The Big Island has more variety in golf than any other Hawaiian island. You can spend $350 for a private resort round at Hualalai or tee off at Hilo Municipal for $40. The trick is knowing which courses offer guest rates, when twilight pricing kicks in, and where to find genuine value without sacrificing ocean views.

This guide covers every public and resort course on the Big Island with current 2026 green fees, guest discounts, and twilight rates. All prices include cart unless noted.

Kohala Coast Resort Courses

The Kohala Coast stretches along the Big Island’s sunny western shore and hosts the island’s premier golf. These courses sit on ancient lava fields with views across the Pacific to Maui and are maintained to championship standards year-round.

Hualalai Golf Course (Private)

Tom Weiskopf designed this 7,117-yard course exclusively for Four Seasons Hualalai guests. Green fees run approximately $350 and are bundled into resort packages. You cannot walk on or book a tee time without a room reservation. The course weaves through black lava, mature palms, and native grasses with five holes along the ocean.

Mauna Kea Golf Course

Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s 1964 masterpiece remains one of Hawaii’s most iconic courses. The rack rate sits around $285, but guests at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or Westin Hapuna Beach pay approximately $225. The famous par-3 3rd hole requires a carry over crashing surf — and it plays every bit as dramatic as the photos suggest.

Hapuna Golf Course

Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay designed this links-style layout at elevation, giving it cooler temperatures and sweeping coastal views. Rack rate is approximately $210, with resort guest pricing around $150 for Mauna Kea and Westin Hapuna Beach guests. The course is more forgiving than Mauna Kea and catches less wind, making it a strong choice for mid-handicappers.

Mauna Lani North & South Courses

Both courses carry a rack rate of approximately $275, dropping to around $195 for guests at Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection or the Fairmont Orchid. The South Course is the more famous of the two, with the signature par-3 15th playing over a lava-fringed ocean bay. The North Course is tighter and more technical, carved through dense lava fields.

Waikoloa Beach & Kings’ Courses

These two Robert Trent Jones Jr. courses sit adjacent to the Waikoloa Beach Marriott. Rack rates are approximately $199, with resort guest rates around $149. The Beach Course is the more forgiving option with ocean views, while the Kings’ Course runs through ancient lava fields and petroglyphs. Both offer solid resort golf at the Kohala Coast’s most accessible price point.

Value & Municipal Courses

Not every Big Island round needs to cost $200+. Several courses deliver genuine quality at a fraction of the resort price, and a few offer experiences you simply cannot get on the Kohala Coast.

Makani Golf Club

Formerly Makalei, this course sits at 2,000 feet elevation above Kailua-Kona with panoramic ocean views and cooler temperatures. Green fees are approximately $149. Wide fairways and bentgrass greens make it one of the most forgiving courses on the island, and the elevation gives every tee shot a dramatic backdrop.

Waikoloa Village Golf Club

Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed this community course a few miles uphill from the Kohala Coast resorts. At approximately $99, it delivers RTJ Jr. design quality with lava rock features and mountain views at half the resort price. Conditions are good, and the layout rewards accuracy over distance.

Volcano Golf Course

This is the only course in the world bordering an active volcanic caldera. Green fees are approximately $68. At 4,000 feet elevation, temperatures run 15-20 degrees cooler than the coast. The course itself is modest, but playing next to Kilauea with steam vents visible from several holes is genuinely unique.

Hilo Municipal Golf Course

A classic municipal course on the Big Island’s wet side for approximately $40. It rains more in Hilo, so mornings are your best bet. The layout is flat and walkable. Conditions are decent for the price, and the jungle-lined fairways feel nothing like the Kohala Coast — a different Big Island golf experience entirely.

Hamakua Country Club

The Big Island’s most affordable round at approximately $25. This nine-hole community course on the Hamakua Coast is basic but charming. Ocean cliff views from several holes punch well above its price point. Bring cash — facilities are minimal.

Big Island Green Fees Comparison Table

Twilight & Afternoon Rates

Most Kohala Coast resort courses offer twilight rates that can save you 30-40% off the rack price. Twilight windows vary by course and season, but generally kick in between 12:00 and 2:00 PM.

On the Kohala Coast, afternoon trade winds pick up after noon, which is precisely why these slots are discounted. If you can handle 10-15 mph winds (and most golfers can), twilight rounds offer genuine savings. At Waikoloa Beach and Kings’, you can play 18 in a twilight slot for around $129.

The value courses — Makani, Waikoloa Village, Volcano — sometimes offer afternoon specials as well, though the savings are smaller because the base rate is already reasonable. Always call the pro shop directly for current twilight windows and pricing.

Five Ways to Save on Big Island Golf

1. Book a Stay-and-Play Resort Package

Every Kohala Coast resort offers golf packages that bundle room rates with discounted green fees. The savings compound when you play multiple rounds. A week at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with four rounds across Mauna Kea and Hapuna can save $200-300 versus rack rates. Check our resort-by-resort golf guide for the best value pairings.

2. Play Twilight Rounds on Windy Days

Wind is your friend if you want lower prices. When trades are blowing, afternoon tee times empty out and twilight rates apply to slots that still give you plenty of daylight. The Big Island sits close to the equator — sunset runs between 5:45 and 7:00 PM year-round, so a 1:00 PM tee time leaves ample time for 18.

3. Mix Resort and Value Courses

Play one or two bucket-list resort courses and fill remaining days with Makani, Waikoloa Village, or Volcano. A round at Makani ($149) plus Waikoloa Village ($99) costs less than a single round at Mauna Kea. You still get ocean views and solid course design without the resort premium.

4. Use Hotel Loyalty Programs

Marriott Bonvoy members staying at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott can sometimes apply points or receive promotional golf rates. Prince Resorts (Mauna Kea, Hapuna) occasionally offers multi-round packages for returning guests. Ask at booking — these rates are rarely advertised online.

5. Bring Your Own Clubs (or Ship Them)

Club rentals at resort courses run $50-75 per round. Over a four-round trip, that is $200-300 in extras. Ship your clubs via UPS or a golf shipping service for $50-80 each way, or check them as airline baggage. Hawaiian Airlines allows golf bags for their standard checked bag fee. The math works in your favour on any trip of three rounds or more.

Which Courses Are Worth the Premium?

If your budget allows one splurge round, make it Mauna Kea. RTJ Sr.’s design is a genuine bucket-list course, and the par-3 3rd is one of golf’s most photographed holes. For a detailed comparison of the top two Kohala Coast courses, read our Mauna Kea vs Mauna Lani breakdown.

For the best overall value among resort courses, Waikoloa Beach and Kings’ deliver solid RTJ Jr. golf at $50-80 less per round than the Mauna Kea or Mauna Lani courses. You get lava landscapes, good conditions, and Kohala Coast sunshine without the top-tier price tag.

And do not skip Volcano Golf Course. At $68, it is the most memorable round-per-dollar on the island — not because of course design, but because you are playing golf on the rim of an active volcano. No other course in the world offers that.

For the full rundown of Big Island golf resorts and which hotels pair with which courses, explore our Kohala Coast golf guide.