2008-9 hawaii golf guide

Golf Hawai‘iFor more information on planningyour Hawai‘i Big Island Golf adventure,please call us (from U.S. or Canada)toll-free at: 800/648-2441.

Or, visit us online at: www.bigisland.org

East Hawai‘i Office:

Big Island Visitors Bureau250 Keawe St.Hilo, HI 96720 USAPhone: 808/961-5797Fax: 808/961-2126

West Hawai‘i Office:

Big Island Visitors BureauWaimea Center65-1158 Mamalahoa Hwy., Suite 27BKamuela, HI 96743 USAPhone: 808/886-1655fax: 808/886-1652

Each fall the Big Island Golf Season unfolds with exciting offers at fantastic courses. To be a part of Hawai‘i’s B.I.G. Season, visit our website at:www.BigIslandGolfSeason.com.

6 Welcome Message

7 Big Island Golf Map

8 Golf Hawai‘i—Rich in History

10 Mauna Kea Resort

14 Mauna Lani Resort

18 Waikaloa Beach Resort

22 Hualalai Resort

26 Kona Country Club

30 Hawai‘i’s Hidden Greens

34 A World of Adventure

36 The Parting Shot

Contents

Cover photo of hole No. 12, at the Waikoloa Beach Course, by Brian Walters

Hawai‘i’s Big Island: The Golf Capital of Hawai‘i

The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big IslandProduced and printed in Hawai‘i for the Big Island Visitors Bureau by Review Publications

Photo: Evan Schiller

“It is very special – the

beauty of it. I think the culture

and the hospitality of the

people I think speaks for itself.

The turning factors for us are

the friendliness of the people

and the culture that they

embrace – and the beauty of

the island. I have been coming

out here for almost 20 years.

There is nothing like Hawai‘i.

It is very unique.”













It is unique.”

The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island

“Few destinations in

the world offer so many

memorable and diverse golf

courses in as magnificent

a setting as Hawai‘i’s Big

Island. It’s hard to beat

golf in paradise—I love it,

and you will too!”

6 The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island

W e l c o m e

Golf Hawai‘i 7

Aloha Golfer,

We welcome you to Hawai‘i’s Big Island! We sincerely hope you enjoy your time in our beloved corner of paradise.

The island of Hawai‘i, also known as the Big Island, is unique in the Hawaiian archipelago in that we boast an astonishing array of climates and terrain. Here it is possible to experience snow on Maunakea and Maunaloa in the morning and be on the golf course for 18 holes that same afternoon. It’s amazing to think that all but two of the world’s diverse climate zones are found on Hawai‘i Island, from lush rain forests to arid deserts, from black sand beaches to snow- capped mountaintops.

As you can imagine, this great diversity of terrain creates some extremely varied playing fields for golf. As you read through this guide to our island’s wonderful courses, you’ll be tempted by world-famous seaside designs crafted by the most famous names in golf course architecture, and budget-minded hidden gems where you’ll tee it up with local play-ers. You’ll discover courses that challenge the best players, and courses perfect for vacation-ing couples. The fact is, Hawai‘i Island’s golf courses offer something for every taste and every budget.

At the same time, the island’s wide-ranging landscape provides many experiences for you and your entire family to enjoy in non-golfing hours. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, for example, is Hawai‘i’s number-one tourist attraction and the state’s only World Heritage site. A day spent exploring the 377-square-mile park, witnessing the awesome power and geological wonders of an active volcano is an experience remembered for a lifetime.

Alternatively, you can ride horses on the green slopes of Maunakea mountain, go marlin fishing in our bountiful Pacific waters, visit one of our many treasured historic sites, or explore culture and cuisine unique to our island home. And lest we forget, there are many relaxing spas that cater to golfers (or non-golfing spouses!)

But for those of you who can’t wait to get back onto the course, it’s easy to do. From one end of the Big Island to the other, we have great layouts ready for you. Best of all, you can play them any time of year, as the weather here is perfect for golf year-round.

Welcoming courses, great weather and off-course experiences the whole family will never forget…it doesn’t get any better than Hawai‘i’s Big Island.

A hui ho!

George ApplegateExecutive DirectorBig Island Visitors Bureau

A King Kamehameha’s BirthplaceB Captain Cook MonumentC Black Sand BeachD Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park E Rainbow Falls & Historic HiloF Parker Ranch G Waipi‘o Valley Overlook

A

B

C

D

E

F

7Not-to- Miss-Sights

Course Map Key

1

2

3

45

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1314

1516

Maunakea

Maunaloa

G

✈

✈

✈

Waimea

Waikoloa

Kailua-Kona

Captain Cook

Ka Lae(South Point)

Keauhou

Honoka‘a

Volcano

Kea‘au

Laupahoehoe

Honomu

Pahoa

Pähala

Nä‘älehu

Hilo

KONAINTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

HILOINTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

‘Upolu Point

Waipi‘oValley

Häwï

Kapa‘au

HA M A K U A C OAS T

190

190

250270

19

19

19

19

130

KO

HA

LA C

OA

ST

KO

NA

CO

AS

T

11

11

11

11 11

➣

N

Punalu‘u

1 Mauna Kea Resort • Pg. 10 Mauna Kea Golf Course • (808) 882-5400 www.princeresortshawaii.com/big-island-golf.php

2 Hapuna Golf Course • (808) 882-5400 www.princeresortshawaii.com/hapuna-golf.php

3 Mauna Lani Resort • Pg. 14 Francis H. I‘i Brown South & North Courses www.maunalani.com • (808) 885-6655

4 Waikoloa Beach Resort • Pg. 18 Waikoloa Beach Golf Course • (808) 886-6060 www.waikoloabeachresort.com/hawaii-golf

5 Waikoloa Kings’ Golf Course • (808) 886-6060 www.waikoloabeachresort.com/kings-golf-course

6 Hualälai at Historic Ka‘üpülehu • Pg. 22 Hualälai Golf Course • (808) 325-8480 www.fourseasons.com/hualalai.golf

7 Kona Country Club • Pg. 26 Kona Country Club - Ocean & Mountain Courses www.konagolf.com • (808) 322-2595

8 Waikoloa Village Golf Course • Pg. 31 www.waikoloa.org/golf • (808) 883-9621

9 Big Island Country Club • Pg. 31 (808) 325-5044

10 Makalei Country Club • Pg. 31 www.makalei.com • (808) 325-6625

11 Sea Mountain Golf Course • Pg. 32 (808) 928-6222

12 Volcano Golf & Country Club • Pg. 32 www.volcanogolfshop.com • (808) 967-7331

13 Hilo Municipal Golf Course • Pg. 32 (808) 959-7711

14 Naniloa Country Club • Pg. 33 www.hottours.us/html/hotel/golf.html (808) 935-3000

15 Hämäkua Country Club • Pg.33 (808) 775-7244

16 Waimea Country Club • Pg. 33 www.waimeagolf.com • (808) 885-8777

8 The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island 9

A R i c h h i s t o R y

Old Hawai‘iA storied history of golf on

Hawai‘i’s Big Island traces back in time over 100 years.

It is easy to think that golf came recently to the Hawaiian Islands. The magnificently mani-cured resort courses we play today have come to define golf in Hawai‘i for the millions of visitors who visit her shores every year, as well as to the many millions more who watch the televised professional tournaments of the Aloha Season each year.

But the story of golf in Hawai‘i dates back to 1898’s founding of the Moanalua Golf Course on O‘ahu by Samuel Mills Damon and his Scottish groundskeeper, Donald MacIntyre. In those days, sugar was king in Hawai‘i, and Scottish plantation managers were com-mon. These men fashioned several golf courses around the islands for their recreation, as they had back in their homeland.

On Hawai‘i’s Big Island, an example of this early sugar plantation influ-ence is Hamakua Country Club, the little nine-holer over in Honoka‘a on the Hamakua Coast. This area was, until the 1990s, a major growing re-gion of sugar cane on Hawai‘i Island. The Hamakua Country Club has served the plantation managers well since the 1920s.

It was during the 1920s and ’30s that one of Hawai‘i’s greatest golfers, Francis Hyde I‘i Brown, known affectionately as the “father of Hawaiian golf,” began his career of breaking records. He owned the course record on the Old Course St. An-

drews, a 62, which he carded after playing a practice round during the 1924 British Open; he owned the course record at Pebble

Beach, where in 1927 he carded a 32-32-64; and he amassed an amazing 18 holes-in-one. A Ha-waiian ali‘i by birth, Francis Brown inherited his wealth from his family’s great real estate hold-ings, on O‘ahu, where the extremely well-liked and gifted athlete owned a large pie-shaped tract of land (known as an ahupua’a) called: Waipi‘o—a gift from Kamehameha I.

It was in 1930 that Francis Brown purchased Kalahuipua‘a—a glorious, 3,200 tract of land on Hawai‘i’s Kohala Coast, for just over a dollar an

acre. It was here, amidst ancient fishing ponds and rugged dark lava fields, that the famed Mauna Lani Resort would eventually

be formed after Francis Brown met and became fast friends with Tokyo tycoon Noboru Gotoh during the 1964 Olympic Games. The relationship sparked the genesis for what would become the concept for the fabled Mauna Lani Resort.

That same year, Laurance Rockefeller—the visionary developer of RockResorts—flew Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the preeminent American golf course architect of the day, out to take a look at the exquisite but lava-strewn land where he was planning to build Mauna Kea Resort at the northernmost end of the Kohala Coast.

It was at Mauna Kea that one of the seminal moments in Hawai‘i golf course archi-tecture occurred: Jones ground two lava rocks together and discovered that it could be crushed into an excellent base for growing grass. This breakthrough opened the doors for courses to be built on land that had hitherto been considered inhospitable, and nowadays several of the best golf courses in the United States are located along this elegant coast: Mauna Kea, Hapuna, Mauna Lani North and South, Waikoloa Beach and Kings’, Hualalai, and several other pri-vate clubs.

Hawai‘i’s Big Island has had a rich golf his-tory. It has hosted virtually every professional tour, and has had its own share of luminaries too. Jackie Pung was Hawai‘i’s first woman U.S. Amateur Champion (1952). She played on the LPGA Tour for 12 years during the ’50s and ’60s, and placed second in the 1953 Women’s U.S. Open.

So many others have given Hawai‘i’s Big Island reasons to be proud of its rich golfing history. The amateurs and professionals who hail from this golf haven love the game, its history, and its heritage. They embrace all other golfers who visit their beloved island with a unique brand of aloha all their own. Perhaps this is why it has become one of the premiere golf destinations of the world.

Left: James Hamilton, manager of the Royal Hawaiian Sales, Ltd. and four golfers, Andy Pickerill, W. I. Henderson, Roy Blackshear and James McClean. Copy courtesy of Hilo Tribune-Herald, March 1927.

Above: Francis H. I‘i Brown - “The year he won the Califoria State Championship 1930”. Photo courtesy of Mauna Lani Resort.

Right: Dennis Rose takes a swing at Big Island Country Club’s 1965 Championship. Photo courtesy of D.W. “Whitey” Rose.

Above: Goats and golfers alike share the fairways back in the old days. Photo courtesy of Mauna Lani Resort.

I Story by John Byrne & George Fuller

F

m A u n A K e A G o l f c o u R s e

Mauna Kea ResortTwo Spectacular Courses and Decades of Rich History

Make This One of Hawai‘i’s Most Revered Resorts

Few resorts in Hawai‘i evoke the history, passion and fond memories that Mauna Kea does. At the northernmost end of the Kohala Coast, when Mauna Kea opened in 1964, there was little else along the now-famed stretch of coastline. The primary attraction of the site was a gorgeous and protected crescent-shaped beach, and it was overlooking this serene bay that Lau-rance Rockefeller, the resort’s visionary developer, decided to build Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, with a golf course of equal beauty. Nowadays, a second elegant ho-tel and adjacent golf course, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and Hapuna Golf Course, are open to welcome guests to this famed golf and beach resort.

(NOTE: The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Mauna Kea Golf Course will complete renovations and reopen in fall 2008.)

Mauna Kea Golf Course

Opened in 1964, Mauna Kea Golf Course sets the standard by which most other courses in Hawai‘i have been judged, and it still today is among the

most revered layouts in the state.Designed by that era’s preeminent

golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., it was at Mauna Kea that Jones dem-onstrated how the Kohala Coast’s ubiq-uitous lava rock terrain could be crushed and used as an excellent base for turf-grass, a method since used extensively in Hawai‘i.

From a playability standpoint, the course is a shot-maker’s paradise and a primary example of Jones’ “easy bo-gey/tough par” philosophy. Tee shots require length and accuracy to set up approach shots to the difficult putting surfaces. The greens often slope away at the edges, and players often find them-selves chipping back onto surfaces they thought they had hit.

Hole 3 is one of the iconic holes in the world of golf, a stunning par-3 that can play as long as 261 yards (we dare you!) and as short as 140 yards, across a Pacific inlet to a green placed on a lava finger in the ocean.

Despite its challenge—and for many golfers precisely because of it—Mauna Kea is a complete joy to play.

Häpuna Beach State ParkOften rated the #1 beach in the entire United States.

Stargazing at Hapuna Beach Prince HotelClear skies overhead reveal celestial bodies through a high-powered tele-scope with the guidance of a profes-sional astronomer.

Manta Rays in Kauna‘oa BayA family favorite for generations, this night-lit coastline frequented by grace-ful manta rays is located at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

Mauna Kea Golf Course

Tee Rating/Slope Yardage

Black TBD 7,370

Blue TBD 6,806

Orange TBD 6,358

White TBD 5,798

Gold TBD 5,096

The Stats

Year built: 1964/2009

Greens: TifEagle

Practice range: Yes

Lockers/showers: Yes

Lessons: Yes

Walking allowed: Yes

Metal spikes: No

Dress code: Golf attire

Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Yes

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: No

Yardage markers: Yes

Architect: R. T. Jones, Sr. (renovation by Rees Jones) ~ Head Golf Professional: Brad Baptist, PGA

Tee times/proshop: 808-882-5400 ~ www.princeresortshawaii.com/big-island-golf.php

Fun things to do:

Mauna Kea Golf CourseHole 3 • Par 3 • YDS/272/205/179/145/108

Mauna Kea Golf CourseHole 17 • Par 5 • YDS/620/561/538/493/465

Photo: George Fuller/PhotoResourceHawaii.com


Hapuna Beach, South Kohala Photo: Bob Abraham

Photo: Courtesy of Prince Resorts Hawai‘i

m A u n A K e A G o l f c o u R s e h Ä p u n A G o l f c o u R s e

Hapuna Golf Course

Sister to the famed Mauna Kea Golf Course, Hapuna is an imaginative Ar-nold Palmer/Ed Seay design. Here, the dynamic design duo took a “hands-off” approach to the land, moving little dirt in construction, utilizing instead the ter-rain’s natural flow. The mountain and ocean views from this golf course are majestic, making a round of golf here a picture postcard experience.

The course ambles through the golden-shaggy grassed foothills above the hotel, playing to just over 6,800 yards. While this may seem diminutive by today’s 7,000-yard-plus standard, it by no means plays short. Shorter holes often play uphill; downhill holes demand precision to avoid hazards. Then, there’s the wind, which is often a factor in Hawai‘i, and can be even more so in these arid foothills.

Better players will enjoy the strategy required to score well at Hapuna, but with tee boxes that will accommodate all skill levels, this course provides an extremely fun day for everyone.

Mauna Kea Golf Course: Redesigning a Classic

Rees Jones is internationally known and respected not only for his new golf course designs but also for his masterful work redesigning and updat-ing classics. At Mauna Kea, this role took on special significance, as the course he was refurbishing was originally designed by his father, the late, great Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

The younger Jones—whose superlative redesign work on Torrey Pines South was recently on display as the course hosted the 2008 U.S. Open—describes his job at Mauna Kea as “a complete tee-to-green res-toration.” Bunkers are being restored to their original configurations, greens and tee boxes are being rebuilt, and new hybrid grasses are being planted throughout.

Jones says his intent was to maintain the integrity and challenge of his father’s original design, while utilizing today’s technology to maintain this classic design at the highest level possible for many years to come. When the course is complete in late 2008, players will thoroughly enjoy Mauna Kea Golf Course restored to its original glory.

Photos courtesy of Rees Jones

Upon reopening in late 2008, Mauna Kea Golf Course promises to capture international attention.

Hapuna Golf CourseHole 5 • Par 3 • YDS/155/140/130/110

Hapuna Golf CourseHole 3 • Par 5 • YDS/545/536/511/434

Hapuna Golf Course

Tee Rating/Slope YardageTournament 73.3/136 6,875

Championship 70.4/130 6,534

Resort (M) 66.8/122 6,029

Resort (L) 74.7/129 6,029

Forward (M) 64.4/117 5,067

Forward (L) 68.9/117 5,067

The Stats

Year built: 1992

Greens: Tifdwarf

Driving range: Yes


Lessons: Yes

Walking allowed: No

Metal spikes: No


Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Yes

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay ~ Head Golf Professional: Brad Baptist, PGA

Tee times/proshop: 808-882-5400 ~ www.princeresortshawaii.com/hapuna-golf.php

Photos: George Fuller/PhotoResourceHawaii.com12 The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island 13

TMauna Lani Resort

Hawai‘i’s Rich Culture Lovingly Preserved

The Mauna Lani Resort is home to the luxurious Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bun-galows, two championship golf courses, an exquisite stretch of coastline and white sand beach, world-class spa facilities and award-winning dining. Mauna Lani Re-sort offers everything one could hope for in a superb getaway. But perhaps more than any other resort in Hawai‘i, Mauna Lani is also renowned for its devotion to preserving and enhancing the cultural and natural history of Hawai‘i. The resort is nationally recognized for its successful honu (green sea turtle) program, loving preservation of the land’s ancient fish-ponds and the Eva Parker Woods Cot-

tage (Hawaiian museum), featuring his-torical displays of an ancient Hawaiian canoe, fishing gear, shark tooth objects and gourds. Not to be missed are the en-chanting monthly full-moon “Twilight at Kalahuipua‘a” story-telling celebrations led by director of cultural affairs, Danny Akaka. The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai‘i, is also located on the resort’s property.

Francis H. I‘i Brown South Course

Named in honor of Mauna Lani’s vi-sionary founder, Francis H. I‘i Brown—champion amateur golfer, adventurer

and sailor—the two courses at Mauna Lani are striking examples of lava-lined Big Island golf. The fairways are beau-tiful corridors of bright green grass snaking through vast fields of dark black lava next to an azure sea.

The South Course was long-time host of the PGA Senior Tour's Skins Game (1990-2000), with such renowned champions as Arnold Palm-er, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez regularly participating. Talk about walking in the footsteps of legends!

There are few trees on the South Course, and more oceanfront holes

than any other course on the Kohala Coast. Two of the most memorable are Nos. 7 and 15. These two strong par 3s play right at the edge of the Pa-cific, with No. 15 teeing off over a wide bay to a large putting surface on the other side.

The South is a course of extreme beauty, providing an enjoyable round of golf for all players, regardless of skill level.

f R A n c i s h . i ‘ i B R o W n s o u t h c o u R s e

Francis H. I‘i Brown South Course



Tournament 70.5/128 6,436

Middle 68.3/124 5,940

Forward 69.6/117 5,128

The Stats

Year built: 1991

Greens: S. paspalum

Driving range: Yes

Lockers/showers: No

Lessons: Yes

Walking allowed: No

Metal spikes: No


Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Yes

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: H. Flint, R. F. Cain & R. Nelson ~ Director of Golf Operations: Tom Sursely, PGA ~ Director of Golf Sales & Retail: Ross Birch, PGA

Tee times/proshop: 808-885-6655 ~ www.maunalani.com

Francis H. I‘i Brown South CourseHole 15 • Par 3 • YDS/196/158/131/112

The late Francis Hyde I‘i Brown was affectionately known in Hawai‘i as Mr. Golf. A descendent of Hawai-ian royalty, in 1932 he purchased Kalahuipua‘a—what is now Mauna Lani—for $3,200. It would be his retreat, where the former territorial representative "replenished his Hawaiian soul in the same ways his ancestors did" according to nephew Kenneth F. Brown. A quiet benefactor, Brown had the gift of treating everyone he encountered—from John Wayne to an usher—with equal kindness. His extraordinary golfing skills were legendary. He hit prodigiously long drives with hickory-shafted clubs and the less-compressed balls of his day. For years he held the course record (62) at the Old Course at St. Andrews; he had 14 holes-in-one, and once held the amateur title of Hawai‘i, Japan and California concurrently.

Francis H. I‘i Brown


f R A n c i s h . i ‘ i B R o W n n o R t h c o u R s e

Francis H. I‘i Brown North Course



Tournament 72.6/131 6,579

Middle 70.2/126 6,057

Forward 70.6/120 5,307

The Stats

Year built: 1981

Greens: S. paspalum

Driving range: Yes

Lockers/showers: No

Lessons: Yes

Walking allowed: No

Metal spikes: No


Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Yes

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: H. Flint, R. F. Cain & R. Nelson ~ Director of Golf Operations: Tom Sursely, PGA ~ Director of Golf Sales & Retail: Ross Birch, PGA

Tee times/proshop: 808-885-6655 ~ www.maunalani.com

Francis H. I‘i Brown North Course

Mauna Lani’s North Course is capa-ble of providing better players a chal-lenging round and is nowadays consid-ered the resort’s “tournament course.” Though its yardage is roughly the same as the South Course (6,913 yards), the North plays longer and par can be a more difficult achievement.

Many of the holes are cut out of a lava-lined kiawe forest, so players find more trees here than on the South. Four holes, in fact, have trees in the middle of fairway landing areas, making accuracy and angle to the green important.

The course plays dramatically down to the edge of the ocean at hole 9, a medium-length par 4 with an intimidat-ing tidal pool guarding the right side of the green.

The North Course presents a great collection of short par 3s, all with eleva-tion changes from tee to green. Perhaps the most famous hole on this course is No. 17, a par 3 that plays a maximum of 132 yards from an elevated tee to a putting surface nestled into an amphi-theater lava bowl. This exciting hole of-ten plays with a cross wind that makes club selection especially crucial.

Canoe House RestaurantThrow caution to the wind and order this wonderful restaurant’s signature dessert: warm pineapple cake spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, served with a healthy scoop of macadamia nut ice cream

Mauna Lani SpaRated the #1 spa in Hawai‘i by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, here you can treat yourself right with a Watsu massage in the spa’s saltwater pool.

The Shops at Mauna LaniStep into open-air walkways and discover the perfect balance between brand name quality and unique local craftsmanship. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts, impressive art and gourmet dining all in one location.

Fun things to do:

Eva Parker Woods Cottage

Situated beside the historic fishponds at Mauna Lani Re-sort is the Eva Parker Woods Cottage. It was here amongst the palms and fishponds that Francis H. I‘i Brown spent much of his time with his sweetheart, Winona Love, the acclaimed Hawaiian hula dancer and beauty. The Eva Parker Woods Cot-tage today is a favorite site for Hawai‘i weddings and romance. History buffs will also enjoy the modest but unique exhibit that opens a window into the simpler era of Brown and his royal Hawaiian ancestors. The cottage contains displays on the ancient Hawaiian canoe, fishing gear, household items, spears and gourds. At the cottage you are likely to meet Mauna Lani’s resident historian, Danny Akaka Jr. who is happy to offer tours of the cottage and fishponds.

Historian Danny Akaka Jr.Francis H. I‘i Brown North CourseHole 6 • Par 4 • YDS/404/379/357/305

Francis H. I‘i Brown North CourseHole 17 • Par 3 • YDS/132/119/91/75



W

Waikoloa Beach Resort

Where the Fun Begins on the Big Island

Waikoloa is one of the most complete and exciting beach resorts in Hawai‘i. Not only are there two highly enjoyable golf layouts—the Beach Course and the Kings’ Course—but two beachfront hotels, two shopping centers, guided cultural tours, dolphin lagoons, and endless beach activities all combine for a very satisfying vacation. In addi-tion to the Hilton Waikoloa Village and the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, visitors

weaves through valleys of the jagged rock, with holes 6, 7 and 8 bordered by a sacred Hawaiian petroglyph field. Take note of this, as it’s well worth go-ing back later to explore these ancient rock carvings.

The back side of the Beach Course plays down to the edge of the Pacific at hole 12. During winter months, you might just spot breaching whales from this gorgeous par 5. The hole doglegs sharply left in the fairway landing zone, then kicks back right to a putting surface fringed with swaying palm trees and the ocean lapping upon the lava. With fre-quent winds blowing onshore, par is a great score on No. 12.

looking for longer stays in roomier ac-commodations complete with kitchens, laundry facilities and privacy can opt to book into one of seven luxury con-dominium developments at Waikoloa. Shopping and dining are two of the most popular post-golf pastimes at Waikoloa, and choices range from Tiffany & Co. to Island Pearls, from a family-friendly Food Court to Roy’s Waikoloa and San-sei’s Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar.

Waikoloa Beach Golf CourseRobert Trent Jones, Jr. designed the

Waikoloa Beach Golf Course, which opened for play in 1981. It spans the landscape of Waikoloa from the crash-ing surf to the dark ‘a‘a lava fields that make up the base of the terrain. On this delightful course, golfers play over, around and occasionally into the lava. The front side of the layout

Waikoloa Beach Golf Course



Resort 68.7/124 5,958

Forward 70.0/118 5,122

The Stats

Year built: 1981

Greens: Tifton 328

Practice range: Yes

Lockers/showers: No

Lessons: Yes


Metal spikes: No


Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Nearby

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr. ~ Director of Golf: Scott Head, PGA ~ Tee times/proshop: 808-886-6060www.waikoloagolf.com

Bisecting holes six and seven of the Waikoloa Beach Golf Course is an important Hawai‘i petroglyph field. These rock carvings—etched into the stone by the ancient Hawaiian people—are located along the Ala Kahakai (Kings Trail), which runs through the lava fields of the Kohala Coast. Organized tours are available Wednesday through Saturday that begin center stage at Kings’ Shops, but descriptive signage also allows for self-guided explora-tion. Although the true meaning of the petroglyphs is not known, it is generally thought they are records of births and other significant events in the lives of the people who lived in the region long ago. Among the thousands of shapes and figures you see while exploring this field are: canoes, turtles, geckos, surfers, goats and a horse & rider.

Petroglyph Fields

Waikoloa Beach Golf CourseHole 12 • Par 5 • YDS/502/479/419

Photo: Brian Walters

Photo: Courtesy of Waikoloa Beach Resort

W A i K o l o A B e A c h G o l f c o u R s e


Waikoloa Beach Golf CourseHole 4 • Par 3 • YDS/157/120/84

W A i K o l o A K i n G s ’ G o l f c o u R s e

Waikoloa Kings’ Golf Course

Consistently ranked as one of the best courses in the Aloha State, the Kings’ Course is a solid test of your golf-ing skills. On this shot-makers’ layout, scoring means managing your game, always keeping in mind the shot to fol-low. Designed by former (British) Open champion Tom Weiskopf and Jay Mor-rish, the signature hole on the Kings’ Course is No. 5, a classic risk/reward short par 4. At 327 yards, big hitters may be tempted to go for the narrow green, particularly as the hole often plays with the wind at your back. If you pull off the drive, you’re putting for eagle. On the other hand, anything short lands you in the middle of a Mojave-sized sand trap with huge lava boulders between you and the green.

An exciting trio of finishing holes makes Waikoloa Kings’ a great match-play course. The topper is No. 18, a medium-length par 5 that features deep pot bunkers and a vast field of lava on the left. If you’re up in the match, play it safe. But if you’re down, two good shots can get you back in the game.

After golf, the Kings’ Grille is the place to enjoy a bite to eat or a cold bev-erage while you tally your winnings.

The cheeseburger at Kings’ GrilleOne of the best you can find anywhere!

Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours Takes off just behind Waikoloa and provides thrills aplen-ty above Kilauea Volcano and the magnificent Big Island landscape.

The dolphin lagoon at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, where guests can sign up to swim with the dolphins.

Fun things to do:Shopping with the Royal Treatment

Waikoloa Beach Resort is all about FUN for the entire family, and for many people this means shopping. In this all-important category, Waikoloa Beach Resort is the place to go on the Big Island, with two premier resort destination shopping centers: Queens’ Market Place and Kings’ Shops.

Queens’ MarketPlace offers a family lifestyle resort shop-ping experience with speciality stores such as Quicksilver, Reyn’s, Persimmon, and Pac Sun. Dining experiences include Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, west Hawaii’s BEST Ono Food Court, and the soon-to-be-opened Romano’s Mac-aroni Grill. The Island Gourmet Markets offer residents and visitors a place to find gourmet items as well as local products and everyday necessities in a market-style setting. Just mauka (on the mountain side) of the Queens’ MarketPlace is the Wai-koloa Bowl at the Queens’ Gardens, which is a serene, outdoor entertainment venue.

Kings’ Shops, also in Waikoloa Beach Resort, is a first-class resort shopping experience, where you’ll find a unique blend of trendy upscale designer stores including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Bahama, L’ Occitane and Coach, set amid Ha-waiiana boutiques. There are also art galleries, jewelry stores, spe-cialty gift shops and full-service restaurants. In the evenings, both centers offer live musical entertainment and often hula dancing.

Waikoloa Kings’ Golf Course


Kings' 73.4/135 7,074


Resort 68.6/124 6,010

Forward 72.2/120 5,459

The Stats

Year built: 1990

Greens: Tifdwarf

Practice range: Yes


Lessons: Yes


Metal spikes: No

Dress code: Golf Attire

Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Nearby

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish ~ Director of Golf: Scott Head, PGA ~ Tee times/proshop: 808-886-7888www.waikoloagolf.comWaikoloa Kings' Golf Course

Hole 5 • Par 4 • YDS/327/293/277/256

Waikoloa Kings' Golf CourseHole 2 • Par 5 • YDS/562/534/496/471

Photo: Brian Walters

Photo: Rob Brown20 The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island 21

WHualalai Resort

The Big Island at its Best

Hualalai Resort at historic Ka‘upulehu ranks at the very top of every list of fa-vorite resorts in Hawai‘i. The exhilarat-ing 18-hole Hualalai Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design, however, is chiefly reserved for homeowner members and guests of the Kona Village Resort and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

Those who are stay at either property can expect an unrivaled vacation experi-ence—spending their days relaxing pool-side, soaking in the sun’s rays, stargazing at night, exploring the Cultural Center and sampling award-winning cuisine.

Vacation rentals are also available in private homes and villas around the golf course. Even if you are not staying at one of Hualalai's two luxury hotels, you are welcome to make reservations at the Hualalai Grille in the Hualalai Golf Course clubhouse.

Hualalai Golf Course

The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Hualalai is host of the annual season-opening tournament on the Champions Tour. What television viewers across the

country see is a course artfully carved through a field of dark black lava, bor-dered by the gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean. Nicklaus made creative use of the natural lava rock formations, as they backdrop greens, line bunkers and traps, serve as treacherous out-of-bounds—and even form a channel through which players must pass on hole No. 7.

A memorable course throughout, the par 3 holes on this course are all strong, but none more so than Nos. 12 and 17. A short par 3, No. 12 presents a big, circular putting surface with a deep pot

h u A l Ä l A i G o l f c o u R s e

bunker right in the middle. If you land on the wrong side of the sand from the flag, you must chip over or putt around (although the superintendent would un-doubtedly prefer the latter option) and make par the hard way.

No. 17 plays from the lava fields down to the edge of the Pacific, with the majestic peak of Maui’s Haleakala poking above the clouds across the water. The wind conditions on this hole can alter your club selection dra-matically. One morning an 8-iron is the right choice; that same afternoon a


Hualälai Golf Course

Tee Course/Slope YardageMahope (M) 73.7/139 7,117Mahope (L) 80.3/145 7,117Championship (M) 71.5/134 6,632Championship (L) 77.7/138 6,632Regular (M) 68.8/129 6,032Regular (L) 74.2/129 6,032Mua (M) 65.8/119 5,374Mua (L) 70.2/117 5,374

The Stats

Year built: 1996

Greens: Tifdwarf

Practice range: Yes


Lessons: Yes


Metal spikes: No

Dress code: Yes

Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: No

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Yes

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: Yes

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: Jack Nicklaus, PGA ~ Director of Golf: John Freitas, PGA ~ Head Golf Professional: Brendan Moynahan, PGA Tee times/proshop: 808-325-8480 ~ www.fourseasons.com/hualalai.golf ~ www.hualalairesort.com

Kona Village Lu‘auThe island’s longest-running lu‘au begins with the unveiling of traditionally prepared foods in

an imu (Hawaiian earthen oven). On Fridays, the umu (Polynesian earthen oven) is used. A

sumptuous buffet showcases heritage foods.

PGA Champions Tour “Tournament of Champions” at HuälalaiThe Champions Tour kicks off its season here each January: pgatour.com/tournaments/s524/

Don’t Miss:

Hualälai Golf CourseHole 17 • Par 3 • YDS/164/161/143/126


Ka‘upulehu Cultural CenterInteractive programs and interpretive resources and displays create a living picture of Hawai‘i’s

environment, culture, history, traditions and arts.

Photo: Joey Terrill

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai & Kona Village Resort

Staying at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai or the Kona Village Resort has its privileges, including the opportunity to play the otherwise-pri-vate Hualalai Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design. Of course other privileges of booking at these tropical resorts include spacious bungalows, world-class spas, sweeping ocean views and extremely in-viting dining options.

3-iron might be the club, as the winds might be blowing onshore.

A strong par 4 home hole, No. 18 is a sharp dogleg left that invites play-ers to bite off as much of the corner as they can chew. But there is a pha-lanx of sand bunkers lining the left and more around the green. A tee shot too short or left leaves a long and difficult sand shot to the well-guarded green. The smart play is to the wide part of the fairway, which leaves a short-iron home.

The plush clubhouse locker room re-minds you that you’re following in the footsteps of greatness, as nameplates on the lockers read: Jack Nicklaus, Hale Irwin, Arnold Palmer and other heroes who have competed here.

A second course at Hualalai, called Ke‘olu, was designed by Tom Weiskopf and is reserved exclusively for members.

Photo: Kyle Rothenborg



h u A l Ä l A i G o l f c o u R s e

Situated in a relaxed, open-air setting on the second floor

of the golf clubhouse overlooking the 18th green of the

Hualälai Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus design is one of

the best restaurants on the Big Island. The Hualälai Grille

dishes delicious culinary creations in a style known as

Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine. Hualälai Grille’s trademark is

making creative use of local produce, fresh fish from local

waters and flavor palettes based on traditional Hawai‘i/

Pacific cuisines. Of course a fully stocked 19th hole bar is

open for golfers daily.

Goat Cheese Stack: Hawai‘i Island goat dairy chèvre, olive tapenade, Thai basil

pesto, and Nakano Farms tomato.

The Hualalai Grille

Photo: John Russell

Photo: Kyle Rothenborg



T

Kona Country ClubTwo Oceanside Courses Right in the Heart of Kona

Twelve miles south of the Kona In-ternational Airport, Kona Country Club offers two very distinct golf de-signs: the Ocean Course and the Ali‘i Mountain Course.

As the names imply, the playing characteristics of these courses dif-fer greatly, a fact that gives all golfers a course they can enjoy. The facility also boasts Vista Restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch daily, where patrons find both American and lo-cal Hawaiian cuisine. The Vista Res-taurant features breathtaking views of the Kona Coast and lovely sunsets.

Nearby accommodations include the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa and the Keauhou Beach Resort, both of which offer attractive golf packages.

The Ocean Course

The Ocean is a William Bell-de-signed layout that opened in 1967. Most fairways present generous landing areas

with friendly lies and straightforward putting surfaces. This gives all golfers, regardless of skill level, a chance to score well and enjoy the day.

It is a very picturesque course, with the front nine sweeping down to the Pacific at hole No. 2. But it is really No. 3—a par-3 bordered all along the right by Pacific waves crashing against the lava rock—that defines the front nine. The hole plays up to 221 yards, a fre-quent cross wind often plays a part in both club selection and score here.

The back nine plays toward the water, as well, with wonderful vistas found on holes 11, 12 and 13. Hole 12 is another par-3 charmer at 194 yards from the tips, but this time the ocean is on your left, and it looks like there’s nothing but sparkling ocean behind the green…and there isn’t!

Hole 13 is a par 4 that requires a short ocean carry from the back tees, down a fairway lined with coconut palms to a green ringed by palms.

Kona CC - Ocean Course



Middle (M) 70.1/123 6,281

Middle (L) 76.4/129 6,281

Forward (M) 67.2/118 5,436

Middle (L) 71.7/119 5,436

The Stats

Year built: 1967

Greens: Bermuda

Practice range: Yes


Lessons: Yes

Walking allowed: No

Metal spikes: No

Dress code: Casual

Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Nearby

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: William Bell (1967) ~ General Manager: Mike Yukon ~ Tee times/proshop: 808-322-2595www.konagolf.com

Things not to miss:Pu‘uhonua o Hönaunau National Historical ParkStep back in time to a sanctuary of Hawai‘i’s past, where traditional Hawai-ian lifestyle is preserved, and ancient temples and ki’i (wooden images) whis-per stories from the past.

Kona CoffeeFrom Kailua-Kona south, the area is dotted with coffee farms. There are many spots to stop for a taste of the lo-cal brew…be sure to take some home!

Kealakekua BayThis sheltered bay is teeming with brightly colored fish and perfect for snorkeling and kayaking. It’s also his-torically significant as the site of Captain Cook’s demise in 1779.

t h e o c e A n c o u R s e

Kona Country Club • Ocean CourseHole 3 • Par 3 • YDS/221/170/155

Kona Country Club • Ocean CourseHole 14 • Par 4 • YDS/411/398/334

Photo: Joe Chee

Photos: Joe Chee


Ki‘i at Pu‘uhonua o HonaunauPhoto: HIVB/Bob Coello

Photo: Bob Abraham

The Ali‘i Mountain Course

In contrast to the Ocean G.C., the Ali‘i Mountain Course—so named be-cause the site was once a playground to Hawaiian royalty—climbs into the cool foothills above Kona, dishing up sweeping views of the coastline below. Golfers encounter more natural hazards and hillside lies on this 18, and discov-er sites like: rock walls constructed long ago by the Hawaiian people, wild goats grazing, and spectacular vistas.

The first nine holes were designed by William Bell in 1985, and the second nine were added by Nelson & Wright in 1991. Overall, the Ali‘i Mountain Course is shorter than the Ocean

Course but is the more challenging of the two, due to its elevation changes and hazards (it is rated 4½ stars by Golf Digest; the Ocean is rated 4 stars).

Hole No. 7 is one of the signature holes on the layout. A 446-yard par 4, the fairway doglegs left, inviting play-ers to cut the corner. But a rock wall and some gnarly rough await the short shot; and there’s a scary lake fronting the green.

Designer Robin Nelson calls hole No. 14 one of the “prettiest par-3s” in Hawai‘i; playing dramatically downhill with a lake fronting the putting surface and expansive ocean views behind.

Kona Open

One of the biggest local golf events of the year in Hawai‘i is the Kona Open, hosted by the Kona Country Club in May. Contested over both the Mountain and Ocean courses, this 36-hole stroke play event is open to professionals, senior professionals and ama-teurs with a handicap of 6.6 or less. Cash prizes and certificates are awarded. “Each year the field in this exciting event grows bigger and gets better,” says Mike Yukon, Kona Country Club’s general manager. “It’s one of the highlights of the year at our course.”

t h e A l i ‘ i m o u n t A i n c o u R s e

Kona Country Club • Ali‘i Mountain Course Hole 18 • Par 4 • YDS/424/406/343

Kona Country Club • Ali‘i Mountain Course Hole 14 • Par 3 • YDS/179/167/125

Kona CC - Ali‘i Mountain Course



Middle (M) 70.0/130 5,976

Middle (L) 74.9/130 5,976

Forward (M) 65.0/119 5,038

Forward (L) 69.0/116 5,038

The Stats

Year built: 1985/91

Greens: Bermuda

Practice range: Yes


Lessons: Yes


Metal spikes: No

Dress code: Casual

Rental clubs: Yes

Rider fee: Yes

Proshop: Yes

Lodging: Nearby

Fivesomes: No

GPS tracking: No

Cart fees: Included

Twilight rates: Yes


Architect: William Bell (1985) and Nelson & Wright (1991) ~ General Manager: Mike Yukon ~ Tee times/proshop: 808-322-2595www.konagolf.com

Keith Anderson (Shell Vacations), Mike Yukon (Kona CC-GM), John Lynch (2008 Kona Open Low Professional), Max Bonk (Champion), Peggy Ciriako (Tournament Coordinator), and Teiko Kuma (Kuma Contracting).

Photo: Courtesy ASPGA

28 The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island

Hawai‘i’sHidden Gems

Courses For Everyone and Every Budget

TThe golf courses of Hawai‘i’s Big Island vary in terrain from mountain tracks to seaside gems, from lava fields to lush forests. They also vary greatly in price. All around the island, there are courses that are sure to fit neatly into any budget. The following pages detail those non-resort courses that are often described as “hidden gems.”

Waikoloa Village G.C.

Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed this 18-hole layout found in Waikoloa Village, 15 minutes up the hill from Wai-koloa Resort. It is a public course frequented by residents and visitors looking for hidden gems. Set at 1,000 feet above sea level and backdropped by the majesty of Maunakea and Maunaloa mountains on one side and a view down to the ocean on the other, it offers a relaxed golfing experience. The course plays just less than 6,800 yards from all the way back, making it less demanding for accomplished golfers, and a real pleasure for beginners.

Tee times/proshop: 808-883-9621www.waikoloa.org/golf

Big Island Country Club

Set 2,000 feet up the flank of Maunakea, overlooking the Kohala Coast, Big Island Country Club is a mountain golf experience that features an abundance of water. Designed by Pete and Perry Dye, there is water in play on nine of the holes, including a half-mile long stream and a lake, in the middle of which, players will find the 17th green—the only island green in Hawai‘i—where the putting surface is completely surrounded by water. The layout plays more than 7,000 yards for the better player, but only 4,810 yards from the forward tees. This flexibility makes BICC a fun and memorable round for everyone.

Tee times/proshop: 808-325-5044

Makalei Golf Club

Featuring some of the only Bentgrass putting surfaces in the state, this upcountry design by Dick Nugent boasts mag-nificent and sweeping views of the Kohala Coast. It also pres-ents some challenging golf holes, often made more so by the wind. Makalei is a hilly course. No. 1, for example, is a 311-yard par-4 that plays to a green that is two stories up from the tee boxes. Creative use of the plentiful lava rock found on the site during construction is seen throughout. One hole features a lava rock wall crossing the fairway; another plays 198-yards between cinder cones to a two-tiered green. Maka-lei offers a fun alternative to the courses along the coast.

Tee times/proshop: 808-325-6625www.makalei.com

Rating: 71.8 | Slope: 132 | Yardage: 6,814




Photo: Courtesy of Makalei G.C.

Photo: Brain Walters

Naniloa Volcanoes Golf Course

This heavily wooded course offers nine holes and only 2,800-odd yards, but with a par of 35, most of the holes are regulation length. A lake comes into play on holes 2 and 5, and the tree-lined fairways require players to drive the ball straight off the tee. Though short, it’s a course that can offer some challenge and certainly a load of fun. Guests of the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort (same ownership and located across the street) receive additional green fee discounts. If you are staying in Hilo, you’ll discover a lovely town that is much the same as it was 100 years ago. Hilo also offers the closest access point to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Tee times/proshop: 808-935-3000 www.hottours.us/html/hotel/golf.html

Sea Mountain Golf Course

This is a lovely 18-hole layout, with many flowering trees and some great ocean views. Positioning shots is important to avoid being behind the mature and overhanging trees. But at just around 6,500 yards all the way back, better play-ers should have a good day.

Like Volcano, Sea Mountain is far from the beaten path, roughly a 90-minute drive from Kona and just more than an hour from Hilo. Standout holes include No. 6, a 500-yard par 5 that requires a blast from the tee over a gaping gulley with the prevailing wind in your chops; and No. 11, which boasts some awesome Chinese Banyan trees along the left side of the fairway with canopies that sweep to the ground. Sea Mountain is a fun—if remote—golf experience.


Hamakua Country Club

The most “local” of all the courses on Hawai‘i’s Big Is-land, Hamakua is an executive-length, nine-hole layout on a 10-acre plot. It was built in the 1920s to service the sugar plantation workers and managers of this agricultural coast. No tee times required. There are only seven fairways that serve the nine greens, and they cross one another. Thus, when someone on the course yells “Fore!” everyone on the course ducks. If you want to get to know some locals and catch a glimpse of how Hawai‘i lives outside the up-scale resorts, this is the place to do it. For a special treat, before or after a round of golf, head to nearby Tex Drive-In in Honoka‘a and order some delicious Portuguese sugar bread, called malasadas.


Volcano Golf & Country Club

When you read about “playing golf on top of a volcano” in Hawai‘i, it’s Volcano Golf & Country Club the writers are referring to. Located inside the boundaries of Hawai‘i Vol-canoes National Park, on the slopes of Kilauea Volcano, this is an 18-hole experience you’ll talk about for a long time. Making their way around this course, players are struck by the crisp air, blue skies and tall trees. Some 4,200 feet above sea level, Volcano Golf & CC traces its roots back as far as 1922. In 1967, famed architect Arthur Jack Snyder was commissioned to expand and redesign the holes, and today golfers are wholly tested by Snyder's clever workmanship.

It’s just 40 minutes from Hilo—with lots of cozy lodg-ing options in Volcano—near the National Park, so by all means, go play!

Tee times/proshop: 808-967-7331www.volcanogolfshop.com

Waimea Country Club

This is exactly the kind of course golfers adore: a low-key public facility, nicely maintained, with reasonable rates. If you want to know where the locals go, this is the place. Situ-ated in the still-quaint upcountry town of Waimea—on the flank of Maunakea—the views from this course range from the looming mountain peak down to the Hamakua Coast and the Pacific waters. It feels like you’re playing in a mani-cured pasture, with tall trees, grassy fields and big skies. We do advise checking the weather before venturing up here, as afternoons can get wet.

Tee times/proshop: 808-885-8777 www.waimeagolf.com

Hilo Municipal Golf Course

A low-key municipal course popular with local players and regulars, Hilo Municipal sports some wonderful views of Hilo Bay. The layout is mostly flat with its greens slightly elevated from the fairways, a style of design that asks a bit more precision on your approach shot but also allows players to run the ball up along the ground. There are no bunkers on the course, either, which makes it very friendly for higher-handicap players. Long hitters and low-handicappers report shooting in the 70s here. Hilo Muni is typically very green (rainfall keeps this side of the island lush), with tall stands of eucalyptus trees, flowering monkeypods, weeping banyan trees, coconut palms and other greenery beautifying this fun course. Go expecting fun.












D i s c o v e R h A W A i ‘ i

“As you explore Hawai‘i’s Big Island,

you’ll no doubt discover your own

favorite places . . .”


AdventureA WORLD OF

The island of Hawai‘i is the ideal playground for golfers enchanted by the frosty, high-altitude slopes of Maunakea, the fiery lava of Kilauea—one of the world’s most

active volcanoes—the crystal-clear ocean that surrounds them, and a mezmerizing Hawaiian culture that connects it all.

HHawai‘i’s Big Island is one of the most diverse and exciting destinations in the world. Its tagline, “Hawai‘i’s Island of Adventure” is well-earned. Visitors can take a friendly stroll to witness mol-ten lava flowing into the sea; explore Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park—Hawai‘i’s only World Heritage site; horseback ride through upcountry ranches; look into majestic Waipi‘o Valley; snorkel with brightly colored fish or gentle manta rays; try sport fishing along the Kona Coast; and stargaze atop Maunakea, whose peaks are often frosted with snow in the winter months. But it’s equally possible to indulge and relax at a world-class spa along the Kona-Kohala Coast, shop for everything from Kona coffee and Big Island-grown macada-mia nuts to Hawaiian artwork and jewelry, and discover culture and cuisine as varied and distinct as the island itself. As you explore Hawai‘i’s Big Island, you’ll no doubt discover your own favor-ite places and have cherished experiences that will lure you back for many years to come.

34 The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island Photo: Sadanori “Sunny” Takeishi

Photo: Hawai‘i Tourism Authority/Sri Maiava Rusden

Photo: BIVB/CuteWeb Photo: Thomas Peter Widman

Photo: Kirk Lee AederPhoto: BottomTime/James Watt













It is very unique.”













It is unique.”

The Official Golf Guide to Hawai‘i’s Big Island

2008-9 hawaii golf guide

Documents

island of hawaii

big island golf season

hawaii islands golf

golf hawaiifor

diverse golf courses

hawaiis big islandproduced

golf course architecture

ehavcythe official golf