GOLF ON KAUA'I Kauai's golf courses rate among the best in the world. The island's courses are blessed with year round sunshine, mild winds and incredible tropical scenic backdrops. The courses are raved about in golf magazines, win awards and often host nationally broadcast golf tournaments. There are about 14 golf courses on Kaua'i Island. Prince Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., presents to golfers rich jungle terrain and waterfalls. Princeville Makai Golf Course features three nine-hole tracks, including Ocean, Woods, and Lake. Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course is the home of the PGA's annual Grand Slam of Golf. Kukuiolono Golf Course, which is nine-holes and charges $7 a round, is one of the best bargain courses in Hawaii. Click here for a map of the Courses shown below.
Prince Course Golf Digest has named The Prince Course the number one course in the State of Hawaii. It is also included in their prestigious list of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses". The Prince is one of Hawaii's most challenging golf courses, with a USGA course rating of 75.3 and a 145 slope. But fear not. Five different tees on each hole allows you to set your own challenge. Named after Prince Albert, the only son of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, The Prince is Robert Trent Jones Jr's masterpiece. Looking as if it has emerged full-blown from nature, it chugs uphill, jumps ravines, and careens downhill like a roller coaster. (808) 826-5000
Makai Course Golf Digest lists the Princeville Makai Course in its Top 50 Resort Courses, and has included it in "Americas 100 Greatest Golf Course" for 16 consecutive years. The Makai is really three courses in one: the Ocean Nine ventures closest to the Pacific, the Lakes Nine winds its way around serene lakes, and the Woods nine is a pleasant diversion through native woodlands. Architect Jones paid fitting tribute to the Makai Course when he said, "In all the world, I never expect to find a more spectacularly beautiful place to build a golf course than Princeville, overlooking Hanalei Bay." (808) 826-3580
Poipu Bay Golf Course, Poipu Beach For the occasional weekend golfer and the touring professional, the Robert Trent Jones Jr. Links-style layout offers a unique golfing experience. Multiple tee grounds, depending on wind conditions, allow the course to play from 5,241 to nearly 7,000 yards. Weaving through gentle contours featuring the remains of Hawaiian heiau (places of worship) and ancient stone walls, this one-of-a-kind Hawaii course overlooks the expansive blue waters of the Pacific Ocean from atop 80 foot cliffs. Even if not watching for native ne’ne geese, rare Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles or humpback whales, both your ability to concentrate on golf and your shot making will be pleasingly tested. Since 1994, the Poipu Bay Resort has been the home of the world’s most exclusive golf tournament, the PGA of America’s Grand Slam of Golf. After all, to get invited you must win the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open or the PGA Championship.
Kauai
Lagoons Golf Club, Lihue Players will discover that the Kiele Course has a sense of style uniquely its own. Fairways weave along imposing ocean cliffs, over promontories high above the harbor, and among some 40 acres of fresh water lagoons that wind their way throughout the resort. Lush groves of exotic foliage thrive amongst the holes. Golfers who strive to emulate Nicklaus’ playing style will find that the Kiele suits them to a tee. Built in the late 1980s, this championship layout rewards players who can hit the ball high in order to carry the assorted drainage creeks, ravines and lagoons that one encounters along the way, as well reach the couple of island greens that finish this challenging course.
Mokihana Course The Kiele’s companion course is the gentler Lagoons Course, a resort layout crafted with Scottish style rolling links. Designed for players of all skill levels, the Lagoons is marked by its open fairways and, compared with its more demanding sister course, by its relative lack of forced carries. The real challenges of the Lagoons are its undulating greens, which will challenge the best of putters. The Lagoons has been rated by Golf Magazine as one of the ten most playable in America, and proffers outstanding views of Mt. Wai'ale'ale, the extinct volcano that created the island of Kaua'i. It’s more hospitable nature is a perfect complement to the more challenging Kiele. (800) 634-6400
Puakea Golf Course, Lihue This course was named one of the Top 10 Best nine hole courses in the US by "Sports Illustrated". Expanded now to 18 holes. Imagine yourself walking up to the first tee with a Pacific Ocean view in front of you and Mount Haupu towering over you. This isn't a dream.... this is Puakea Golf Course. The Robin Nelson designed course plays around deep ravines and streams fed by fresh mountain rain water. With the inspirational terrain and calming mountain range backdrop, you'll find Puakea Golf Course to play differently under a variety of weather conditions of wind and water.
Kiahuna Golf Club, Poipu "Kiahuna Golf Club is the most entertaining 18 hole Resort Course in sunny Poipu. An award winning course." by Golf DigestKiahuna Golf Club offers challenging resort golf within a fascinating area of ancient Polynesian archeology. Enjoy your game surrounded by the natural beauty of Kaua'i and its historical Hawaiian culture. World famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., skillfully included many ancient remains of an authentic Hawaiian village into the design of Kiahuna Golf Course. Your experience will be the beauty of the course as well as a sense of the enduring history of the region. Abundant water hazards and challenging prevailing trade winds characterize Kiahuna as "the longest short golf course you’ll ever play". (808) 742-9595
Wailua Public Golf Course, Wailua As is the case with all municipal courses, Wailua is open to the public every day. However, tee times are not accepted more than seven days in advance unless the request is in writing and represents a group of 12 or more golfers. Many regular Kaua'i golfers play this course every day, and they are proud of their speed of play. But it is common to find all early tee times filled by these local golfers, especially on weekends. Wailua Municipal is located just off the highway that runs between Lihue and Hanalei in the small community of Kapa'a. The course offers a full pro shop, and locker facilities. There is a large practice putting green near the clubhouse and a small starter's shack for busy hours. Golf carts are available for rental, but are not required. Most Hawaii golfers who have the opportunity to play here would agree that Wailua, which was rated by Golf Digest magazine in 1981 as one of the top 10 municipal courses in the U.S., is still one of the best golf challenges anywhere. There is no restaurant but there is a lunch wagon near the practice putting green. There is a driving range but it is not lighted and tokens for the range balls stop selling at 5:00 PM. (808) 241-6666
Kukuiolono Golf Course, Kalaheo Kukuiolono is a nine hole public course. Kukuiolono Park perches on a hilltop in Kalaheo with breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains. It definitely has some interesting challenges (like the sixth hole canyon). And best for cost conscious golfers, it is only $7.00. That's not $7.00 for nine holes, or even 18...but for as many holes as you care to play! Some of the younger players get in 54 holes. Once again you can walk the course, or rent a cart for a small additional fee. This county municipal golf course was built in 1928 with Bermuda grass greens. Rentals are available from 7am to 3pm. First come, first serve; no tee times. (808) 332-9151
For more information on the courses listed above, as well as other courses on Kaua'i, we recommend you visit these sites: Golfer's Web and Golf in Hawaii
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