Join the Club
Hawaii is an international paradise for golfers, so come take a swing and enjoy the game.
My introduction to golf came from a school friend who was such a powerhouse, she played on the boys’ team at her school because golf wasn’t cool for 10-year-old girls in the 1980s. I was in awe.
I took a golf class in college, but didn’t really get my first set of clubs until I was 30, when I started working at a local public relations agency. The boss wanted all women in her firm to play golf. I took lessons, went out to play, but never felt like I was good enough to keep score. So I quit.
When I met my better half, Garett (pictured with Young above), years later and discovered he was a passionate golfer, I figured I should try to brush off the cobwebs and see if this old dog could be taught new tricks. He ignited my interest in golf again, organising private lessons with renowned instructor Casey Nakama (Michelle Wie’s first golf coach), and taking me on golf trips.
By the time he entered the lottery and won tickets to the 2014 Masters Par 3 Tourney and Wednesday practice round, I was hooked. It would be the final Par 3 Tourney for the late great Arnold Palmer.
Golf in Hawaii has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity with newcomers and women, especially since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 when it was practically the only way we could socialise with friends. This is precisely why I consider myself a social golfer: introduced to golf pre-Tiger Woods, and before it was cool for kids to golf. I’m still a high handicapper and haven’t broken 90 (so close recently!), but I have fun each time I’m out in the sunshine and breeze.
With Hawaii’s year-round balmy weather, golf is easily accessible and can be enjoyed by visitors and residents of all ages and all skill levels. Hawaii offers a wide range of golf experiences from par-3 and municipal courses, to public ones, resort courses and all the way up to exclusive country clubs with yearslong membership waitlists. It’s easy to see golf’s mass appeal. There’s the social aspect, the moderate exercise aspect, and my personal favourites: the fashion and travel aspects. Golf fashions have come a long way in recent years: One of the companies at the fore-front (see what I did there?) of golf fashion is Oahu Golf Apparel (OGA), established in 2015 in Hawaii. Founder Tim Hazelgrove has grown OGA into a household name with creative marketing, a strong presence on Instagram, and partnerships with celebrities and athletes. What I enjoy most about golf is that it teaches major life lessons: patience, focus, mental stamina, creativity, how to face adversity and manage expectations while striving for success. It’s not just a game about life – it’s a game for life.
WHERE TO PLAY
Some of my personal favourite courses on Oahu include Ko Olina, Turtle Bay Palmer, Kapolei, Royal Hawaiian and Hawaii Prince.
On the neighbour islands: Manele (Lanai), Plantation (Kapalua, Maui), Hualalai (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii), Princeville Makai and Ocean Course at Hōkūala (Kauai).
These are my favourites in terms of overall experience, including food and beverage options, club rental, and tee time availability.
With a large military presence in Hawaii, members of the armed forces can enjoy preferred status at amazing courses such as Mamala Bay, Kaneohe Klipper, Navy Marine and Leilehua.
“GOLF TEACHES MAJOR LIFE LESSONS LIKE PATIENCE AND FOCUS.” DARA YOUNG