Golfing in Hawaii: The Ultimate 5-Island Guide

“The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean,” said novelist Mark Twain of his 19th century excursion to the Hawaiian archipelago. Long the tropical target of many a traveler’s desire, America’s far-flung 50th state is a bucket list item worthy of a transpacific flight: giant waterfalls, screensaver-esque beaches, pounding sapphire surf, active volcanoes, and a deluge of Jurassic Park greenery are just some of the marvels that await you there. From hiking to surfing, helicopter touring to beachside lounging, the Aloha State delivers no shortage of thrill and chill. And if you pack your clubs, nothing beats golfing in Hawaii.

For the flag-hunters among us, Hawaii’s incredible topography makes it one of the best golf destinations on the planet. The state boasts more than 70 courses across five islands, many of which the pros—in the PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tour—play for a paycheck on a yearly basis.

Like a pilgrimage to the links of Scotland, you won’t get to every track in a single visit to Hawaii—there’s just too much to see. What you will get, however, is consistent 80-degree temps, impeccably manicured turf, volcanic vistas, and lava-coated fairways that are surefire landing spots for the longest drives of your life.

For now, your best approach to golfing in Hawaii is to give yourself a week and build an a la carte tour using the course guide below. You’ll want to play as many holes as you can, of course, but be sure to enjoy paradise and not spend all of your week driving and puddle-jumping between courses.

Our advice? Pick an island (or two), snag a handful of tee times at some of the world’s best layouts, pack your snazziest floral-patterned collared shirt, and then grip it and rip it. Golfing in Hawaii is a pin-seeker’s dream. By the time your ball settles after that bomb off the first tee, you’ll already be thinking up a reason to come back.

Kauai

Where to play: The Ocean Course at Hokuala, a Jack Nicklaus design, hosted the best collegiate men’s golfers last winter. Its outward nine takes you through lush jungle before dishing out Hawaii’s longest stretch of oceanside holes, punctuated by the dramatic par-3 fourteenth (this is your Instagram shot) and the daring but driveable par-4 sixteenth (take out the big stick and go for it—you didn’t fly across the Pacific Ocean to lay up).

At Poipu Bay on Kauai’s sunny South Shore, Phil Mickelson shot a 59 in the PGA’s Grand Slam of Golf in 2004—an event Tiger Woods won a staggering seven times. Green mountains and breaching humpbacks off the back-nine’s clifftop coastline underscore this Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout.

Princeville Makai Golf Club on the North Shore’s Hanalei Bay; it’s rated one of the best public tracks in the U.S. by Golf Digest. Be sure to rent a GolfBoard so you can surf its immaculate fairways from shot to shot.

Maui

Where to play: Your raison d’être for teeing it up on the Valley Isle is Kapalua’s Plantation Course, Maui’s crown jewel and home of the PGA’s Sentry Tournament of Champions each January. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the game’s top design duo, drew up the pine-framed mountainside course, located on a former pineapple plantation, back in 1992. They renovated it a few years ago to make it friendlier for guest play (think extra-wide fairways). Prepare for high winds, jungle ravines, jaw-dropping views across the Pacific Ocean to the island of Molokai, and the opportunity for the longest drive of your life on the downhill, 600-plus-yard 18th hole. (Pro tip: book a forecaddie to help you read greens and provide target lines off the tee. You’ll need it).

On the island’s west shore, The Royal Kā’anapali Course offers a fun day on the links and a history lesson. Cultural plaques adorn each tee box, sharing stories of Maui’s Royal Chiefs who once lived on this sacred land. Wailea’s Emerald is a picturesque Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with big elevation changes and excellent course conditions. Its challenging sibling, Wailea Gold, demands a bit more skill and strategy if you want to post a low number.

Where to stay and eat: On the island’s west side, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua covers 54 verdant acres and rubs shoulders with an ancient Hawaiian burial site. The spa is top-notch, too (book the specialty Lomilomi massage). Each of the hotel’s six restaurants are delicious, but the fan-favorite is the beachfront Burger Shack, which slings burgers, fries, and some of the best hand-spun milkshakes anywhere.

From the hotel, walk down the Coastal Trail to Merriman’s to sample its macadamia nut-crusted mahi mahi and famous pineapple bread pudding. For arguably the best ahi poke bowl in Hawaii, head to Tamura’s, a no-frills market with multiple locations island-wide.

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