Paradise Weddings & Travel - Hickam Par Three Golf Course

Of the nine military course in Hawaii, three are nine-hole courses. But only one of the nine is a par-three course. This par-27 layout is just 1,403- yards from the men's tee.
A unique feature of the Hickam Par Three course is night lights, making it one of only a few illuminated courses in the Islands. Another unusual feature is that the course is closed every Tuesday. But because the facility is night-lighted, it is open from 7:30 am until 10 pm (except Tuesdays).

Unlike Hickam's 18-hole Mamala Bay Course, which was designed by Bob Baldock, the Par Three golf course has no known course designer, but was built in 1959 by civil engineers. It is a very flat course, located in the center of the huge Air Force base complex. But despite the location, there are a lot of trees of several varieties on the course.

With only two holes measuring over 200 yards and no sand traps, this is a very easy course. It is fun to play, however, and offers a good opportunity to sharpen up on those putts. It's also a great course for new golfers who want to practice for the bigger courses.

The toughest hole is the number 9, rated as the number-one handicap on the course. It measures just 211 yards from the men's tee to a postage stamp- size green that is protected by trees. The second longest hole is the number 4, which measures 193 yards from the back. On hole number 7, a 159-yard par three, golfers who make a hole-in-one are awarded a "gold" putter from the course.

Like all military courses in Hawaii, play on the Hickam Par Three is limited to military personnel, both active and retired, and their guests. Up to three guests are permitted with each military player. Tee times are required and green fees are very reasonable. No powered golf cars are available on the Par Three course, but pull cars can be rented. Also in the pro shop are golf clubs for rent or sale as well as other golf equipment. The course also has a clubhouse which boasts a restaurant and cocktail lounge.

For beginner golfers and more experienced hackers who want to improve their chipping and putting skills, the Hickam Par Three is a fun, sporty facility. It is particularly handy for working men and women who can't be on the golf course during daylight hours. And the price is right for golfers who can get on the course with a military friend.

Golf Pro Tips to help with your golf game in Hawaii

Trade Winds

The prevailing trade winds come directly from the northeast or from the direction of Diamond Head.

If the winds are coming from the northeast, then the trade winds are blowing. If the wind is coming more from the south, then the Kona winds are blowing. "Kona" means south.

The key to playing in the wind effectively is making the right club selection and to try to always make the wind your friend - in other words, don't fight it! Playing into the wind, take plenty of extra club and always swing within yourself. A hard aggressive swing puts more backspin on the ball causing it to fly higher and be more affected by the wind.

As the Scot's would say, in the breeze, swing with ease! The same truth holds for down-wind shots - try to estimate the affect of the wind and choose the correct club.

A crosswind will always magnify the direction of your ball - a slight fade can turn into a monster slice. So the key to playing into a crosswind is to try to work your ball against the wind. If the wind is a slice wind from left to right, then try to draw or hook your ball into the wind and vice-versa with a wind from right to left.

Again, remember that the wind can be a friend if you allow for it!

Sand

You will find that most of the Golf Courses here in Hawaii have beach sand.

It may play a little different from what you're used to because it tends to be more granular and firmly packed. Luckily, you can avoid the dreaded plugged lie with this type of sand.

Since the sand tends to be hard-packed, a sand wedge designed with minimum bounce will work best. A sand wedge with a lot of bounce will tend to deflect or "bounce" off of the firm sand and into the ball resulting in shots that fly over the green rather than land softly on them.

If you're not sure of the bounce on your club, check with the Golf Shop. You also will want to avoid opening up the face of your sand wedge a lot since that creates additional bounce on your wedge. Good luck and remember you came to Hawaii to spend time on the sand.

Uneven Lies

Swales and hills are a big part of most of the course designs in Hawaii and can make for some uneven lies. Remember to adjust the level of your shoulders to match the level of the slope.

You will also need to adjust your balance to match the slope. On downhill lies, it's natural for your weight to be more on your downhill foot. To balance this out, try to place a little more weight on your uphill foot. Then, take a practice swing or two to see where the bottom of your swing is and then try to match your ball position to that bottom point.

Multi-tiered Greens

A majority of our greens have multiple tiers. If you've missed the green on your approach, then getting it close to the pin is a real challenge.

A high lofted pitch shot has a very small landing area to be successful.

I would encourage you to consider chipping the ball with a lower lofted club to deal with these conditions. Keep the ball back in your stance, keep your hands slightly ahead of the ball to deliver a downward strike and always accelerate through the ball.

Reading Greens

Most of the greens in Hawaii are Bermuda grass and tend to have "grain" in them.

"Grain" means the tendency of the grass to lay over or to grow in a particular direction.

A putt that is "down grain" will be faster and run farther than a putt of the same distance "into the grain". The best way to tell which direction the grain is growing is to look at grass on the edge of the cup. The grass will appear to be browner or slightly frayed on the side of the cup that is down grain so putts in that direction will be faster.

Generally speaking, the "grain" tends to grow in the same direction that the prevailing trade winds blow and also the setting sun.

Golf Etiquette Tips