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 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

The golf course is beautiful and you can take many beautiful photos, but the fairway is a bit difficult and the greens are not very good

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Beautiful Course / Friendly Staff

Bring a lot of extra balls! This is "target golf" at its finest. The rainforest setting is worth the price, as is golfing in Jurassic Park. It wasn't too busy. Several small groups were playing, and as a single, I was asked to play through several times. Be careful of golfers hitting into you. It's sometimes difficult to tell when the players ahead of you are in the fairway or off in the jungle looking for their balls. One downpour lasted for 1 hole, and then it cleared up. Bring a light water proof jacket.

I also rented clubs and they were decent.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Beautiful surroundings

It was extremely challenging. Loved that. If you are a high handicapper you better bring plenty of balls The guys in front of us had already gone thru a couple of sleeves by hole 2. Fortunately they let us play thru. Pace of play was very slow. It was worth the wait because of the beauty. Bring a rain jacket.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Jurssic Park

Amazing course with some of the best views I have ever seen in my life. Pace of play is a little slow as most people stop to take pictures because the course is unreal. Had a great time would definitely go back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Golfing in Jurassic Park

Was a fun and yet difficult course. Trees everywhere but the fairways and greens were in excellent condition! Enjoyed it and well worth it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

glad I got a "hot deal"

I never write reviews but I believe this needs one. Some of the most stunning views I have ever seen on a golf course, but some of the worst turf conditions. The staff in the shop was great, the food was good, outside staff was friendly. But just a fair warning, I don't know if I had a putt roll true all day. Bumps and dead spots all over the greens. I asked if this was just because of summertime and was told that they have been this way for years. I would maybe pay $25 to go hike the course... but I won't pay to play there again. I just believe some transparency is necessary if you are asking for a good amount of money to play there.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very Big Course but Narrow in Many Holes

I like this course ver very much.

We were on vacation and golfing is always an activity we won’t miss. At the course, you’ll be astonished by the views from many holes.Both of the tropical forests and high rising mountains are beautiful.

The course itself has various terrains that can be challenging to all levels of golfers 🏌️. . Make sure you have brought enough balls or you can find buying after 9 holes can be costly. :) the Green is slower than it looks like. Some spots need patches to be good. Rough is really rough on the course with high tropical “grass”. The pace is a little slow on a busy day but on weekdays feels OK.

As a vacationer, leaving the course without a car is a bit challenging. We used ride shares and the waiting is about 30 minutes every time.

Price is high but matches the experiences. If you can find a deal, this is a no brainer to go!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Slow journey through a jungle

Toughest course I’ve ever played, with most chance of enjoyment erased by the 5 hour and 45 minute pace of play on a day the starter said wasn’t busy. No course employees seen between starter and cart return. Inexcusable. Blind shots, forced carries, narrow landing areas, with plenty of jungle to grab your balls. Range closed. Single digit handicappers can easily lose half a dozen balls. Some amazing mountain and valley views, but better experienced on a hike vs. an expansive round of golf. Have fun in Hawaii- play somewhere else.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Second visit

This is our second time -laying this course. We are from Florida, and have played beautiful courses across the entire Midwest and eastern states on the mainland. This course is in a beautiful jungle, and is among the top three courses we have ever played.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

On vacation and brought spouses out to enjoy the views. For one set of rental clubs and two additional riders charged almost $150. Greens were in terrible condition, cart path only on front, rough hasn’t been mowed in weeks,(if miss fairway by a foot it was a search party) and driving range was closed. It’s. $50 course maximum

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Awesome setting

Beautiful setting just not great condition on the front 9, which is understandable due to the wetness. Back nine is much better condition but not as spectacular setting. Very enjoyable just don't worry about your score.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great views Poor conditions

You pay for the views when you play this course. Very picturesque. Conditions were below average. Bare spots all over the fairways. Greens were overgrown, bumpy, and filled with bare spots. Putting was unenjoyable to say the least.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Stunning Views

Quite possibly the most picturesque course I’ve ever played. Many blind shots made it especially challenging. The greens could use some love. The practice range hasn’t been available since Covid.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

You can’t beat the views

Absolutely gorgeous course. It is golfing through a rainforest on the side of a mountain! Greens were almost unputtable, I wonder if it was something to do with the grass they can grow there. Staff was sup par. Shop closed at 3pm with no heads up, just generally rude to us. No one was there you think for $200+ a round they would be more friendly. No on course beverage cart, range was closed.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging Course

I felt like I was in a beautiful rain-forest or jungle in the front 9. The course is very scenic and beautiful.

The greens were bumpy and had not quite healed after recent punching. The fairways are somewhat narrow and the adjacent rough was tall and very thick grass that could use some mowing. So you need to stay in the fairways or your ball will get swallowed up by the rough. The course.is very challenging so if you can't hit the ball straight, bring a lot of balls.

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