Princeville Makai Golf Club - Makai Course

This 7,223-yard layout is the first solo design of Robert Trent Jones Jr. dating to 1971. The routing takes golfers to the ocean cliffs twice - for multiple holes in the middle of each nine - creating incredible anticipation for both encounters. During the winter season, watching for whales spouts and breaches are part of the strategy of playing these holes. Princeville Makai's signature shots must cover ocean coves on the dramatic 213-yard seventh and the really special 338-yard 14th, which can be drivable depending upon the tees and wind direction. The renovation enhanced the bunkers, while removing 20 of them, and upgraded cart paths (including some reroutings). Drainage improvements should help the Seashore Paspalum stay healthier year-round.

The course is amazing. The pro shop workers were friendly and helpful, something I rarely encounter in pro shops. Head pro Andrew Schmidt was friendly, warm and fun to visit with.

CONS: My son accidently hit a nene goose with his ball from over 100 yards away (there was a large group of them) and the marshall drove up like he was filming an episode of Cops and proceeded to get very rude to my kids and impune their motives (all based on hearsay) about hitting the nene goose. Beware if you play anywhere in Hawaii, these geese are everywhere and hopefully you aren't so unlucky to hit one.

They had recently punched the greens and the were pretty rough. GN charged full rate. I'm not sure if the course is charging that right now but I doubt it. I had another tee time tht GN charged the full rate and the course is discounting so I cancelled the GN and reset my tee time with the course...

So I prepaid the online rate and added the sensible weather guarantee to protect me against the possibility of rain. And it poured down rain and I didn’t even golf the conditions were to hazardous. Now golf now is telling me it barely rain which is a complete joke. Total money stolen is about 330 and won’t even take my calls now. So if your smart don’t use this service and don’t use GN there not honest people. Please see video for reference

Really enjoyed playing hear. Only down side was speed of the greens were a bit slow but the beuaty of the course over compenstaed for the green sppeds. If I ever return to Kauai, the Makai course will be on my list to again play.

Easily the best course on the island!

Great layout, challenging yet playable.

And, the views!!! Just wow!

Golf now said we were going to play the same 9 twice, we were surprised by playing 18 holes. Course layout is great. Greens slow. Had a great time.

This is on my Top 100 US Public bucket list and it did not disappoint. The layout is interesting enough to keep your attention. The mix includes subtle to steep elevation changes, some dramatic view ocean holes, standard RT Jones risk/reward decisions, challenging bunkering (just renovated), and two demanding finishing holes played over ponds.

Staff was friendly & helpful, beverage cart options were not cheap but not overpriced either. After speaking with staff, the only thing I would change would be to make the greens a little faster. At least they rolled out better than Kapalua. But the Seashore Paspalum grass on this course apparently has thicker blades than Bermuda and limits their options of cutting very short without risking burning out.

In total , I would definitely come back to this one.

fairway and green was really great , i really loved to shot and short game.

staff was kind and very much helped to proceed play from first till end.

driving range condition was also very perfect to pre-pratice before play.

finding clubhouse,bag drop area was little bit difficult when we enter first ,we had to move around to find it. it would be better to put on Sign board at enterance.

Don’t get me wrong this is a beautiful course with amazing views. My problem was that I paid to play 18 holes on this course and when I got there the back 9 was closed due to course construction. That’s fine but shame on GolfNow for not letting people know that. I played the front 9 twice for my 18. They now have in the app a disclaimer letting people know. Unfortunately for me and others when I played they did not have a disclaimer. Nobody did anything to make it right and that’s what’s irritating. It’s not about customer service or loyal customers at the end of the day. It’s all about money.

They started us on back nine first which was windy but manage able.

We did not see the drink card!

By the time we started the front nine , which is my favorite the wind was so bad that we could not play..

It was disappointing that no one from golf course approached us to see how we are doing, and when we left there was no one to talk to.

I expected when we made the reservation We should have received a heads up that it could be very windy.

This course was all it was made up to be. The condition of the fairways and greens were perfect. The views, especially from 6 and 7 were spectaular. Definatly a must play when in Kauai.

This course would not be worth even half of what they are asking to play 18! Take the 30 minute trip and go play the Muni - clay sand (not white like in pictures) greens not kept up and 0, and I mean 0 service amongst the entire course. Way to ruin the last day of a vacation.

The course is stunning and the entire staff makes the experience special. One of my favorite rounds of golf ever.

Disappointed to find that the greens had large aeration plug holes. No white sand as shown in pictures. Handful of ocean views. Very Long par 3s.