HARDEST Golf Course EVER? | Adventures in Golf Season 8

Erik is the Anthony Bourdain of golf entertainment. And we love it.

Huge shoutout to Kevin Ralbovsky. I don't think there's very many people out there that, with no experience, would have taken over the costs and management of an entire golf course just so the course history could be kept alive and he could continue to help the kids and community that otherwise wouldn't have an option. It's people/teachers like him that have the greatest impact on those that need it the most. Also, I just want to thank Erik and the entire team behind Adventures in Golf. Without you guys I'd probably never know about Ko'olau Golf Club and the people that make it possible like Kevin Ralbovsky, or any of the other stories, places, and people you've covered. You all do an incredible job and continue to create high level content that's different and tells a meaningful story. These stories deserve to be told and we truly appreciate the work that everyone does so that we get to hear them.

I lived on Oahu from 2001-2006. I LOVED THAT COURSE. At the time i was a 15 - 18 handicap. I did not care how many golf balls i lost there. The PURE beauty of this course is beyond words. You did the course justice in this piece. Yet it still fell short of its beauty; which i dont think any camera could actually capture it's true splendor. I was lucky enough to play it 8 times in those 6/7 years. I ALMOST CRIED as i watched this video. THANK YOU for that.

I wish I still lived on Oahu. I'd volunteer 20 hours per week to help keep this course alive. This is not a one off novelty course. For a number of years it was my favorite course to play and frequently.

Played this course in 2019. Knew nothing about it, my cousin lived on the island at the time. He was a new golfer and wanted to show me a nice course. It was so difficult, but beautiful. Probably lost 6-7 balls. Some of the holes felt like the jungle was going to cave in and swallow you. I remember thinking I had a lot of fun, but I never wanted to play there again. Seems most people felt the same way. Can't imagine that course is ever dry. Whoever thought of building a golf course in the middle of a jungle must have been a mad man. Either way, it was an experience I'll never forget!

I used to play this course in the early and mid 2000's. It was a fun experience and while 81 is not my best score ever....I did shoot 81 from the tips in 2006 using only 1 ball. I got to the skybox 17th hole and didn't even realize until that moment that I hadn't lost my ball yet....I barely managed to play the last 2 holes without losing it, but it worked out. I call it the best 81 I've EVER shot. It's sad to see it in the shape it's in now and I don't have a lot of hope on it having a bright future. As a business venture, the course really should never have been built. It's up too close to the mountains and it just gets too much rain. The fairways were almost always (especially on the back 9) so soft - balls would plug in the middle of the fairway all the time. It was a well done video by "Skratch" to showcase where the course is now.

I first played Ko'olau in 2012 on a work trip to Oahu. I was amazed at the scenic beauty of the course and instantly fell in love with it. I was able to play it 5 times over the years, the most memorable was with my Dad during a family trip in 2017. His only time to go there. My heart was broken when I read that it had closed during Covid, but this video gives me a ray of hope that maybe, someday, I can play it again. Thank you Erik for this video!

Thanks Kevin, for your hard work and dedication. My daughter took lessons from Kevin up until Covid . He's a great instructor and a wonderful and interesting person. I highly recommend taking lessons from him no matter what your level of playing might be. As far as the course, I started playing Koolau back in the late 90's when I first started playing golf. It didn't take long to figure out which spots on certain holes where you could climb down into a gully to "restock" your balls for the rest of the round. The course was simply majestic in it's beauty and serenity. It was not a course you ever expected to score well, but that was kind of the beauty of it. And if you could carry the fairway and bogey 18, or occasionally par it, you felt like a total winner no matter what happened the prior 17 holes. Maybe, just maybe, some rich investors will come forward and breathe life back into the course. (LIV, are you listening? It would make for a great Tour event!) In the meantime, kudos to Kevin for keeping it on life support.

Eric. Honestly man, I love the way you guys shoot your videos. The questions you ask, the way your camera guys shoot…. All so personal. Totally dig it. Keep up the good work brother! Cheers from Canada!

Protect this course and kevin at all costs. That dedication, love and care for the game is why I love the game so much. Fancy courses are great, but courses that have been kept open from pure effort, dedication and love are really the special ones we should all desire to play. Great Episode and Fab Production as always. Thanks 😊

When I saw it closed down a few years ago i was gutted. Especially as golf in the last 5 years has boomed. This course was like toys r us on acid. Mindblowingly hard and mental but what an experience. I hope someone brings this place back to life as it is a worthy top 100 course.

Great documentary, Erik - touching and a great reminiscence for a beautiful Golf Course fighting with the transition back to pure nature. Played Royal Hawaiian few month ago and absolutely loved the tranquility, juicy green plants and challenging Layout, it was so special and different from any other Courses, but haven’t known there is another jewel just a few miles away…. Thanks for giving us that inside about Ko‘olau, gave a big smile to my face and brought back happy memories about the indescribably beauty of Hawaii. Keep on doing what you do, it’s a grandiose tribute to the amazing game of Golf, giving so much to so many of us. Cheers, Andreas

Stationed here and I have played Royal Hawaiian a bunch. Did not know about this course. I reached out to become a member hopefully he can help get my swing back after shoulder surgery. Love his mindset and vibe. Love your content. Mahalo 🤙🏾

I’ve watched every season of Adventures in Golf, and this episode is my new favorite. So many positive and inspiring things in this episode. Thank you, Erik!

Love the channel and what you do. Really happy to see that you're here in these islands. Consider checking out our club, Moanalua Golf Club on O'ahu. We're the oldest golf course in Hawai'i, established in 1898. A very local style, challenging 9 hole layout, playing to 3,062 yds off the back tees. We're a club, but also open to the public. Aloha!!

Always love seeing my home state on the channel. Erik and his team really do capture the quirkiness and specialness of the 808.

Having played here a few times, didn't realize it closed. This course was no joke, I brought one of those refurbished 50 ball buckets and the starter said to me "only brought one bucket brah?" Ended up losing about 25 balls that round. Beautiful, fun and difficult course otherwise. Some of the best views of the mountain ranges.

Used to play that course a bunch in my high school days, over 20 years ago. Way ahead of its time. First course to experience GPS on the carts and such a quality experience with all the staff and the course itself. When the church took it over, I think that's when the course went down hill and they just concentrated on venue for events. Played there about 6 years ago and it definitely was not the experience that I remembered from high school days. The course was a blast and it would be amazing if someone can revive it to its glory days!

Thanks for always bringing light to golf in Hawaii and for sharing the stories behind some of the courses we have out here on our islands!

Used to play there in the 90's as a kid with my dad. I was too naive to understand the difficulty at the time. Really hope they can preserve this coarse it holds a lot of good memories.