Kaneohe Klipper Course
Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course
About this course
Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course occupies a distinctive setting on the windward side of Oahu, positioned along the shores of Kaneohe Bay with views toward the Koolau Mountain Range. The course was designed by William P. Bell, a prolific California-based architect who worked extensively throughout the western United States and Hawaii during the mid-twentieth century. Bell's design approach typically emphasized playability while incorporating natural terrain features, and Kaneohe Klipper reflects this philosophy with a routing that works with the coastal topography and prevailing trade winds. The course serves as a military facility, part of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and is primarily available to military personnel, their families, and authorized guests. This military affiliation shapes both the membership character and the course's operational context. The layout features relatively modest yardage by contemporary standards, with the windward location presenting a significant strategic element—trade winds off Kaneohe Bay influence club selection and shot shaping throughout the round. The coastal setting provides a scenic backdrop, though the course itself is more functional than resort-styled. Holes play across gently rolling terrain with views of the bay and mountains forming a natural amphitheater around the property. The design emphasizes straightforward golf rather than elaborate features, consistent with Bell's practical approach and the course's role as a recreational amenity for the military community stationed on Oahu's windward coast.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in HI
Quick facts
- Location
- Kaneohe Bay, HI, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1952
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- William Francis Bell
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,528 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.5/130
- Course Vaults score
- 7.1
Getting there
The journey to Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course begins at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, followed by a striking 25-minute drive northeast across the island of Oahu. The route climbs through the Koolau Range via the Pali Highway or threads through suburban neighborhoods before descending into the lush windward coast, where the landscape shifts dramatically from urban Honolulu to emerald valleys and turquoise bays. As you approach Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the course reveals itself along the shores of Kaneohe Bay - a military facility where access is reserved for service members, their families, and authorized guests, lending the arrival an air of quiet exclusivity against one of the Pacific's most breathtaking backdrops.

FAQ
Common questions about Kaneohe Klipper
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Kaneohe Klipper has a Course Vaults score of 7.1 out of 10 based on 16 logged golfers.
Kaneohe Klipper was designed by William Francis Bell.
Yes. Kaneohe Klipper is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Kaneohe Klipper is 72.
Kaneohe Klipper plays 6,528 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Kaneohe Klipper is 130.



