Royal Hawaiian GC
A view from Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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3.9
698 Reviews (698)
5 Stars
327
4 Stars
191
3 Stars
91
2 Stars
53
1 Stars
36
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.5
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.3
72.8%
Recommend this course
564 out of 698 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.6
26 Reviews (26)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.0
Value
3.0
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.3
StaffFriendliness
4.5
65.4%
Recommend this course
17 out of 26 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
38 Reviews (38)
5 Stars
15
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.3
Value
3.4
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.3
StaffFriendliness
4.6
71.1%
Recommend this course
27 out of 38 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Royal Hawaiian delivers jaw-dropping jungle and mountain views on every hole, with a wildly creative layout that belongs on any golfer's bucket list. The exceptionally friendly staff and solid value make this challenging, scenic round well worth the trip.

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6609 yards
Slope 138
Rating 73.1

Nestled at the base of the Ko'olau Mountains in Oahu, Royal Hawaiian Golf Club enjoys a stunning tropical setting framed by ancient jungle trees that climb to more than 100 feet tall. The father-and-son team of Pete and Perry Dye designed the course. There are many telltale signs that this is a Dye course, from the many elevation changes to the varied bunker styles that are utilized throughout. The round begins with stunning views as you plunge downhill into the Maunawili Valley. There are more trees and narrower fairways on the front nine, contrasting nicely with the wide-open back nine. Royal Hawaiian Golf Club's back plays towards the mouth of the valley, offering a view of the mountains and sparkling blue Pacific waters in the distance. It's not an overly punishing golf course but locals and visitors alike have called it the toughest and most scenic course you'll find on Oahu.

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Royal Hawaiian Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1993
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Platinum Paspalum Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Pete Dye (1993) Perry Dye (1993)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

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Reviews

3.9
698 Reviews (698)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 28
Forced Carries 24
Narrow Fairways 17
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 25
Advanced Golfers 19
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 14
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 23
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Royal Hawaiian

Course in need of some repair. Have played this particular course a few times but the last round was disappointing. Greens were neglected and the tee boxes had the feel of standing in a bunker. Recommend addressing the two most important facets of any course, which is where any hole starts and finishes. Will not be back anytime soon. Will take my business to several area courses and recommend others to do the same.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Take your camera! Absolutely beautiful!

We played this course 4 or 5 years prior and loved it even though we contributed immensly to the golf ball manufacturing industry! Seems like every hole is a photo op. You can almost leave your driver at the clubhouse or in your car...to play this place means actually using your brain, not over extending your capability, taking the worst case and not trying to win but hitting well thought out pretty precise shots.
GPS would be great but the terrian probably precludes accurate and consistent results. A complimentary range book would be nice!
The course was in great condition and really fun to play. It is very challengin but worth the play. It's worth the drive and worth the green fee to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Unbelievable scenery!

This course is located in truly one of the most incredible locations I've ever seen. We took pictures at every tee-box and stopped constantly to take in the scenery.
As for the course, it is very challenging. If you're not on the fairway, you've probably lost the ball to the surrounding rainforest. The greens are a work in progress. The proshop mentioned that it is under new ownership. I would imagine that by early next year, this could be a world-class facility. Until then, it is still an excellent place to play. Every time I visit Oahu, will be sure to play this course

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice sceniary.

Front nine greens were terrible! I was very disappointed with the conditions. I would be really disappointed if I paid full price. Actually, if I had paid full price, I would've left after the second hole and demanded my money back.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

The Royal Hawaiian Golf Club is awesome golf course why?

Royal Hawaiian golf club is awesome , such as pairway and course fun but they need maintain about golf greens because sometime i got so slowly greens but if you want very impressive golf course you must be go to the Royal Hawaiian and I feel a shudder from Royal Hawaiian golf course. it was amazing view...

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Royal Hawaiian GC

In the past this course was bordering on the ridiculous,novelty course, where in the course because of the terrain made it very challenging but added to that the uncut rough and cart paths made a arduous task. But that has all changed new cart paths, manicured fairways and green, new practice areas which was only recently built. Very pleasant day of golf lots of fun.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Challenging and good fun

Course is being upgraded. Outstanding views of the mountains - fairways are great - greens - some need to be better. Very enjoyable round - no rushing - nice pace.
This will be a premier course within the year.

Suggest to anyone looking for an experience and the beauty of Hawaii all around. Plenty of target golf play.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

beautiful surroundings, but...

unfortunately when I played this course, it was rainy and a little mushy. very understandable, due to the rain. However the greens were in bad condition - especially the 10th green. It was patched up and had gouges and marks all over it. One of the workers apologized for the greens before we teed off, so I wasn't totally surprised, but it was not very impressive for my guest who was expecting more. The tee box at #11 was being redone and the 17th was closed, so the course is far from being in 'good' condition. When it is, i'll come back. I have played this course before when it was dry and manicured, so I know this can be an excellent course. Just keep working on everything, and the compliments will return....

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Outstanding setting

We loved this course so much that we squeezed in a second round just before flying home. The setting is amazing - green hills and mountains, tropical flowers and plants, interesting holes. The course is being improved at the moment, and when finished should be excellent. At the moment, the greens need work and the signage is sometimes broken, but the course design works well. Each hole is different and has its own challenges.

Scored my first hole in one, so I am perhaps biased.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course is beautiful.

It was a great course even though the pace was slow.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

the greens on this course are a joke, terrible, especially for this time of year!

I called the course the day before we played and I asked the person in the front desk if the course was in good shape and if all the work on it was done. He told me it was and that there were no changes made on the course. He lied, there are changes being made on the back nine, One par five is closed so they added an extra par 3. the course is not even sanctioned so my score means nothing. I can understand the construction going on but all the green are in bad shape and not worth playing. If only they would had been honest about the construction going on, the condition of the greens and the course not being sanctioned during the construction, it would had saved me some money, and now I have lost all respect for their front desk staff for lying just to get play.
I

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

my favorite course on the island

The Royal Hawaiian Golf Club is one of my two favorite courses to play on Oahu because of the challenges it gives me, how well the course is maintained, and probably most of all, its scenery. The front is relatively more wide open with views into a lush green valley and the back is secluded in the jungle of the valley. The best scenic course on the island.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course, my personal favorite in Hawaii. My only complaint is that the snack bar closes at 4 and they rarely have any good food.

The course is great, it has great views of the Ko'olau mountains and in all the times we have played there we have not been rained on. The construction is really coming along and I was glad to see they now have a driving range.

My only complaint is that the snack bar closes at 4pm and they always seem to be out of food when we make the turn. If they had an actual kitchen this would hands down make this place the complete package.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

The course was the most beautiful course I've ever seen and played

The course was very beautiful and challenging. The views of the jungles and plant life were completely amazing. I will always remember hole 11 aka "The Pond" due to it's similarity to hole 17 at the TPC Sawgrass. I will definitely be recommending this course to friends and people visiting Oahu.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Very Nice course!!!

I booked on Golfnow and got a great deal for $72 and club rental was another $35 (comes with 2 sleeves of balls). The taxi ride there from Waikki Beach was 30 mins and cost about $55 each way. As for the course, it is a beautiful course nestle in the Jungle of Hawaii. There are views for pictures on every hole. The course was difficult but I'm used to difficult courses back home so no big deal. I lost only 4 balls, partly because lack of course knowledge. This is a must play course on Oahu!!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

challenging track.

Currently several holes under remodel, when complete course will be great.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful surroundings

Nice course but greens were not in very good shape. Played it last year and really liked it, not as well this year

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

AMAZING

Ive played 7 courses on Oahu, Kahuku is my home course. Royal Hawaiian is OFF THE CHARTS compared to all the others Ive played. The challenge of the holes gets you thinking like you are playing chess. Miss the fairway and theres a good chance you will land in the jungle and never see your ball again. It is an adventure, and an extreme challenge. The beauty is breathtaking. Bring 50 balls cause you will lose them.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Part of course was under construction. all for the better.

Little forgiveness for arant shots and keeping it in play was a must
pace of play was great not many players on course possibly because of construction. Would play again recommend you try this you.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Most scenic course on Oahu

I've played just about every golf course on Oahu and this track never gets old. A must play while visiting Oahu. The scenery is amazing as you travel deep into a tropical rainforest. They are going through some minor modifications, but it's still a steal at only $125. We even received free transportation from Waikiki through HiGolfGuide. Play here and you won't be disappointed!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
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Kapalua Resort Plantation Course - Hole 18

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