Skip to navigation Skip to main content

Golf on Hawaii’s Big Island Hawaii is by most people’s standards “golf heaven"

Hawaii is by most people’s standards “golf heaven", with over 90 golf courses on six of the most picturesque islands in the world, and near perfect weather conditions all year round. It is for these reasons that Hawaii remains the top golfing destination for Japanese players outside Japan.
The designs of golf courses in Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island are unique given the diverse topographical features of the island. Mountains, the coastline and even ancient lava flows are all incorporated into these designs. To give you an idea of the beauty and wonder of the Big Island as a golf destination, we introduce five of the top courses.

Mauna Lani Resort South Course

www.maunalani.com
Mauna Lani Resort South Course

This beautiful 36 hole Golf course is designed around a natural lava flow where it reaches the sea. There are exquisite mountain and ocean views on every hole, giving you a true Hawaiian golf experience. The course is particularly rewarding for direct and aggressive play, and the greens are among the best on the south Kona coast.

The course was designed by Robin Nelson in 1981 and has preserved many archaeological finds from the ancient Hawaiian culture, being environmentally sensitive the course consistently is rated in Golf Magazine’s Gold Category. The course has also been home to the Senior Skins game. The resort supports Japanese golfers and accepts visiting players.

Hualalai Golf Club and Resort

www.hualalairesort.com
Hualalai Golf Club and Resort

This course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and home of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hual.lai, is a must play for its immaculate greens, which the PGA Senior Circuit calls “the best on tour.” If you lose the fairway here, you are in the rocks and basically unplayable. The course is only open to guests of the Four Seasons Hotel.

Hapuna Golf Course

http://www.princeresortshawaii.com/hapuna-golf.php
Hapuna Golf Course

Part of an extremely relaxed and beautiful resort, this Arnold Palmer-designed course fully respects the natural landscape, from the seashore to the mountain. At its peak, Hapuna rises 700 feet above the ocean, giving golfers a serene view of the Big Island. Respecting the environment was one of Palmer’s goals, and he led the way for many courses around the world to “think green.” The course accepts guests and has Japanese-speaking staff.

Mauna Kea Golf Course

http://www.princeresortshawaii.com/mauna-kea-golf-course
Mauna Kea Golf Course

Constructed in 1964 by Robert Trent Jones Sr., this South Kohala Coast course was the first to be constructed on a lava field. It is a challenging 18 holes for the serious golfer, with 120 bunkers, varying elevations and tight greens. The surrounding beaches are some of the most beautiful on the island.

Kona Country Club

www.konagolf.com
Kona Country Club

Designed by William Bell and built in 1966, this course is another example of taking full advantage of the amazing Pacific Ocean and mountain views. Home of the LPGA Takefuji Classic in 2000 and 2001, this 18-hole championship course offers wide, lush fairways, Bermuda grass greens and numerous sand bunkers Unique holes featuring puka (Hawaiian ocean blow holes) are a great feature. From Novemberthrough March, be on the lookout for Humpback whales off the coast. A full range of Japanese-language services is available for visitors.

Share

More on Air

What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

What happens if I ground my club in a bunker? The new rules of golf explained

In 2020, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) made several changes to the rules of golf.

One major change was to the "drop procedure" when a ball is lost or out of bounds. Players are now allowed to drop the ball from shoulder height, rather than knee height, making the process more consistent and less prone to mistakes. Another change was to the rule regarding penalty strokes. Players will no longer be penalized for accidentally moving a ball on the green, such as when marking or lifting it.

Additionally, players are now allowed to repair almost any damage to the course, such as spike marks on the green. The changes also include simplifying the rules for bunkers, allowing players to touch or move loose impediments...