Best Golf Courses in Hawaii for Visitors (Local Guide)
Hawaii is one of the most spectacular golf destinations in the world. With oceanfront fairways, volcanic landscapes, lush tropical scenery, and year-round playable weather, the Hawaiian Islands offer unforgettable golf experiences for visitors from around the globe.
If you are planning a golf trip to Hawaii, one of the most important decisions is choosing which courses to play and where to book your tee times.
For more than 20 years, Hawaii Tee Times has helped visitors book golf throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Because the company is based in Hawaii, the team understands the local golf scene, plays the courses regularly, and knows which rounds are truly worth booking.
This guide highlights some of the best golf courses in Hawaii and explains why many visitors prefer booking through a local Hawaii golf company instead of mainland travel websites.
Why Hawaii Is One of the Best Golf Destinations in the World
Few places combine natural beauty and world-class golf the way Hawaii does. Across the islands, golfers can experience:
- Championship resort courses designed by legendary architects
- Oceanfront holes overlooking the Pacific
- Volcanic terrain and tropical landscapes
- Year-round golf weather
- A mix of bucket-list resort courses and great value rounds
Because Hawaii is such a popular golf destination, tee times at many courses can fill quickly. That is why visitors often secure their rounds in advance through Hawaii Tee Times, which provides real-time tee time availability across the islands.
Best Golf Courses on Oahu
Oahu offers a great mix of resort golf, scenic mountain golf, and value courses, many located within easy driving distance of Waikiki and Honolulu.
Ko Olina Golf Club
Ko Olina Golf Club is one of Oahu’s most popular resort courses. Designed by Ted Robinson, the course features wide fairways, water features, and beautiful tropical landscaping. It has hosted LPGA events and is known for excellent course conditions year-round.
You can browse available Oahu tee times here: Oahu Golf Courses.
Turtle Bay Resort – Palmer Course
Located on Oahu’s famous North Shore, the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay offers a scenic round surrounded by natural landscapes and native vegetation. It provides a peaceful golf experience away from the city and is popular with visitors staying on the North Shore.
Royal Hawaiian Golf Club
Royal Hawaiian Golf Club is one of the most visually dramatic golf courses on Oahu. Set against the Koʻolau mountains, the course is known for its incredible scenery, lush jungle feel, and unforgettable tropical setting. For visitors who want a golf experience that feels completely different from a traditional resort course, Royal Hawaiian stands out as one of the most unique rounds in Hawaii.
Ewa Beach Golf Club
Ewa Beach Golf Club is often considered one of the best value golf courses on Oahu. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course offers a challenging layout and scenic views while typically being more affordable than many resort courses.
Best Golf Courses on Maui
Maui is known for its beautiful resort golf and spectacular ocean views. Many visitors consider Maui one of the best islands for golf in Hawaii.
Kaanapali Golf Courses
The Kaanapali Resort offers two courses — the Royal Kaanapali Course and the Kaanapali Kai Course. Both provide beautiful scenery and convenient access for visitors staying in the Kaanapali resort area.
The Royal Course has a long history and remains one of Maui’s best-known visitor rounds, while the Kaanapali Kai Course offers an enjoyable resort golf experience at a more approachable price point.
Explore Maui tee times here: Maui Golf Courses.
Best Golf Courses on the Big Island
The Big Island offers some of the most dramatic golf settings in Hawaii, with courses built through lava fields, along ocean cliffs, and across some of the most striking resort landscapes in the islands.
Mauna Kea Golf Course
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Mauna Kea is one of Hawaii’s most iconic golf courses. The famous third hole requires golfers to carry the ball across the ocean to reach the green and is one of the most photographed holes in golf.
View Big Island tee times here: Big Island Golf Courses.
Waikoloa Beach Resort
Waikoloa Beach Resort features two excellent visitor courses — the Beach Course and the Kings Course. Both are known for scenic ocean views and outstanding course conditions, making them popular choices for travelers staying along the Kohala Coast.
Mauna Lani South Course
The Mauna Lani South Course is one of the premier resort golf experiences on the Big Island. Known for its lava-lined fairways, beautiful ocean holes, and outstanding conditioning, it delivers the kind of dramatic Hawaii golf setting that many visitors are looking for.
Mauna Lani North Course
The Mauna Lani North Course offers a slightly different feel than the South Course, with more tree-lined holes, strategic design, and a layout that many golfers enjoy for its playability and variety. Together, the North and South Courses make Mauna Lani one of the strongest golf destinations on the island.
Kona Country Club Ocean Course
The Kona Country Club Ocean Course is another standout Big Island option for visitors, especially for golfers staying on the Kona side. The course is known for sweeping ocean views, dramatic coastline holes, and memorable scenery that makes it one of the most enjoyable public golf experiences on the island.
Best Golf Courses on Kauai
Kauai’s lush tropical environment provides a stunning setting for golf. Many courses combine dramatic mountain scenery with oceanfront holes.
Poipu Bay Golf Course
Poipu Bay is one of Kauai’s premier resort courses and previously hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The course winds along the coastline and provides incredible ocean views throughout the round.
Browse Kauai golf courses here: Kauai Golf Courses.
Why Many Visitors Book Through Hawaii Tee Times
Hawaii Tee Times has been helping visitors plan their golf trips for more than two decades.
Unlike mainland booking websites located thousands of miles away, Hawaii Tee Times is based in Hawaii and the team regularly plays the courses they recommend.
That local knowledge matters. Why would you book your Hawaii golf through a third-party company based thousands of miles away from the islands when they may have never even been to Hawaii, let alone played the courses they are selling? Hawaii Tee Times is different because the company is local, understands the market, and has firsthand knowledge of the courses visitors are considering.
This local experience helps golfers:
- Choose the best courses for their trip
- Find better tee time availability
- Access discounted visitor rates
- Plan golf across multiple islands
Instead of relying on mainland travel sites that may have never even visited Hawaii, many visitors prefer booking with a local company that understands the islands, the golf courses, and the overall visitor experience firsthand.
Book Your Hawaii Golf Tee Times
If you are planning to play golf during your Hawaii vacation, start by exploring tee times through Hawaii Tee Times.
With more than 20 years of experience helping visitors book golf across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, Hawaii Tee Times remains one of the most trusted ways to plan golf in Hawaii.
