Hawaii, Oahu Golf Course Reviews
Ko’olau Golf Club Review (CLOSED 2020)Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii
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Ko’olau Golf Club Overview (CLOSED 2020): Ko’olau was the hardest golf course in the world, or close to it, especially in strong trade winds. Built under the mountain range of the same name, it was long and there was jungle everywhere. There were very few holes on the golf course where par was an easy score and penalty strokes were commonplace. Sadly, the CoVID-19 pandemic took its toll on the course operator and Ko'olau closed permanently in the fall of 2020. It was a great test of golfing skill and the best tests or such skill were reviewed below:
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 1: One of the strongest opening golf holes ever, number 1 was a long par 5 with ocean views that doglegged left and swept down a hill with jungle on both sides and cross bunkers coming into play on the first two shots. The approach was well downhill to a green surrounded by bunkers and jungle that gave a taste of the frightening shots that would likely plague the golfer all day.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 1: One of the strongest opening golf holes ever, number 1 was a long par 5 with ocean views that doglegged left and swept down a hill with jungle on both sides and cross bunkers coming into play on the first two shots. The approach was well downhill to a green surrounded by bunkers and jungle that gave a taste of the frightening shots that would likely plague the golfer all day.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 5: A dogleg right par 4, this one featured a fairway split by jungle. The aggressive play was almost penalty stroke suicide as the carry was close to 250 yards from the back tee with zero room for error. Even the safer play to the left fairway was extremely difficult as it was still narrow and left a 200 yard or longer approach to one of the more easily accessible and puttable greens on the course.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 6: This par 4 featured a second shot masterpiece of visual deception. The drive was straight and needed to be played well in order to leave a less intimidating approach. That approach was extremely daunting as it featured a forced carry over jungle to a well-bunkered green. From the fairway it seemed as if there was no room for error. However, once to the green, the player could see that there was more room short and left than originally thought. Nonetheless, this was still a very difficult hole that tested the golfer’s nerves.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 8: The only hole on the front that the player could honestly view as a birdie opportunity was the mid-length par five 8th hole. The drive was over jungle and the player could not go left, but the second and third shots were relatively wide open, leaving a chance to get more aggressive and get close to a pin.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 12 (right): One of the few short holes on the course again demanded extreme accuracy, as there was literally no room for error. Not only was there only a few feet of rough separating the fairway from jungle, but the trees were so thick and overhanging that the ball trajectory must be low and straight to avoid trouble. The approach, once again was over thick jungle to a green surrounded by bunkers or jungle.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 14 (below): Yet another long par four that carried a clear message: hit the ball long, hit it straight, or never see it again and take a big score. This one was also uphill, affording no layup.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 14 (below): Yet another long par four that carried a clear message: hit the ball long, hit it straight, or never see it again and take a big score. This one was also uphill, affording no layup.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 15 (left): From the high point of the course, this hole was actually a scoring breather as, although it still took accuracy, it wasn't as long as many other holes and lacked a real hazard in the middle of the hole to clear or avoid. The views from the tee were great in every direction.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 16 (below): This meandering par 5 required a drive of about 220 yards unless it was perfectly threaded between the bunkers and jungle, which was not a high percentage play. The second shot then had to be a long, well-placed iron or fairway wood to another sliver of fairway. The approach had to avoid the only lake on the course that nestled against the green’s left side.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 16 (below): This meandering par 5 required a drive of about 220 yards unless it was perfectly threaded between the bunkers and jungle, which was not a high percentage play. The second shot then had to be a long, well-placed iron or fairway wood to another sliver of fairway. The approach had to avoid the only lake on the course that nestled against the green’s left side.
Ko’olau Golf Club Hole 18: Definitely the hardest finishing hole ever. At 476 yards, this beast was amazingly difficult. The drive required a 220-yard carry over the jungle just to hit one of the fairway bunkers 250 yards from the green. To hit the fairway required a 240 yard carry and really needed something longer to leave a manageable approach to the green. This slanted green was back over the jungle and was surrounded by deep, unforgiving bunkers. A huge tree guarded the left side and swatted anything hit over there. Par was an unbelievable score here.
