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4.9
581 Reviews (581)
5 Stars
415
4 Stars
114
3 Stars
30
2 Stars
15
1 Stars
7
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.7
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
4.8
Amenities
4.8
97.6%
Recommend this course
533 out of 581 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 7370 yards
Slope 155
Rating 84.5

With Mauna Kea Golf Course, Robert Trent Jones Sr. transformed what was seemingly a barren lava field into what is now one of Hawaii's most popular courses. The challenging layout has holes that play right along the sea as well as over 300 feet above. The course tumbles across seaside cliffs, offering views of the beautiful Kohala Coast. The elevated, undulating greens and prevailing coastal winds demand accuracy. On blustery days 200 yards could feel like 1,000 yards. There are also more than 100 bunkers strategically placed throughout. Mauna Kea Golf Course's signature third hole is the course's most well known by far. This legendary par 3 requires a dramatic carry across a rocky shoreline, sprinkled with nooks and crannies that are filled with hundreds of lost golf balls. To prepare for this demanding course, golfers can warm-up on the driving range and putting green.

Course Details

Year Built 1964
Fairways Tifway 419 Hybrid Bermuda Grass
Greens Ultra-Dwarf Tifeagle Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper golf attire must be worn at all times

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Showers, Locker Rooms

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
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10 rounds of waived fees
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$120 in tee time credits
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Tee Time Protection
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Redeem GolfPass points

Reviews

4.9
581 Reviews (581)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

good value

nice course in good condition and we got a tee time at 1230 and it was only 145 instead of the 235 so the value was good. noone there so pace was good

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Beautiful course. Super windy!

Nice layout. Expensive but worth playing. Beware the wind! Mauna Lani better value and nicer course if you have to choose between the two.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Once in a Lifetime Round

Course was in pristine condition. Very fast greens with lots of elevation changes and tons of bunkers. Got a great price through golf now. Course plays very long from the back tees. Many ocean view holes and even chances to see whales. A must play for any golfer!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Beautiful course.

Great course, great staff, great weather and it's in paradise. A bit expensive but worth the experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0

Great ocean views

Even at the GolfNow discount ($150.00) the course was overpriced. I was expecting pristine conditions and the course was in good shape. Beautiful ocean views on some of the holes. The practice area is adequate. The course can be challenging so play from the correct tee for your game.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

One of Hawaii's Best

This is one of the best courses in the Hawaiian Islands and certainly on the Big Island. I never get tired of playing this magnificent layout.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

All around nice course

Practice putting green faster than course greens. Range has
limited space so uses limited range balls. $250 over the top
for this course> Got deal thru golf now $150. Still a bit on the high
side for this course. Nice lay out.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Expecting better from a resort course.

Poor for a resort course. Staff slow to help. Great views on many holes, but not worth the price. Fell behind a slow play tourament.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Don't leave approach shots short

Outstanding Robert Trent Jones Sr Design. Significant elevation changes throughout that require club adjustment. All greens are heavily bunkered and front many. they are deep and will add shots if in them. Staff was attentive and timely, very much different than previously written about. This is not a course for beginners or high handicaps you will be quickly frustrated especially with the deep bunkers and sloping greens

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 99
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing

The Big Kahuna of Hawaiian Golf

Back in 1966 this was the only hotel and golf course on the Big Island and it was famous as a Lawrence Rockefeller Resort, I wanted to play it back then but did not have the time.
We have played almost all the courses in Hawaii and so we wanted to play Mauna Kea.
They had some earthquake damage in 2008, and the course was slightly modified from the original version.
We played around 9 AM on a Saturday morning. We were immediately greeted by a member of the cart staff. He loaded our clubs and drove my wife to the clubhouse.
Will in the pro shop had plenty of Aloha spirit. He was helpful getting us signed up.
When we started heading toward the first tee we met Marshall Charlie.
Charlie has got to be the friendliest starter/Marshall on any golf course. He served up aloha spirit by the boatload. We were loaded down with yardage books, ball markers, and orange repair tools.
We were each given a wet mango scented towel for our face, and a bright orange towel for club cleaning.
This course is immaculate. It had been aerated three weeks ago but only a few greens were still impacted.

Every hole is unique. The elevated greens and tees are daunting, and there are plenty of them.
There are also lots and lots of deep bunkers surrounding those green, and there are sand traps in most fairways.
Our weather was close to perfect. It was almost calm and that is rare for Mauna Kea.
A majority of these holes play downhill toward the ocean and the magnificent views.
Hole #3 is the signature hole. It is a long carry uphill, over the ocean, and into the wind.
There are many photo opportunities here, and it's distracting.

Mauna Kea is a golfers dream course. They are having several kama'aina promotions during October, and there are discounted greens fees after 11 AM and 1 PM. There are additional specials on Golf Now.
When our round was finished, we were greeted by another member of the staff. He cleaned our clubs, and handed us each an ice cold mango scented towel.
Nice touches and great memories form Mauna Kea, The Big Kahuna of Hawaiian Golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Nice course & in Great condition.Terrible staff.

Nice course & in good condition. Weather (wind) made a hard course even more challenging. Terrible staff. Only attentive staff was the guy in front telling you where you can't park. No starter, no bag pick-up, everyone there seemed to have something else to do.
Third time there and got the same treatment each time. Won't go back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Fabulous views.

Greens were a challenge...undulating and very protected with bunkers, Good value with Golfnow.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

big island classic

greens were pristine and required a very light touch to avoid a longer comeback...definitely a course that benefits from having played before (I was with a local) so play it twice! Afternoon rate of $150 is a good value - I played Hapuna in the morning, and here in the afternoon for a total of $250...great day of Big Island golf!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 34
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Oregon Advisor

Fantastic course

Mauna Kea was all I hoped for. The course was in immaculate condition. They have an offer that allows you to pay for a round of golf, and get a golf shirt, for aout $15 more than the greens fees alone.
At the first tee, the starter offers you all of the bottled water or soda you would like. Also there are snacks available, at no additional charge. These are trail mix, fruit and granola bars.
The people I played with asked for souvenier ball markers (metal, not plastic), and we were each handed a half a dozen each.
The course is fairly wide open, and is very fair. Loved the views.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Challenging course, well maintained.

Challenging with many bunkers surrounding fast and tricky greens. Still a lot of fun to play. Not the best value for your money on the Big Island and there are courses that are comparable or better with lovely views for less. Is extremely well maintained. Has wide and long fairways. Service is average. All in all would play it again because it is enjoyable.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Great coure in great shape !

Great course in great condition. Just not sure it is worth $250 per round. Luckily GolfNow got us a cheaper rate. Staff was somewhat friendly but not as great as I thought for what they are charging. Had to look for the starter to tee off and valet to get car after the round. Waited 5 minutes for starter and 10 for valet.
Locals call it "laid back" lifestyle. I call it lazy. Maybe we are spoiled when we pay that much for a round of golf but at $250 I believe you should expect it.
Their proshop and restaurant were very nice, Course was fantastic but we got lost a couple of times because there is very little signage and 2 courses (Mauna Kea and Hapuna) that border each other on the back nine. Just read the yardage on the scorecard and you shouldn't tee off at the wrong hole.
Course was immaculate and fun to play. Greens were prsitine and hard to read. Very challenging course but stunning views and great design.
Would definitely play again

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Excellent

An absolute gem. Up there with Pebble Beach, Pasetiempo, Rancho Santa Fe.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0

THE place to play on the Big Island

Very memorable round. Beautiful setting and wonderful course. Well maintained, even the greens rolled decently after recent aeration. Super friendly staff which made for a very relaxed time. Found a special on GolfNow, so the value was excellent. Played it in just about 3 1/2 with the cart. Can't wait to play it again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Mauna Kea Golf Course

Excellent course and pace of play was terrific. Could have finished under 3 hours but many picture opportunities. #3 is a classic.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Best Public Course in the Big Island

Challenging course with unforgettable scenic holes. Fairways are forgivable, but greens and elements makes this course challenging.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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Golf Packages

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FROM $557 (USD)
MAUI | Enjoy 4 nights' accommodations at Napili Kai Beach Resort and 3 rounds of golf at Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, the Royal Ka'anapali Course, & King Kamehameha Golf Club.
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