Every golf course general manager has an endless to-do list. Monitoring budgets, supervising staff, checking course conditions, dealing with customers, etc. But only one in the U.S. also has to check in on the local volcano.
Such is the case for Dawn Crozier, general manager at Volcano Golf Course on the island of Hawaii. Located a 45-minute drive from Hilo and two hours from the golf-resort laden stretch north of Kona Airport, the course is the oldest on the island, dating back to a few holes with sand greens in 1921 before evolving into a full 18 in the 1940s. Architect Jack Snyder then completed a renovation in the late 1960s.
This is no frills, laid-back, rural golf at a much more lower green fee than the aforementioned resorts. What it lacks in amenities it makes up for in ambiance: panoramic views of two other Big Island volcanos, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea; fairways lined by endemic ʻohiʻa trees that bloom vibrant red; and plenty of Hawaii’s state bird, the nene (stay away from them, especially during their nesting season from October through March). An added bonus is the extra distance on shots thanks to being at 4,000 feet above sea level.
Now, about that very active local volcano. Called Kilauea, it’s located inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of which borders the 17th and 18th holes. Its last major eruption took place from May through August in 2018, destroying some 700 homes. The most recent eruption started just before Christmas in 2024 and is still underway.
Most of the eruption episodes have lasted between five and 24 hours. But few affect the golf course.
"For us it depends on which way the wind is blowing or not blowing, and whether or not there's any tephra, ash balls or pele's hair (materials produced by eruptions) in the air," Crozier says. "Those conditions can make it difficult for people to breathe, and the particles can be itchy on the skin. We let people know when it’s happening. On January 24th we received tephra and closed for part of that day, but were able to clear the holes affected and reopened the following day."
"It’s really just part of Hawaii life," Arizona-based architect Forrest Richardson, an associate of Jack Snyder, told Cascade Golfer magazine. "My take is it’s like playing golf at the edge of the Earth. It absolutely is a one-of-a-kind golf experience, and I think it would be a shame to pass it up."
But on March 10, Mother Nature laid a double whammy on the course. Another eruption episode produced heavy tephra, enough to close the course for play. Later that same day, winds of up to 70 miles per hour and 20 inches of rain arrived.
Since then the course has been open sporadically with either nine holes or temporary hours, and another eruption expected. But as of April 30th, all holes were reopened for play.
A few hills dot the layout, which returns to the clubhouse after the first nine holes. "Because of the design of the course and the way it's laid out, we actually have some five-hole loops that we offer," Crozier says. "If you don't have a lot of time, you can go out and play one through four and then come back on nine. Or we can put you out on 14 through 18."
A current online-only special has the green fee Monday through Thursday at $100 for 18 holes, cart, and even a rental set of clubs if needed. That goes up to $125 on weekends.
"There's only nine bunkers and no irrigation (the maintenance team of eight includes just three full-time staffers)," Crozier says. "It's a very special place. The air, the surroundings, the land, everything. It just holds a lot of meaning to people. It's one of those courses that's generational, where we'll have people say, ‘My grandfather learned to golf here. He brought me here. I'm bringing my children here.’ So we see generations of families who come out here."
Stay and play packages are available at the Killalia Lodge & Restaurant, and there are plenty of BnBs nearby. Over in the National Park is Volcano House, where some of the 33 guest rooms (there are also cabins and camping sites) offer a view of the crater, enabling you to potentially see the lava glow during an episode. There's also a military camp where active duty or retired military can stay in cabins.
"Some courses have to worry about snowfall and that type of stuff," Crozier says. “We live in partnership with Mother Nature. We have a beautiful course that just happens to be set right next to a volcano that is active."
