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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
447 Reviews (447)
5 Stars
174
4 Stars
199
3 Stars
52
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.0
93.2%
Recommend this course
413 out of 447 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.4
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.8
94.1%
Recommend this course
16 out of 17 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
49 Reviews (49)
5 Stars
27
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.4
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.6
95.9%
Recommend this course
47 out of 49 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Puakea's varied, challenging layout delivers beautiful mountain views and consistently solid conditions at an outstanding value compared to other Kauai courses. Exceptionally friendly staff and a smooth pace of play make every round an enjoyable island experience.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6954 yards
Slope 130
Rating 73.1

Ranked the 13th Best Golf Course You Can Play in Hawaii by Golfweek Magazine in 2009, Puakea is a one of Hawaii's best kept golf secrets. Designed by Robin Nelson, Puakea is a fun golf experience for the recreational golfer while still a challenge for the better player when played from the back tees. Located in Lihue across from the Kukui Grove Shopping Center, Puakea is easy to get to no matter where you are staying on Kauai. With its fully stocked pro shop, large grass driving range and practice bunkers and practice green Puakea is a great place to spend the day working on your game. Be sure to visit the Grille for a burger, salad, sandwich or cold beer.

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Puakea Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1997
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Robin Nelson (2003) Robin Nelson (1997) Mark Miller (1997)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS No
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

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Reviews

4.3
447 Reviews (447)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 23
Brunch 10
19th Hole Specials 7
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 50
Elevation Changes 40
Water Hazards 37
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 38
Locals 29
Seniors 29
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 53
Near the Airport 51
Near Local Attractions 13

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great terrain and layout

This is a great layout and variety of holes. Good conditions and price.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/10/2018

Mahalo for the great review, hope to see you again soon!

Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Returned after several years

This is a great course for the money. The layout is good, course conditions were great. Pace of play was very slow. We had a foursome in front of us that had to be 2 holes behind. It finally became so frustrating that we skipped a hole so that we could finish in a reasonable time. No marshalls. It would have been a 5 1/2 +++ round if we wouldn't have skipped a hole. But it was a holiday weekend and rookies were out.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Spectacular value golf

Spectacular scenery next to mountains in Kauai beautiful course pace of play was great great value at $70

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/10/2018

Mahalo Cliff for the great review, hope to see you again soon!

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good conditions good vistas

Plenty of difficulties to consider. Enjoyed the round very much.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/10/2018

Glad you enjoyed the layout. Hope to see you again soon!

Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Must play on Kauai !!

Do not mistake the fact that this is not a "resort" course. Plays in the natural surroundings with plenty of variety on each hole. Greens are in excellent shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Golf especially for the money in Hawaii

The course was in great condition with beautiful views and interesting holes. Pace of play was good. Practice range was okay not great. Got a good tuna sandwich for a reasonable price with chips included. One negative was the lack of covers for clubs on the carts and with a bit of rain during the round that was somewhat concerning. But overall it was a good track.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Maybe the best deal in Kauai?

Played this course twice. After six nice but standard hole, we get to a more hilly part, and we’re in for a great ride. The back nine is very solid, specially the 11 to 18 hole where you have to think your way on a very good design . Golf is not cheap in Kauai but at 85$ this is a very good deal. Also the café is a popular spot and the food is good.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Puakea

Very nice course & fun to play. Unfortunately greens had just been air rated and sanded but was not advised till I arrived at course

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Good, bad and the ugly.

Overall pretty good course. It is challenging and requires some target golf and course management. I am a higher handicapper, 1st time playing this course and 1st time playing this year and I still managed to par a few holes.

I decided to stick with a 3 wood instead of driver to minimize hazard issues from wayward drives. Greens roll fairly true and are pretty good shape.

Great driving range, they have a restaurant but never tried the food yet. bathrooms available but no sink in the bathrooms and more upkeep needed as they were smelly. Golf carts were nice, nice paths to drive on, good signage, friendly staff.. We will purchase a multiplay card to save a few dollars on our rounds.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best 18 hope value on Kauai

This was the 12 th time to play this course. Over the years they keep improving it. Good practice facility as well. Only negative is you have no ocean view holes but you do have some very scenic holes. Fun to play for all handicaps!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Windy weather
Used cart

The Good & the Bad

Weather and course were great, pace of play was excellent (played 18 in 4 hours, 10 minutes). Too bad my game has deteriorated, but then, we all loved the opportunity to be out here.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great value

Great layout — not a ‘trick’ hole on the course. Very nice condition. Very congenial staff. Played as a single on an early Friday afternoon in just under three hours. Only minor gripe is with the bunkers — they were a little ‘chunky’ and I don’t think it was only because golfers in Hawaii apparently have an aversion to raking bunkers! It looked to me that they probably don’t dress them in the morning every day. All in all, though, very enjoyable.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent Value. Loved the course.

While on vacation from Arizona, I found this course and played it about 11:30. The course was well protected so the wind was rarely a factor. It was a challenge from the blue tees, but fairways were pretty wide open. Not really a long hitter with a handicap of about 20-23. The greens were in excellent shape and rolled true but a little quick at times. Had an enjoyable time with playing time of just about 4 1/2 hours. Would certainly play it again and would recommend it to friends.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Sweet surprise

The rebuilt Puakea course is a beauty, with the one exception that it (realistically) can't be walked. Course designers in Hawaii don't understand that golf is a walking game.

Otherwise, it is as wonderful a layout as any in Hawaii, for a third of the price, and good practice facilities. Need challenge? The green tees are 7,000 yards. No green is without sand traps. The old par 3 course holes are still amazing.

Encourage you to give it a try

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Excellent Value

My wife and I golfed here in May. The course is located near Costco which was great. They offer a great discount card there to golf at the course. We only played the front 9 holes, but did a quick cruise around the back 9. The back is deeper into the jungle, whereas the front is very open with less character. I will definately golf here again, it is a good course with several challenging holes. If you want to save some cash, take a zodiac cruise for the ocean views, and golf here.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/20/2018

Mind if I ask what the Costco discount was like? We'll be going to Kauai and staying at our timeshare this May. We hope to get a couple of rounds in.

Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Value

Read about this course on Golf Now so gave it a try. We were pleasantly surprised. $45 green fee including golf cart exceptional value. Great layout, playing from the blues is a good challenge. We are here for 3 weeks and this will be our regular place to play. We can play here four times for the price to play at one of the high end courses. So glad we gave this a try.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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