Hawaii

Wow, sounds great! I bet most everywhere out there has rental clubs. Twice on Maui when the kids were young and didn't get to play. Hoping to get back there later next year and get Kapalua Plantation off by bucket list. Have a great trip!

If you have access to the military courses, I would recommend Navy Marine - at Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam. You will be able to arrange for club rentals there for about $25. Another recommendation would be Mamala Bay - also on JBPHH. I have played both and they are great courses.

For a non-military option, I would suggest Turtle Bay - Palmer. You will pay more for the resort style golf, but they cater to the tourist crowd...It is on the North Shore, so it is a little drive from Honolulu. It is worth the ride out...

I was just there a couple weeks ago and played all these courses. The Palmer course was terrific! The Navy Marine course, just off of JBPHH, is nice, too. It looks wide open, but nearly every fairway is lined with mounds that will punish tee shots that miss the fairway...I learned that the hard way :-).

There are plenty of options on Oahu. The Marine course (without the Navy) is supposed to be pretty nice, as well.

I too recently went to Oahu on a family vacation and did not play golf. We stayed at the Aulani resort and I grabbed a brochure for Ko Olina and they did list club rentals. Nice looking golf course.

We stayed at Turtle Bay on the North Shore on honeymoon and I managed to play both courses. Both were really nice, one had an amazing hole which you walked down the fairway to the green with the ocean behind it. If you go on the website you can see which oneit is as it's one of the holes pictured.
They did have rental clubs but I took my own as my wife said it was my holiday too.

That is where my first Titleist club came from as it was my wedding present from my wife - my Scotty. At some point it will go back for customisation to celebrate that special day.

I've heard that Wailea golf club is supposed to be a bit special also so another one to check out ahead of arriving.

Enjoy your trip and more importantly your golf!!

I played Ka'anapali Golf Course a few years ago and had a blast. I rental clubs there and had no issues. Forgot what clubs they gave me though. They once had the Big Break there.. I enjoyed it a lot and some good views..

On Oahu, if you're looking to play Ko Olina like some may have recommended, check out Hawaii Tee Times- it's been a good source for me over the years. Once, they got me a tee time early in the morning, a stretched limo came to pick me up in Waikiki and back, all for $60+ dollars. While I had my clubs with, I remember them having many rental clubs.

Mahalo.

There shouldn't be any issue renting clubs at the majority of resort golf courses; just check their websites for cost details. I know that Turtle Bay rents Titleist clubs; however, not sure what models they have, again check their websites or give them a call.

With regards to courses, I guess it depends where you're staying during your time there, because making the trek all the way to the North Shore for an early a.m. round, you'll be getting up before the sun to account for drive-time and any traffic, depending on what time you want to play. Some courses offer packages that include transportation to/from, club rentals, etc. Also, some hotels have partnerships with some courses, so they'll have specials for guests. If you like early a.m. rounds, you'll be paying the high premium as a visitor. Best visitor rates will be in the afternoon, but you'll be battling the sun.

The most recent courses I've played on Oahu are: Kapolei, Ko'Olina, and Turtle Bay - Palmer. I would also rate them in that order, with Kapolei being the favorite track so far. TB-Palmer felt underwhelming, while Kapolei looked and felt true to the images on their website (www.kapoleigolf.com/.../).

Ko'Olina was great as well, with plenty of great holes that you may have watched during the LPGA Lotte Championship.

Pics: 1-Kapolei, 2-Ko'Olina

Enjoy your trip and the experience Darren B.

I have been lucky enough to play several times on Oahu. Ko Olina is a very nice track. The LPGA Tour pays a tournament there annually. I enjoyed the challenge of the course but did not feel beat up after the round.

Turtle Bay is a very nice resort and the property is breath taking. The two courses are solid. The Palmer does have the hole that plays to the ocean but is expensive for that one ocean view hole.

Darren, I stayed on Oahu at the Hawaiian Prince hotel, which has a course that they transport you to in the Ewa Beach area, and I believe they had rentals. Fun place to play, very good service.

Thanks for all the advice!

Where'd you end up playing at?

I was there 3 years ago, and played the Royal Hawiian (formally known as Luana Hills). As with pretty much everything Pete Dye has done, this place was amazing. The front 9 is carved right out of a jungle, and looks like Jurassic Park.