Ted Makalena Golf Course

Solid Local Favorite Near Pearl Harbor Ted Makalena Golf Course has been a go-to for Oahu golfers since 1971 — and it's easy to see why. Designed by the Baldock team and situated on a scenic peninsula in Waipahu, just minutes from Pearl Harbor, this 18-hole municipal course is one of the more underrated gems in the city's public golf lineup. The layout is flat and accessible, with well-kept Bermuda fairways, smooth greens, and enough variety to keep mid-handicappers engaged. The pro shop — operated by local favorite Roots & Relics — is a genuine highlight. The @Smartgolfcourses team stopped by and found a clean, community-friendly operation: solid starter's office, good parking, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. No driving range, but there's a practice green. Clean, affordable, and dependable. #GolfIndustry #CommunityGolf #GolfBusiness #Smartgolfcourses #OahuGolf #GolfTech

11 July 2026: Disappointing experience with staff conduct! I’ve enjoyed this course in the past, but my most recent visit left me concerned about staff conduct and pace-of-play policy enforcement. During our six-player group, a female staff member repeatedly approached us on holes 9 and 12, insisting we “keep up with the front group.” Our group was not delaying the group ahead, and the group behind us (a foursome) never caught up. Despite this, she demanded that one of our players leave the course. When he refused, she stated she would call the police. The police arrived at hole 14, and we explained the situation. They confirmed we did not threaten anyone, although she claimed that four men in our group “made her feel threatened.” Additionally, another group in our league reported they frequently had to wait on every hole, which suggests inconsistent enforcement of pace-of-play policies. For the course, I’d like to see: - Re-training for staff on respectful, non-discriminatory communication and appropriate pace-of-play guidance. - Clear, fair pace-of-play guidelines that apply to all groups without exception. - Transparent follow-up from management about actions taken to ensure players feel welcome and respected regardless of race. I’m sharing this feedback in the hope it helps restore a welcoming atmosphere for all players.

Best municipal golf course on Oahu, Good place for residents to get a good rate on a round of golf. The good: Tee boxes are kept up, and usually has nice grass. Fairways are nice with just a few bare spots here and there. Greens are nice and smooth, putts roll nicely. The greens are also receptive, so we can have fun some spin on our chips and pitches. No bald spots on the greens, people need to fix their divots, but still pretty smooth. Sand traps around the green mostly has sand. A few traps the sand is packed down pretty hard , but the staff does replace it from time to time. The staff recently made strides in keeping the trees and brush trimmed. Finding your ball is a little easier. The bad: Some sand traps are packed down, a few of them not all. Couple holes on the back nine had a cart path or paved walkway down the fairways are while back that was removed, grass has not fully grown over the dirt. A few bare spots because of that. Only putting green located here, no driving range. No restaurant or food on location. There's a few holes with dog legs that one can try to cut the corner and hit over the trees. Makes it a fun challenge try to get a little closer to the hole. Course is pretty flat and good for walking. A lot people walk and pace of play is still pretty good.

I arrived about 20 minutes before my tee time. I understand the course has a 30-minute check-in policy, and that’s completely fair. However, instead of politely explaining the policy, the lady with short gray hair at the front immediately greeted me with, “You’re late!” Her tone was rude, unprofessional, and completely unnecessary. There’s a respectful way to communicate policies, and this wasn’t it. To make matters worse, I later received an email stating that I was a “no-show” for my tee time—even though I was there, checked in, paid and played. That only added to the frustration and makes me question how the situation was handled. I genuinely love this course and will continue recommending it because the layout and conditions are fantastic. However, management seriously needs to address this woman’s attitude and customer service skills.

Great course. It's short, under 6000 yards. 3 par fives on the front 9 n 3 par 3s on the back. It's all about course management, but definitely fun. On a side note, you can play up to 6 players per group. I thought this was weird but it was fun. The pace of play isn't the best obviously.