Top 10 Public Golf Courses in Hawaiʻi for Your Vacation

Hawaiʻi’s public-access golf offers everything from coastal resort courses to municipal rounds with ocean views. The right choice depends on your island base, playing ability and budget—and whether you want one memorable round or several days built around the game.

This guide compares 10 golf destinations across Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, including facilities with multiple layouts. Use it to weigh scenery, challenge, visitor access and booking logistics. Here, “public-access” means visitors can book under the facility’s stated conditions; it does not mean every course offers the same rates or reservation privileges.

Key Takeaways

Choose your island base first. Shortlist courses near your accommodations so golf fits comfortably alongside beach days, dining and other plans.
Match the layout to your group. Consider tee options, forced carries and overall difficulty alongside ocean views and championship reputation.
Check visitor eligibility before booking. Confirm whether your preferred tee time or rate requires a resort stay, membership or proof of Hawaiʻi residency.
Compare the full cost of a round. Check what the green fee includes, then account for rental clubs, carts, applicable taxes and transportation.
Review conditions for your travel dates. Confirm booking windows, cancellation terms and maintenance schedules before committing to a round.

What are the best public golf courses in Hawaiʻi?

Mauna Kea on Hawaiʻi Island and Kapalua Plantation on Maui are strong choices for golfers seeking a challenging signature round. Princeville Makai offers coastal scenery on Kauaʻi, while Turtle Bay’s Palmer Course suits an Oʻahu North Shore golf day; all four appear in Golf Digest’s public-course listings (Golf Digest).

For a more budget-conscious option, consider Kauaʻi’s municipal Wailua Golf Course. Use the comparison below to narrow the list by island, playing style and lodging base.

Course or Facility	Island	Access Type	Signature Strength	Approximate Challenge*	Best For
Mauna Kea Golf Course	Hawaiʻi Island	Public-access resort	Ocean carries and coastal terrain	Challenging	A signature Kohala Coast round
Kapalua Plantation Course	Maui	Public-access resort	Sweeping elevation changes and ocean views	Moderate to challenging	Championship-scale golf
Wailea Golf Club	Maui	Public-access resort	Three distinct 18-hole layouts	Varies; Gold offers the sterner test	Mixed-ability groups and South Maui stays
Princeville Makai Golf Club	Kauaʻi	Public-access resort	Oceanfront holes and mountain scenery	Moderate to challenging	North Shore scenery
Turtle Bay, Palmer Course	Oʻahu	Public-access resort	Varied terrain on the North Shore	Challenging	A golf-focused North Shore outing
Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf	Hawaiʻi Island	Public-access resort	Three nine-hole loops through lava terrain	Varies by combination and tees	Multiple rounds from a Kohala Coast base
Ocean Course at Hōkūala	Kauaʻi	Public-access resort	Coastal holes near Līhuʻe	Moderate to challenging	Scenic golf from a Līhuʻe base
Ko Olina Golf Club	Oʻahu	Public-access resort	Water features and resort-area convenience	Moderate	West Oʻahu stays
Poipu Bay Golf Course	Kauaʻi	Public-access resort	Coastal setting and tournament history	Moderate to challenging	South Shore stays
Wailua Golf Course	Kauaʻi	Municipal public	Seaside golf at municipal rates	Moderate; wind adds difficulty	Value-conscious travelers

Challenge depends on tee selection, wind and playing ability. These descriptions are planning guidance rather than USGA ratings.

Public access does not guarantee a particular tee time or rate. Confirm visitor booking conditions, maintenance schedules and total costs for your dates before reserving.

How we ranked Hawaiʻi’s public golf courses

We prioritized the complete visitor experience over prestige alone, considering five factors:

Design and scenery: Architectural character, memorable holes and the surrounding landscape.
Public accessibility: Whether visitors can reserve a round and what booking conditions apply.
Playing experience: Challenge, tee options and suitability for different abilities.
Value: The experience offered relative to the full cost of playing.
Vacation practicality: Location, rental equipment and convenience for a traveler’s itinerary.

Official course information informs access and planning details, while established golf publications provide context on design and reputation. This is an editorial selection, not an official industry ranking or a report of firsthand course testing. Conditioning can change, so it should be checked for your travel dates.

The list includes individual courses and facilities with multiple layouts. Mauna Kea leads as our featured Kohala Coast choice; the strongest option for your own trip may differ depending on where you stay, how you play and what you want to spend.

1. Mauna Kea Golf Course, Hawaiʻi Island

Location: Kohala Coast, Hawaiʻi Island
Access: Public-access resort course; advance reservations recommended
Design: Robert Trent Jones Sr., with later updates by Rees Jones and, most recently, Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Best for: Golfers seeking a memorable coastal round during a Kohala Coast stay

Mauna Kea pairs strategic golf with blue-water vistas, most famously at the par-3 third hole, where the shot carries across an ocean inlet. Its architectural history adds to the appeal: the latest renovation by Robert Trent Jones Jr. updated bunkers and playing surfaces while preserving the coastal character of his father’s original design (Mauna Kea Resort renovation announcement).

The course suits travelers who want golf to be a highlight of their vacation. Ocean carries and undulating greens reward thoughtful club selection; choose tees that match your comfortable carry distance rather than stretching for the longest setup.

Practical notes: Rental clubs, a driving range, practice putting greens and GPS-equipped carts support a convenient visitor experience. Practice balls and bottled water are included with a round. Check current visitor rates, reservation availability and aeration dates before booking, and ask the golf shop which tees suit your group (Mauna Kea Golf Course).

2. Kapalua Plantation Course, Maui

Location: Kapalua, West Maui
Access: Public-access resort course
Design: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
Best for: Golfers seeking expansive ocean views and a course with PGA Tour history

Kapalua Plantation unfolds across the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, with dramatic elevation changes and wide fairways overlooking the Pacific. Its PGA Tour history adds recognition, but the landscape gives the round its character: downhill drives, sloping landing areas and a sweeping finish on the par-5 18th (Golf Monthly).

You do not need a low handicap to enjoy the experience. Multiple tee options make the course more manageable for recreational players, although choosing an appropriate distance matters on such a large layout. Golfers who enjoy judging elevation and planning their approach will find plenty to engage them.

Practical notes: Treat Plantation as a premium splurge and confirm the full price for your preferred date. Ask about the current reservation window, shared-cart arrangements, rental clubs and forecaddie availability before booking. Allow enough time to warm up and enjoy the setting without squeezing the round between other activities.

3. Wailea Golf Club, Maui

Location: Wailea, South Maui
Access: Public-access resort courses
Design: Robert Trent Jones Jr. (Gold and Emerald); Arthur Jack Snyder (Blue)
Best for: Couples, families and groups seeking different playing experiences from one South Maui base

Wailea’s appeal is choice: three distinct 18-hole courses let you match the round to your group’s ability and appetite for challenge. Gold and Emerald both appear in Golf Digest’s public-course listings, but each layout offers its own reasons to play (Golf Digest).

Gold: Choose this layout for a more demanding round, with strategic bunkering, elevation changes and rugged lava features.
Emerald: Open fairways, colorful landscaping and ocean views make it an appealing option for mixed-ability groups.
Blue: Wailea’s original course offers broad fairways and a traditional resort setting, although its greens still require careful reading.

For travelers staying in Wailea, the variety makes it possible to plan several different rounds without changing lodging bases. If your group includes less-experienced golfers, start by comparing Emerald and Blue rather than automatically choosing the toughest layout.

Practical notes: Compare afternoon, nine-hole and multi-round options for your dates. Families should ask about the Kids Play Free After 3 offer, including age requirements, the number of juniors covered per paying adult and rental-club inclusions. Confirm which clubhouse serves your selected course before setting out.

4. Princeville Makai Golf Club, Kauaʻi

Location: Princeville, Kauaʻi’s North Shore
Access: Public-access resort course
Design: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Best for: Scenery-focused golfers and travelers staying near Princeville or Hanalei

Princeville Makai combines coastal golf with the mountain backdrop of Kauaʻi’s North Shore. Set above Hanalei Bay, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design makes the landscape central to the experience, earning its place on a vacation shortlist for golfers who value the setting as much as the score (Go Hawaiʻi).

The 18-hole layout moves through lakes and woodland before revealing its oceanfront stretches. The par-3 seventh is a highlight, with a carry across coastal cliffs toward a bunkered green. Multiple tee options help mixed-ability groups find a comfortable challenge, though ocean breezes and exposed holes still call for thoughtful club selection.

Practical notes: You can book without a resort stay. Compare visitor rates and multi-round options, and confirm cart and practice-range inclusions for the rate you select. Pack a light rain layer and review the rain-check policy; a passing shower does not necessarily qualify for a credit. If you are staying elsewhere on Kauaʻi, leave ample driving time so the round feels like part of a North Shore outing rather than a rushed detour.

5. Turtle Bay, Palmer Course, Oʻahu

Location: Kahuku, Oʻahu’s North Shore
Access: Public-access resort course
Design: Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay
Best for: Golfers planning a full North Shore outing

Turtle Bay’s Palmer Course offers two distinct experiences within one round. The open front nine draws on Scottish links-style design, while the back nine moves through tropical woodland and wetlands. The signature 17th brings ocean views into a strategic test of bunker placement and approach play (Golf Digest Hawaii Online).

Multiple tee sets help golfers adjust the challenge, but water hazards and substantial bunkering make thoughtful shot placement worthwhile. Choose Palmer if you enjoy variety and want golf to anchor a day exploring Oʻahu’s North Shore.

The separate George Fazio Course is currently closed, so do not plan on playing both championship layouts. For a more casual addition, ask about The Breaks, Turtle Bay’s 18-hole putting course.

Practical notes: Non-resort visitors can reserve tee times, and green fees include a cart and warm-up range balls. Allow generous driving time from Waikīkī, especially if you plan stops along the coast. When comparing twilight rates, check how much daylight remains; a discounted afternoon start does not guarantee time to finish all 18 holes.

6. Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf, Hawaiʻi Island

Location: Waikoloa Beach Resort, Kohala Coast
Access: Public-access resort golf
Design: Original Beach layout by Robert Trent Jones Jr.; Kings’ layout by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish
Best for: Flexible rounds and variety from a Kohala Coast base

Waikoloa offers three nine-hole loops—Beach, Lakes and Kings’—that combine into different 18-hole rounds. The original designs bring contrasting architectural styles, from Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s lava-field routing to the Scottish links influence of Weiskopf and Morrish (Go Hawaiʻi: Beach; Go Hawaiʻi: Kings’).

Beach Nine: Generous landing areas and an oceanfront par-5 make this the priority for coastal scenery.
Lakes Nine: Water hazards and lava features reward accurate placement rather than distance alone.
Kings’ Nine: Wide fairways, mountain views and pot bunkers create a different strategic challenge.

This flexibility suits travelers who want a shorter outing or several rounds without repeating the same combination. Broad fairways offer breathing room, but water, lava and bunkers still demand care.

Practical notes: Confirm which nines your reservation includes, particularly if oceanfront golf is your priority. Compare nine-hole, twilight and multi-round options, allowing enough daylight for the number of holes you hope to play.

7. Ocean Course at Hōkūala, Kauaʻi

Location: Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi
Access: Public-access resort course
Design: Jack Nicklaus Signature
Best for: Travelers seeking coastal scenery from a Līhuʻe base

Hōkūala combines a tropical setting with a memorable stretch beside the Pacific. Its Līhuʻe location makes it a practical choice for travelers staying in the area, and Go Hawaiʻi highlights its oceanfront holes among Kauaʻi’s defining golf experiences (Go Hawaiʻi).

The Jack Nicklaus design rewards decisions as much as distance. The short par-4 16th, for example, invites longer hitters to consider the green from the tee, while a more conservative shot can leave a manageable approach. That balance of temptation and restraint gives the round interest beyond its views.

Instruction is available for newer players, but the championship layout should not be mistaken for a beginner course. Choose tees suited to your ability and ask the staff about lessons if your group would prefer a gentler introduction.

Practical notes: Rental clubs are available, and non-golfing companions can ask about riding along for an additional fee. If fitting a round around a flight, leave ample time for golf, returning equipment and airport check-in.

8. Ko Olina Golf Club, Oʻahu

Location: Kō Olina, West Oʻahu
Access: Public-access resort course
Design: Ted Robinson
Best for: West Oʻahu stays and mixed-ability groups

Ko Olina combines spacious fairways, water features and multi-tiered greens in a resort setting. Its history as an LPGA tournament venue adds interest, while generous landing areas give recreational golfers room to enjoy the round (Golf Digest Hawaii Online).

The challenge becomes more apparent around the greens, where approach placement matters. It is a useful choice for groups seeking an approachable layout that still rewards precision, especially when staying in the surrounding Kō Olina resort area.

Practical notes: Individual tee-time prices vary with demand and availability; compare your preferred round with available multi-round packages. Rental equipment and instruction are offered. From Waikīkī, account for traffic and check transportation options before booking an early start.

9. Poipu Bay Golf Course, Kauaʻi

Location: Poʻipū, Kauaʻi’s South Shore
Access: Public-access resort course
Design: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Best for: South Shore travelers seeking coastal golf and championship history

Poipu Bay’s 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout welcomes public play, making it an accessible choice for golfers staying around Poʻipū (Go Hawaiʻi).

Set between mountains and ocean cliffs, the course hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 through 2006. Coastal scenery provides the attraction, while trade winds, bunkers and water hazards keep the round engaging. Give yourself room for a conservative approach when the wind changes rather than judging every shot by distance alone.

Practical notes: Shorter options include practice-and-play, seven-hole and nine-hole rounds. Ask which holes are included if ocean views are your priority, since the shorter offerings cover different portions of the course. Standard rounds include a cart, GPS and pre-round practice-facility access; club rentals are available separately.

10. Wailua Golf Course, Kauaʻi

Location: Wailua, Kauaʻi’s East Side
Access: Municipal public
Design: Toyo Shirai
Best for: Value-conscious golfers seeking a coastal round

Wailua offers a municipal alternative to Hawaiʻi’s premium resort courses without sacrificing a substantial golf experience. It has hosted three USGA Amateur Public Links Championships, and multiple tee options let visitors adjust the challenge to their game.

As of October 2026, standard nonresident green fees are $80 on weekdays and $100 on weekends and holidays, with lower twilight rates. Motorized carts and rental clubs cost extra (County of Kauaʻi).

Choose Wailua when you want golf to fit comfortably into the vacation budget. Its appeal lies in coastal surroundings, tournament history and the option to walk rather than pay for a motorized cart.

Practical notes: Reservations are required; walk-ons are not accepted. Book by phone or in person up to seven days ahead. The county asks beginners and slower players to start after noon, making an afternoon round worth considering for a less-experienced group.

How much does it cost to play golf in Hawaiʻi?

Budget from under $100 for some municipal rounds to several hundred dollars for premium resort golf. As an October 2026 reference point, Wailua charges nonresidents $80 on weekdays and $100 on weekends and holidays; its twilight green fees are $40 and $50, respectively (County of Kauaʻi).

For resort courses, compare the total quoted price for your date and visitor category. Afternoon starts and multi-round packages may reduce costs, but late tee times can limit how many holes you finish.

Check whether the price includes a cart and practice balls, then add rental clubs, applicable taxes, transportation and any rider or forecaddie charges. Resort-guest and Hawaiʻi-resident discounts have eligibility requirements; use the visitor rate when budgeting unless you qualify.

How should you plan a Hawaiʻi golf vacation?

Build your golf plans around your lodging base, then reserve your priority rounds as each course’s booking window opens. For a short stay, concentrate on one island and leave time between rounds for beaches, dining and exploring.

Before reserving:

Confirm visitor eligibility, cancellation terms and maintenance dates.
Choose tees suited to your group and check any handicap requirements.
Reserve rental clubs and compare their total cost with bringing your own.
Review dress codes, cart rules and non-golfing rider policies.
Allow for traffic, warm-up time and daylight when choosing a start.

Keep arrival day flexible, and avoid scheduling a tightly timed round before an inter-island or mainland flight.

Frequently asked questions about public golf in Hawaiʻi

Are Hawaiʻi golf courses open to the public?

Many municipal, daily-fee and resort courses welcome visitors. Private clubs and restricted facilities require separate eligibility checks.

What is the best island in Hawaiʻi for a golf vacation?

Choose Hawaiʻi Island for Kohala Coast golf, Maui for resort-course variety, Kauaʻi for coastal scenery, or Oʻahu for golf alongside a Honolulu stay.

Which Hawaiʻi golf courses have the best ocean views?

Our scenic shortlist includes Mauna Kea, Kapalua Plantation, Princeville Makai, Hōkūala and Poipu Bay. Views vary throughout each round.

Can visitors play resort courses without staying at the resort?

The resort courses featured here accept public bookings. Hotel guests may qualify for different rates or reservation privileges.

What is the best public golf course in Hawaiʻi for beginners?

Wailea Emerald is a useful starting point for its open fairways and tee options. First-time golfers may prefer instruction before a full round.

How far ahead should you book a Hawaiʻi tee time?

Booking windows vary by course and visitor category. Reserve priority rounds when eligible; Wailua accepts reservations up to seven days ahead (County of Kauaʻi).

Is golf in Hawaiʻi expensive?

Resort rounds can cost several hundred dollars. Municipal courses, shorter rounds and afternoon options can help control spending.

Can you rent golf clubs in Hawaiʻi?

Rental clubs are available at the featured facilities. Confirm handedness, junior sizes, availability and charges when booking.

What should you wear to play golf in Hawaiʻi?

Golf shirts, tailored shorts or pants, and suitable golf shoes are sensible choices. Confirm the course’s dress code before arriving.

Which public golf courses are close to airports or resort areas?

Hōkūala and Wailua are near Līhuʻe Airport. Wailea, Ko Olina, Mauna Kea and Waikoloa suit travelers staying in their surrounding resort areas.

Make Time for Golf on the Kohala Coast

Choose a round you will look forward to, then leave room to enjoy the island beyond the fairways. If the Kohala Coast is your base, explore Mauna Kea Resort’s golf and stay options and build a vacation around coastal golf, beach time and unhurried evenings together.