Golf advice for Oahu needed
 

I took advantage of the great Northwest Airlines deal for travel to Oahu in March and need help choosing some golf courses. I am a fair golfer looking for some courses with the best scenery (Ocean, Mountain, etc). I would appreciate any recommendations as well as any advice on getting good rates. I expect to pay $100 to $150 per round. Thanks for the help.

Also any SCUBA operator recomendations as well. Thanks again! ^

If you are military, ex-military, or know someone who is in the military, the course at Hickam Air Force Base would be hard to beat. It is an 18 hole (they also have a 9 hole par 3 on the base) course called Mamala Bay that hugs the ocean, with several holes where a duffer such as myself was able to get golfballs ocean water wet. This includes a par 3 where you have to go over a bit of the ocean. The price is very good also, although it has been several years since I was there but back then the greens fee was in the $20's.

Along the same lines, military related, is the course at K-Bay Marine Base, which has several holes lined up along a cliff overlooking the ocean.

For a civilian course, I always enjoyed Ko'olau Golf Club. It is cut into part of a mountain, and through a rain forest, not too far from Pali Lookout. It is a tough course but fun to play and the views are great. It has been ranked one of the top courses in the state, and has also been ranked the toughest course to play in the US. Greens fees are about in the middle of your price range. If you play it don't worry about your handicap, just enjoy the course.

I would agree with what FLOIR had to say about Ko'olau. Golfed there twice and really enjoyed the challenge and the great scenery. It is a far drive out of Waikiki so keep that in mind - a car rental might be an option. Also in that general area is Luana Hills Country Club, but would choose Ko'olau first.
Soemthing closer to Waikiki to consider would be the Hawaii Prince Golf Club.

My husband raved about Coral Creek Golf Course at Ewa Beach. He loved the layout and the coral formations and thought the people were great. It's not a showy course like a Resort course but it certainly held his interest. They used to start their twilight rates ($80) as early as 11:45 am.

You can also check out TeeTimesHawaii which sells a golf discount card for $40. Depending on how many courses you play, it can give you some decent savings. Coral Creek, for example, is $130 usually, $99 with the discount card. My husband made good use of that card when we visited Oahu. It also gives a discount for play at Ko'olau, Hawaii Prince and others.

There used to be a competing card available, also, which didn't seem to have quite as many participating courses, but I can't really remember the details.

This is a great start. Thank you all for the tips, Ko'olau sounds like a favorite. Thanks for the card advice Abby, I'll definitely look into that. ^

Is anyone familiar with the Royal Kunia? I am booking a tee time for Ko'olua but am thinking of also playing the Kunia.

Played the Ko Olina course last Monday....if you're staying at a Marriott anywhere on the island you get their rate of $145 plus a cart fee of about $15 plus taxes. IIRC the total was about $169 or so. Nice course, and it was in really good shape as they're getting ready for the LPGA Fields Open starting in a couple weeks. Nice scenery, some challenging holes, but I guess the main reason I played there is because I was staying at the JW Marriott that's 5 minutes away.

Played with a guy stationed there in the Coast Guard and he heartily recommended the Ko'Olau course as perhaps the best on the island. He invited me to go Tuesday but I had to pass. I second the TeeTimes Hawaii idea, as there appeared to be some good deals in it that didn't require one to wait until twilight for the rates to drop.

Thanks for the help everyone. I now have my golf booked for the trip. I will be playing Ko'olau and the Turtle Bay Fazio course. I appreciate the input. ^ Mahalo!