The Best Golf Courses You Can Play on Every Hawaiian Island

When you close your eyes and picture a tropical paradise, Hawaii or somewhere similar naturally comes to mind. The island chain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is 2,000 miles from the mainland United States and is home to some of the best golf courses you could ever play. We found the best golf courses that you can play on every Hawaiian island. If you’ve played all of them, we’re insanely jealous.

Our list kicks off with one of the most sought-after tee times in Hawaii, Turtle Bay Resort. Featuring two championship courses, Turtle Bay has courses designed by Arnold Palmer and George Fazio which ride the beautiful coastline to perfection. The Turtle Bay Resort is basically at the most northern point of Oahu which is a 38-mile drive from Inouye International Airport.

The Palmer Course consistently ranks as the top golf course on Oahu. The front nine features a more Scottish links-style layout while the back nine has a much more tropical design that cuts through the jungle. The Palmer Course maxes out at 7,218 yards with a rating of 75 and 141 slope (par-72). Prime tee times run from $210 to $240 per player, with twilight rates around $140.

The George Fazio Course, while significantly easier than Palmer’s, is equally as breathtaking. Just because it’s easier doesn't mean it’s a pushover. The Fazio course hosted the first PGA Tour Champions Skins Game as well as the LPGA Tour’s Hawaiian Open. It's 6,628 yards with a 73.8 rating and 130 slope (par-72). Prime rates on the Fazio Course run $150-$175 with twilight rates around $100.

Ko Olina Golf is one of the best resort golf courses on the planet, making this layout a must-play, but you may also want to just stay. Ted Robinson (Indian Wells, Bear Creek) designed the course, which opened in 1990. It’s located on the southeastern part of Oahu, 20 miles from the airport, next to Honu Lagoon. Ko Olina has held many LPGA events, most recently the LOTTE Championship from 2012 to 2019.

The course features multi-tiered greens and plays up to 6,815 yards with a 73.6 rating and 138 slope (par-72). Like many Hawaii golf courses, rates are a steal if you can prove Hawaii residency. Green fees are slightly discounted for those staying at the resort, and the standard rate for everyone else is $245, with $180 twilight rates kicking in after 1 pm.

If you’re up for forced carries over banana trees, we’ve got the course for you. Royal Hawaiian Golf Club is an inland course that’s an absolute must-play on Oahu. When the course opened in 1993, it was the first co-design by Pete and Perry Dye, and it was redesigned by Greg Norman in 2014. The property is situated directly between Mount Olomana and the Ko'olau Mountains, approximately 19 miles east of the airport.

From the furthest tees, Royal Hawaiian measures 6,609 yards with a 73.1 rating and a 138 slope (par-72). For $165, this course will absolutely blow you away. There are some twilight times to take advantage of throughout the year, but plan on paying $165. You will never feel closer to paying in a jungle than you will at Royal Hawaiian.

There are more popular and more challenging golf courses on Oahu than Kahuku Golf Course, but no course can charm you the way this one does. This modest, links-style course sits right on Kahuku Beach, at the bottom of the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a humble municipal course with a lot of thatch in the rough, but it essentially hangs into the ocean and will give you the most authentic, muni experience while in paradise. 

The longest tees only measure 5,398 yards with a 65.2 rating and 111 slope (par-70). It might seem pedestrian, but when the ocean air brings in the heavy gusts, Kahuku plays much tougher than its numbers. Speaking of numbers, non-residents pay $30 for 9-holes and $60 for 18-holes. There’s no pro shop, no restaurant. The Kahuku website puts it best: “Bring your own snacks, lunch, and beverages and enjoy the seaside environment on available picnic tables.”

We take our list over to Maui, to the easternmost part of the island at Kaanapali Golf Courses. The property is a 26-mile drive from Kahului Airport and features two amazing layouts that will instantly become a part of your next Maui visit.

The Royal Course was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr. (Spyglass Hill, Hazeltine, Valderrama) in 1962 and takes you on both an oceanside and foothill adventure. The back tees measure 6,700 yards with a 73.7 rating and 129 slope (par-71). Non-resort guests pay $265 to play with a $159 twilight rate available.

The Kai Course gives you breathtaking views of neighboring islands and was once an escape for Royal Chiefs of Maui. It was originally designed by Arthur Jack Syder (Boulders Club, Camelback Mountain) and redesigned by Robin Nelson in 2005. It tips out at 6,388 yards with a 71.6 rating and 136 slope (par-70). Non-resort guests pay a green fee of $205 with a $109 twilight rate.

Even golfers who have never even been to Hawaii are familiar with Kapalua. The famous property hosts the Sentry Tournament of Champions each January, while many of us are knee-deep in snow. That makes the course even more visually stunning.

The Plantation Course is the true gem of the Kapalua property and is the championship layout that hosts the best players in the world. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better golf course in all of Hawaii. Designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, the Plantation Course is built into the slopes of the West Maui Mountains. The dramatic elevation changes are beyond pictures, you have to see them in person. The championship tees, which are slightly ahead of the Sentry tees, measure 7,284 yards with a 75.5 rating and 140 slope (par-73). The Plantation Course costs $395 to play, year-round.

The other course on the property is the Bay Course, and it’s not to be overlooked. Designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane, the Bay Course is 6,600 yards with a 72.7 rating and 137 slope. The Bay Course costs $235 to play, year-round.

Wailea Golf Club is consistently ranked among the best golf courses in Hawaii. The property is located 18 miles south of the airport, right by Maluaka Beach. There are three outstanding courses at Wailea and all have gorgeous vista views.

Wailea Gold is the most challenging of the three, designed by Robert Trent Jones II (Links at Spanish Bay, Southern Highlands). The Gold Course rolls out to 7,078 yards with a 74.5 rating and a 138 slope (par-72).

Wailea Blue is another Arthur Jack Snyder design measuring 6,545 yards from the back tees with a 71.6 rating and 129 slope (par-71). Wailea Emerald is the most family-friendly layout on property based on its numerous tee boxes. The back tees play 6,825 yards with a 72.8 rating and 135 slope (par-72)

The Gold and Emerald Courses have a standard rate of $279 and the Blue Course has standard rate of $229.

As we make our way to the Big Island, Mauna Kea Golf Course is a great place to drop your bags. Part of the Mauna Kea Resort, this layout was originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., then redesigned by Rees Jones (Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines) and should be at the top of your list to play on the Big Island. The course is a 26 mile drive north from Kona Airport and has beautiful views of Puako Bay.

Mauna Kea is a true championship layout at 7,370 yards from the tips with a 76.6 rating and 144 slope (par-72). It is as challenging as it is beautiful. A standard rate for Mauna Kea is $295, but if you can get in for twilight you can pay as little as $165 depending on the time of year.

Hualalai Golf Course is a beautiful Jack Nicklaus design that takes you on a journey. From playing in a lush oasis to black volcanic rock, you think it can’t get better until you hit the final stretch of holes that ride along Kukio Bay. The course is part of the Four Seasons Resort, minutes from Kumukea Beach.

The course has a standard rate of $350, no matter what day you play. A twilight rate is available at $250. Your payment comes with facility usage for the entire day, which is a huge plus given Hualalai’s incredible short game and practice areas. The course plays 7,117 yards from the back tees with a 74.1 rating and a 129 slope (par-72).

Mauna Lani sports a pair of championship courses that are complimentary to one another in several ways. If you’re fully invested in island time and want to play 36 holes in a single day, Mauna Lani is your Big Island destination. The property is located 22 miles northeast of the airport, very close to Waikoloa Beach.

The North Course is a beautiful ocean course that plays along Kiawe canopies and lush, rolling terrain. Its par-3 17th hole is a sight to be seen, played into a natural lava backdrop. The course plays 6,913 yards with a 74.2 rating and 136 slope (par-72). Rates run pretty steady at $265 per player.

From 1990-2000, Mauna Lani’s South Course hosted the PGA Tour’s Skins Game. It has a wonderful mixture of lava fields, towering palm trees, and views of the ocean that are absolutely breathtaking. The South Course measures 6,938 yards with a 72.8 rating and 133 slope (par-72). Like the North, plan on paying the $265 rate with not many discount to come by.

Poipu Bay is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that draws the attention of amateur and professional players alike. In fact, Poipu Bay played host to the PGA Tour’s Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006 with players such as Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, and many others competing on its grounds.

From the back tees, the course plays 7,123 yards with a 73.9 rating and 134 slope (par-72). Peak times of the year will run you $239 per player but Poipu Bay does a great job with special rates for juniors as well as off-season pricing.

Makai Princeville Golf Club is one of the most well-known golf courses in the Hawaiian Islands. The course is located at the northernmost point of Kauai, a 29-mile ride from the airport, and minutes away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

The course was Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s first solo project, and after undergoing some renovations that were completed in 2010, the course is beyond spectacular in both playability and aesthetics. You’ll keep pictures ofMakai Princeville in your house decades after your bucket-list round. The standard rate is $315 but drops to $255 if you’re staying on property. The course is 7,223 yards with a 75.4 rating and a 134 slope (par-72).

If you’re looking to play golf on the island of Lanai, Manele Golf Course should be at the top of your list. Only 11 miles south from Lanai Airport, Manele Golf Course is part of Lanai’s Four Seasons Resort. It’s within minutes of the island’s Fiserman’s Hiking Trail and Shark’s Bay. The golf course is another Jack Nicklaus signature design where the Golden Bear shows his unique eye for Hawaiian golf. Several holes are perched over cliffs where you can easily knock a Pro V1 into the Pacific Ocean. The entire course is built on lava outcroppings which give it a green and black overlay that looks tranquil and dark.

The course yardage is 7,039 with a 73.8 rating and a 132 slope (par-72). Weekday rates can go as low as $350, but weekend prime times cost around $450.