Hawaii, Oahu Golf Course Reviews
Ko Olina Golf Course ReviewKapolei, Oahu, Hawaii
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Ko Olina Golf Course Overview: Home to an annual LPGA event, Ko Olina golf course represents what a lot of folks love about Hawaiian resort golf: the fairways are wide, the conditions are lush, there are palm trees everywhere and, if the player has a decent day, they can score relatively well if they avoid the water hazards. The clubhouse amenities are also very nice. The best golf holes are reviewed below:
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 2: This par four features a water hazard to the right of the fairway and a large bunker to the left. The golfer that splits those will have a fairly reasonable approach to an uphill green complex that also has more mounding behind it as well. The green itself slopes strongly from back to front.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 2: This par four features a water hazard to the right of the fairway and a large bunker to the left. The golfer that splits those will have a fairly reasonable approach to an uphill green complex that also has more mounding behind it as well. The green itself slopes strongly from back to front.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 3: This par four is a relatively short dogleg left and there really isn't any major advantage to staying left. OB is way left, a bunker is left of the fairway, and a greenside bunker lurks to the left of the green. So, staying right off the tee, even for a slightly longer shot, is a better play.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 4 (right): This fairly long par three is slightly downhill but has a green well-guarded by sand on both sides. Missing left also brings in a steep hill so the best miss is straight at the green and a little short, although there is a hazard a good 50 yards short to punish an awful shot.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 5 (below): This par five has water in play on the drive (although it is well right) and on the approach to the green (to the left and very much in play). If the water is avoided, the rest of the hole is pretty wide open and putting surface is flat.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 5 (below): This par five has water in play on the drive (although it is well right) and on the approach to the green (to the left and very much in play). If the water is avoided, the rest of the hole is pretty wide open and putting surface is flat.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 6: This par 4 is fairly difficult and has a drive that has to be hit over an angled ridge. The best play will cover as much of that as possible to have the best angle into the uphill green.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 7: This par four has an elevated tee shot and is relatively straight forward, with a slightly raised green protected by some nearby palm trees.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 8: This difficult par three has a tiered green over water and some additional bunkers behind the putting surface. Depending on pin placement, different clubs and shot shapes are needed, and in a stiff trade wind, this is a truly tough tee shot.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 10: The opening par four to the back nine is a sharp dogleg right around a pond. To cover the pond requires a big drive, but pulling said big drive will ensure a blocked out second shot. However, the only real good angle to any pin center or back on this green is from the right side, leaving the player who wants to hit the green in regulation little choice but to be aggressive.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 12: The best part of this par three is the cool drive up the hill and underneath the waterfall to a very tropical feeling tee box. The hole itself is well-bunkered and has a nice water feature near the tee box, but plays fairly straight forward from a pure golf perspective.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 13: This par five is all about avoiding the lake to the right of the fairway. If that is achieved, then it's a fairly good scoring opportunity, especially when down wind.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 16: One of the few ocean views is from this tee box on a relatively straight and scoreable par four. There is OB on both sides, but the fairway is generous and not too much length is needed.
Ko Olina Golf Course Hole 18: The final golf hole is home to one of the most famous shots in LPGA history and also is quite a good golf hole in its own right. With water in play on the tee and on the second shot, a finishing par requires two very good ball strikes to the end the day. The bailout to the right of the green is possible, but leaves a tough uphill chip (or sand) shot to a green that has a fair amount of undulation.
