Feeling the ocean breeze as it boosts your ball down the fairway. Hearing the roar of the waves as you sink a birdie putt. You haven’t fully experienced a game of golf until you’ve teed off in Kauai. The island is home to several acclaimed golf courses that range from professionally designed holes to more accommodating courses for beginners. In fact, golfers might find the beautiful scenery almost distracting as they try to concentrate on which direction their ball landed. Nothing beats coming home to your Kauai vacation rental after a glorious day relishing the luxury links. From the challenging to the simply stunning, here are the essential golf courses you need to tee off at in Kauai:
Nothing beats an aerial view of the stunning golf courses in Kauai. Poipu Bay Golf Course
One look at the enchanting scenery of this course and you’ll have a hard time adjusting to playing anywhere else. Poipu Bay Golf Course is arguably the highest combination of beauty and difficulty you’ll find in all of Kauai, located on the southern shores of the island. This course was specifically designed to attract some of the best golfers in the world, as it was the home for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006. However, you don’t have to be a professional golfer to cherish playing on these links. The views alone are worth checking out, as you can tee off mere yards away from the beach while overlooking Mt. Haupu in the distance on the famous 16th hole. If you’re lucky, you might also spot some exotic wildlife that’s known to occasionally roam the beachside premises, such as Hawaiian monk seals or the native nene geese. With its scenery and intricately designed holes, this award-winning course is essentially the pinnacle for golfing in Kauai.
Prince Golf Course
Located directly near the shores of Hanalei Bay, Prince Golf Course is a place where golfers will feel like royalty. This professionally designed golf course was designed by famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and has been featured on several best golf course lists, including Golf Digest’s top 100 courses in America. But simply reading about how incredible this golf course is doesn’t do it justice. Once you’ve stepped on the first hole and taken in all the gorgeous tropical terrain that surrounds you, it’s safe to say you’ve finally found paradise. It’s also a rather accommodating course for beginners, as there are five options for teeing off. Before you head back to your Kauai house rental, be sure to snap some pictures of the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean, as the beach is only 300 feet from most of the holes.
“Kauai Lagoons Golf Club was designed by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.”
Kauai Lagoons Golf Club
You know a golf course has to be legit when arguably the most famous golfer in the history of the sport designed it himself. Jack Nicklaus served as the chief architect for the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, and you certainly won’t find a more green and tranquil environment. The types of obstacles you’ll encounter on the average hole at Kauai Lagoons involve massive palm trees, or tuning out the gentle crashing of the waves that surround the outer regions of the course. There are two nine-hole courses to choose from, each with its own distinct challenges and scenery, and if you’re trying to save yourself some money, consider booking a tee time after noon when rates drastically drop.