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4.4
163 Reviews (163)
5 Stars
75
4 Stars
65
3 Stars
18
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
3.7
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.1
87.3%
Recommend this course
143 out of 163 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
4 Reviews (4)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
3.3
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.8
75.0%
Recommend this course
3 out of 4 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
7 Reviews (7)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
3.7
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.6
85.7%
Recommend this course
6 out of 7 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7199 yards
Slope 134
Rating 75.2

The Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort gives you a taste of Scotland and a splash of jungle, all wrapped in a beautiful Hawaiian beach-front package.

With five miles of beaches, Turtle Bay Resort is the perfect place to gaze at Kawela Bay, Bay View Beach Lawn and Turtle Bay, itself. Only 45 minutes from Honolulu, the resort immerses guests in the natural beauty of Oahu. In fact, ocean views are the norm in every one of the resort's 443 rooms.

The Palmer Course was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and is the home to an annual event on the LPGA Tour. The golf course surrounds a wetland preserve known as the Punaho'olapa Marsh, which is home to many endangered Hawaiian birds.

The distinctive 18-hole championship course features a front nine that plays like Scottish Links with sand, water and rolling terrain and a back nine that rolls through a jungle forest of pine. The 17th hole, its signature, has nine bunkers leading up to a green that sits on a plateau 100 feet from the ocean.

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Turtle Bay Resort Arnold Palmer Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1992
Fairways Paspalum Grass
Greens Paspalum Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Arnold Palmer (1992) Ed Seay (1992)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes, lighted, grass tees
Golf School/Academy Yes - "Turtle Bay Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, MC, AMEX, Discover

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Sports

Fitness

Accolades

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Reviews

4.4
163 Reviews (163)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Deception...

After playing in Maui’s golf course, i expected the same here in Turtle bay. I must admit, the course is in a great condition. Greens are in good shape. I found this course more like the courses we can play on the main land, nothing else, no “Wow”s, but the 17th hole. Also, i wonder why the is no ball cleaners at all on the course. Pricing is overated, you can get as much for lot less.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice but over priced

The course is good, not great only one view very over priced

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Classic course

Great layout but on the pricey side. Greens rolled true but were not in as good of shape as previous rounds.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Palmer Course Disappointing

Travelled up from KoOlina where we are staying. Decided to head to North Shore and Turtle Bay. Had heard some pretty good recommendations for the Palmer course.

Several fairways burnt... staff said they had some issues and were aerating a few.??!

Didn’t play anywhere near the ocean... in fact saw the water just once during round. Lots of traps and dog legs and water everywhere, just not ocean. Disappointed with layout and conditions for $195. Better value elsewhere currently.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent Resort Course

Despite the greens being recently cored, it’s a lovely course to play catering for all levels of player.

Good fairway widths and strategically placed pots.

Excellent opportunity to unleash the driver on many holes.

Will play again

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

A Very Nice North Shore Option

The Turtle Bay - Palmer Course is a top-notch golf course. The layout is very good and makes for an enjoyable round. The greens were close to immaculate, running true and fast without going over the top on the speed. There was some damage to a few of the fairways, which I surmise may have occurred as a result of the recent hurricane or other heavy rain (and which I imagine will be repaired with an upcoming aeration). The separate practice tee for the Palmer course is excellent, with very nice and well-maintained grass tees that are directly adjacent to the first tee box. The beverage cart (which may have been the coolest beverage cart I've ever seen, a 4x4 vehicle complete with doors) made frequent rounds without being intrusive. The lemon-scented cold towel at the end of the round was a nice touch. The greens fees are just a tad on the high side for Oahu, but the quality of the facility I believe merits the premium. I would not hesitate to recommend this course to visitors to Oahu.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Goose14

I played the Fazio course 1st then the Palmer Course in the late afternoon. It was a hike to get there from Koolina but well worth it. Since I played Fabio 1st $125 the replay to play Palner was only $75. Course is awesome. Plenty of water to bring enough balls to get by. Can’t wait to come back and do it again. Aloha.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

One Ocean hole

If your into Palmer courses you will probably enjoy this course if your not you won’t like it. I was disappointed that there was only one real Ocean hole on a course everyone was saying was an Ocean side Course. Turf conditions were as close to perfection as you will ever find.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Good not great course.

We enjoyed the course and the ocean views. Difficult course and well designed. Played a bonus 18 at the Fazio course for $50 which was a bonus.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Thoroughly recommend turtle bay

Great natural layout

Challenging but fair holes

Wonderful friendly staff

Played 18 on the Palmer course in just over 3 hours

Already looking forward to the next time

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great golf course, plain scenery

This golf course is in great shape and while the fairways are generous, it can be pretty challenging. The key is to actually hit the fairway. The greens roll very nicely, though I found them a little slower than I expected.

I played with one other player and we got around in about 3:20, with the twosome behind us pushing us a bit. So the pace of play is excellent.

The bag drop staff and course Marshall were excellent and very friendly.

The only complaint I have, which has more to do with the location than the golf course itself is that the scenery was rather plain. It reminded me of a typical Florida resort course as it didn’t have the mountains and valleys in the background as some of the other cheaper courses on Oahu do. There is also only one hole that touches on the ocean.

The green fee of about $200 including cart is maybe a little on the high side, but overall it was a good golf experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Not the best value

I played this course 6 years ago while staying at Turtle Bay and loved it. Back on vacation in Oahu this week staying at the Disney Resort, I decided to make a tee time and drive 1 1/2 hours back to North Shore to play again. Round was $195 + $30 for a rider fee because my wife likes to ride along and is not a golfer. Course was in pretty good condition. Typical bad spots here and there, but nothing major. Just felt the amenities for playing a resort course could have been better. No GPS in the cart, no courtesy bottles of water in the cooler, no bag tag, etc. Will play somewhere else next time.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 27
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Turtle Bay - Palmer Course

The Palmer Course at Turtle Bay is one of the best courses in the country that anyone can play and actually book a tee time. The fairways are like carpet and the greens are consistent from hole to hole. The winds vary from hole to hole adding another level of difficulty. The course layout and pin placements make this a tough course for beginners. However if you know where your shots are going this course is very playable. There is no clubhouse once out on the course so get any snacks or beverages before you head to the first hole. We only saw the snack cart two times. The staff and employees were very helpful and friendly. The course does a great job of getting you lost in the wilderness of Oahu's North Shore after the third hole and there are a few holes where you see the ocean.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Perfect in every way

Just perfect. The only thing I can think of to criticise is all my terrible shots that sent balls in the water. Thank you Turtle Beach! And congratulations to the course superintendent or whatever he/she is called in the US; great job, with the course presentation.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful day on the course

Great course overall. The conditions were spectacular and the layout was fun. I was told it was going to be difficult but it didn't seem to be. It definitely doesn't play as long as the scorecard displays.

Would definitely recommend this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
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