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Best 11 Oahu Golf Courses

You’ll find most Oahu golf courses are kept in great tiptop shape, and rank as some of the best Hawaii golf courses to choose from.  Should you be inclined to challenge yourself at a North shore golf course or want to stay close to your hotel and do some golfing in Waikiki…either way you will have great Oahu golf vacation.

From hidden finds such as the Kahuku golf linx on the countryside of the north shore to signature courses like the Ko'olina Golf Course, we cover it all!  Discover the top 11 courses on the island!

The Oahu Golf Courses at Ko Olina provide a picturesque and challenging golfing experience amidst stunning ocean views and lush tropical landscapes.

Whether you are an avid golfer playing with a low handicap, shooting bogie golf like myself, or a fair-weather weekend hacker, or just starting out, Oahu is a fitting playground that offers a wide selection of great golf courses for everyone.

There are prestigious Oahu golf courses on the island including Turtle Bay, Hawaii Prince, Ko'olina Golf Course & Olomana Golf Links!

The best part is that you don’t have to go broke golfing these golf courses in Oahu.  The best bang for your buck can be found at the municipal public golf courses.  These include:  Ala Wai Golf Course, Kahuku Golf Course, and the Pali Golf Course.


North Shore Golf Course – The Countryside


Turtle Bay Golf & Resort

The Turtle Bay Golf Course offers a scenic and challenging golfing experience on the beautiful North Shore of Oahu, with stunning ocean views and a backdrop of lush greenery.

Located towards the tip of north shore Oahu, the Turtle Bay Golf & Resort covers close to 900 acres of premier oceanfront property.  It’s a perfect setting for the layout of 2 championship Oahu golf courses.  Depending on your game and style, Turtle Bay Golf offers an Arnold Palmer Course and a George Fazio Course.

Arnold Palmer Course – Turtle Bay Golf

The Arnold Palmer Course, also known as the Links of Kuilima, has been the recent home to the PGA & LPGA SBS Open.  Set up with 5 sets of starting tees, this course offers a golfing game for all different levels.  If you are feeling the challenge, you can play from the black tees, giving you more than 7200 yards to concur.  Book Tee Time Now or call the club house at (808) 293-8574


George Fazio Course – Turtle Bay Golf

Spacious fairways, moon crater bunkers, and nice greens make up the George Fazio Course.  This north shore golf course resort very well could be the best bang for your buck, especially if you are staying at the Turtle Bay Resort Oahu itself.  The best part about this course is that you will most likely get the privilege of having it all to yourself.

Book Tee Time Now

Location:  57-091 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, Oahu, HI


Kahuku Golf Course – North Shore Municipal Links

The Kahuku Golf Course is the only state owned municipal course, and only one of three Oahu golf courses that are laid on beachfront property.

The Kahuku Golf Course offers a tranquil and scenic golfing experience in the heart of Oahu's countryside, surrounded by breathtaking mountain views and lush green fairways.

Don’t worry about making a tee time, because you can’t.  In fact they don’t even have a club house.  If you want to grab a sandwich, chips and drink midway through, you might want to pick something up before you arrive in the parking lot.  It’s a no frills Oahu golf course, but well worth the privilege of playing along the water.

This north shore golf course is not meant to be taken too seriously, but more or less for enjoying the moment playing in a unique piece of paradise.

The surrounding ocean waters are a bluer blue than the greens are green.  But as you take an additional stroke for your putting, you can look out into the Pacific Ocean, and let the stress just melt away with the waves crashing in the background.

Location:  56-501 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI - Phone (808) 293-5842
Check out more details at the Kahuku Golf Course city website


West Leeward Side – Oahu Golf Courses


Ko Olina Golf Course

The Ko Olina Golf Course provides a premier golfing experience on Oahu's west coast, with pristine fairways, stunning ocean views, and a luxurious resort atmosphere.

Everything about the Marriott Ko Olina facilities are nothing short of being immaculate and the best in its class.  The Ko Olina Golf Club is no exception!  It’s rated in the top 100 golf courses in Gold Digest Magazine.

Located on the Westside tip of Oahu, neighboring the Ko'olina Lagoons, is 6,868 yards of prime green real estate!  It’s loaded with rolling hill fairways, nicely elevated tee box greens, and water features through out the course.

Take an extra moment on this amazing Oahu golf vacation, maybe even a picture, or two on signature hole number 12.

You’ll find yourself standing on an elevated rock bed with a cascading waterfall.  Arrive at the 18th and you’ll feel like you’ve just entered a water park – a beautiful way to finish a round at the Ko Olina Golf Course.

Location:  92-1220 Aliinui Dr, Kapolei, Oahu HI

Book your Tee Time Now! of call the club house (808) 676-5300


Hawaii Prince Golf Club

The Hawaii Prince Golf Club offers a world-class golfing experience on the island of Oahu, with majestic palm trees, scenic water features, and challenging fairways.

Located on 270 acres of open terrain in Ewa Beach, you’ll find an Oahu golf oasis waiting for you with 27 greens in pristine shape.  It’s easy to set the bar high at Hawaii Prince Golf Club, because the put the money and maintenance into the course to keep up their reputation.

3 nine-hole courses (A, B & C courses) make up the 27 holes.  They are intermixed to make 18 holes, which help keeps the flow moving, and switches it up to keep you challenge each time you come to play.

The fairways like the greens are in immaculate condition!  You can get some extra yardage on your drives, as your ball rolls down the tight carpet strips.

Hawaii Prince Golf Club has a nice club house, an impressive grass driving range, and practice chipping greens and sand bunkers.  Golf club rentals available.

Location:  91-1200 Fort Weaver Rd, Ewa Beach, HI 96706

Book your Tee Time Now! or call the club house (808) 944-4567


Kapolei Golf Club

Kapolei Golf Club

The west side of Oahu is warmer, dryer and host to a majority of the golf courses on the island.  And the Kapolei Golf Club ranks as one of the most pristine golf courses in this region.  Not only is it in great shape, but is a well-designed Ted Robinson par 72 course.

You will have more than your share of bunkers and 5 large lakes to deal with, but the course is wide open for the most part with beautiful palm trees throughout the 190 acres of grass.  Afternoons can get windy, so consider reserving an early tee time.

Features – GPS tracking golf carts, 275 yard driving range with 30 stalls, large restaurant & bar w/ course views.  Collared shirt and soft spikes required.

Location:  91-701 Farrington Hwy, Kapolei, HI

Book a Tee Time Now or call (808) 674-2227


Waikele Country Club

Waikele Country Club

The dry west side is a haven for golf courses, featuring some of the best on the island.  The Waikele Country Club makes that list of best Oahu golf courses, featuring beautiful fairways and greens to play on.

Elevated above Pearl Harbor with great views and surrounded with lots of tropical palms and colorful botanical plants, you truly feel like you’re playing in paradise.

It’s a signature par 72 Ted Robison course that is nicely spread out over 4 section.  It’s fairly open with a 71 rating, allowing for easier play and forgiveness when hitting off the fairways.

The Waikele Country Club features a nice clubhouse and restaurant.  I recommend hanging out after and dining outdoors while taking in the peaceful view you just finished playing on.

They rent golf clubs and shoes if needed, and also feature a driving range to help work out the kinks before your tee time.

Call the pro shop for best rates and tee times

94-200 Paioa Pl Ste 1

Waipahu, HI  96797-5669

Book a Tee Time now or call (808) 676-9000


Makaha Valley Country Club

Makaha Resort Golf Course

Tiger Woods and his TGR Design Company have announced that they will renovate this golf course.  While no timeline was given to complete this project, both courses and surrounding will be renovated.

The Makaha Valley Country Club is the farthest northwest golf course, and well worth the drive to play this gem of a course. 

This William Bell designed course sits back in Makaha Valley, perched on top on a hillside with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean below, and towering volcanic mountainside behind.

You will find many credible sources that rate this course number one among the best of Oahu golf courses.  It’s about 6350 yards, making this a par 71 course.

It's rated as one of the best Oahu golf courses for it's views and the shape of the greens.  With a USGA ranking of 69.6 in difficulty from the white tees, you will have a fun time and move quickly through this Oahu golf course.

Location:  84-627 Makaha Valley Rd, Waianae, Oahu, HI

Book a tee time or call (808) 695-7111


Eastern Windward Side – Oahu Golf Courses


Olomana Golf Links

Olomana Golf links

The Olomana Golf Links holds its own as it ranks high in the Best of Oahu Golf Courses.  Just ask Obama, and I’m sure he would agree.  Barack Obama grew up playing the Olomana Golf Course, and still returns on occasion for a round or two.

This par 72, 18 hole golf links was designed with a high level of difficulty.  Hopefully you won’t be watching your ball sink to the bottom of too many water hazards, or plopping into the sand traps, like a fried egg.

Part of the natural Hawaiian beauty that gives this course it’s prestige, is the captivating backdrop views of the Ko’olau mountain range.  You literally can feel the raw power of these Hawaiian towering mountains present in the fairways.  Just make sure you transform some of that power back into your swing!

Location:  41-1801 Kalaninaole Hwy, Wimanalo, Oahu, HI

Book a tee time or call (808) 259-7926


Pali Golf Course

Pali Golf Course

The Pali Golf Course is one of the oldest Oahu golf courses, built back in 1953.  Step onto these grounds, and you’ll feel like you time traveled much farther back than the 1950’s, and into the prehistoric dinosaur age.

Surrounded by oversized tropical plants, jungle like surroundings, and dark Ko’olau mountains towering above the course, they should rename the Pali Golf Course to Jurassic Park Golf Adventure Park.  The only thing missing is the shadow of a pterodactyl flying above, or the sound of a tyrannosaurus rex breaking through the brush – trust me…it will cross your mind!

The Pali Golf Course is located in an alter ego type setting.  Above you is the Pali lookout, where a famous battle took place.  This is where King Kamehameha led his warriors up the mountain, and literally pushed his enemies off the cliff and sent them plunging deep in to the valley below.  That’s right…just about where you’re putting! 

Then turn your head and look the opposite direction below, and paradise takes a whole new meaning.  The beautiful Windward Kaneohe coastline is probably the most breath taking on Oahu Hawaii.

This 6,525 yard, Willard G. Wilkinson designed Oahu golf course is one of my casual favorites to play.  It’s a little more relaxed, allowing you to enjoy the setting and your game more.

The only drawback to playing the Pali Golf Course are the Ko’olau mountain winds and occasional tropical downpours that sometimes play a factor on your scorecard.

Also take note that there are no sand traps to be found, but steer clear of the stream that runs through the course.

Location:  45-050 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI - Phone (808) 266-7610

Check out more details & tee times at the Pali Golf Course city website


Waikiki Golf – Oahu Golf Courses


Ala Wai Golf Course

Ala Wai Golf Course

Although Oahu golf courses are spread out throughout the island, you won’t have to go far if you wish to stay close to the hotels and play this Waikiki golf course, located 5 minutes away, just across the Ala Wai Canal.

The Ala Wai Golf Course has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most single rounds of Hawaiian golfing played in a single day -500 rounds to be exact!  Yes, this Oahu Golf Course is one of the busiest to book a tee time, but it can be done!  You could say they had a little help from Waikiki fans!

I’ve walked on this municipal Oahu golf course without a tee time, and usually drove off the first tee within an hour wait time.

Ala Wai Golf Course is primarily flat with straight forward shots, this course is beautiful and lots of fun to play.  These Hawaiian golf courses cater to just about everyone, including the beginners and the amateur golfers looking to play.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by stunning views of the Waikiki city skyline, Diamond Head, and the dark Koolau Mountains.  

Click below to learn more about the course and tee times…

Location:  404 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI - Phone (808) 296-2000

Check out more details & tee times at the Ala Wai Golf Course city website


South Side – Oahu Golf Courses


Hawaii Kai Golf Course

Hawaii Kai Golf Course

Drive to the southern eastern tip of Oahu not far from Sandy Beach, and you’ll find yourself at the Hawaii Kai Golf Course…or should I say courses?  That’s right, there’s one championship course plus an 18-hole executive course – your choice!

Championship Course

Hawaii Kai Golf Course green

This championship course was designed by William Bell and erected in 1973.  There is 6500 yards of green real estate to play here.  This course is moderately challenging and offers gorgeous views of the blue Pacific Ocean.

The fairways are fairly flat and wide, which you will help aid your handicap.

But be warned that the trade winds tend to pick up in the afternoon and shave off significant yardage off your swings, so be prepared to resize your club for each shot.

Myself...?  I like the stunning views you get of the Makapuu Point mountainside  from each hole – so don't forget to spend a moment to take it all in!

Executive Course

Hawaii Kai Golf Course

Another great word for executive is easy going or beginner!  This executive course is a fun par-3 (total Par 54) Oahu golf course.  Although it may be short (2222 yards long), it does come with some level of difficulty – especially putting and chipping the numerous sloped greens. 

This Oahu golf course winds up the beautiful Makapuu Point Cliffside.  You’ll find some amazing views of Koko Head.  Turn around and enjoy vast views of the Pacific!  If you are lucky, you just might see a migrating whale or two making their journey.

Location:  8902 Kalanianaole Highway Honolulu, Oahu, HI

Book your Tee Time or call club house at (808) 395-2358  Golf club are available to rent...


Best Oahu Golf Courses for Beginners

Golfing in Paradise does not have to for the serious and pro golfers.  Check out the following golf courses in Oahu that offer par 3 layouts, ocean links & accommodating courses for those who wish to just enjoy themselves out on the fairways:

Ala Wai Golf Course ~ Kahuku Golf Course ~ Pali Golf Course ~ Hawaii Kai Golf Course (Executive Course)


Best Oahu Golf Courses for the Intermediate Golfers

If you’re like me, trying to keep you’re game under 100, and enjoy the perks of what some of the best golf courses in Oahu have to offer, then turn your attention to:

Ala Wai Golf Course ~ Turtle Bay Golf & Resort (George Fazio Course) ~ Olomana Golf Links ~ Makaha Valley Golf Club, Hawaii Kai Golf Course (Champion Ship Course)


Most Challenging & Prestigious Oahu Golf Courses

You’ve come to Hawaii for one reason, and that is to golf the very best, and most challenging Oahu Golf Courses.  Stop your search and invest your time into the following 3 golfing resorts:

Turtle Bay Golf & Resort (Arnold Palmer Course), Ko Olina Golf Club and the Hawaii Prince Golf Club

There are many Oahu golf courses to choose from, and we have highlighted the best!  No matter what your handicap is, go make your reservations and have a great time out there...


NOTE:  The Ko'olau Golf Course has Permanently Closed in 2020

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