The Big Island offers a dozen golf courses, but they vary wildly in difficulty. Some are designed to challenge touring professionals. Others have wide fairways, minimal hazards, and forgiving layouts that let beginners enjoy ocean views without losing a sleeve of balls per hole.

This guide ranks the six most beginner-friendly courses on the Big Island, explains what makes each one playable for higher handicappers, and identifies the championship courses you should save for later. If you are still building your game, start here before checking current green fees for every Big Island course.

What Makes a Course Beginner-Friendly?

On the Big Island, three factors separate playable courses from punishing ones: wind exposure, lava hazards, and forced carries. The Kohala Coast gets consistent 10-20 mph trade winds that can turn a straight drive into a lava field adventure. Courses at elevation or with natural wind breaks play significantly easier.

Lava is the Big Island’s version of deep rough — except your ball is gone forever. Beginner-friendly courses either have wider buffers between fairway and lava or use traditional rough and bunkers instead. Forced carries over lava or ocean are the biggest score-killers for newer golfers.

The Six Best Courses for Beginners

1. Makani Golf Club (~$149) — Most Forgiving Overall

Makani (formerly Makalei) sits at 2,000 feet elevation above Kailua-Kona and is the single best course on the Big Island for beginners. Wide fairways give errant drives a chance to stay in play. Bentgrass greens are smooth and receptive — your approach shots actually stop instead of bouncing through. The elevation means cooler temperatures and less wind than the Kohala Coast courses below.

The course has minimal lava-rock hazards compared to the coastal tracks. Traditional bunkering and gentle contouring replace the lava-field penalties you will find elsewhere. Panoramic ocean views from the elevated fairways are spectacular, and you get them without the wind tax. At $149, it costs less than every resort course on the coast.

Best for: High handicappers who want a genuine Hawaii golf experience without losing a dozen balls.

2. Waikoloa Village Golf Club (~$99) — Best Value for Beginners

Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Waikoloa Village a few miles uphill from the Waikoloa resorts, and it delivers more course than the price suggests. The layout rewards accuracy over raw distance, which suits developing players who hit it straight but not far. Fairways are generous by RTJ Jr. standards, and the lava rock is mostly aesthetic rather than punitive.

At approximately $99, this is the best value-to-quality ratio on the Big Island for beginners. You get a legitimate architect-designed course with mountain and ocean views. The slight elevation reduces wind compared to the Kohala Coast resorts directly below. Conditions are consistently good.

Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want proper course design without resort pricing.

3. Hapuna Golf Course (~$210 rack / ~$150 guest) — Best Resort Course for Beginners

Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay designed Hapuna as a links-style course that sits at slight elevation above the Westin Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. It catches less wind than the Mauna Kea course and has fewer forced carries. Bunker placement is strategic but not cruel.

The rolling terrain gives every hole a different look without steep elevation changes. Greens are accessible from multiple angles, giving beginners options when approach shots drift. At guest rates around $150, it is the most affordable premium resort course on the Kohala Coast and the clear choice for beginners who want a resort-quality round.

Best for: Resort guests who want a Kohala Coast experience without the difficulty of Mauna Kea.

4. Waikoloa Beach Course (~$199 rack / ~$149 guest) — Most Relaxed Resort Atmosphere

The Beach Course at Waikoloa is the more forgiving of the two RTJ Jr. courses in the resort complex. Wider fairways than the Kings’ Course, with ocean views and well-maintained conditions. Lava rock lines the holes but is generally set back far enough that moderate mis-hits stay in play. The Waikoloa Beach Marriott sits right next to the course, making logistics easy.

The atmosphere tends to be more casual than the exclusive Mauna Kea or Mauna Lani clubs. You will see other vacationers who are there to enjoy themselves rather than grind out a score. For beginners, that relaxed pace and social vibe makes a real difference.

Best for: Resort golfers who want good conditions and a low-pressure atmosphere.

5. Volcano Golf Course (~$68) — Most Unique Experience

Volcano Golf Course borders Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at 4,000 feet elevation. The layout is modest — wide fairways, straightforward greens, minimal forced carries. At $68, it won’t strain your budget, and the difficulty level suits beginners. You will likely lose more balls to the adjacent rainforest than to any design hazard.

The course is worth playing for the setting alone. Steam vents are visible from several holes. Temperatures run 15-20 degrees cooler than the coast, which is a welcome break for golfers who struggle in heat. Conditions are acceptable rather than manicured — think community course, not resort — but nothing else on the island matches this experience.

Best for: Beginners who want a memorable round in a setting no other course can match.

6. Hilo Municipal Golf Course (~$40) — Best for Practice Rounds

Hilo Municipal is flat, walkable, and the Big Island’s cheapest 18-hole round. At $40, you can play two or three rounds here for the cost of one resort round. The layout is straightforward with no lava hazards and minimal forced carries. If you are working on your game and want repetitions without burning through your golf budget, this is the place.

Hilo gets more rain than the Kohala Coast, so book early morning tee times. Conditions are basic municipal-course standard. Come for the price and the practice, not for the aesthetics.

Best for: Beginners who want to warm up their game before tackling a resort course.

Beginner-Friendly Courses at a Glance

Courses Beginners Should Skip

These courses are outstanding, but they will eat through your ball supply and patience if your handicap is above 25. Save them until your game improves.

Mauna Kea Golf Course — Skip Until You Break 100

Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s masterpiece is iconic, but it is built to test good golfers. The par-3 3rd hole requires a carry of 180+ yards over crashing ocean surf. The course sits fully exposed to Kohala Coast trade winds with no tree cover for protection. Fairways are tighter than they appear from the tee, and the lava rough is unforgiving. At $285 rack rate, a brutal round here is an expensive lesson.

For a full breakdown of what makes this course demanding versus other options, read our Mauna Kea vs Mauna Lani comparison.

Hualalai Golf Course — Private (and Difficult)

You need a room at the Four Seasons Hualalai to play this course, so the decision is partly made for you. Tom Weiskopf designed a beautiful but demanding layout through lava fields with ocean carries. If you are staying at the Four Seasons and your handicap is above 25, ask the pro shop about the most forgiving tee boxes and play for the experience rather than the score.

Mauna Lani North Course — Technical and Tight

The North Course at Mauna Lani threads through dense lava fields with narrow fairways and strategic bunkering. There is less room for error than the South Course and more forced carries over lava. Mid-handicappers find it challenging; beginners will find it exhausting. If you are staying at Mauna Lani or the Fairmont Orchid, play the South Course instead.

Waikoloa Kings’ Course — Lava Everywhere

The Kings’ Course is the tougher of the two Waikoloa courses. Ancient lava flows line virtually every hole, and the rough transitions directly from grass to rock. The Beach Course next door is a much better choice for beginners at the same price. Play Kings’ once you are comfortable keeping drives on the fairway.

The Step-Up Course: Mauna Lani South

Once you are breaking 100 regularly and ready to test yourself on a championship course, Mauna Lani South is the ideal next step. The layout is more forgiving than Mauna Kea or the North Course, with wider landing areas on most holes. But it still requires shot-making through lava landscapes and coastal wind.

The signature par-3 15th over a lava-fringed ocean bay is worth the round by itself. At guest rates of approximately $195 for Mauna Lani and Fairmont Orchid guests, it delivers a premium Kohala Coast experience that challenges improving players without punishing them.

This course bridges the gap between the value courses and the demanding championship layouts. If you handle Mauna Lani South comfortably, you are ready for Mauna Kea.

Tips for Beginners Playing Big Island Courses

Bring extra balls. Even on beginner-friendly courses, lava rock swallows stray shots. Pack at least a dozen for 18 holes.

Play forward tees. Every course listed above has multiple tee boxes. There is zero shame in playing the forward tees on a Hawaiian vacation — you are here for the views and the experience.

Hydrate aggressively. Kohala Coast courses sit in a dry, sunny microclimate. Drink water on every hole, not just when you feel thirsty. Bring sunscreen and reapply at the turn.

Tee off early. Morning rounds have calmer winds and cooler temperatures on most courses. By early afternoon, trade winds can add two clubs to every shot.

Drop from lava. Most Big Island courses have local rules allowing a free drop from lava rock. Ask in the pro shop before your round — it will save you clubs and frustration.

Ready to check pricing? Our Big Island green fees guide has every course with current rates, twilight pricing, and money-saving tips. For help matching a hotel to your preferred course, see our where to stay for golf guide.