1) Poipu Bay Golf Resort, No. 17 (courtesy Brian Oar)
2) Princeville, Makai Course, No. 6 (courtesy Brian Oar)
3) Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, No. 16 Kiele 4) Poipu Bay Golf Club, No.16
The cliff beneath the sixth tee box at the Princeville Makai golf course on Kauai’s north shore drops steeply down to a bed of gnarled volcanic rock and the churning Pacific Ocean. Makai’s Director of Golf Michael Castillo points down the sheer face to the twin trunks of a lonely palm jutting out 30 feet or so down the hillside. “That’s where we found her, her hands just riveted to the steering wheel of the cart,” says Castillo with a trace of awe.
According to Castillo, a golfer-- awed by the inspiring scenery on the island’s north shore-- had not noticed the cliff as she backed up her cart. Next thing she was hurtling backwards down through the scrub, headed for a grisly end. Enter the friendly palm which halted cart and rider before they ended up a hundred feet below on the rocks. “Couldn’t get her hands off the wheel,” says Castillo with a twinkle in his eye.
It’s easy to see how one could become easily distracted by the golfing beauties of Kauai, the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and aptly called the “Garden Spot of Hawaii”. Whether it’s Princeville’s breathtaking oceanside holes above the crashing Pacific surf or the windswept beauties of Poipu perched on the craggy red south shore, there’s a catalogue of unforgettable golf vistas to last a lifetime.
And if the views look familiar-- Kauai’s mountainous ranges have served as the sets for Jurassic Park, its beaches for South Pacific and its surf for Elvis’ Blue Hawaii. The island is also the vacation home for many movie and music stars who love Kauai’s tranquil atmosphere.
Into this sensual mix of golf and garden are a range of skill level and price points to please even the most seasoned traveller. Whether it’s the stern test of Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s Prince Golf Course (“Did you bring lots of balls?” I was constantly asked) or the more forgiving fairways of the Puakea course in Lihue, Kauai’s courses deliver both fun and value. (www.kauaidiscovery.com/activities/golfing/)
Perhaps the best known Kauai course is the impressive Poipu Bay Golf Course in the beach community of Poipu-- home till this year of the PGA Tour’s Grand Slam of Golf (Phil Mickelson holds the course record with a sizzling 59.) Its 210 acres run along the craggy red cliffs beside Shipwreck Bay, with the final five holes skirting a breathtaking trail along the dunes and rocks.
The front nine of this Trent Jones’ Jr. beauty-- which plays 7108 from the tips-- cut their way through brush and trees, offering few respites from the prevailing trade winds that can add two or three clubs to shot selection. Typical in No. 9, the toughest rated hole on the course. Playing slightly uphill and upwind 405 yards, it is protected by bunkers both left and right in the landing zone. The approach must again battle the trades to find a two-tiered green with nasty back flag positions.
Any of the shoreline holes makes a Kodak moment, but No. 16-- a downwind par four stretching 500 yards from the back-- is stunningly curved along the cliffs with views of whales and boats to draw the eye from the sneaky kidney-shaped green guarded by three bunkers. Drink deeply here; golf scenery doesn’t get any better. Poipu green fees can reach $200, but guests at staying at its Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa can enjoy excellent golf-and-stay packages that typically offer better value. Plus there are twilight rates for afternoon rounds. Perfect for beach time in the morning and then golf in the afternoon.
If you stay at the nearby Sheraton Kauai Resort, you might want to roll a few putts on the paspallum greens at the RTJ Jr.-designed Kiahuna Golf Club just minutes away. Many say the 18 greens at this highly affordable layout are the best in Hawaii. The friendly folks at the Sheraton will be happy to make the connections.
As mentioned, the Prince course (rated No. 1 overall in Hawaii) on the north shore is not for the faint of heart. The thrills start early on the downhill No. 1 that requires a crisp 230-yard drive to a fairway that kicks balls off into the brush if they’re even a tad offline. The second shot is over the river to a crested green that can also deliver shots to the rough or worse. There’s no let-up after No. 1 either, as the Prince emerges onto the ocean cliffs and then descends into heavily treed forests, always freshened by the prevailing trades that can turn the par-three No. 7 into a driver hole across a 205-yard chasm of sea, scrub and volcanic rock (Down below you can glimpse Sly Stallone’s beachfront retreat).
A course guide book or member are almost mandatory, especially on the Prince course’s back nine, to navigate Trent Jones Jr.’s challenges. This is definitely a course for serious players. But if your golf game is humbled, you can always take in the lush surroundings, the tropical foliage and the ever-present roosters that blanket the island since Hurricane Iniki in 1992. The staff are unfailingly helpful and solicitous. The best way to play the Prince is by incorporating it into a stay at the sumptuous Princeville Hotel nearby, perched on the crests above famed Hanalei Bay.
If you are interested in a value-priced challenge, head to Puakea, located just five minutes from Lihue airport. A unprepossessing course prized by the locals, Puakea starts in conventional fashion, running alongside Lihue’s commercial area. But the back nine-- the original holes built in the early ‘90s-- is a gem running through the old sugar cane farms with wonderful vistas of the Pacific below.
For a challenge try the tips on Hole No. 12, a 397-yard par four that plays dead into the wind with water down the right side. Or No. 17, a downwind par four that stretches 420 yards along a gentle dogleg left. A rolling draw is the only way to get to the green in two. Puakea is just a few minutes from the impressive and family friendly Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club, and games can be arranged through the concierge at the hotel. Rates are as low as $59 after 2 P.M.-- a great bargain.
Kauai’s bountiful golf options are about to get even better. The Princeville Makai course is set to reopen in the summer of 2009 after an extensive upgrade to 18 of its 27 holes. Meanwhile, Kauai Lagoons Kiele and Mokihana layouts in Lihue are being upgraded with the renowned oceanside Kiele holes set to re-open in 2009. They have 18 scenic holes open in the meantime if you want to play the fine Jack Nicklaus design.
And if you want to consider your golf options before choosing a course, a helicopter ride over the island takes you over all the best layouts. Jack Harter Tours will give you a breathtaking aerial view of Waimea Canyon, the Sleeping Giant, Waialea Falls in addition to the golf treasures on the island. Book online (1-888-245-2001) for the best prices and options.