Trying to figure out which Oahu golf courses you can actually book a tee time at? This guide lays out the full landscape of golf on the island, from bustling public courses near Honolulu to scenic resort tracks on the North Shore. We'll walk you through where you can play, how to book a tee time, and offer some local know-how to help you enjoy an incredible day of golf in paradise.
Unlike some destinations, Oahu's golf courses aren't all concentrated in one area or exclusively private. They fall into a few key categories, and knowing the difference will help you find the right fit for your schedule, budget, and skill level.
These are your go-to options for accessible and generally more affordable golf. Oahu has several municipal ("muni") courses run by the City &, County of Honolulu, as well as plenty of independently owned daily-fee public courses. Munis like Ala Wai can be very popular and busy with local play, so booking in advance is essential. Public courses may have slightly higher green fees but often offer excellent conditions and layouts.
Pace of play can be slow at popular munis. My advice is to embrace it. Don't let a wait get you tilted. Use the extra minute on the tee box to visualize your best shot. Focus on your own process, enjoy the sunshine, and remember that a relaxed day of golf, even a slow one, is better than a day at the office.
These are the postcard-worthy courses typically associated with large hotels and resorts, like those at Turtle Bay or Ko Olina. They are open to the public but cater heavily to visitors, offering pristine conditions, premium facilities, and higher green fees. These courses are often designed by big-name architects and present a world-class golfing experience.
Oahu is home to several outstanding military golf courses. It's important to know that these gems are exclusively for active duty military, retirees, Department of Defense (DoD) employees, and their eligible guests. If you don't have a valid military or DoD ID, you won’t be able to get on these courses. If you are eligible, however, they offer some of the best value and views on the island.
Oahu may be a small island, but the character of the golf changes dramatically from one side to the next. Here’s a breakdown by region to help you find a course near where you’re staying.
This is the most populated area of the island, and the golf reflects that. It's a mix of busy, convenient courses perfect for those staying in or near Waikiki.
The sunny, drier western side of Oahu is home to some of the island's premier resort layouts and top-tier public courses.
If you're seeking dramatic, jungle-like beauty, the Windward side is where you'll find it. Brace yourself for lush greenery and some of the most stunning mountain backdrops in golf.
Synonymous with world-class surfing, the North Shore is also home to one of Hawaii's top golf resorts.
Playing golf in Hawaii comes with its own unique set of challenges. It's not just about hitting your normal yardages. Keep these fundamentals in mind to play with more confidence.
The wind is a constant on Oahu. Trying to fight it with a harder swing is a recipe for disaster. Instead, when you’re playing into the wind, take one or even two extra clubs and swing smoothly at about 80%. This lower, more controlled ball flight will pierce through the wind much more effectively than a high, ballooning shot. Think “swing easy when it’s breezy.”
Most greens on Oahu use a "paspalum" or similar type of warm-weather grass, which has a strong grain. The grain influences the speed and break of your putts just as much as the slope does. A simple way to read it is to look at the color of the grass. If it looks shiny and lighter, you're putting down-grain (faster). If it looks dark and dull, you’re putting into the grain (slower).
The grass here is tough and sticky. If you miss the fairway, the priority is to get the ball back into play. Don't try to be a hero with a 3-wood from deep rough. Take your medicine. Choose a club with more loft, like a wedge or 9-iron, a more upright chopping motion, and make a solid descending blow to pop the ball out. A smart bogey is always better than chasing a heroic par and ending up with a double or triple.
Oahu offers an absolutely fantastic and diverse range of golf for every type of player. Whether you're looking for a quick, affordable round at a local muni or a premium day at a famous resort, the island has open tee times waiting for you if you know where to look and how to book.
When you're facing Hawaii's unique challenges - like guessing the right club in a three-club wind or selecting the right shot from a tricky lie in the rough - having on-demand, expert-level advice can be a game-changer. I designed my app, Caddie AI, to give you that confidence. You can get instant strategy for any hole or even snap a photo of a tough lie and receive a clear, simple recommendation on how to play the shot. It takes the guesswork out of the game so you can commit to every swing and fully enjoy your round in paradise.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
