
Navy Marine Course
Navy Marine Golf Course


About this course
Navy Marine Golf Course occupies a distinctive setting on the slopes of Makapu'u Ridge in eastern Honolulu, offering views across the Pacific and toward the Ko'olau Mountains. Designed by William P. Bell and opened in the mid-20th century, the course was built to serve military personnel and their families stationed in Hawaii. Bell, a prolific California-based architect who designed numerous municipal and military courses throughout the western United States, created a layout that works with the natural terrain rather than against it, incorporating the area's volcanic topography into the routing. The course plays across rolling, elevated ground with significant changes in elevation throughout the round. Trade winds are a consistent factor, affecting club selection and strategy on most holes. The layout features relatively narrow fairways bordered by tropical vegetation, and greens that reflect the era's architectural style with moderate contouring. Several holes play along ridgelines or across valleys, taking advantage of the natural landforms. As a military facility, Navy Marine serves active duty service members, retirees, and Department of Defense personnel, maintaining the tradition of golf courses built on or near military installations to provide recreation for those serving. The course represents an accessible option for military golfers stationed in Hawaii, offering a contrast to the resort courses that dominate Oahu's golfing landscape. Its location and membership base give it a distinct character within the island's golf community.
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
- Honolulu, HI, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1948
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- William Francis Bell
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,754 yards
- Difficulty
- 78.1/133
- Course Vaults score
- 7.0
Getting there
The journey to Navy Marine Golf Course begins at Honolulu International Airport (HNL), the primary gateway to Oahu, where most visitors clear customs and collect rental cars for the short drive west toward the course's location near the naval installations of central Oahu. The drive from the airport typically takes thirty to forty minutes, threading through the urban and suburban landscape of greater Honolulu before transitioning into the quieter, more austere terrain surrounding the military grounds. Private aviation options are available through Honolulu's secondary facilities, though access to Navy Marine Golf Course itself reflects the discrete nature of military recreation - arrival is marked not by grand resort architecture but by the understated professionalism of a course built to serve those with deep ties to the armed forces. The final approach carries you away from the tourist corridors of Waikiki and into the disciplined, purposeful landscape of a working naval community, where the course itself stands as a quiet testament to the intersection of military heritage and the enduring appeal of golf.

FAQ
Common questions about Navy Marine
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Navy Marine has a Course Vaults score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 14 logged golfers.
Navy Marine was designed by William Francis Bell.
Yes. Navy Marine is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Navy Marine is 72.
Navy Marine plays 6,754 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Navy Marine is 133.



