Hawaii, Oahu Golf Course Reviews
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course ReviewKahuku, Oahu, Hawaii
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Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Overview: Located at the famous Turtle Bay resort on the north shore of Oahu, this is the more accomplished of the two golf courses on site and home to a Champions Tour event. The golf course feels different from many Hawaiian courses as it is neither lined by Palm trees or classic jungle feels. It is unique in that it appears to be a golf course that could have been built in many other locations and the Ocean really doesn't come into view but for a little bit at the end. However, it is very hard, and well designed. The best holes are reviewed below:
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 1: The opening golf hole is a pretty open par four but for the large bunker right of the fairway, and another one that expertly guards the right side of the green.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 1: The opening golf hole is a pretty open par four but for the large bunker right of the fairway, and another one that expertly guards the right side of the green.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 2: This par four is pretty short but the tee shot has to find the fairway. Going right is OB or will find a bunker or trees and going too far left can find a line of thick bushes. The approach is then fairly open over a small gully to an accessible green complex.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 3: This difficult par five has water in play left off the tee and, depending on the length of the drive, possibly the second as well. The green is well guarded by a big fronting bunker.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 4: This par three has a large green but the lake left and the bunker to the right are ready to gobble up any shots that don't go straight enough.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 6: This is a short par four that could be driven in the right conditions. However, there is a lake to the right and two bunkers short of the green. That green is raised a bit, tends to run towards the water and has a shaped bank that feeds towards it as well. Thus, care is to be taken on the approach.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 7: Yet another hole with water, this one features it on the second shot, which is quite daunting. The water covers the entire front portion of the green and wraps on both sides. Thus, the approach is much easier if the drive is hit longer off the tee.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 8: This par three also has water but it's behind the green this time, and also way to the right. Thus, pins cut long and right are the most difficult, while a front or left pin is actually fairly accessible.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 9: Another difficult hole, this par five features water down the right side that is very in play for the duration of the hole. However, going left brings in what are possibly the largest trees on a golf course, as a massive banyan tree complex towers over the left side and going around them is the only option.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 10: The start to the back again has water, this time to the right, but the tee shot should be threaded to the left of the lone tree near the fairway and the bunkers to the left. The approach will then to be a smallish green with bunkers again guarding it.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 11: The eleventh is a master class in creating a truly difficult, but also risk / reward par four. The tee shot is daunting as the player has to keep it right of the wall of trees and jungle left, but left of the water hazard and trees to the right. An aggressive line can actually, however, cover a portion of the hazard on the right and leave a more manageable approach to the green. That approach is again over water (that also wraps around the right side of the green as well), but is a bit more reasonable with a mid-iron or less in their hand, which is not available to the overly conservative drive.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 12: This par five is pretty straight and has a wide landing area for the tee shot. Thus, if it can be bombed, it makes going for the UGIR more reasonable. However, there still is water to the left on the 2nd and third shots, so care must be taken.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 13 (left): This long par three is very difficult with water guarding front and right and bunkers short let and long left. A truly well struck shot is needed here.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 16 (below): Yet another long and difficult par four through the trees. This one has water, again, up the green, which is very much in play.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 16 (below): Yet another long and difficult par four through the trees. This one has water, again, up the green, which is very much in play.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 17: The signature hole is fairly unique. Standing on the tee, the player sees an almost unending row of sand traps. This, of course is visual trickery, but there are indeed many bunkers to avoid that dot the fairway (and the green complex as well). The player then is greeted to their best Ocean vista upon reaching the putting surface and may want to linger to enjoy. However, take the time to look back at the fairway and marvel at how all the many bunkers one just played in, around or through, are not visible.
Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course Hole 18: The finishing par five has a lake sitting left of the fairway that can come into play on the first and/or second shots. The green is then set behind a different lake to the right that will have to be contended with for sure. The fairways are fairly wide so conservatism can prevail here when needed.
