A Few Tips about Golfing in Hawaii

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Tips for the Green

Before you head out to the first tee, there are a few things you should know about golf in Hawaii:

• All resort courses and many daily fee courses provide rental clubs. In many cases, they're the latest lines from Titleist, Ping, Callaway, and the like. This is true for both men and women, as well as lefthanders, which means you don't have to schlep clubs across the Pacific.
• Most courses offer deals varying from twilight discount rates to frequent-visitor's discounts, even for tourists. Ask questions when calling pro shops, don't just accept their first quotes; deals abound if you persist.
• Pro shops at most courses are well-stocked with balls, tees, and other accoutrements, so even if you bring your own bag, it needn't weigh a ton.
• Come spikeless—very few Hawaii courses still permit metal spikes.
• Sunscreen. Buy it, apply it (minimum 30 SPF). The subtropical rays of the sun are intense, even in December.
• Resort courses, in particular, offer more than the usual three sets of tees, sometimes four or five. So bite off as much or little challenge as you like. Tee it up from the tips and you'll end up playing a few 600-yard par-5s and see a few 250-yard forced carries.
• In theory, you can play golf in Hawaii 365 days a year. But there's a reason the Hawaiian islands are so green. Better to bring an umbrella and light jacket and not use them than to not bring them and get soaked.
• Unless you play a muni or certain daily fee courses, plan on taking a cart. Riding carts are mandatory at most courses and are included in the green fees.