Hawaii Golf Guide - Aloha Vibes at Ko Olina, Mauna Lani & Turtle Bay

Words: Roxanne Andrews

Hawaii is famous for its array of outstanding golf courses, dramatic scenery, brilliant weather and welcoming vibes. We would love to share all of the fantastic Hawaiian courses with you but that would mean dedicating an entire issue to the Aloha State! 

So, for now, let’s focus on three of our favourite Hawaiian golf courses: Ko Olina, Turtle Bay and Mauna Lani. 

Ko Olina Golf Club 

First up is the always impressive Ko Olina Golf Club. This makes for a great stay-and-play destination with the fabulous Four Seasons Oahu conveniently located across the street and right on the beach. 

This challenging 18-hole course was built in 1990 by renowned golf course architect Ted Robinson. Typical of his designs, Ko Olina Golf Course course boasts exceptional water features, multi-tiered greens, large landing areas and moderate length - making it perfect for beginners and experts alike.

Championship History 

From 1990 – 1995, the Ko Olina Golf Club hosted the LPGA’s Hawaiian Ladies Open, the Ko Olina Senior PGA Invitational in 1992 and, from 2006 – 2008, the Fields Open in Hawaii LPGA event. Most recently, Ko Olina Golf Club hosted the LPGA LOTTE Championship from 2012 – 2019. Noted LPGA star Michelle Wie West, who grew up in Honolulu, developed her championship-calibre game here at Ko Olina Golf Club.

Note: the pro shop is fully stocked with excellent women’s golf equipment and on-trend sports fashion brands like Lululemon, J.Linderberg and Travis Matthew. Oh, and be sure to swing by Roy’s (the restaurant at the clubhouse) after your game and enjoy a Mai Tai or two. 

The Legend of the Lady Bug: “Legend says that if she lands on your shoulder, sweet talk her to your finger and with a gentle breath, send her off. Lady Luck will lead you to the cup”.  

Stay & Play at Four Seasons Oahu 

The Four Seasons Oahu is a sanctuary (with a private beach on the Pacific, thank you kindly) for travellers seeking a 5-star resort experience. Upon arrival, we were pleased to see several stylish golfing women milling in the opulent foyer, anticipating their upcoming tee time at Ko Olina. 

The fine dining offerings at Noe restaurant (Southern Italian cuisine) were outstanding. We’re still obsessing over their signature dish, a silky tagliatelle flavoured with seasonal truffles and mushrooms. Word of advice, take your server's lead when it comes to wine pairing suggestions here. A bottle of the finest cab sav from the Nappa Valley went down perfectly! 

If a relaxed beachfront atmosphere and elevated seafood cuisine (still abiding by a traditional Hawaiian fish house theme) are more to your taste, go directly to Mina’s Fish House to sample crowd favourites from their raw fish bar menu and devour sensational surf and turf meals. 

Ready for some post-golf pamper time? The Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre at the Four Seasons Oahu offers tailored treatments and inspiring therapies crafted from local botanicals and traditional Hawaiian techniques. Yes, please! 

Other resort activities include pickleball and tennis courts, sunset sailing charters, guided nature hikes, horseriding, snorkel tours and much, much more. 

Travel Hint: as with all Four Seasons properties, guests can expect flawless service from a team of happy and dedicated staff 24-7. 

Stay & Play at the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay Golf Course & Resort 

While you’re on the island of Oahu, do not miss out on playing a couple of rounds at the iconic Turtle Bay Resort and settle in for a few luxurious nights at this esteemed movie star-worthy hotel. Nestled in the tropical enclave of the famed North Shore, guests can enjoy access to two championship courses, the Arnold Palmer Course and the George Fazio Course. 

Golfers of all skill levels will have an unforgettable time on both courses as they weave through stunning oceanfront holes and tropical tee boxes. Fact: both courses are designed to challenge and delight golfers with their unique features and magical scenery. 

The wildlife out here is mesmerising too. We were fortunate enough to see a migrating albatross nesting just off the 15^th and an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal sunbaking on the beach by the 17^th. Lucky us! Be sure to maintain a safe distance and not disrupt any of the majestic creatures you may encounter on the golf courses, please. 

Meanwhile, back at the resort, there are plenty of non-golfing activities to enjoy such as joining the Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience, horseriding on the beach, turtle tours, Blue Hawaiian Helicopter adventures, etc. 

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Mauna Lani Golf Club 

Now it’s time to jet off with Hawaiian Airlines (direct from Honolulu to Kona on the Big Island) and discover a world-class golfing hub on the Kohala Coast. 

Playing golf at the picturesque Mauna Lani (North & South Courses) is quite frankly, a dream turned reality! 

The South Course snakes through the rugged a’a lava of the prehistoric Kaniku lava flow, and offers panorama views of the mountain and ocean. The Volcano goddess, Pele, reigns supreme on this course. If she favours you, balls hit into the lava will miraculously bounce back into the fairway. If not, kiss them goodbye!

The North Course represents the quintessential Hawaii golf experience, as it is built on a lava bed. The signature hole on the North Course is No. 17, a par three tucked into a natural lava amphitheatre. The otherworldy landscape is distractingly spectacular so try to keep your focus on the game! 

And last but not least, they also have the Wikiwiki Course: a fun, quick (wikiwiki) game of golf every skill level can enjoy. This 9-hole walking course is designed so you can play a round in about an hour.

Fun fact: Mauna Lani's South Course is home to Hole #15, one of the most photographed over-the-water golf course holes in the world. 

Stay & Play at Fairmont Orchid 

This elegant beachfront resort sits regally alongside 45 holes of championship golf at Mauna Lani. It’s a luxury oasis with exceptional amenities such as the open-air Spa Without Walls, an immaculate swimming pool (although you do have a postcard-perfect private beach directly in front of you) and a range of standout dining options onsite. 

Our favourite dinner spot is Brown’s Beach House – it’s one of the best restaurants on the Big Island. Eat here and enjoy their exquisite Hawai‘i Island-inspired cuisine and spectacular oceanfront views. The live music sessions at sunset are super cool too. 

Meanwhile, over at Binchotan Bar & Grill, you can taste the long-running creative culinary exchange between Hawaii and Japan firsthand at its traditional northern Japanese grill. It’s called robatayaki: the centuries-old practice of fireside cooking. Delicious!  

Things to do: explore the serenity of the Fairmont Orchids tropical gardens (I spy a semi-hidden jacuzzi), hire snorkel equipment and/or a stand-up paddle board and go turtle spotting in the lagoon, stretch it out at morning yoga session or take a self-guided hike through the petroglyph fields adjacent to the resort.

We highly recommend experiencing the local culture at a Hawaiiloa Luau event where you can watch beautiful hula performances tell the story of the Hawaiian Islands. The Fairmont Orchid is located within a scenic land precinct known as Kalāhuipuaʻa – it’s an area steeped in history and tradition and is known as a gathering place for aliʻi (royalty) and special visitors.

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Getting There

Hawaiian Airlines regularly flies direct from Sydney to Honolulu and the flight time is approx. 9.5 hours. It’s an enjoyable route with plenty of entertainment options, spacious seating configurations (in premium economy or business) and tasty meal offerings. 

The friendly cabin crew members are the epitome of the aloha spirit – smiling, welcoming and attentive to your needs and make flying with Hawaiian Airlines a joy. 

Important: if you’re travelling with your own set of golf clubs, Hawaiian Airlines will take great care of them too. 

Once you’ve arrived in Hawaii there are plenty of domestic inter-island flights to popular golf destinations like Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. 

Women’s Golf Magazine loves a self-drive itinerary when travelling overseas but note that all of the hotels/resorts mentioned offer an airport transfer service for guests. Mahalo!