A guide to golfing on Oahu

If you’ve vacationed on Oahu before, you know how popular the island’s many golf courses are. If you want to play these wonderful courses more than just a few times a year, the best way is to buy Waikiki homes for sale and start enjoying the full island lifestyle.

The Waikiki real estate market remains incredibly popular, and it’s no surprise why. Whether you’re looking for a home in a golf community, a single-family home, or a luxury condo, your search will start by hiring a licensed, experienced real estate agent. Once Agora Hawaii has helped you find a wonderful new home, it’s time to hit the links.

Oahu is both the most populous of the Hawaiian islands and the most popular, at least in the number of tourists who flock to its shores and golf courses. There are around 40 golf courses on Oahu, more than on any other island.

It’s so popular that the two major golf tours both hold a tournament on Oahu. The PGA Tour starts each season with the Sony Open at the private Waialae Country Club every January. The LPGA Tour has long played a tournament in Hawaii, most recently at Hoakalei Country Club.

There are many great golf courses, both private and public. Some are located on the grounds of posh beachside resort hotels. Some of the best courses besides Waialae Country Club are Turtle Bay Golf Course and Prince Golf Course. Some golfers like to play courses in and near Waikiki, while others venture out to courses on the North Shore.

Turtle Bay Golf Course is a legendary layout on the North Shore, with breathtaking views of the ocean and the pristine coast. It’s a beautiful drive up for residents of luxury homes in Waikiki who have a choice of playing two championship courses named after legends, Arnold Palmer and George Fazio.

This course was designed by Palmer and Ed Seay. When it opened in 1992, it got rave reviews from both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. The par-72, the 6,225-yard course will challenge golfers of all skill levels as they play a links-style layout on the front nine and then a more traditional tropical Hawaiian track on the back nine. The signature 17th hole has gorgeous ocean views, but you better keep your eye on the fairway because it has nine bunkers.

This course opened in 1972 with a more traditional island design as it follows the coast in many places. It is considered more forgiving than the Arnold Palmer course and is regarded as a great walking course because it is shorter and has fewer forced carries. There are spectacular water views from the entire course. It has hosted professional tournaments, with golfers such as Palmer, Sam Snead, Gary Player, and Chi Chi Rodriguez playing the course. Visitors, as well as residents, love playing both courses.

 

Prince Golf Course is located in Ewa Beach and offers 27 wonderful holes at three separate courses. Residents of Waikiki real estate can play various combinations of the nine-hole courses to make 18 holes and can switch things up each time they play to keep things challenging and enjoyable. This is another course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, who included white sand bunkers in the long fairways and placed 10 lakes around the layout. The interchangeable courses offer different challenges, making this a fun course to keep your game sharp. Lessons are available, and there’s a restaurant with a great view for casual dining. There is also a tennis center.

Residents of luxury homes in Waikiki who are fortunate enough to be members of the Waialae Country Club can play one of the most exclusive and historic courses anywhere. The Waialae  Country Club, which opened in 1927 in the quiet East Honolulu neighborhood of Waialae-Kahala, is one of just 40 country clubs in the country that have been picked to host a PGA Tour event.

The course plays to par 70 at 7,020 yards for the Sony Open. There have been several changes over the decades, and the course’s landscaping is now mature and lush. The verdant fairways are lined with various trees, including coconut, kiawe, and monkeypod. It is made challenging by 83 bunkers. The signature hole is par-3 No. 8, stretching 186 yards along the Pacific Ocean. The club is open only to members and their guests.

Royal Hawaiian Golf Club is a breathtaking golf course in a tropical setting in the island’s interior that is a favorite of people who have recently purchased Waikiki homes for sale.  It was newly redesigned by Hall of Fame golfer Greg Norman after being originally laid out by renowned architects Peter and Perry Dye. It is set between majestic Mount Olomana and Ko'olau Mountains, giving it some of the most gorgeous views on the island. After playing the par-72 course, golfers can enjoy various dining options and other events in the 45,000-square-foot clubhouse.

Women’s professional golf star Michelle Wie grew up playing at the Olomana Golf Links, so you know it’s a pretty good course for golfers who live in luxury homes in Waikiki. Besides the great golf on two very different nines, it has a breathtaking view of Olomana Peak and the Ko'olau Mountain Range. The front nine is designed in traditional links style and is very open. The back nine switches things up, and the fairways stretch through a forest that has wildlife. The beautiful clubhouse offers a bar and grill, plus a pro shop and room for special events.

These are among the major golf courses on Oahu. If you are ready to buy Waikiki homes for sale to begin enjoying the great golf, let the friendly and experienced team at Agora Hawaii expertly guide you through the process.