Let’s Take the Temperature: Why Hawaii Has the Best Golf Weather on Earth

The most isolated islands on the planet may not seem like an obvious choice for a golf vacation — until you factor in the best year-round weather anywhere on Earth. That’s exactly what golfers experience when visiting the Aloha State.

Hawaii Golf Weather at a Glance

• Winter temperatures: 77–79°F

• Summer temperatures: 82–84°F

• Seasonal variation: Only 3–5 degrees year-round

Depending on which island you visit, temperatures may vary slightly:

• The Big Island of Hawaii is the southernmost and generally warmest

• Kauai is the northernmost and slightly cooler

• Maui and Oahu sit comfortably in between

In practical terms, Hawaii delivers ideal golf conditions 365 days a year, with no true off-season. Caveat:  Most Hawaii golf courses aerate greens and some other areas, like tees and fairways from the last week of April thru the third week of May—AND— the last week of August thru the third week of September.

Distinctive Golf Course Designs in Hawaii

Hawaii golf courses benefit not only from climate but from world-class design pedigree.

Some of the most accomplished architects in golf history have shaped the Hawaiian landscape, including:

• Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Robert Trent Jones Jr.

• Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay

• Jack Nicklaus

• Robin Nelson

• Ted Robinson

• Perry Dye

Designing golf courses on lava flows presents unique challenges — and opportunities. Robert Trent Jones Sr. pioneered modern lava-based course design, setting the standard for routing holes through rugged volcanic terrain while maintaining playability and visual drama.

The result? No two Hawaii golf courses feel alike, and many are unlike anything found on the mainland.

Hawaii Golf Course Count by Island

The Big Island of Hawaii: “The Golf Capital of Hawaii”

The Kona-Kohala Coast region unquestionably earns the title of Golf Capital of Hawaii, offering:

• 6.5 resort golf courses

• 4 independent daily-fee courses

• 5 extremely private clubs

This density, combined with excellent weather and reasonable drive times, makes The Big Island the premier destination for serious golf travelers.

Oahu: Quantity Over Convenience

Oahu has the most golf courses in Hawaii (32 total), including:

• 2 resort courses

• 18 daily-fee (privately owned) courses

• 6 municipal courses (generally crowded and expensive for visitors)

• 6 military courses

• 5 private clubs

While the volume is impressive, traffic, access & pricing often diminish the visitor experience.

Maui: Value Resides Outside the Three Resorts

Maui offers:

• 6 resort courses with through-the-roof greens fees
• 3 independent, non-resort daily-fee courses
• 1 very enjoyable seaside municipal course
• 3 very private clubs

Value exists — but only if you know where to look.

Kauai: From “Golf Heaven” to Golf Casualty

During the 1990s, Kauai was often called “Golf Heaven on Earth.” Unfortunately, that reputation has eroded significantly:

• 45 holes of resort golf have shuttered since 2014

• Only six accessible 18-hole courses remain

  • • 3 resort courses

    • 2 daily-fee, privately owned courses

    • The best 18-hole municipal course in Hawaii, which is currently trying to fend off a blight to over 500 palm trees

    • 1 enjoyable nine-hole plantation course atop a hill

• Green fees are among the highest in the state

Past, Present & Future of Golf in Hawaii

A striking statistic:
No publicly accessible daily-fee or resort golf course has opened in Hawaii since 2000.

Since then:

Seven very private golf courses have opened

• • Four on the Big Island

  • One each on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai

These clubs are highly exclusive, lightly played, and cater to the ultra-wealthy.

Golf Course Closures in Hawaii

Since 2008, Hawaii has lost:

• 18 golf courses

• 315 holes of golf

Notable closures include:

• The Village Course at Kapalua

• The Bay Course at Kapalua

• Makena North & South Courses

• The Experience at Koele (Lanai)

• Princeville Prince Course

• Kauai Lagoons

• Makaha Resort Course

• Turtle Bay Fazio

• Ko’Olau Golf Club

Looking ahead, it is unlikely Hawaii will see any new golf courses for the remainder of this decade and the next. More likely, there will be 2-3 more closures.

Your Best Bet for a Hawaii Golf Vacation

For the past 20 years — and likely for the next several decades — it is difficult to imagine a better island golf experience than The Big Island of Hawaii.

With:

• The best weather

• The deepest course lineup

• Better value

• Shorter drive times

• More consistent conditions

…The Big Island remains the clear choice for serious golf travelers.