For most of us, winter months mean bitter cold, slushy weather and a desire to stay in front of a cozy fire or, better yet, head out for a tropical vacation. For golfers, winter often means heading to warmer climes for a golf getaway vacation, and Hawaii is one of the most popular winter golf getaway destinations in the world, and for good reason.
Hawaiian fairways feature lava fields, majestic mountains, lush tropical terrain, palm trees and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. You can see Hawaiian heiau (ancient places of worship), rare Hawaiian monk seals, colorful birds and even humpback whales while golfing in Hawaii!
- Kapalua Golf Club’s Plantation Golf Course Recognized as #1 in Hawaii for the Best Golf Resort by Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine, this par 73, 7,411-yard course takes you through breathtaking natural geographic formations and pineapple plantation fields. The views alone are enough of a distraction to make each hole challenging. This is truly a world class golf course.
- Nanea Golf Course The Nanea course in Kailua Kona This 7,500 yard, par 73 course developed by Charles Schwab and George Roberts. The Nanea Golf Club is exclusive. Get an invitation to play and you may be rubbing putters with celebrities! You may also spot a few younger players since the club allows the nearby Kealakehe High School’s golf team to practice on the green!
- Navy Marine Golf Course, Honolulu, Hawaii: The Navy Marine course is a 6,771 yard par 72 course managed by the Navy Golf Program. This military course is one of the best in Hawaii with fast greens and well maintained tees .The strong headwinds can make the course play differently from visit to visit.
- Ko’olau Golf Course Situated in Kaneohe, this public golf course is legendary for missing golf balls! The secluded green is so challenging that you can afford to take your time at each tee. The Ko’olau Mountains serve as a backdrop for the course and the private location leaves you to golf with your fellow golfers and nature without distractions from modern life.
- The Prince Golf Course at Princeville, Kawai, is a golf course offers a total of 45 tees on your choice of two courses. The Prince course is spectacular with sweeping views and challenging holes and is considered to be one of the highlights of golfing in Hawaii. The second course at Princeville is still very challenging but the views are blocked in most places by nearby homes. The second course is greatly discounted and offers a great game for the price.
Winter golfing in Hawaii is very popular. In fact, the PGA, LPGA and other major golfing events take place there year after year. Be sure to check the calendar for each green you will be visiting before scheduling your trip and your tee times. The Hawaii Golf Association is a great resource for golfing in Hawaii and they provide a current events calendar of major golfing events in Hawaii.
Winter golfing getaways in Hawaii can be like spending a few days in paradise. Even the lesser known and public golf courses here offer spectacular views and unusual sights from the green. A Hawaiian winter golf getaway is likely to be the vacation of your dreams!
Article by Jim Dornfeld: Jim has been offering his own private and distinctive Hawaiian condo rentals to guests since 1998. Today he has 96 of the finest privately-owned Kauai vacation rentals available to choose from, offering some of the finest accommodations on the islands.
Helpful Travel Information and Aids
Where to Stay in Maui:
There are, of course, quite a few resort options in Maui. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Compare Prices on nights for the Sheraton Maui Resort
- Compare Prices on nights for The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
- Compare Prices on nights for Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
- Compare Prices on nights for Marriott's Maui Ocean Club
- Compare Prices on nights for the The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach
How to get There:
- Maui: Kahului Airport (OGG) is located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range on the island of Maui.
- Honolulu Airport (HNL), on the Island of Oahu is the main gateway to Oahu.
- Kauai: Lihue Airport (LIH) is just three miles east of the town of Lihue and a Visitor Information Booth is located outside each baggage claim area.
Look for the best airline and car rental deals with these two aggregators, which provide travelers with an up-to-date search tool to compare prices on airfares and car rentals of all ratings:
- Compare Prices on Airfare to Maui
- Compare Prices on Rental Cars
And don’t forget: there are many other opportunities for great golf all over the world. Favorite locations include Scotland, Florida, the American Southwest, Bermuda, the Bahamas and many more. For up-to-date golf travel news and information, be sure to Subscribe to my weekly Newsletter.
