What are the Worst Golf Courses in Hawaii?
Hawaii’s golf scene is pure paradise until it’s not. Amid all those ocean views and volcanic bo backdrops, a few courses miss the mark. Let’s talk about the three worst golf courses in Hawaii and why your scorecard deserves better. First up, Macaha Valley Country Club in Oahu. Once iconic, now neglected. Patchy fairways, crusty bunkers, and greens that roll like shag carpet. Locals locals call renovation limbo. Years of promise, little progress. Number two, Pukalani Country Club on Maui. Great views, bad golf, uneven tees, bumpy greens, and a layout that feels like more than punishment than play. Locals joke that you need a four-wheel drive to finish your round. And finally, Nanaloa Volcano Golf Club on the Big Island. Stunning setting, but flat, soggy, and overgrown. After a Hilo rainstorm, it’s basically golf meets swamp. Bottom line, even Paradise has its sand trap.
Hawaii is synonymous with paradise — swaying palms, volcanic backdrops, and some of the most stunning golf holes on the planet. But not every course in the islands lives up to the postcard promise. Amidst the emerald fairways and oceanfront layouts that define Hawaiian golf, a few duds manage to sneak in, dragging down both your mood and your scorecard.
Here are three Hawaiian golf courses that miss the mark, proving that not all Aloha golf experiences are created equal.
1. Makaha Valley Country Club – Oahu
Location: Waianae, Oahu
Once a proud course carved into the rugged cliffs of Oahu’s leeward coast, Makaha Valley Country Club now feels more like a relic of its past than a golf destination. Once you get past the stunning mountain scenery, the condition of the fairways and greens becomes impossible to ignore — patchy turf, inconsistent putting surfaces, and bunkers that look more like construction sites than hazards.
Locals lament that the course has been “in renovation limbo” for years, with ownership changes and redevelopment plans creating more uncertainty than improvement. If you’re after nostalgia, maybe. If you’re after good golf? Keep driving toward Ko Olina or Ewa Beach.
2. Pukalani Country Club – Maui
Location: Upcountry Maui
Pukalani’s elevated setting offers cooler temperatures and big views, but the experience doesn’t live up to its lofty perch. Maintenance has been spotty for years, with uneven tee boxes, slow, bumpy greens, and fairways that shift from lush to bare within a single hole.
The layout itself — a hilly, zigzag affair — feels dated and punishing in all the wrong ways. Locals often joke that you need a four-wheel drive, not a cart, to get through a round. For a similar price, you’re better off heading to Maui Nui or Kahili for a more consistent and enjoyable track.
3. Naniloa Volcano Golf Club – Hilo, Big Island
Location: Hilo, Hawaii Island
It’s hard to knock any course with views of Mauna Kea and the Pacific, but Naniloa Volcano Golf Club feels like a missed opportunity on every front. The design is flat and forgettable, and the conditioning has declined significantly in recent years. Overgrown rough, poorly drained fairways, and thin greens make for a slog of a round — especially after one of Hilo’s frequent rainstorms.
Add in a lack of facilities (think: no real clubhouse, limited food options, and outdated carts), and you’ve got a golf experience that’s as dreary as the weather forecast.
Bottom Line
Hawaii’s golf scene can be transcendent — but it’s not immune to mediocrity. These three courses prove that even paradise needs proper upkeep and investment to stay on par. If you’re planning a golf trip to the islands, spend your green fees wisely. There’s no shortage of spectacular options — from Kapalua to Princeville — that will leave you speechless for all the right reasons.
