Mauna Lani Resort - North Course

What an amazing experience. Beautiful course that was my first big island golf experience. Well laid out North Course that I would definitely play again. The Tee boxes and greens looked as if they had never been played on. Fairways were carpet like. The rough grass is very challenging to hit out of. It’ll grab your club if not done just right.

A terrific rolling mesquite tree lined course whose only clue to Hawaii is the couple of holes out to the ocean palm trees. Paspalum grass greens and fairways were near perfect. Great use of well trimmed old large trees in the fairways on several of the inland holes. Position off the tee requires a bit of local knowledge that the hole layout cards don't readily show. Elevation changes were nicely designed unlike the quirky and penal Mauna Kea a few miles up the road. Worth the trip from the mainland and along with the more tropical lava and palm lined South course offers two distinct different challenges that you could play day after day. Just oddly felt like I was playing in Tucson as the lava outcroppings were almost non existent until the famous par three #17. Hit a few iron and wedge shots from the unique thick rough before you play, it really sticks the blade and requires more uumph to get thru vs. the common bermuda at Mauna Lani's lesser neighbors.

What a gem. This is a 2 course complex (North and South) managed by Troon. The North course in actually mostly in a valley and carved through the lava flows and trees. Beautiful views of the ocean and the lava fields.

This was a windy day and it made some shots very difficult. Lot of sand and taller trees to contend with. All well placed.

Course conditions couldn't have been better. Well watered and maintained fairways, tees and greens. The greens were wonderful. Firm but could hold a long shot in.

Play both courses. We actually changed to play both twice.

We played this as a second 18 holes after playing the South Course. This is easier, but not as pretty. All inland course. Very enjoyable, but would not have been the full price. Great value as a second 18 in a day.

We previously played the "classic" course--a combination of the north and south courses which made it difficult to track on our app. We played the north course this visit, but based on our prior play, I think I would prefer the south course from an aesthetic point of view. It was extremely windy the day we played which made club selection difficult. On a couple of shots two extra clubs into the wind proved inadequate. Course conditions were excellent, and I recommend playing both the north and the south courses.

Layout is good. Not spectacular but certainly good. The couple of holes by the ocean are very nice. Traditional parkland layout but surrounded by the lava fields and some condos. Highlight is the conditions today. Tees, fairways, rough and greens were immaculate. Absolutely perfect. Even the driving range grass was like carpet. Kudos to the grounds team as this is a very finely kept course. Note this is for North course. South course was closed today and is undergoing greens maintenance. North is a little more difficult than most resort type courses. Not brutal but definitely need to hit fairways here, as there is plenty of lava and some OB. Overall a nice choice if you are staying at Mauna Lani or nearby. Hawaiiteetimes.com has some good value to get on here. The goats roaming the course are an interesting encounter.

I have played the North course several times now over several years and really find it a great experience. It is well maintained, interesting to play without being too difficult, and has a relatively peaceful Walk in the Park feel to it. (Though if you really want that kind of day head up to Makalei or Big Island Country Club.) Though the South course gets the press for ocean holes you actually visit the ocean twice on the north course, though you don't have to play over it. I have played the south course as well but prefer the north. If you want a high quality resort experience pay a bit extra and play Manua Lani. I would recommend it over Mauna Kea as well, which while equally well maintained, is just too difficult for me to play in my out of season condition. If there was one thing Manua Lani could improve is the frequency of visits by the beverage cart which always seems to be few and far between. Since you don't return to the clubhouse at the turn,make sure to stock up when you can.

Compared to its sister South course, the North course at Mauna Lani Resort feels like a bully.
While the South is open and forgiving, the North plays long and narrow at times.
Tourists tend to lean toward playing the South course for its ocean views. Locals and regulars tend to favor the North course for the challenge and variety of holes. The North constantly doglegs through trees and lava fields.
The 455-yard ninth hole rates among the toughest (and best) par-4s on the island. Water and a bunker guard the right side of a green set near the beach. The signature 17th hole, the shortest on the course at 132 yards, plays into a bowl of lava rocks.
Mauna Lani Resort - sandwiched between the top-100 Mauna Kea and a Champions Tour venue at Hualalai - probably doesn't get the credit it deserves. This is one of the finest golf clubs in all of Hawaii.