Golf in Hawaii
The most dramatic resort golf in America, played across the islands: the tumbling Plantation Course at Kapalua, lava field fairways above the Pacific on the Big Island, and clifftop par 3s over the ocean on Lanai and Kauai. The courses that matter, the islands, the seasons and how to plan it.
Photograph: Kapalua Golf - The Plantation Course, Bob Evans, via Google
Why golf in Hawaii
No American golf destination has scenery like Hawaii. The courses tumble down volcanic mountainsides to the Pacific, thread across black lava fields, and finish on tees perched above the surf, with whales breaching offshore in winter. The headline act is the Plantation Course at Kapalua on Maui, a Coore and Crenshaw design that opens the PGA Tour season every January at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, its vast, cascading fairways built to be played along the contours of the land. Spread across the islands sit a remarkable run of ocean courses: Mauna Kea and Mauna Lani on the Big Island, the Nicklaus clifftop at Manele on Lanai, and the garden island courses of Kauai.
It is resort golf at its most lavish, and priced accordingly, but few trips reward the journey like this one. The weather is warm and reliable year round on the leeward coasts where the courses sit, the conditioning is immaculate, and the islands pair the golf with some of the best beaches, snorkeling and dining in the Pacific. A classic Hawaiian golf trip combines two islands over a week or ten days, mixing marquee rounds with rest days on the sand. For a milestone trip or a bucket list winter escape, the islands are in a class of their own.
The islands
Maui
The resort golf capital, headlined by the two courses at Kapalua, the championship Plantation and the Bay, plus the Wailea trio on the sunny south coast. The most golf rich island and the easiest to build a trip around.
The Big Island
Lava field golf along the Kohala Coast, where Mauna Kea, a 1964 Robert Trent Jones Senior classic, and the ocean holes of Mauna Lani and Hualalai play across black rock to the blue Pacific. The most distinctive golf landscape in the islands.
Kauai
The lush garden island, home to Princeville Makai on the dramatic north shore and Poipu Bay on the sunnier south coast, a long time host of the PGA Grand Slam. Greener, wilder and quieter than the rest.
Lanai and Oahu
Jack Nicklaus's clifftop Manele course on the secluded island of Lanai, with its famous ocean carry par 3, plus the resort courses of Oahu at Turtle Bay and Ko Olina within reach of Honolulu.
The courses that matter
Kapalua Plantation Course
The most celebrated course in the islands, a Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design that hosts the PGA Tour's season opening Sentry Tournament of Champions every January. Vast, cascading fairways tumble down the West Maui mountainside to the sea, finishing with a downhill, downwind par 5 that the pros can reach in two. Bold, scenic and unforgettable.
Mauna Kea Golf Course
The course that started Hawaiian resort golf, a 1964 Robert Trent Jones Senior masterpiece carved into the lava of the Kohala Coast. Its famous par 3 third plays across a churning ocean inlet from an elevated tee, one of the great one shot holes in America, and the whole layout remains a benchmark sixty years on.
Manele Golf Course
Jack Nicklaus's clifftop course on the secluded island of Lanai, set above Hulopoe Bay, where the par 3 twelfth carries 200 yards across a yawning ocean chasm from cliff to cliff. Dramatic, exclusive and reached by a short ferry or flight, it is one of the most spectacular rounds in the Pacific.
Princeville Makai Golf Club
A Robert Trent Jones Junior design on the lush north shore of Kauai, threading ocean bluffs, jungle and mountain backdrops. The Ocean nine in particular plays along dramatic cliffs above the surf, and a thorough restoration has kept it among the best resort courses in the islands.
Wailea Gold Course
The pick of the three courses at Wailea on Maui's sunny south coast, a Robert Trent Jones Junior layout that weaves through ancient lava rock walls and kiawe forest with sweeping views to the Pacific and Haleakala. Strong, strategic and beautifully conditioned resort golf.
Mauna Lani, South Course
A striking lava field course on the Big Island's Kohala Coast whose signature par 3 fifteenth plays across an ocean cove, framed by black rock and the deep blue sea. Among the most photographed holes in Hawaii and a fine partner to nearby Mauna Kea for a Big Island trip.
Poipu Bay Golf Course
A links influenced Robert Trent Jones Junior course on Kauai's sunny south shore, the long time home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, with rolling ground, ocean cliffs and frequent sightings of sea turtles and monk seals along the coast. An enjoyable, scenic test.
Turtle Bay, Palmer Course
The standout course on Oahu's North Shore, an Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay design that runs through wetlands, dunes and ironwood forest to the sea. The most accomplished resort layout within easy reach of Honolulu and a natural base for a stay on the island's wild north coast.
Designers, opening years and host history verified June 2026. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| December to April | Warm and dry on the leeward coasts, whale watching season | Peak season, lines up with the Sentry at Kapalua, book early |
| May and September to November | Warm, settled, fewer crowds | The best mix of weather, value and space on the tee sheet |
| June to August | Hot and dry, busy with family travel | Reliable golf, book hotels and tee times ahead |
The resort courses sit on the dry, leeward sides of the islands and play well all year. Winter brings the biggest surf, the humpback whales and the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, while the shoulder months are the connoisseur's choice for value and quiet fairways.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee green fee | Around US$200 to 450 | Kapalua Plantation and the Big Island flagships at the top end |
| Resort guest and twilight | Lower published rates | Staying on property and afternoon tee times save meaningfully |
| A two island week, all in | Around US$4,000 to 7,000 per person | Hotels, inter island flights, 4 to 5 rounds, excluding flights to Hawaii |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. Resort guest, replay and twilight rates can lower the cost considerably. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Most visitors fly into Honolulu on Oahu or direct to Maui at Kahului, with the Big Island served by Kona and Kauai by Lihue. Short inter island flights, often under forty minutes, make a two island trip simple, and they are the key to combining, say, Maui with the Big Island or Kauai over a week. Lanai is reached by a quick ferry from Maui or a short hop by air. On each island a hire car is essential, as the resort coasts are spread out and the drives, along the water and up the volcanic slopes, are part of the pleasure. Build in a rest day or two between rounds to enjoy the beaches and the scenery.
Where to stay
The golf and the lodging go together in Hawaii. On Maui, the Kapalua and Wailea resorts put you on the doorstep of their courses, while the Big Island's Kohala Coast strings luxury resorts beside Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani and Hualalai. On Kauai, Princeville anchors the north shore and the Poipu resorts the south, and on Lanai the Four Seasons sits above the Manele course. Staying on property unlocks guest green fees and the easiest mornings. Let one planner pair the right resort with each island and handle the inter island logistics.
Plan your Hawaii golf trip
Tell us the islands and courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Hawaii golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Hawaii?
Hawaii plays year round, with warm temperatures in every season and reliable, dry weather on the leeward resort coasts where most of the golf sits. December to April is the peak, lining up with the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua and whale season, while late spring and autumn offer the best mix of weather, value and space on the tee sheet.
Which is the best golf course in Hawaii?
The Plantation Course at Kapalua on Maui, a Coore and Crenshaw design from 1991 that hosts the PGA Tour's Sentry Tournament of Champions, is the most celebrated. Mauna Kea on the Big Island, a 1964 Robert Trent Jones Senior classic, and the clifftop Manele course on Lanai by Jack Nicklaus are its closest rivals.
How much does it cost to play golf in Hawaii in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees at the marquee resort courses run from roughly US$200 to 450, with resort guest and twilight rates lower. A week across two islands with hotels, inter island flights and four or five rounds typically lands around US$4,000 to 7,000 per head excluding flights to Hawaii. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Island course restorations, Sentry Tournament of Champions build up and the resort booking windows worth moving on first. Every other week.