Ko'olau Golf Club

The surrounding beauty of this course makes it worthwhile even though the course conditions were less than ideal. Recent rains resulted in cart paths only, fairways that hadn't been mowed in quite some time, and soggy conditions in some areas, but the course was still playable.

Despite the course don’t conditions the view were absolutely incredible. They layout was tough and I’m sure easier with a second go around. I teed off at 3 with sunset at 6:25. 3 was a twilight rate and worth it. I was 1 of 2 people on the whole course. I used rentals and they were a full bag of new Callaway Rogue gear.

The only downside was the condition of the course. Besides being wet which didn’t bother me it’s just not manicured well at all. Fairways were long, not consistent, greens were slow. Perhaps maybe this is typical for Hawaii but I expected a bit better.

This course do to weather conditions is almost unplayable. The views are breathtaking layout unlike anywhere else.. sloppy, muddy, balls absolutely disappear in fairways.. footing is again unplayable.. price should reflect conditions! Greens were also not maintained due to conditions.. sorry wish I could give better review

While the course condition wasn’t “pristine”, it was ok, but that’s not the reason to play this course. The scenery is the most amazing I’ve ever seen in my 35 years of golf, and the layout is challenging but a lot of fun because you have to be tactical about your shots. Staff was great too!

Front nine was in good shape. Back nine is always cart path only because there is no way to get a cart to the fairway on almost all holes. So you do a lot of walking up and down hills from the cart path to find or get to your ball. If you don't hit in the fairway, you are either in a deep ravine in rough so unmanageable that it takes forever to find you ball, if in fact you can. Lots of muddy conditions, and no REAL grass in the fairways. Again, front nine was OK, but back nine makes this course a downer.

I understand now why this course is ranked the third most challenging in the world. It is tough to carry the ravines and there is virtually no chance of finding your ball in the lush jungle. The views of the mountains are absolutely stunning. My biggest complaint: I called over a week in advance to confirm that they had women's left-handed clubs to rent and reserved a set. When I showed up, they had none available - didn't even stock them! They gave me a LH set of senior clubs for half price. Apparently, their main phone number goes to a reservation center in Chicago, and that was who gave me the incorrect information.

staff on site was very nice but snack bar was closed and no cart girl
course is not being kept up very well. any time I was just off the fairway I couldnt see he ball untill it was 3ft or less away on all of the front 9. back 9 was better but not great
all fairways are quite lumpy although fairway cut was good most of the time on back 9.
the 5 or 6 times I was in a trap I had to get it out of mud not wet sand.
havnt played there in about 4 years and will not again

I played Koolau yesterday, shortly after a major rain storm, while there were a few bunkers with water and wet fairway spots, the course for the most part was in excellent condition. While it is a demanding track, we found it to be a very fair layout. Every hole is unique creating its own challenge, 18 holes of WOW! The scenery is simply amazing, carved through a rainforest and up against the mountains. We had the course to ourselves, probably due to the rain the night before. Summing it up, I think this is the best golfing experience in Oahu, creating a truly unique golf memory. The owners have put a lot on money into the course, cleaning up some of the forest, redoing the bunkers, making play a bit easier and more open. The greens are in good condition, but slow, maybe a 6 or 7, but that seems normal for this type of course. I am a 13 HCP, played from the blues and had a blast, my son 3HCP, shot lights out. They have moved the white tees up to avoid the long carries making it playable for the high HCPers. I played Royal Hawaiian last week and this course if so much better. Truly a memorable unique golf experience

Overall the course was in good shape. It rained hard the night before which resulted in the occasional mud ball but overall the fairways were good. The greens were very slow. The course was well maintained overall. The scenery was fantastic on every hole and the people working there were very friendly.

What a beautiful course. It plays tough as the isn’t a lot of room for error off the fairway.

Ko'olau is a very challenging golf course. You must be striking the ball well to score here. Greens are good with consistent speeds, a few had some rough spots but it didn't effect play that much. Course was very wet and sloppy in places, cleaned mud off ball nearly every shot. Pace of play was very slow, had a local Sunday morning group with 6 plus groups in front of me and they were struggling. A number of holes are target style, so you must know your carry distances. Would like rate to be a little lower, but would definitely play again.

This course is beautiful, difficulty, and worth it.

Played from the white tees, not my best round but the views were fantastic. Course and staff were very helpful. I would play this course again. Aloha

This course has been rated as Golf Digests top courses to play and is rated as Oahu’s tip course. The course over all I would give it only a three star rating. The scenery, location, and vistas that this course contains are remarkable. The course itself needs a little greenskeeper attention. The fairways were in rough shape and very uneven with multiple types of turf or “weeds”. I was disappointed in the fairways. Many fairways on the back nine showed exposed mud and dirt and minimal fairway turf. The greens were ok but were recently sanded and included many dry out spots. This made the putting surface very bouncy. I played over Memorial Day weekend thus I would have thought that the course would have been in remarkable condition. It also appeared that the grass only gets cut every so often and was recently cut because there was a lot of clumps I’d mowed grass covering a lot of the approach locations. Made the course aesthetically unpleasant. #13 is a par three. It hit the ball from the tee only five feet off the fringe but lost the ball because how soggy and unkept they kept the grass around the greens. I felt this was unfair for golf to hit a close shot and only
Have to lose it because of unkept grass.

The Practice facilities also needed a little attention. For this being the number one course on Oahu I was surprised by the upkeep or lack there of. Played, Checked off the list, probably wouldn’t be my preference to play again.

This course has truly some of the most fantastic vistas of any course. The condition of the course was that it was very wet and muddy. The ball would plug in the fairway, rough and around the greens, It made for a very tough course even more tough.

Thanks Golf Now for the hot deal. Made our vacation one to remember. Beautiful Course

Beautiful location and views. The course is not in great shape. Greens have a mix of grasses. The fairways were very wet and muddy and rough. Balls hit in the fairway were very difficult to find of were lost, covered I mud if hidden in the grass. If it weren't for the scenic views or would have been a miserable round.

I was hesitant to play this course after reading the reviews but rolled the dice anyway. I’m glad I did. The staff were amazing and very knowledgeable. I’ve never had the marshal at the first tee spend so much time giving us his knowledge of the course and what to look out for and how to play it, Bill is a credit to the club.
Use google maps to get there not Apple maps!
The front nine played well even though it was supposed to be wet which it was and the ball didn’t carry on the bounce as much as you’d like but you learn to play with it.
The back nine was wet and we did lose quite a few balls but like the pair behind us said, they would’ve payed just to drbe be the cart around the course and take in the views.
If you play off the white tees that’s like your municpal level course and the golds are championship level. Ravines will play with your mind so pretend they’re not there.
All in all I really enjoyed the round and the experience so go and try it.

A fantastic golf course with awesome views of the mountains and ocean. Each hole was challenging and you had to use all your clubs. Would love to play it again.