Walter J Nagorski Golf Course

Part of the reason that I started posting reviews on golf courses that I play is that many of the reviews that I’ve read on Unilocal have been very misleading to the true condition of the course and/​or level of service. With that said, almost all of the reviews posted here are accurate regarding the conditions at the Walter J Nagorski Golf Course (Ft Shafter Golf Course).
This is a 9-​hole course located on Ft. Shafter, which is very close to the downtown business district of Honolulu. The course itself is carved out of a valley that receives a lot of rain during the wet season. Over the years heavy rains have washed away some of the topsoil and has exposed sub-​surface lava rocks. Be smart and don’t risk injury and damage to your clubs — just pick up the ball (consider it ground under repair).
While not very long, many of your tees shots require you to have your brain turned on. Severe dog legs, blind landing areas, over-​hanging trees and imposing tree-​linned shoots that you have to hit your tee-​shot through will welcome you on many of the holes. Additionally several of the holes have over-​hanging trees on the greens. Today I was greeted with two holes with the pin underneath an overhang, tucked next to a bunker (very challenging).
Yes, the course needs some TLC. Today was the first time that I had played this course in almost 25 years. The level of neglect was a little disapointing — however since I was walking, the condition of the cart paths didn’t bother me until I saw the net effect. Cart riders can’t use the paths becuse of the condtion that they are in and have to resort to driving on the fairways. In the wet conditions of today, some of the fairways are geting beaten up (#5 comes to mind. the cartpath is unusable. A dirt path now exists down the fairway — which also doubles as a rain runoff). I would suggest that they make the course walking only unless they fix they cartpaths. It would also be nice if, once we get out of the rainy season we’re currently in that the overall course gets a good mowing (not just the fairways). Once the course dries out the fairways should be decent. As of today there is a lot of standing water (particularly holes 6 – 9).
I found the greens great at holding your approach and putting very true, if a little slow.
Will i wait another 25 years to play this course again? Absolutely not!
With the better post access and the weekday price deal and the lack of other golfers on the course, I’ll be back within a month.

The Nagorski Course has always been the ugly step child of the military golf courses. A handy place to go to practice, and to get in 9 holes after work. Just have to be careful not to snap your 8 iron on a hidden lava rock or worse snap your neck riding a golf cart on their cracked and crumbling cart path. Lately it’s sunk to new lows. They cut down some old palms… diseased? Ok got it. Close the snack bar on weekends… need to save money? Ok got it. Move the 9^th hole forward and make it irons only? Come on! If it’s about the cost might as well shut it down rather than this slow, lingering death.

Great little course to play during the week. Remy in the pro shop was very helpful and courteous. The greens are very good, kind of fast. They are working on the fairways. Beware the cart paths. Many are very poor and it’s better to ride on the fairways in some cases. They have a practice green near the 1^st hole and a pitching chipping area as well as one bunker. Mulligan’s restaurant has good food at good prices. If you want to splurge, Hale Ikena has a daily lunch buffet for around $ 11.

Simply a 9-​hole course with approximately 1 par-​5, 2 par-​3 and 6 par-​4. Can’t beat the price, proximity to town, and convenience. Very friendly staff and fellow players.
The course itself could be better and I would go again despite greens too dry
and occasionally hitting off of hard dirt from some parts of the fairway.

Bumpy fairways, and the cart paths are beat to $hit. Fast greens, unforgiving approaches, and some tricky tee shots make this course pretty fun. Par 34, distance of 2,840 yards with some serious slopes.
Went on a weekday and we hardly saw a soul. Hard to beat some of the promotions they have, currently a M-​Th 18 for the price of 9, but I think you have to ask for it.
Good course for spontaneous play due to proximity to town and lack of traffic. Needs some TLC for this to be a good course though.

This course is a 9 hole course. In some areas it is in major need of repair but for the most part it is in decent shape. This is a good place to practice beyond a par 3 course. I might come back here for practice, but with all the other beautiful military (and non-​military) courses here, I’m not in any rush to come back.

Rating: ³⁄₅
Date Played: 3÷28÷2010
Facilities: ³⁄₅
Driving Range: ³⁄₅
Practice Putting Green: ?/​5
Course: ³⁄₅
Price: ⁴⁄₅
Parking: ³⁄₅
I would definitely play here again. Course rates are better than most.
Facilities:
Pro Shop, Restaurant/​Bar.
Driving Range:
A short range about 200 yards long, hitting on artificial mats.
Practice Putting Greens:
Can’t really remember if they had one.
Course:
Great for beginners and veteran golfer’s alike. Not very busy, so that’s a plus
Price:
Military & Non-​Military rates are better than most.
Parking:
Not crowded & enough of space.

$ 14 twilight walking after 11am for 9 holes. Not much else to say. The course itself is nice, but old. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful and it’s never crowded.
The driving range is more of a short game range, bring your own balls and hit to a green from the rubber mats on the sidewalk it seems.

The Nagorski Golf Course at Fort Shafter is a private nine hole course.
It was $ 38 total for my husband and I to golf, and I and that was including a golf cart. This is a great course for beginners.
Great views of Pearl Harbor from the top of the second half of the course. Don’t forget your water (or cooler of drinks), snacks, sunglasses, hat, and some sunscreen!!!
Definitely an older golf course — it was opened in 1919 and designed by the Army Corp of Engineers.
Other helpful information:
Golf Season: Year round
Par: 34
Metal Spikes Allowed: Yes
Driving Range Available: Yes
Rental Carts Available: Yes
Rental Clubs Available: Yes
Pro Available: Yes
Tee Times Welcomed: Yes
Price Range Weekdays $ 8 — $ 23
Price Range Weekends $ 8 — $ 23
Credit Cards Accepted: Yes
There is a pro shop and two places to eat — Mulligans and the Hale Ikena.