Welcome to the paradise for golfers: Hawaii's Big Island!
Some of the biggest names in course design have carved championship golf courses that will call you again and again back to the green.
This title may come off a bit bombastic, but we can assure you, Hawaii is a paradise in many ways, and one of these ways is the golfing-way! The Big Island is known as the golf capital of the state. Some of the biggest names in course design have carved championship golf courses into the island that will call you back to the green - again and again.
The golf courses on the big Island are carved out of ancient lava flows, wrapped around historical Hawaiian landmarks or front some of the most spectacular coastlines in the pacific. It doesn't matter if you come to the Big Island exclusively to drive that little white ball, or just want to relax and wind down with your friends at the golf course, Hawaii will not let you down. There are courses for every level of experience: from inexpensive municipal courses to challenging mountainside challenges up to breath-taking championship courses!
Map of golf courses on the Big Island.
There are many golf courses on the Island which we list on the following map. Not all courses are only open to members, and not publicly accessible. We list the golf courses on the Big Island and their contact information on the map below. Do call ahead to make reservations and to check on any current information concerning the opening hours. Click on any icon to get course-details and contact information for the golf course.
If the map doesn't load or you want to see all the golf course information together, scroll down below the map for our big Big Island golf courses overview
Big Big Island golf course overview
You can find the 18 most popular golf courses on the Big Island below. The golf courses are sorted on location (Volcano, Kona, Kohala coast, Waimea+Hamakua coast and Hilo), and we provide a short description, directions and a link to the golf course website.
Volcano Golf Course Lies in the rim of the active Kilauea Volcano, and is is one of the world's most unusual courses. It lies in the cool highlands 4,000 feet about the sea, with sweeping vistas of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea (both snow capped in winter). Located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a scenic 30-mile drive from Hilo, the course also offers full restaurant and bar facilities.
Volcano Golf & Country Club Pii Mauna Drive Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 808-967-8228
Sea Mountain Golf Course
The 18-hole "Sea" course at the Sea Mountain Golf Course facility in Pahala, Hawaii features 6,416 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 71.1 and it has a slope rating of 129.
Highway 11 Pahala, HI 96777 United States P: (808) 928-6222 F: (808) 928-6111
72-3890 Hawaii Belt Road Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (808) 325-6625
Golf courses on the Kohala coast
Haulalai Golf Club
Resort - 18 Holes - Par 72 - 7117 yards
Dramatically situated in the black lava fields along the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, the Hualalai Golf Course is both a world class challenge and an exhilarating land and seascape.
The 7100-yard course hosts an annual, season-opening Champions’ Tour event and though its beautifully manicured fairways and greens are more than enough to challenge the legends, they’re also an agreeable test for golfers at all levels.
The Hualalai Golf Course is a semi-private course and is reserved exclusively for resort guests.
100 Kaupulehu Drive Kaupulehu, Kona HI 96745 (808) 325-8480
Mauna Lani Resort Francis H. Ii Brown North Course
Mauna Lani's North Course represents the quintessential golf experience on the Big Island of Hawaii. Built on a lava bed, the North is characterized by rolling terrain punctuated by Kiawe (mesquite) forests. Number 17, a par three tucked into a natural lava amphitheater, is one of Mauna Lani resort signature holes and a favorite "I was here" photo spot. A 230-acre protected archaeological district lies on the northern boundary of the golf course. Herds of feral goats frequent the entire golf course, moving from hole to hole throughout the day. The North Course has fast become one of the most popular tournament venues on the Island.
68-1310 Mauna Lani Drive Kohala Coast, HI 96743-9704 (808) 885-6655
Mauna Lani Resort Francis H. Ii Brown South Course
The Mauna Lani Resort's South Course was home to the original Senior Skins Game from 1990 to 2000 and is the first course to play before tackling the more prodigious North Course.
South delivers an extremely playable and forgiving layout with ample fairways and approachable greens. But the illusion created by black lava on both sides of virtually every hole a Big Island golf staple makes the playing areas seem rather tight. Mauna Lani fittingly means 'mountain reaching heaven,' its name coming from Mauna Kea to the north and Mauna Loa to the south.
68-1310 Mauna Lani Drive Kohala Coast, HI 96743-9704 (808) 885-6655
Mauna Kea Golf Course
Resort - 18 holes - Par 72 - 7370 yards.
There are few experiences that can equal the one at Mauna Kea Golf Course. Still considered to be one of the benchmarks by which other island courses are judged, the course has consistently held a spot in Golf Digest top 100.
It embraces all the values of a great resort golf course: natural beauty, dramatic views, strategic design and memorability of the holes.
The course features holes that are right at sea level like number 3 and 11 and other that rise to nearly 300 feet above. There are over 120 well placed bunkers and the greens are large and very undulating.
The Big Island Country Club is one of the best examples of Hawaii's treasure trove of independent (non-resort affiliated), daily-fee golf courses, making many top-10 lists in this category since it opened in 1997.
This Big Island golf course's trademarks include moderate trade winds, glorious views, country club-style landing areas, and good maintenance.
600 Waikoloa Beach Drive Waikoloa, HI 96738 (808) 886-7888
Hapuna Golf Course
Resort - 18 Holes - Par 72 - 6875 yards This is the newer (and less famous) of the two Mauna Kea Golf Resorts. Almost directly after it opened in 1992 it became a favorite of both Big Island locals and visitors.
Waimea Country Club 47-5220 Mamalohoa Highway Kamuela, HI 96743
Hamakua Country Club
Daily Fee - 9 Holes - Par 33 - 2490 yards
This Big Island golf course is friendly, local, and has a very Hawaiian sense of community. This course serves as its own social center in the former sugar mill town of Honokaa along the Big Island's Hamakua Coast.
Amazingly enough, this nine-hole course is packed into just 15 acres. The laid back character of the course is best surmised by a recent visitor inquiry about the course's restaurant. The club's friendly response was, 'If you like, you can bring all the food you can eat.'
On the ocean side of Hwy. 19 41 miles from Hilo Honokaa, Island of Hawaii, HI
808-775-7244
Golf courses in Hilo
Naniloa volcano golf course
Semi private - par 35 - 9 holes
Greens fees $25 Mon-Fri; $35 Sat-Sun (if you can get a tee time); twilight rates are $10 less
120 Banyan Drive, Hilo, HI (808) 935-3000
Hilo Municipal Golf Course
Daily fee - par 71 - 6325 yard
The municipal golf course in Hilo is the only golf course on the Big Island with a municipal layout.
Big Island might be "big" compared to the other Hawaiian islands, but in reality it is quite small. From the southern tip to the northern tip the distance is 95 miles. From east to west it is 80 miles.
