Hole 18 at Waialae Country Club

Par 5 • 509 Yards • Honolulu, Hawaii

Enhanced Content

Challenging

The 18th hole at Waialae Country Club provides a dramatic finishing test at this historic Hawaiian venue, home to the Sony Open since 1965. This closing par-5 has witnessed countless tournament moments, including Justin Thomas's record-breaking 59 in 2017. The hole demands both power and precision to set up a birdie opportunity and close out a memorable round.

Tees:

509y475y442y

Green:29y × 31y

Fairway @250y:48y wide

6 BunkersWater dogleg

Loading map...

Waialae Country Club

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Play This Course at Home

Practice Waialae Country Club Year-Round

Launch monitors from $600 and simulators from $2,500 include real course data. Play every hole without leaving home.

Browse Launch Monitors & Simulators

Amazon · Top brands compared · Free returns on most items

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Hole Stats

Par: 5
Yardage: 509 yds
Green: 5066 sq ft
Bunkers: 6
Water: Yes
Course Slope: 135
Course Rating: 75.1

Navigate

Hole 17

Par 4 • 459y

Back to Waialae Country Club View Full Scorecard

Recommended Gear

A dependable fairway wood can turn this par 5 into a real birdie chance.

Shop Fairway Woods →

Strategy Tips

tee shot

With fairway bunkers positioned at 264.1 and 278.3 yards, plan your tee shot to carry around 240-250 yards to stay short of trouble while maximizing distance. The fairway maintains a generous 48-yard width at both 200 and 250 yards, giving you room to work with.

approach

At 509 yards total length, this par-5 is reachable in two for longer hitters. If going for the green, aim for the center of the 5,066 square foot putting surface (29 yards wide by 31 yards deep) to avoid short-sided recovery shots.

hazard warning

Be aware of the bunker at 225.4 yards - if you're laying up on your second shot, position your ball between 200-220 yards to avoid this hazard and set up an ideal wedge distance to the pin.

green

The green's dimensions of 29 yards by 31 yards provide a substantial target, but given Waialae's reputation for precise iron play (as evidenced by Justin Thomas's course record 59), focus on hitting to the correct tier based on pin position rather than just finding the putting surface.

approach

For players laying up, the consistent 48-yard fairway width at 250 yards gives you confidence to be aggressive with your second shot positioning, setting up a full wedge from your preferred distance rather than an awkward in-between yardage.

train this shot at home

This 509-yard par 5 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

See launch monitors & simulators

Scoring Tip

Scoring on par 5s starts with a smart second shot. Laying up to your favorite wedge distance gives you the best birdie chance.

Play Waialae Country Club from Your Living Room

Launch monitors and simulators now include real course data. Practice your strategy on every hole before your round — or just for fun.

Compare Systems

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this par 5 be reached in two?

At 509 yards, Reachable in two for longer hitters. Consider laying up short of hazards if going for it is risky.

How difficult is hole 18?

This hole is a moderate challenge for most golfers. Key challenges include: water in play, heavily bunkered.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 18?

Key hazards include: 2 greenside bunkers; water at 178.8 yards. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 18?

The green is medium-sized with moderate targets. Pay attention to pin placement when selecting your approach club.

What's a good score on hole 18?

This hole is a solid birdie opportunity with smart layup strategy. Most golfers can reach in three. Position your layup to leave a comfortable wedge.

Can I practice hole 18 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Waialae Country Club. You can play this exact par 5 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →