Kona and Kohala Golf Courses Provide Range of Choices
The best thing about Kona and Kohala golf courses is that you are almost guaranteed sunny weather. Afternoons can be a bit windy however, so early in the day is generally the best time to golf.
If you just want to hit some balls check out The Swing Zone (808- 329-6909) which is a popular driving range near the Old Kona Airport.
The Kona Country Club (808-322-2595) offers both the Mauka Course and the Ocean Course. These are Kona’s only golf course so they are sometimes a bit more crowded than the Kohala courses. Notable is the palm-lined hole number 12 on the Ocean Course overlooking the ocean. The Mauka courses is set amidst lava and provides great ocean views.
About seven miles north of Kona is the Makalei Country Club (808-325-6625), nicely situated in a forested landscape at an elevation of 2,500 feet with nice views of the Kohala coastline.
If you decide to stay in Kona on your Big Island vacation, please check out our Kona vacation rentals and Kona luxery rentals.
Arnold Palmer designed the Hapuna Golf Course (808-880-3000) at the Mauna Kea/Hapuna Prince Resort. The narrow fairways are challenging though there are relatively few hazards.
Jack Nicklaus designed the Hualalai Golf Club (808-325-8480), a private golf course for Four Seasons Resort guests and people staying in the nearby residential area.
Hualalai is known for its meticulously manicured fairways and greens, and has great views at it slopes toward the sea. The course is also more protected from the wind than many of the other area golf courses.
The Mauna Kea Golf Course (808-882-5400) is set in an ideal location at the Mauna Kea Resort south of Kawaihae is known for its fine design by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1964.
Perhaps the best maintained courses on the Big Island are the Mauna Lani Resort North and South Courses (808-885-6655). While the North Course is more vegetated and borders lava tubes, the South Course has some wonderful ocean views and hole 15 even plays over an ocean cove.
The Waikoloa Resort Kings Golf Course (808-886-7888) in Kohala is set amidst lava terrain and rife with bunkers. This course also has a great view of Maui’s Haleakala Volcano as well as the formidable Big Island volcanoes.
The Waikoloa Resort Beach Golf Course (808-886-6060) with its resort-style layout is built around important Hawaiian cultural areas including petroglyphs in the rocks on the way to hole number 9.
Waikoloa Village (808-883-9621) is situated on the mauka (mountain side) of the Kohala resort area. This course is less expensive though can be a bit windy, particularly in the afternoons.
If you want to walk then one of the few places there is no mandatory cart rule is the Waikoloa Village Golf Course which is also well planted with trees and other plants.