Aerial view of Turtle Bay golf course
Aerial view of Turtle Bay golf course

Arnold Palmer Course

#1 Golf Course on Oʻahu

Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, this course was rated one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 10 New Courses” in America and ranked 4th among Golf Digest’s “Best New Resort Courses in America” when it opened in 1992. Today, the Palmer Course is consecutively ranked the #1 Public Access Golf Course on Oʻahu. It features two very distinct experiences.

The front nine will challenge golfers with a Scottish Links style layout, while the back nine has a more tropical setting as it winds through verdant landscapes. The course forms a horseshoe around the Punahoʻolapa marsh, an unspoiled 100-acre wetland and bird sanctuary. Water comes into play on 14 of the Palmer holes. The signature 17th hole offers panoramic ocean views from the green while the hole is dotted with nine bunkers, which makes it as challenging as it is scenic.

This par 72 course measures 6,225 yards from the resort tees. When played from the Palmer (black) tees, this 7,218-yard seaside course presents a stiff challenge to even the best players. Sand traps are plentiful, with more than 70 menacing the fairways and protecting the greens. However, there are five sets of tees on each hole that provide an enjoyable experience for golfers of any ability. 

Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer Legacy Lives on at Turtle Bay

The North Shore of Oahu is one of the most spectacular sites we have been commissioned to discover and design a golf course on. The Arnold Palmer designed Championship Course at Turtle Bay takes advantage of the site's breath taking and magnificent ocean and mountain views. Each hole presents a unique and enjoyable challenge set amongst this majestic landscape that culminates in one of golf’s most memorable experiences. There is no wonder why the PGA Tour hosted a successful Champions Tour event here for 8 consecutive years.

We enjoyed molding this unique landscape into a strategically beautiful yet, intriguing journey that will test every aspect of a player’s mental and physical game. Through risk reward and heroic scenarios our design will allow you to discover one of many ways to “crack the code” and chart your own path around the course. We have poured our passion and love of golf course architecture into this place and hope, through your experience, you find the same joy in playing it as we found in building it.

 - The Arnold Palmer Design Company

Arnold Palmer Golf Course aerial view
Two Golfers on a lush green course overlooking the ocean aerial view of golf course
Aerial view of Turtle Bay golf course golfer swinging
waves

Take a Virtual Tour

Hole 1
Hole 1

The opening hole, Ho’ ihi i Ka La’au “With Respect to the Trees” is a 340 - yard par 4 dog leg right with a majestic banyan tree guarding the right side of the opening tee shot.

Hole 2
Hole 2

Arnold Palmer’s 2nd hole "Pohaku Makamae" which means, "Precious Rock" is a 338 - yard par 4 slight dogleg right with a large bunker and rock formation guarding the right side of the fairway.

Hole 3
Hole 3

Arnold Palmer’s 3rd hole "Pa Ahamanu" which means, "Strong Winds of Kahuku" is a 452 – yard par 5, the #1 handicap that plays directly into prevailing island trade wind.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 4 green
Hole 4

Arnold Palmer’s 4th hole "Ho 'a'ano" which means "Daring" is the first par 3 players will encounter on the Arnold Palmer course.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 5 green
Hole 5

Arnold Palmer’s 5th hole “Nana I Ke kumu” which means “Look to the Source” is a 381 – yard par 4 dog leg left with a large collection of iron wood trees protecting the left side of the fairway.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 6 green
Hole 6

Arnold Palmer’s 6th hole “Uhu Pakali” which means, “Deceived” is a 367 – yard par 4 dog leg right that plays down wind.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 7 green
Hole 7

Arnold Palmer’s 7th hole “Malama I Ka wai” which means, “To Care for the Water” is a 337 – yard par 4 slight dog leg left with water along the left side of the fairway and in front of the green.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 8 green
Hole 8

Arnold Palmer’s 8th hole “Aina Pulu” which means, “Wet Land” is a 155 – yard par 3. The Punaho’olapa Marsh runs along the entire right side of the hole. When making your club selection players should take note of the hole location as this green measures 45 yards from front to back.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 9 green
Hole 9

Arnold Palmer’s 9th hole “Aina Laiki” which means, “Narrow Land” is a 511 – yard par 5 that has two distinct features that frame this hole on both sides of the fairway. The first is the Punaho’olapa Marsh which runs along the entire right side of the fairway.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 10 green
Hole 10

Arnold Palmer’s 10th hole “Ho’omaluhia” which means, “To Make Peace” is a 359 – yard par 4 which typically plays into a strong right to left cross wind.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 11 green
Hole 11

Arnold Palmer’s 11th hole “Ho’ amanawanui” which means, “To Have Patience” is a 396 – yard par 4 dog leg right.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 12 green
Hole 12

Arnold Palmer’s 12th hole “Hili Makapo” which means, “Blind Shot” is a 442 – yard par 5. From the resort tees the landing area of the tee shot is blind but there is plenty of room left of the fairway bunkers.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 13 green
Hole 13

Arnold Palmer’s 13th hole “Wai Aka” which means, “Reflection” is a 175 – yard par 3. With the Punaho’olapa Marsh lurking in front and along the right side of the green, players should elect to take more club to clear the water and front green side bunker

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 14 green
Hole 14

Arnold Palmer’s 14th hole “Aina Ho Ola” which means, “Healing Land” is a 364 – yard par 4, dogleg left. A long tee shot is not required to set players up for an inviting approach.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 15 green
Hole 15

Arnold Palmer’s 15th hole “Ho’ omalumalu” which means, “Shaded” is a 149 – yard par 3. This green is slightly elevated from the teeing ground and plays into strong island trade winds.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 16 green
Hole 16

Arnold Palmer’s 16th hole “Ulu la au” which means, “Grove of Trees” is a 397 – yard par 4. Players should aim their tee shots towards the left center of the fairway, as a large grove of iron wood pine trees line the right side.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 17 green
Hole 17

Arnold Palmer’s signature 17th hole “Kala” which means, “To Forgive” is a 375 – yard par 4. This signature hole offers panoramic Pacific views from the green while the hole is dotted with nine bunkers, making this hole as challenging as it is scenic.

Arnold Palmer Course Hole 18 green
Hole 18

Arnold Palmer’s 18th hole “Ho’o mana’o e mahalo nui” which means, “To Remember and Say Thank You” is a great risk reward 506 – yard par 5. The 18th plays with a slightly helping wind and players should aim their tee shots just left of the mounds on the right side of the fairway.