Where to Play?

[big_mac]

Oahu Over the Christmas Break

Hello HI WRXers

My family and I will be vacationing on Oahu over the Christmas break and I was wondering what the recommended public courses to play are? Any insider tips that lead to playing cheaper (read more) golf will also be appreciated :beach:




cheers,




Craig

[Socrates]

How long do you have there, what area are you staying at, how many times will you play, what's expensive and will you rent a car?

[big_mac]

We are in Waikiki for 10 days, $100 to $150 would be reasonable and we will probably rent a car.

[Judge Smales]

Koolau is cool. Sign up for their email blasts and you can get a great rate. North shore courses are overrated. Palmer course has only one hole on the ocean. It's beautiful but the rest of the course is goofy. The other turtle bay course is very average at best. Luana hills is tough, but my least favorite of the 4 we played. Didn't help that we quit after 5 hours and still had 3 to play. If I were to do it over, I'd play koolau a couple times and the Palmer course at TB once and call it good.

[armydiver]

Ko-olau is an amazing (and difficult) course if you never played it. An absolute must due to its uniqueness. The conditions there are hit or miss though.

[Socrates]

When I was there last year, I played Ko-olina and Luana Hills (now Royal Hawaiian) twice. Ko-olina was a really nice course but fairly expensive. Royal Hawaiian and Koolau are both on the other side of the mountain (rainforest side) and are both spectacular (bordering on awesome) courses. Koolau can be very wet and Royal H. is a drier on any given day. Buy the yardage book and make sure you have either a laser or GPS with you. Royal Hawaiian obviously is under new ownership so they might have more amenities (they only had snackbar and a guy running the till), but it in no way detracted from the experience.

The guy in the shop also said that Ewa Beach was one of his favorite places to play. Turtle Bay (Fazio Course only) is also recommended. Travel to anywhere by cab is crazy expensive. You can easily rent a car for a day and still be ahead of the game. Waikiki to Koolau or Royal will be $50 or more each way and Turtle Bay is over $100. Daily rental for less than $80. Daily rental is cheap, overnite parking is expensive at the hotels and sketchy on the street.

Aloha Golf Tours is okay if you want to set up thru a service, otherwise do it online thru Golfnow.com or the site that the course directs you to (they all seem to use the same thing). Played Sat. morning at Royal and played in less than 3.5 hrs and the guys that went to Koolau played in just around 3. The driver was right on time, but took the scenic way back and that took over an hour (enjoyable though).

If you want to practice before you play, there is the driving range at Ala Wai, just across the canal and it is lighted so you can go at nite (can't see it too far though). Not the best range but is jammed with people at night. Barely found a mat to hit from. It knocked the rust off.

You can pm me if you want more info.

[big_mac]

Thanks for all of the info so far!

[BENNYSUPREME]

If your military or know anyone on Island that is military play the klipper on the Marine Base. 3 holes on the ocean as far as the eyes can see.

I would help you get on and play but I don't know when I will be off because the CDR and Chief has a thing call Operation deny Christmas and New Years.


For Public courses New Eva Beach is a great course, shot but you must be able to hit it straight or be good at placing the ball.

Both Turtle bay courses are nice to say that you have played them.

Ko-Olua one of my favorite courses ever due the jungle and mountains.

Royal Kunia is a nice course have not been there in about 7 or 8 months. I know they raised their prices while I was gone.

Not sure but all of these couse but Turtle bay should but under or right at 100 bucks.

I think there is something called a hawaii play card. Try googleing it, should be around 30 to 40 bucks and gets to rates close to what locals/military pay.

[big_mac]

Thanks Benny! Unfortunately, not military (my brother is/was). Checked the Golf Hawaii card out and it seems like a good deal!

[tod071]

If you want to play Klipper, just call them. They sponsor civilian players. You can book 2 days prior and need to give them all players' names. When you get to the base, go to the visitor's center and tell them you're golfing at Klipper. They'll have your names. Just need current safety check, registration, and driver's license ready.

[max1]

If you are visiting HA for the love of nature, and if I were you, I'd spend some time on Kauai or Maui, more things to explore there.