hole
Par 5
593 yards
View to the green/2nd shot


2nd Hole
Par 4
410 yards
View from the tee

View from the 2nd shot to the green.....thats my ball in front of the pic in the middle of the fairway. :beach:


3rd Hole
Par 4
442 yards
View to the green/2nd shot


4th Hole
Par 3
193 yards
View from the tee


5th Hole
Par 4
433 yards
View from the tee....dog leg right. Green is in the middle of pic, beyond the ravine.


6th hole
Par 4
435 yards
View from the tee


View from the 2nd shot to the green


7th hole
Par 5
586 yards
View from the tee...dog leg left


8th hole
Par 3
210 yards


This is jungle golf! Cart path between 8th and 9th holes.


More jungle golf. Cart path between 10th and 11th hole.


11th Hole
Par 5
530yards
View from the tee. From the bunker on the left is another 260 yards to the green which cannot be seen. There's a ravine fronting the green so it's a lay up shot.


12th Hole
Par 4
364 yards
View from the tee. Pretty easy hole, straight but narrow.


13th hole
Par 3
209yards


14th Hole
Par 4
421 yards
View from the tee. Green is in the center of the pic. Tough driving hole....like most of the holes at Koolau.


15th Hole
Par 4
373 yards
Easily the most beautiful hole on the course. It's my favorite. You feel like you are on the top of the world and the views are spectacular. It's a short hole but a very accurate drive is needed.

2 views from the tee. One zoomed and the full look with the Koolau Mountains



The other views of the 15th hole......
The Pacific Ocean


The Koolau Mountain Range....and yes...I've climbed to the top!


16th Hole
Par 5
567 yards
View from the 2nd shot


View to the green


17th Hole
Par 3
231 yards


18th Hole
Par 4
476 yards
View to the green

[tlink2631]

Great pics...I was going to play that course a few years ago when I was out there visiting my cousin.He lives in Koneoe sorry for the spelling.I was there for 12 days in beginning of may and all it did was rain.A few days I think there was up to 8" of rain in just a few hours.He said they never seen weather like that before.He has a tattoo shop there .I did get to see alot of Oahu and meet alot of really nice people.

Next time I go out there I will have to get and play that course.

[pitbull808]

Great pics...I was going to play that course a few years ago when I was out there visiting my cousin.He lives in Koneoe sorry for the spelling.I was there for 12 days in beginning of may and all it did was rain.A few days I think there was up to 8" of rain in just a few hours.He said they never seen weather like that before.He has a tattoo shop there .I did get to see alot of Oahu and meet alot of really nice people.

Next time I go out there I will have to get and play that course.

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Kaneohe. :lol: Thats the one problem with Koolau. It's right next to the Koolau Mountain Range and the way the tradewinds work causes the area below the Koolau's to be "moist". You can see how close the clouds are to the mountains in some of the pics. The course was a little drier today then it usually is. Still there were some muddy areas from the heavy rain it received last week. I hope you get some drier weather next time!

[golf2da]

You lucky devil!!!!!!!!!!!!! looks like a cool course. Looks like the one I played in Brazil. Not as pretty but jungle up to the fairway. It took me a lot of balls. I messed up and sent pictures of the course in Brazil and it had a small plane that had landed in the fairway. They told me if the fairway was big enough for a plane to land on I should not miss it. I never lived down them pictures,

 

Good playing

[857 Pro-Ti]

Reid,

 

That is just gorgeous :(

 

You are so lucky to play a great course like that :lol:

 

Andy

[pitbull808]

You lucky devil!!!!!!!!!!!!! looks like a cool course. Looks like the one I played in Brazil. Not as pretty but jungle up to the fairway. It took me a lot of balls. I messed up and sent pictures of the course in Brazil and it had a small plane that had landed in the fairway. They told me if the fairway was big enough for a plane to land on I should  not miss it. I never lived down them pictures,

 

Good playing

5518[/snapback]

 

 

Reid,

 

That is just gorgeous :(

 

You are so lucky to play a great course like that :lol:

 

Andy

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I always tell my friend Russ/PM Hacker that no matter how bad this course kicks my butt, I just can't get over looking around and absorbing all the beauty of it. I've told him a ton of times that this is why the tourist fly thousands of miles and pay the big bucks to play golf in Hawaii. Sometimes you can just get mezmorized by this place. The mountains, clouds and view is just spectacular.

[kkcheo]

Wow! That's a kick Word not allowed course. when are you inviting us over? ;)

 

I would really like to walk this course early in the morning to absorb all the natural stuff mother nature will dish out :busted_cop:

 

-K.

[easyyy]

That looks like the most beautiful place in the world. Great pics man.

[taylorfsu]

Thanks for the pics. I haven't played there in a few months. I remember the first time I played. Me and the guy I was with both left our cameras on the tee box b/c we were so mesmerized by the place. The older couple behind us kept having to bring our cameras back to us. They didn't mind though.

 

I actually made my wife come w/ us next time to see the course. It rained but was still fun. You're right--after playing there, everywhere else (Coral Creek, Waikele, etc) seems WIDE open. I still think Luanu Hills is harder though. Those fairways seem to be 10 feet wide!

[pitbull808]

I'm glad you guys liked the pics. The Hawaii Visitors Bureau should give me a job! ;) I'll try to take more photos of some of the courses out here in Hawaii and post it for everyone. I love seeing other places too. :busted_cop:

 

Here's the bumper sticker they give out at Koolau.

 

[D_Dogg]

Thanks for the pics pitbull! What a beautiful course.

[aussiefreddy]

Thanks for the pics Reid looks like god's gift to golfers.

[zojo]

wow, those pictures are just amazing. Words can't even describe...

[Goose]

What is the courses ratings and slopes....Its gorgeous....I dont know if its tougher than Pine Valley tho.....

[pitbull808]

What is the courses ratings and slopes....Its gorgeous....I dont know if its tougher than Pine Valley tho.....

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Tees Yards Rating Slope

 

Black 7,310 76.4 162

Gold 6,797 74.4 158

Blue 6,406 71.0 132

White 5,102 72.9 134

 

KOOLAU GOLF CLUB

[bruinmw]

great set of pics... i think i have the same pics from the various times i've played the course... :vava: i always get my butt kicked there, but i always get a round in here every time i'm in town... just can't beat the scenery and location of the course... lol

[Big-Wiesy]

That course looks magnificent. Love the sticker too! :vava: :D You better have your A game while playing that course.

[ErichZF]

I shot 70 from the next to the back tees there. It isnt that hard. haha

 

I wish I would have played from the backs. I would have shot the same score. It wasnt but a few yds longer.

 

Cheers,

EF

[JHR]

Very nice pic's, looks like a great course. Will have to add that one to my list of must plays if ever in Hawaii.

[joey3108]

I've heard so much about that course from friends that played it, Now you really make me want to play it and see how bad that course will kick my Word not allowed. :vava: :D

 

BTW, Awsome pics Reid!

 

Joe

[pitbull808]

I shot 70 from the next to the back tees there.  It isnt that hard. haha

 

I wish I would have played from the backs. I would have shot the same score. It wasnt but a few yds longer.

 

Cheers,

EF

14803[/snapback]

 

 

 

70? Darn Erich...what tour are you playing on. That's good! :vava: As many times I've played the place, this is the one course that I haven't even come close to shooting par at. As for the back tees, some of them are at least two club lengths difference. It might be a little harder for you.

 

 

I've heard so much about that course from friends that played it, Now you really make me want to play it and see how bad that course will kick my Word not allowed.  :D  :cheesy:

 

BTW, Awsome pics Reid!

 

Joe

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Thanks Joe, it gets easier the more you play it. I don't know if I'll ever shoot as good as Erich did there....most guys I know, unless they are Pro's get there azz's handed to them there. Once you figure out that you should only use your driver about 6 times at the max and go with what your head tells you and not the size of your gonads, the course is much more enjoyable. :blink:

[nickc445]

Thanks, Pitbull. I graduated from Mililani High in '91. Great to see courses I wish I could've played. I was mostly at Kalakau, Leilehua, Mililani, and Navy-Marine. I always look up the Pearl Open to see if Ishii or Meyers still compete.

 

Thanks again.

[gatorhead]

actually, 70 is a phenamenal score, considering the course record is 67. Dean Wilson set it a few years back. They said he checked the yardage on every hole and aimed for the 150 pole markers...hit a few from what i understand :vava:. Made birdies on the par 5's and 15.

 

When I worked there we always told folks to just go out and enjoy themselves. If you went out there thinking you were going to shoot your career round or were going to tame the beast you were sadly mistaken. The local story is people say to take 1.5 balls for every stroke of your handicap.

[pitbull808]

Thanks, Pitbull.  I graduated from Mililani High in '91.  Great to see courses I wish I could've played.  I was mostly at Kalakau, Leilehua, Mililani, and Navy-Marine.  I always look up the Pearl Open to see if Ishii or Meyers still compete.

 

Thanks again.

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Did you hear they closed Kalakaua? The military didn't find it feasible anymore to have and I believe they might be building some housing there. As for Navy Marine, they are doing a "million dollar makeover" on the place. The front nine is currently closed for renovations and the back will soon be after the front is completed.

 

I used to work/get taught by Ishii and played junior golf with Greg Meyer. I just saw him at the Sony and he and David are still active on the Japan tour.

 

 

actually, 70 is a phenamenal score, considering the course record is 67.  Dean Wilson set it a few years back.  They said he checked the yardage on every hole and aimed for the 150 pole markers...hit a few from what i understand :D.  Made birdies on the par 5's and 15. 

 

When I worked there we always told folks to just go out and enjoy themselves.  If you went out there thinking you were going to shoot your career round or were going to tame the beast you were sadly mistaken.  The local story is people say to take 1.5 balls for every stroke of your handicap.

15264[/snapback]

 

 

Hey gator...I saw that you had joined and was wondering when you were going to chime in over here. I knew you used to work at Koolau......so whats the secret other then hitting at the 150 poles??!! :cheesy: I just saw some tourist the other week, leave the driving range for the 1st hole with two buckets of range balls in their cart! It's really obvious now since they've changed to yellow Nike practice balls. :vava:

[Callaway Fan]

Those pics are amazing. I hope to one day vacation there and take in a round of golf.

[ErichZF]

When I shot 70 it was just a fluke. I kept it in the fairway and i mananged to hit the greens. If i hit a bad shot then I got up and down.

 

#18 I hit a great drive and still had 200. I tried to rip a 3 iron and hit it short and right. Luckily I got up and down. It was one of those days when nothing terrible happened.

 

 

I saw some guys trying to drive it over the tress on 18. Is that actually possible to drive it down towards the green and pitch it into the green?

 

Does anybody know the carry on that?

[ForeOnRoad]

Spectacular!

 

You might want to check out this golf wallpaper contest...

 

http://www.mygolfdomain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212

[NikeProto]

I remember when that course had "Choke" Mango trees on it.

[bbgolf]

i am totally speachless......WOW....WOW......no wonder why my fiance wants to honeymoon there! :D

[gatorhead]

If I remember right, the carry for the "shortcut" from the back tees is 270. When you are on the tee, you can see the Pali lookout and there is a telephone pole you can see in the distance around it. Aim for that and let it rip!!!!!!