[rrkman]

Looking for some advice on Oahu golf. I will be there the first week of May. Wife has a conference so room/flight/car/etc. are already taken care of. Now, I just need to find a way to kill 3 or 4 days while she is locked up in a covention center. Not looking to pay hundreds of $$$$ a day but don't really want to play horrible courses either. I don't really have a true handicap am just starting to play a little more again - I'm not a hack but certainly have room to improve.


My questions are....

1. Should I go through a 'booking' company or just call the course and book a time (after you all help me decide where to play)?

2. Not overly excited about lugging my clubs out there. Are there rentals available? Everything in my bag is new this year (and it is still snowing in Ohio) so using rentals might work out. Problably depends on how much I plan on playing, etc.

3. Seen/heard about hawaii golf cards, etc....what are these and are there a lot of scams going on?

4. It will be just me...will it be hard to get on the course?....and anyone want to play a round or 2?

Any help with this would truly be appreciated.

Thanks,

Randy

[mauiatheart]

My friend's site www.808golf.com has some good information on the courses on Oahu with photos and contact info. I don't know what the non-Kamaaina (non-local) rates are, so you may want to try calling around. Most non-municipal courses will have rental clubs available. The courses I typically play are Mililani, Pearl Country Club, Royal Kunia, Kapolei, Ewa Beach, Prince and Coral Creek. I would suggest any of these courses. I would definitely stay away from Hawaii Country Club. If you are staying in Waikiki, the Ala Wai Golf Course is very nearby. But it is a muni, so I am not so sure about rental clubs. It is one of the busiest courses in the world. At one time it held the world record for number of rounds played in a year. Have fun and enjoy.

[rrkman]

thanks for the info...the only problem is that it looks like you can only get tee times for 2 or more players....but, the site does have some good information so I will look it over.

[tets]

I have been there 3 times.. play Ko'olau Golf Club and Luana Hills Country Club. Luana Hills is an awesome, Pete and Perry Dye design. Ko'olau boasts the highest slope rating in the country. I booked myself both times. Have fun!

[pm hacker]

If you have a military id or if you can find a playing partner who has one that is willing to "sponsor" you, then you'll probably spend $42 or less for a round of golf at the military courses on Oahu. Good Luck!!!

[TracyS]

As of now, I'd stay away from the munis. The conditions (especially the greens) have been in pretty poor form. If you're going to be coming all this way, I'd play somewhere a little better. It definitely would not be worth the $50 or whatever the visitor rate is. I also agree not to go to Hawaii Country Club.

Luana Hills and Koolau are both pretty challenging. They're on the rainy side of the island but, in May, you will probably be fine weather-wise. Beautiful courses, cut out of the rain forrest.

I'd also recommend Pearl Country Club, New Ewa, and Turtle Bay. All of these courses will probably be $100 at least with your rental clubs, though.

Doesn't seem like there are many mid-range courses here unless you millitary access. It's either really nice and expensive or cheap and in not-so-great shape. Olomana Golf Links is the only one I can think of that's kind of in the middle.

You should be able to book a round as a single at any course - probably, just have to give them a call. Post again when you are closer to your trip. I'm sure a few of us will be out there playing while you're around.

[rrkman]

Thanks for all the info....

No military connections so I'm not sure if I can pull that off.

Looks like I will be bringing my clubs because I am hoping to play atleast 3 days.

Still have a pretty long list of places that I am checking out but the list is getting shorter. Short list right now is probably Turtle Bay/Ko Olina/Ko'Olau/Lauana Hills/Pearl.

Thanks for your help and I will keep in touch....maybe one of you will be able to get out on one of those days.

[Xsfspeed]

I will have to agree that the munis are pretty rough right now. They may be better by the time you get here. I also agree that you should avoid Hawaii Country Club. Basically, there are all types of courses here at all different price points. Your list seems to be shaping up very nicely. Here are some of my favorites:

• New Ewa - Course is in great shape and is fairly flat
  
• Coral Creek - Newer course that is usually in pretty good shape, can be challenging in the wind
  
• Royal Kunia - Shorter course with a number of hazards, fair amount of elevation changes, usually in pretty good shape
  
• Kapolei - Renovations are about done, looks pretty good, flat, used to host an LPGA event
  
• Pearl CC - Lots of elevation changes, usually in good shape, greens are usually on the faster side, just hosted a pro event
  
• Ko'Olina - Beautiful course, lush fairways and fairly flat, tough in the wind, just hosted the Fields Open
  
• Turtle Bay - 2 courses, usually in nice shape, just hosted the SBS, may be a little far depending on where you are staying
  
• Mililani - Fun course, undergoing some changes due to upgrades and weather, the pro is a good guy
  
• Luana Hills - Very challenging, usually in good shape, nice views and some nice holes, tight driving and numerous elevation changes
  
• Koolau - Extremely challenging when wet, but May should be okay, lots of forced carries and elevation changes

If I was here for vacation, I would play Ko'Olina, Turtle Bay (Palmer Course - links style), and New Ewa. Of course these choices do not take into account the cost of the round or rentals. BTW, rentals are available at most of the courses above. Have fun and enjoy your trip.

[chuckyuen]

Just played Turtle Bay Palmer course today and it was in good shape. The greens weren't as good as I've seen in the past, which was surprising since they just had the SBS there. I was also surprised at the price, the kama'aina rate was $89. Still a really fun course to play though.

[pitbull808]

chuckyuen, on Feb 24 2008, 08:44 PM, said:

Just played Turtle Bay Palmer course today and it was in good shape. The greens weren't as good as I've seen in the past, which was surprising since they just had the SBS there. I was also surprised at the price, the kama'aina rate was $89. Still a really fun course to play though.

And they wonder why more locals don't play that course. For me..after I drive there it's $60 in gas alone.

Good recommendations above. Just make sure you leave some time open to visit Par 72 Golf and check out Carlton and his Chikara's.

[rbenz]

Kapolei or Ko'Olina is where I'd take friends from out of town. Can't go wrong with the courses mentioned here. Have fun!

[tbc777]

Hey, I'm a hack but if you need someone to play with you I 'm in.
call or pm me when you get here and i'll hook you up with ko'olina or honolulu country club.
and turtle bay.

[rrkman]

tbc777, on Feb 25 2008, 01:53 PM, said:

Hey, I'm a hack but if you need someone to play with you I 'm in.
call or pm me when you get here and i'll hook you up with ko'olina or honolulu country club.
and turtle bay.

Thanks for the offer and I'm sure that I will take you up on it....Turtle Bay is definitely on my list right now. I want to play turtle bay for sure....the other 2 days are still up in the air. I thought about ko'olina but after seeing the LPGA over the weekend, it seems a little too urban (if that makes sense, and is that true??) to me. I would really like to feel like I'm in hawaii and after reading up on some of the other courses that cut into forests / rain forests, they seem very interesting. I will be sure to get in touch with you when I figure out which days I can play. Thanks again.

Also, thanks to everyone else for the suggestions/tips....it looks like I shouldn't have a problem finding a few places to enjoy.


Randy

[pitbull808]

rrkman, on Feb 25 2008, 09:55 AM, said:

tbc777, on Feb 25 2008, 01:53 PM, said:

Hey, I'm a hack but if you need someone to play with you I 'm in.
call or pm me when you get here and i'll hook you up with ko'olina or honolulu country club.
and turtle bay.

Thanks for the offer and I'm sure that I will take you up on it....Turtle Bay is definitely on my list right now. I want to play turtle bay for sure....the other 2 days are still up in the air. I thought about ko'olina but after seeing the LPGA over the weekend, it seems a little too urban (if that makes sense, and is that true??) to me. I would really like to feel like I'm in hawaii and after reading up on some of the other courses that cut into forests / rain forests, they seem very interesting. I will be sure to get in touch with you when I figure out which days I can play. Thanks again.

Also, thanks to everyone else for the suggestions/tips....it looks like I shouldn't have a problem finding a few places to enjoy.


Randy

Thing is Oahu is the main island in the Hawaiian chain...hence there's not many rural areas. If you're looking for that barren look, Makaha West might be a good course to play. It's in the boonies but I wouldn't get lost there. Ko'Olina is located pretty far out in the boonies but is bordered by townhouses/houses/hotel so it doesn't have that old Hawaii look. Turtle Bay is on the other side of "civilization". It's about an hour and a half drive from town and the course if pretty much set up so that you only see the course and ocean on pretty much every hole.

Check out the pictures I've added here..........it might give you some ideas.


http://www.golfwrx.c...=...st&p=117675

[rrkman]

Thanks for the links to the pics....

After reading up a little more and looking at the pics, I think the short list has Turtle Bay, Ko Olina, Launa Hills, Koolau and room for one more.

Couple other questions for you....

Is it hard to get on these places on a weekend? It looks like I will be golfing Friday (5/2) - Tuesday (5/6)...so, Saturday and Sunday.

Also, some of these places are a little pricey....any other deals besides the afternoon rates?

[Xsfspeed]

rrkman, on Feb 25 2008, 05:31 PM, said:

Thanks for the links to the pics....

After reading up a little more and looking at the pics, I think the short list has Turtle Bay, Ko Olina, Launa Hills, Koolau and room for one more.

Couple other questions for you....

Is it hard to get on these places on a weekend? It looks like I will be golfing Friday (5/2) - Tuesday (5/6)...so, Saturday and Sunday.

Also, some of these places are a little pricey....any other deals besides the afternoon rates?

As for getting on courses, it really depends on what else happens to be going that day and if they happen to have a lot of club play. Obviously if they have a lot of club play or tour groups, the courses will be booked. Most of the time, you should not have that much of a problem getting a time. As for the rates, unless you are a local or get some type of coupon or offer, the courses are pretty unyielding when it comes to price. Even for locals. We get a local rate, but sometimes even that is pricey. You are doing the right things, just compare the online booking sites and call the course directly. Take whichever is the better deal. In the CONUS, we sometimes get better deals by calling the course, other times, the online tee time services save us money. It depends on what course and if they are a partner with the site you are using. I realize that may not be all that much help, but it is the reality. Good luck and have fun.

[tbc777]

the places that i listed are the places that i can get you a good deal. local price at worst.

[WJK]

All the courses mentioned above are great...but as stated the prices are likely to be at the higher end...definitely take Carl up on his offer...

For the rest of us, just a thought...sounds like a pretty good reason to have another golf outing perhaps LOL, not that any of us need a reason anyway!!! Im just waiting to get my first one in!

I played Leilehua (did I spell this right?) recently...It is an Army course but I know the public can get in and make times a day in advance...im not sure of visitors or what the rate is there...although I vaguely recall someone saying it was 44 for visitors with a cart...

I thought it was a pretty nice course!!!

Wes

[rrkman]

I've PM'd him a couple times and am definitely taking him up on his offer. I just have to figure out my schedule (actually, my wife's schedule) before I can finalize anything.

If the outing doesn't work out for you, I hope I can convince a couple of you guys to meet up with me on some of the other days that I will be golfing. I'll keep this updated and get my schedule on here as soon as I can.

Thanks again for all the info....you have all been very helpful.

Randy

[rrkman]

Here's the deal. I hope to play May 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th (maybe 6th). I pm'd Carl to see if and when he could play but would also like to find other people to play with on the days he cannot. I am hoping to play Luana Hills and Koolau as well as any or all of the places that Carl mentioned (Turtle Bay, Ko'Olina, and Honolulu Country Club). Let me know if you are interested ... or if you know Carl, you might want to mention it to him since I am trying to plan when/where I play based on his availability. Also, if there is a different place that you would rather play, I'm open to it.

P.S. - It would work out best if I played early (and near Waikiki) on the 5th and might be able to get out on the 6th if it is really early and not too far from Waikiki as well.

[tbc777]

rrkman, on Mar 27 2008, 07:41 AM, said:

Here's the deal. I hope to play May 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th (maybe 6th). I pm'd Carl to see if and when he could play but would also like to find other people to play with on the days he cannot. I am hoping to play Luana Hills and Koolau as well as any or all of the places that Carl mentioned (Turtle Bay, Ko'Olina, and Honolulu Country Club). Let me know if you are interested ... or if you know Carl, you might want to mention it to him since I am trying to plan when/where I play based on his availability. Also, if there is a different place that you would rather play, I'm open to it.

P.S. - It would work out best if I played early (and near Waikiki) on the 5th and might be able to get out on the 6th if it is really early and not too far from Waikiki as well.

got your message. i'm checking my schedule to see when i can go out.

[pitbull808]

tbc777, on Mar 28 2008, 12:50 PM, said:

rrkman, on Mar 27 2008, 07:41 AM, said:

Here's the deal. I hope to play May 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th (maybe 6th). I pm'd Carl to see if and when he could play but would also like to find other people to play with on the days he cannot. I am hoping to play Luana Hills and Koolau as well as any or all of the places that Carl mentioned (Turtle Bay, Ko'Olina, and Honolulu Country Club). Let me know if you are interested ... or if you know Carl, you might want to mention it to him since I am trying to plan when/where I play based on his availability. Also, if there is a different place that you would rather play, I'm open to it.

P.S. - It would work out best if I played early (and near Waikiki) on the 5th and might be able to get out on the 6th if it is really early and not too far from Waikiki as well.

got your message. i'm checking my schedule to see when i can go out.

LOL...there is only one course near Waikiki..and you don't want to play that one. No worries though..you're on an island. The rest of the courses are a minum 30 minute to 1 hour at the farthest drive.

[rrkman]

I figured that most (if not all) of the courses would be a little ways from waikiki, I just want to fit in as much golf as I can while the wife is at her conferences....and I think that last day (the 6th) is only half a day for her. Plus, on the days where I have to drive across the island, I want to take my time and see the sights....plus, I guess I really don't have any idea as far as how long it would take to get around there. When we were in Maui for our honeymoon a few years back, we hopped over to Oahu to see pearl harbor, diamond head, and waikiki...that is about all of the island that I have seen so far.


Also, you seem to be in the know about what's happening out there (I saw your posts about demo days), anything that first week of May?

[Spoon]

i am thinking the same thing. my soon to be wife and i are going there for our honeymoon. freetime from may 5-10. you askd most of the questions i meant to ask. staying in oahu but thinking of turtle bay as it has been suggested by more than several 808 folks. let me know guys thanks

[rrkman]

I've only been married for about 5 years, so I'm by no means an expert, but when I went on my honeymoon to Maui, clubs as my second checked bag were not an option.

So, unless your wife golfs, you might want to re-think your plan. And, if she doesn't and thinks that you should take your clubs, she's a real keeper.

[Spoon]

we both golf, we started at around the same time. we dont want to lug our gear though as we will only be playing 1 round. rental is more practical for us as we will be coming from asia and dont wanna haul all our gear.

[rrkman]

My $.02 from what I have learned from these guys (as well as internet searches)...

I don't think you can go wrong playing the palmer course at Turtle Bay but, 2 other courses that look very interesting to me are Luana Hills and Koolau....I think it is Koolau that has one of the highest (if not the highest) slope rating in the US. I already have plans to paly some great places the first 3 days, but I think I'll try to fit a couple of these in as well. If you haven't already, take a look at the link that pitbull posted a little higher on this page. It really gives you a great idea of what these courses are really like. Congrats and good luck with the marriage, maybe I'll see you at one of these places on the 5th/6th.

[Spoon]

thanks! i dont want one of the highest slope ratings:) a friendly scenic course is what im looking at. another option for me is ko-olina since we are staying in the vicinity. anyway still lots of time to plan.

[propredicr]

Played Luana Hills yesterday. Island green was in play. Greens were okay, a little marked up. Fairways were hard as rocks and you didn't know which way your ball was going to roll. Not so bad on the straight fairways, OB on any with doglegs. No rain, so the views were nice. Finished 18 in 3:45. Hope that helps.

[rrkman]

Haven't had time to really update how the golf was out there but I am trying to put together a 'trip report' in the course review forum. Overall, the hawaii guys were great, the weather was great...my game was not so great but still had a lot of fun. Thanks again to Carl and Reid for getting out everyday and to the others for joining in when you could.

Randy