Royal Hawaiian Golf Club

This was our first time playing here even though we are local. It is a nicely designed course but the pace of play was terribly slow.

We constantly had to wait from backups and the people in front started to get annoyed that the group in front of them was taking so long and were getting very aggressive and screaming at the group and we think may have even thrown something at the other group at one point. Not exactly the relaxing experience I was hoping for. I did almost get an eagle on the 10th, missed it by about half an inch on the put. We were only able to finish 12.5 holes because of the very slow play. The pace was approaching 6 hours!!! Keep in mind this is not a walking course , the pace of play was just that slow. I would absolutely avoid the weekends especially during COVID lockdown because that may have contributed to our bad experience. I can usually finish a walking 18 in 2:30-2:45 hours so only being able to complete 12.5 holes in 3:20 minutes is ridiculous. Even the last 2 holes were completely rushed with us running back and forth to the ball and cart without actually setting up. Had we stoped at the time we were supposed to (5:30) we would have only finished 9 holes in 2:45 minutes! Also the GPS was broken on the cart which wouldn't bother me normally but this was the first time playing this course so was a bit annoying as I couldn't see the flyovers. There was also a used tissue in the cupholder which considering COVID19 right now was disgusting. To be fair I think they may have been rushed due to everyone taking a single cart right now as the guy had to run over to grab an extra cart so may not have had time to clean it like they normally would.

Loved the course. It is tough but beautiful, a good iron game is needed to dominate this course. Can’t wait to go back. If you have anyone visiting from off island this is the place to go

The starter is a bit standoffish but warms up. I have played here before and have a problem with:

* staff didn't advise there was no water in the in cart ball/club cleaner on a habitually muddy course.

* also didnt advise there was no drinking water or bathroom facility on the front 9 ,(quit at 9 - too irritated)

* pro shop attendant attacked me over the rate I paid on Golf Now - as if I should know they what their deal was and that they weren't making any money - how could I POSSIBLY know that!.

Front nine was so damp with poor drainage.

But view is fantastic.

Back nine was well maintained fairway and manicured green.

Scenery is different but still beautiful.

Stunning course. The staff was incredible - Ellsworth the starter was exceptionally friendly and informative. The greenskeepers handed me two balls as I drove past them. - by the way you will need extra golf balls. This course is very punitive for a poor shot. Watch Utube to see how beautiful the course is. (it is twice as nice in person). The highlight of my two weeks in Hawaii,

This is my first year to play golf. I played 32 years of travel softball, so my little brother has been teaching me sine the first of the year 2019. I took my wife over to Hawaii for our 30th anniversary and decided that I was going to play golf while there. I picked the Royal Hawaiian golf course because of the pictures showing the beauty of the course. It did not disappoint. The course was above my skill set but I love a challenge and the course difficulties of the holes was awesome. I did lose about a dozen balls, but the course was just awesome. I recommend if you are ever there for vacation, business or whatever it maybe. Take plenty of golf balls.

Amazing course when dry. Does rain frequently in the area so call ahead and check on weather conditions. Near Pail municipal golf course and Ko`olau Country Club. These course are closer to the mountains and frequently receives more rain than Royal Hawaiian. The course is challenging enough to consider packing at least a dozen balls, possibly more. The views are unbelievable. Take time for a "Kodak" moment while playing the course.

Unfortunately we played the day after it rained and was cart path only.

The 7th hole was not playable.

Staff were friendly and very helpful, but there was no restaurant open, no bar after just a snack shop, for a course of such stature I was shocked that they have very little food and beverage offerings.

The pace of play was great, not many on the course but for $150 it was not really worth it!

The staff told us we could cancel and get a refund due to the conditions but once we teed off no refunds possible.

We played on a beautiful sunny day. Unfortunately, it had been raining a lot in recent days, so the course was about 85% unplayable. The course should have been closed until it dried up considerably. Nearly everyplace we walked (tees, fairways and greens) we either sloshed through an inch of standing water or, worse yet, 2 inches of sloppy slimy mud. Many greens had large areas of mud with no grass whatsoever. The fairway grass was thin and sparse. Sand traps had a layer of mud totally covering the sand. Nearly every approach shot resulted in a splash of mud and a golf club covered with mud. It's very hilly, so walking to your ball or the tee or the green requires you to traverse very steep areas...which is difficult or impossible to do without falling on your butt in the mud. Seriously, while walking from the cart to the green, my feet flew out from under me and I landed flat on my back in the mud. I had 1 inch of mud caked to my legs, arms, and my entire back. (That shirt is a loss.) As many other reviewers have mentioned, the course is carved out of the jungle and one of the most beautiful around. Surprisingly it used to be one of my favorite courses on Oahu. I've played there several times in the past (when it was called Luana Hills), but I won't go back until Windward Oahu has its next drought.

I played this course 5 years ago on my honeymoon and was extremely excited to play it again. Since then I have played pebble beach, Spanish bay, Spyglass, TPC Las Colinas, TPC Scottsdale and many other courses. I list all of them bc the rate charged today was comparable to those courses above. The course was in rough shape. Staff very unfriendly. Pace of Play was horrific!!! We were 3.5 hours and only on hole 11. We called and asked for a Marshall to help speed up play. No one came.

The locations is unreal but it is obvious the management and conditions of the course needs to improve if there going to charge that much.

Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed and leaving Oahu with a bad taste in my mouth.

The course is basically tucked into the side of the mountain. The views are unbelievable and my wife took a boat load of pictures. That being said, I was a little concerned as we were driving up to course. The maintenance crew was throwing sand onto the greens. The greens had not been punched, they were just muddy. I don't mean just one or two greens, the entire 18 were the same way. Large spots on every green that had no grass and in my opinion were un-puttable. I really had no chance of making a putt over three feet. The rest of the course was beautiful, so it doesn't make sense that they couldn't maintain the greens. The tee boxes, fairways and bunkers were well maintained. You will never get a flat lie in a fairway, but that is how the course is set up. One would definitely need to play this course a few times to know what club to tee off with. Overall, a little disappointed with the course considering the amount of money I paid. Would not go back, should have went to Turtle Bay.

Royal Hawaiian is a physically stunning golf course that looks like it was carved out of a jungle and surrounded by mountains. The on-course scenery is spectacular. The layout is also top-notch, with many memorable holes throughout the round. That same layout is also, however, very penal. The course does not have much room off of the fairways and greens and errant shots are quickly punished and the lost ball count will rise precipitously

.

The downside of this course is that it lies on the rainy side of the Ko'Olau Mountain Range (which ironically is what provides the course with its scenic beauty). The course can get a heavy amount of rain, which makes the course play much longer than its yardage on the card and, in certain places, close to unplayable with balls frequently deeply embedding through the green. The pace of play here was also disappointing, with no marshal/ranger/player assistant to intervene on a front nine that took 2 hours and 45 minutes.

I do, however, recommend this course if only for its physical beauty. I would urge that players call ahead to see how much rain the course has received and whether the course is playing "cart path only." If the course indeed is playing cart path only, prepare for a long, wet, and at times muddy round if you decide to venture out on the course.

Amazing golf course and facilities hidden in the mountains. From the drive in at the end of the road to driving away after our round, everything in between was memorable (including losing 4 golf balls!) Really enjoyable experience, Lon and Mark in the shop were very friendly and shared course knowledge with us. The outside staff and restaurant staff were great and they have really nice rental clubs as well. This is a one-of-a-kind golfing experience!

We started back 9.

We know why, front 9 is poor maintenance and need a lots of repair.

Golf course has to be made playable condition.