Playing Golf in Paradise: Hilo and Volcano Golf Course
A Golfer’s Dream – Playing in Paradise
From new golfers to seasoned pros, playing a round in Hawaii is on every golfer’s bucket list. Where else can you tee off amongst palm-tree-lined fairways, active volcanoes, and crashing waves? Best of all, there are three courses within 30 miles of our Volcano bed and breakfast (and our local Volcano golf course is right next door!).
These courses are also incredibly affordable to play, especially given their spectacular locations bordering the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Pack your golf clubs for your trip, or rent some here when you head out for a round, and get ready for some of the most breathtaking and memorable golf you’ve ever played.
Volcano Golf Course – At Our Doorstep and on the Edge of Kilauea
Volcano Country Club – As the Big Island’s first and oldest golf course, we are lucky to have this cherished 18-hole Volcano golf course just 5 miles from our rainforest bed & breakfast location. It’s one of the most unique and stunning backdrops for a round of golf anywhere in the world, as you’re at 4,000 feet in elevation and within a mile of Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. After being closed for two years during the pandemic, it was an exciting day when they reopened in March of 2022, ushering in new ownership and improvements. While a new clubhouse is under construction, amenities are limited, but there is a grab-and-go station for snacks and drinks. Cart rentals are also limited, so walking is encouraged – it’s a course where you’ll want to stroll, take in the views of Kilauea, and enjoy the natural landscape, including the rare Nene geese and beautiful Ohi’a Lehua trees along the fairways.
The non-resident Hawaii weekday rate for an 18-hole round is $56, while the Hawaii resident rate is $36, and weekends are $4 more, respectively. And 18-holes played after 2 pm are $10 cheaper for residents and non-residents. Save some money and spend a morning exploring the nearby Kau Desert Trail, volcanic steam vents, and Kilauea Visitor Center, followed by an afternoon round of golf capped off by the sun setting over majestic Kilauea.
A Day Trip to Hilo – Home to Two of the Big Island’s Most Affordable and Scenic Courses
Branch out a bit further from Volcano to Hilo, only 25 miles away, and add two more affordable courses with dramatic scenery to your Big Island golfing itinerary. The Hilo Municipal Golf Course is a classic Hawaiian 18-hole layout, with hardened lava alongside greens instead of sand bunkers. It also has the distinction of being the only public and city-operated course on the island of Hawaii. Unlike many other “city courses” on the mainland, which tend to be easy and for beginners, this course brings a challenge and hilly contours to navigate. Plan to come early and grab breakfast or lunch at the conveniently-located and appropriately-named Fairway Grill. In addition to clubhouse standbys like burgers and steaks, their menu includes delicious Hawaiian fare like ahi tuna and poke bowls.
Another option right in the heart of Hilo is the Banyans Golf Course, with nine scenic holes perched directly on the coastline of Hilo Bay. Although the course is on the property of the Hilton Grand Naniloa Hotel, non-hotel guests are welcome to play a round. As with the Hilo Municipal Course, the Banyans course has a practice putting green and driving range, so you can warm up before heading out for your afternoon of play. It’s also one of the most affordable places to play anywhere in Hawaii, with a 9-hole round only running $14. And club rentals are just $5, so you can arrive on the Big Island without clubs and play nine holes for less than $20 – in a sport that is often cost-prohibitive, it’s a welcoming and surprisingly affordable price to play a round of golf right on the ocean.
Stay with us at our Big Island bed and breakfast and make your dream of golfing in Hawaii come true!