Golf in Honolulu

[ukgolfguy]

I am travelling out to Honolulu around the 10th Feb, i only have time to play 1 game. What courses would you say would be special for just the 1 game, i have narrowed it down to Koolau or Ko Olina. Unless anyone has any other courses that are must plays. Also what weather can i expect that time of year, i will be travelling from New Zealand and Oz so i will have sunshine there. Thanks for your help in advance.

[tbc777]

in feb. you will probably playing in rain at koolau. if not , the course will be VERY soggy. at that time of the year i think you should play ko olina.

[rrkman]

I was out there last month and played both of these courses (along with Turtle Bay Palmer, Royal Kunia, and Honolulu Country Club). Ko'Olina (I only got to play about 6 holes but that is a different story) was probably the nicest course I played out there as far as maintenance, country club feel, etc. and Turtle Bay was a close second based on course condition but not really that impressive outside of that....I would play any of the others again before I went back there. ...BUT, I am so glad that I played Koolau. It was absolutely beautiful up in the moutains....but I also heard that it can be really wet up there (not sure how February is).

 

So, my opinion is that if you are going for pro tour quality, then play Ko'Olina...if you are looking for an experience/location that I have only seen in the mountains of Oahu, then play Koolau. And by the way, don't be afraid of Koolau being the hardest course in the country because it is now like 3rd hardest and it really isn't that tough....you just have to play smart because if you do start spraying the ball left/right, you won't find it in the jungle. Also, it was a little soft when I played it so that probably took away any crazy bounces/roll that would have pushed the ball into more troublesome areas.

 

And, I'm sure some of the Hawaii WRXers will add their opinions which are probably better to go off of.

 

Randy

 

If you want to see pics of Koolau, I have some in a 'trip report' that I am working on under the course review Hawaii section....

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=169123

[Redhaze737]

As tbc777 says, you don't want to play Koolau if it's been raining. The back 9 is always cart path only and if it's been raining the front 9 becomes cart path only. And then with the rain you're oft time in the mud getting to and from the cart around the greens. Plus when I played it on June 2nd, a lot of the bunkers need sand. Maybe by February they'll get that fixed........

 

Ko'Olina if it's between the two.

[mauiatheart]

Ko'olina, regardless of the time of the year. No question.