This is probably one of the worst golf courses on the island, which is disappointing because it has a lot of potential. My biggest concern is the driving range. The divots are so close together and uneven that balls can easily ricochet back toward players. It honestly feels like an accident is waiting to happen. It costs $15 to use the range, but there are several other places at the same price point that offer much better conditions and overall quality. The staff also felt disengaged. When I was grabbing my balls and tried to say hello and thank you, it was clear they did not want to be there. If you are in Hawaii and just want to golf cheaply and skip the range, this could be an okay option. If you are looking for a better overall golf experience, Bayview Golf Course is farther away but offers much more of the Hawaii feel. That said, the views are nice, with clear sights of Diamond Head and surrounding high rises. read more

Ala Wai golf course is properly the only City golf course in town. It is right by the Ala Wai Canel. This is a 18 holes golf course. They have a driving range and a putting green. I went there to use the driving range but I found out it was closed since April of 2025, it is now Sept. 2025, the driving range is still not opening yet. No wonder the parking lot was pretty empty when I got there. The putting green is not the best, dry dead grass. They also have an L&L restaurant where you can eat and drink after your round of golf. The parking lot is pretty big with free parking. I did not golf the 18 holes, therefore I cannot comment on that. But just looking from a distance, the fairway looks pretty bad, dry death grass everywhere. read more

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Had a 4:30 tee time and was told upon paying that carts aren't available after 4pm. Nowhere on my receipt did it say that nor did I notice it when making my booking. I was super pissed off about it. Extremely disappointed in this subpar experience. Then again, I should've expected it from a subpar municipal course read more

Reading all these comments on this golf course is hilarious. First off ITS A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE. What you haoles think this is a PGA stop? You fakas no understand what Municipal means. For what it is, its a good course for people to learn on. read more

One star because the greens had flagsticks in the holes. This GC would be better suited as a dog park. Greens are just short fairways, and fairways are, well, ****. Locals price is $32, non is $86. $86!! A joke well played, Honolulu. The pro shop is... nonexistent! You hand your credit card through a hole in some tinted window to a ghost, and if you've got an AMEX card you can go **** yourself! Seriously, I'll not play here again, EVER, and given the slightest chance to talk **** about this waste of space I certainly will. The driving/practice range is also trash, prices there are fantastically elevated too. A rental set of crap Callaway Big Berthas from 2003 was $65. DO NOT play here unless you're jonesing for 18 holes of weeds, crabgrass, hard pan dirt, and somewhere to set $150 in cash on fire. read more

Dry and the ball runs. Not a cheap place to play for out of towners but a comfortable round of golf. The restaurant serves really good food which is insane. Lots of Asian dishes. With the greens were in better shape and the rentals were easier to secure, but I keep going back. read more

I was in my apartment watching TV and I saw an ad promoting the idea that Ala Wai Golf Course should be converted into a botanic garden. * What? * My timeshare is across the channel, so I decided to go take a look around. I did not play. I took a walk on the golf path along the first nine holes. Ala Wai GC is a municipal 18-hole, par-70 golf course located in Honolulu. The course is relatively flat. The greens and fairways are Bermuda grass. There are three sets of tees for various skill levels. There are great views of Diamond Head and the Koolau Mountain Range. The Ala Wai Canal separates this golf course from Waikiki. The complex has a putting green, driving range, starter's office, café and pro shop. (The pro shop was looking for a new concessionaire at the time of my visit.) The two-story clubhouse includes offices, lockers, storage, and a second-floor community recreation room. There's ample free parking. I visited early in the morning and observed a large number of people preparing to play. Hawaii tourism is still recovering from the pandemic; but it is said that Ala Wai GC is the busiest course in the U.S. At its peak, Ala Wai CG hosted 180,000 rounds of golf a year--and average of 500 a day. This leads to some of the complaints that I have read online--but I'd like to offer a reality check: "It's too expensive". This is a municipal course. And there are two sets of fees: one for local residents with state ID, and another rate for visitors. Are people complaining because it's not as nice as a private or public course? Are they complaining because they were tourist and paid the higher fees? "It's hard to get a tee time". It's recommended that you go online and make a reservation--especially if you're coming in as a tourist. If you're playing solo, you can take your chances, go to the starter's office, and sign up on the standby list. "You can't play a leisurely game". That's probably true. When really busy, they start games every 10 minutes. The marshals keep things moving. How busy it is depends on the day--it's hit or miss. You can rent clubs on site. And as I walked about Waikiki, I noticed there are quite a few shops that sell and rent golf equipment. While I like the idea of playing this course, I don't think I would do well in a fast tempo environment. As for the "botanic garden" proposal, developers have coveted the 150-acres since before the course opened in 1931. Various proposals to redevelop a portion or the whole site have come and gone. Besides, the state of Hawaii owns the land; the city simply administers the site. (But local residents should stay vigilant.) read more

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First time golfing here. Hard to get a tee time so we got on standby which works. It is long so you get your money's worth but it felt a bit boring to me. I prefer the courses in the windward side with some variation to the landscape. People mostly follow etiquette but when you are on long links and some insist on hitting from the back tees but don't have control, they hold up and break the flow and can come over into your fairway, also disrupting play. But this is not an Ala Wai only problem, it is only more obvious on a course like this. It can be frustrating sitting behind these kinds of guys who also seem to spend alot for time looking for their and extra balls. I give it a solid 3. read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ala Wai Golf Course has the moniker of being the "busiest golf course" in the Universe. That claim was made in the 1980s, and I'm not entirely sure it's been holding that title every year since then. This course is closest to Waikiki. It's right across the Ala Wai canal! You can access it from Kapahulu Ave. The entrance is where the Waikiki Public Library is located. There's a lot of parking. This was my first time golfing here, surprisingly. I was always curious about it. I've seen it enough times from the outside, and I even had a few close calls with errant golf shots flying over the fence and onto Date Street. My guess was that this course was flat and simple, and we avoided coming here because of the aura of being super busy. Obviously, the pandemic has slowed business, so I was able to make an appointment easily, and at the time I wanted. Making an appointment is extremely easy...if you have a Resident Golf ID card because you can just go through the automated system without even needing to talk to anyone. I just punched in the date, the time, my ID number, submit, and my appointment was set. I was worried about having no tee times, especially on a Sunday morning, but I got one somehow on Friday night. The current Weekend rate is $30 ($26 Weekday) walking with a Golf ID card. If you have Hawaii ID and you're with a person with the Golf ID, it's $4 more. Non-resident is $86! Adding in a golf cart is $26, which is pretty dang steep. So since we were a foursome, we shared two carts, $13/person. I'm wondering if there were three people, one person would use a cart alone, would he/she have to pay $26? That'll be ridiculous! When my friends and I arrived at the Starter's office/cashier, I had no idea that we'd need to check in 30 minutes beforehand. Our tee time was 9AM, checked in at 8:59AM. Yes, exactly on time lol. But I guess we were supposed to tee off AT 9AM, not check in at that time. Lesson learned. I read some reviews about the employees being rude, but that's their style. The local Asian old-timers. Yes, they sound rude, strict, condescending, impatient, stubborn as hell, act like jerks, and make snide comments to put you down or insult you. That's how they are. Not all of them, but the ones I've interacted with at golf courses. Yes, I got scolded and probably got the stink eye through the blurry glass window from the Cashier about checking in one minute before my tee times. Yes, I got scolded again for "driving on the grass," and was asked "if I can speak English" even after I answered his first question regarding if I saw the signs. You can't argue with them. Just say you heard and won't make the same mistake next time. The course was what I thought. Flat and straight forward. You shouldn't lose any balls, but there are a few ravines and the canal at the final holes. The fairways are pretty much dry grass and dirt, but they are pretty wide, so there's a lot of forgiveness for errant shots. The greens are the SAME. Very dry and very fast. You see breaks and you'll just fly by them. It was definitely confusing reading the greens and trying to control your speed. The carts are gas powered and drive like a four wheel scooter. You'll always get a whiff of exhaust each time you go. Overall, for a City course, it's not bad. I like that it's simple and you know where you need to hit it. The greens are way too fast, and I definitely need practice on that. Making reservations was very easy. Glad I have a Resident Golf ID (currently, you can't apply for one at Ala Wai. Only at Pali or Ted Makalena. I enjoyed myself, and definitely have the golf itch again. I'm pretty awful right now, but there were moments! FORE! read more

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This place blows.... save your money, save your time. Absolutely dog water. No pro shop, if you need to buy balls or any extras, their shop has been out of business. Range is closed, course condition looks dry and ugly. Place is absolutely ran down and dead. read more

City and county of Honolulu should be embarrassed! How could you call this a golf course! No grass on fairways, greens are awful! Shame on you! Have some local pride for the tourists and your locals! read more

We golf on all the courses on Oahu and by far, Ala Wai Golf Course is the absolute worse. Maybe only 2 of the 18 greens are decent. The rest are blotchy with either sand or blotchy grass. The fairways are also horrible; all of the are not watered so there are bare dirt areas along with very blotchy, with barely any grass. The bunkers have no sand and play like solid concrete. If you want to waste your money, then by all means, go for it. read more

It's currently in the worst shape I've seen in 20 years. Dry, patchy, dying for water. And they still just put them out as fast as they pay. Avoid as you will be frustrated while wasting your time on a cow pasture. read more

the Ala Wai Golf Course is a public golf course located in Honolulu, Hawaii, near the famous Waikiki Beach. It's one of the busiest golf courses in the world, given its location and accessibility. Due to its urban setting and proximity to popular tourist destinations, it attracts a mix of local golfers and visitors. However, please note that details might have changed since then, so consult the most current information for the latest updates. Features: Course Layout:The Ala Wai Golf Course typically features an 18-hole, par-70 layout. While it is not known for being overly difficult, the course does offer a variety of challenges, including narrow fairways and water hazards. Scenery:Given its location, you can expect some scenic views of Honolulu, the mountains, and occasionally the ocean. The course is relatively flat but is surrounded by a variety of tropical trees and plant life. Accessibility:One of the biggest selling points of Ala Wai is its accessibility. It's easy to reach from most parts of Honolulu and is particularly convenient for those staying in the Waikiki area. Facilities:The course generally has basic facilities including a clubhouse, pro shop, and driving range. Lessons are usually available for those looking to improve their game. Pricing:Being a public course, Ala Wai is generally more affordable than some of the private or resort courses in Hawaii. However, rates can vary, and it may be more expensive for non-residents. Experience: Crowds:Because of its popularity and location, the course can be quite busy, especially on weekends and holidays. It's advisable to book your tee times in advance. Condition:The course condition can vary. While it's generally well-maintained, don't expect the pristine conditions you might find at a high-end resort course. Pace of Play:Given its busy nature, the pace of play can sometimes be slow, especially during peak hours. Overall: The Ala Wai Golf Course offers a convenient and relatively affordable golfing option in Honolulu. While it may not offer the luxury or difficulty of some other courses, its accessibility and the sheer volume of play make it a unique experience, especially for those looking to squeeze in a round while visiting Waikiki. read more

Nice little warmup bucket before playing the following day at a different course. Nothing fancy and poorly lit at night, you hit off mats, but it's fine. Range balls were expensive and it's an additional $2 for a rubber tee. 40 balls $7.50 75 balls $14 read more

The Ala Wai Golf Course is awesome. It's right by my house and we haven't gotten a chance to visit until now. We like to go to the driving range and spend some time. We went to the main clubhouse which has an L&L and a hall of fame! We went into the pro shop and asked about the driving range - come to find out, the driving range has it's own clubhouse. The buckets are very reasonable and they have loaner clubs for us that have never invested in the sport, but we like it so they cater to all. The views are pretty neat as you're looking to the mountains and the course itself. The parking is great and the facilities are so nice and super convenient. We will be back for sure. Thanks Ala Wai Golf Course! read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - Small bucket $6.00 - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

First time here, we never played the course just hit balls at the driving range. Got membership card, reasonable prices for senior members. Definitely will return to play the course! read more

More like a 3.75, Ala Wai is like home. Play here all the time, used to play after work, kids even played jr golf here back in the day. It can be rotten slow in the pm, so you have to understand that before going out for twilight. The course is I pretty decent shape for a much played mini. Hard to complain when it's $24 on a Sunday. Love the people here, it's always an enjoyable round of golf. read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - Walking up #4 - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Want fancy? Go join Waialae. Want a super convenient and inexpensive place to play, with great views on top of it? Here you go. I see a lot of reviews from complaining tourists including people who didn't even play it. This course is for locals and for tourists who can enjoy it for what it is, which includes a place that a lot of retirees can walk to and that tourists can too. I'm fairly new to golf and have not joined a club. It's not worth it to me yet and may never be. This course is highly valuable as accessible recreation and a meeting place for locals getting together for some healthy outdoor fun. read more

trashy course, do not go, service was horrible, didn't answer any phone calls, person at the desk was rude and dismissiv, would never give money to this establishment read more

This is one of the most played courses in America. It's exactly what to expect from a community golf course. The pros: - conveniently located, -reasonably priced at $22 for 18 holes for local if you walk the course, $26 for locals without a golf card, -Snack shop with tap beer and hot food, -snack shop with Musubi and cheese burgers and hotdogs when you round hole nine on your way to hole10 - decent sized course with long Fairways - driving range The cons: - the fairways are not well well-watered, so can be rough in places, with spots of dirt instead of grass, -the greens are not super cared for or watered, being quite rough and definitely not great for putting, -long wait times behind other golfers, as the city forces start times super close together. -Hole 2 [a par 3] is a spot where you can wait from 30 to 60 minutes before you can tee off. TLDR; its convenient, but not in great condition. read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - Hole 2, where you'll wait 20+ minutes to tee off - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This Golf course is a dog track but perfect for locals looking for a cheap golf fix. Dying yellow grass fairways and patchy greens are par for this course; as well as having no players assistance on the course. After a punishing 2:45 hour pace for the front 9 watching a Fivesome of hackers, we called it a day and headed for the beach instead!! Also, the Pro Shop was useless and had no help to offer whatsoever. (F- for both the course AND the range) read more

The local pair I was playing with was rude and had no golf etiquette. After 9 holes went to ask if I could be place with someone else and they said no. Didn't care one bit about customer service. As someone on vacation I had a terrible experience especially after paying $80+ dollars for this crappy course with terrible conditions. read more

The staff were very friendly and I was able to get right onto the course after checking in as a single and being paired with another single and a double. The only thing that was problematic was the speed of play as we had to wait up to 15 minutes on some holes due to golfer being backed up and this happened on about three or four different holes. read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - the course was very forgiving with wide beautiful fairways. You could miss left of right and still have a good lie. - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Why not open up golf course for walking at sunset after last tee time let seniors walk the course 1-6 loop? It's a great place for old Japanese golfers to get away from their nagging wives and drink beer walk around get exercise and a few laughs cheap for locals tourists should go Koolau or somewhere challenging. The course need redesign with lakes and canals that also allow this one time aquaponic flood control for Waikiki read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - Blessings and Aloha ... soon Top Golf Driving Range and dancing in the Ala Wai Cc ballroom - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Starter John is the worst. If you're planning of standing by, make sure to check if he's working. If he is , you will wait at least 2 hours. He has a bad attitude and thinks he is superior because he controls who goes out first. Somebody needs to show this guy how to run things cz he's system is stupid. All other staters are 100 times faster than him read more

The most golfed course in the world for a reason. Great weather and you can't beat the price. I've golfed this course enough to know every hole. They do change where you tee off at and move the hole every day. At first I thought the people that check you in to be kind of cranky but they are very friendly if you are to them. The greens are decent to good and the fairways are for the most part well maintained. There are a few holes, the par 3s, that become a drag because of the wait. Although all courses have this problem when busy. I give this course a 5 mainly for the price, convenience and the people who check you in. I am so so glad we have a decent course right smack dab in the middle of our city. read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Enjoyed the wide open fairways, and the challenge of playing with, and against, the Honolulu trade winds. Without a reservation I was paired with a 3some of local golfers who were welcoming and shared some tips on how to play the course. The price was fair, and the cart was clean. I'd definitely play it again. read more

From the start this place feels uninviting if your not local. The regulars and staff stare and know your an outsider. I came in as a standby single only to be told their fully booked and have a bunch of singles waiting ahead of me. When I looked at the bench and putting green there was probably about (10) people. The pro shop was closed so you had to deal with the starter. I asked for a rental set but they referred me to pro shop. SMH. Looking around, it seems a fairly easy layout. Hardly any trees, hills, or bunkers. Your only enemy is the wind (2-4clubs). I observed that they allow locals to play as 5 & 6somes! Also, there wasn't anyone here under 50yrs old?!!! After a 30min wait, I bailed and went to their weak range, which is not walking distance. This course was once ranked the busiest golf course in a America but I can confirm it can be labeled as the worst course of America. With barely any improvements in the last 25yrs and profits not going back to the course, this place will end up become a hotel or high end condos. The locals who run this joint will fade away just like the HI traditions. read more

Needs to be updated, many other gold courses on the island. Also disappointing to see a golf course in an area with so much homeless the property would be better used to help the community read more

I use to take my grand children (2) to learn golf, however I can't afford $ 7.50 for maybe 20 balls, that's crazy! They use to give you around 100 balls for only $ 8.00 and that's another thing the balls they use are so old and have no dimples probably the worst in the United States. Oh well that's for the good stuff. I'll never go there again I feel cheated when I went. Hi read more

Ok so here's the scoops on Ala Wai driving range, new operation run by First Tee seems like a Junior program. So far I've notice the hours have changed if I'm not mistaken 11am to 730pm but not really sure. Price is $8 a little bucket I'd say 40 - 45 brand new balls. Not to many choices on the East side to practice so your voice to the City might help no harm in trying. ALOHA AND FORE!!! read more

First of all, if you like to play golf and you're in Waikiki it's a no brainer. Complaining about cost or how dry the grass is or the challenge makes no sense at all. Some of the pros: Walking distance from the hotels in Waikiki, 5-10 minutes. It's a muni course so it's more than affordable. There's a little restaurant on site for food and drinks. Beautiful view of Diamond Head. Great weather. Fun course to play. They rent clubs for 25 buckaroos. The locals are friendly and cool to play with, not uptight like the peeps over here on the continent. If you're ludky you'll get a light tropical shower or two to help you keep cool. The moisture keeps the sand traps very firm, so if by chance you roll into one you will likely roll right out. I jumped out of 2!! Cons: In the first three holes it bunches up a bit with people, then it opens up just fine. Reading the lame brained reviews here about what's not right with this course. You're in one of my favorite places in the world. By all means, enjoy a game of golf here! Peace~ read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - Nice course, convenient.. - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Its your basic muni but located in the middle of a resort city, 3 blocks from the most famous beach in the world. Good driving range but no other practice area. Its a city course so it is cheap for locals $8.50 and most everyone walks because it is flat, slow and scenic as you can see the valley and also Diamondhead crater. It is fine for the many Japanese tourists staying in Waikiki who can almost walk over or take a taxi. There are maybe 3 sand traps and water on a couple holes and the final 3 holes border the ala wai canal. It is what it is... the old guys play here cause it is easy and cheap. I would however like to see them make better use of all the water that must be used on the course. They should plant coconut palms, banana, papaya, sugar cane along the fairways and taro around the tee boxes.. which would beautify the course and also could be harvested and sold in the parking lot for additional income for the course workers and free or cheap fruits for golfers. This would be innovative for all courses in Hawaii should be required to grow food. The huge clubhouse should be used more with weekly music and swing dancing at night when the course is closed. It is basically "Central Park" and this golf course actually provides recreational space for thousands and keeps open space that would otherwise be over developed like the rest of the city. read more

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It's ok and not the greatest. I'm a little irritated about the long waits, but this course is convenient as for as location. Recommend starting very earily or playing twilight. read more

Bring your clubs and swim shorts on same bag because it's very close to the beach. Ala wai golf course is the full 18 hole course and they are flat. it's good for beginners but since it's in middle of town it's always busy. There are a lot of elders who retired play on this course daily. when i say a lot it means a lot. you better be ready because they might be retired and swing slow but they sure are good golfers. they have accuracy and they play often to get their exercise. This Ala wai golf course is very FLAT. barely any hills so it's easier to play. not much ponds or bushes so you don't have to worry so much. price is $26 for full course and you can always rent golf cart $10 or push cart for $5. i like to do push cart to get some leg workout. they take walk-in so it's a good to play at random time. some golf course requires you to make reservation before you can go play. since it's a public course greens aren't the best shape but it's good enough where it won't effect your game. read more

Ala Wai Golf Course - First tee - Golf Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Customer service here is non-existent. Rude and arrogant staff in the starters office. The course play is so slow and it's just not worth the money to play at this course. read more

Rating: 4/5 Date visited: 9/07/2012 Course: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 3/5 Parking: 3/5 I couldn't believe the service I received from the Asian woman at the starter's office. It was as if she read my previous review and did something about her type of service she was giving out. She actually smiled and was joking around. I wasn't sure if I was in the right course or not. This course has so much potential. If any of you have watched the TV Show "Bar Rescue," this course could possibly be a candidate for an episode. read more

This course is probably the hardest Muni course to get a tee time on. It's always crowded, even twilight. The pace of play is extremely slow, and there is usually 3 or 4 groups waiting to play at the I think 2nd or 3rd hole par 3. The course is decently maintained, playable but not near spectacular. At the holes near the driving range, WATCH OUT! Almost got pegged more than once. As someone mentioned earlier, you have to hit an amazing tee shot on #1 since everyone is watching you. You're better off playing at public courses for almost the same price. read more

We went for a golf tournament and spent the whole day there. When it was time to eat lunch, it was ready and waiting. The food was good. Then they convert it with white sheets and time for dinner. It was a buffet style and the food was okay. It was L&L who is running the restaurant. I would come again. read more