Puakea Golf Course
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 72 | 6954 yards | 73.1 | 130 |
| Blue | 72 | 6471 yards | 70.6 | 128 |
| White | 72 | 6061 yards | 68.8 | 124 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6061 yards | 75.1 | 129 |
| Red | 72 | 5225 yards | 64.8 | 115 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5225 yards | 69.8 | 119 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green M: 73.1/130 | 404 | 558 | 407 | 180 | 359 | 176 | 389 | 510 | 438 | 3421 | 401 | 560 | 397 | 228 | 390 | 446 | 134 | 455 | 522 | 3533 | 6954 |
| Blue M: 70.6/128 | 390 | 530 | 367 | 149 | 342 | 176 | 364 | 489 | 410 | 3217 | 363 | 528 | 356 | 200 | 369 | 403 | 120 | 420 | 495 | 3254 | 6471 |
| White M: 68.8/124 W: 75.1/129 | 373 | 476 | 348 | 141 | 331 | 156 | 330 | 466 | 386 | 3007 | 329 | 510 | 339 | 171 | 345 | 380 | 109 | 393 | 478 | 3054 | 6061 |
| Red M: 64.8/115 W: 69.8/119 | 296 | 426 | 321 | 120 | 302 | 113 | 249 | 411 | 346 | 2584 | 306 | 446 | 298 | 118 | 310 | 328 | 100 | 310 | 425 | 2641 | 5225 |
| Handicap | 7 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 16 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 12 | 4 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Par three Photo submitted by MrsJones on 09/28/2025
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Photo submitted by tspeters11 on 07/18/2025
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Photo submitted by u345335751 on 09/28/2024
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Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 08/07/2024
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Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 08/07/2024
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Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 08/07/2024
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Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 08/07/2024
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Par 3 with elevation Photo submitted by Roach8623 on 04/09/2024
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Photo submitted by Clifford7195090 on 03/10/2024
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Photo submitted by Clifford7195090 on 03/10/2024
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Photo submitted by Clifford7195090 on 03/10/2024
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Photo submitted by Clifford7195090 on 03/10/2024
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Photo submitted by Clifford7195090 on 03/10/2024
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Photo submitted by Clifford7195090 on 03/10/2024
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Photo submitted by u314159637207 on 02/27/2024
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Photo submitted by u000001363079 on 02/14/2024
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Photo submitted by johnb15 on 07/09/2023
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Photo submitted by Nickhedr on 01/18/2023
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Photo submitted by lmyers4371 on 10/04/2022
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Number 6 @Puakea Photo submitted by rcsacstate on 12/07/2019
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The sixth hole at Puakea plunges downhill. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 01/29/2014
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Photo submitted by garngarn on 10/30/2013
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Photo submitted by garngarn on 10/30/2013
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View from 6th hole tee box Photo submitted by u000007520885 on 07/03/2013
Excellent
This is the best course on Kauai for the money! The green speed is perfect and the greens are in great condition. The staff is extremely professional. Many thanks to the starter Chris.
Good times
Very professional staff- nice course - good paradise value!
Happy to hear you enjoyed the course and staff! Hope to see you again soon!
Thanks for playing Puakea and we're happy you enjoyed the course. Hope to see you back!
Wow
Great day. Gem on Kauai, grea6 layout, very good conditions. Great vistas of mountains. Only negative hole 9 you play along side road, traffic noise.
Mahalo for playing Puakea and for the great review and feedback! Hope to see you again soon!
Aloha! Thank you for joining us at Puakea. Glad you like the layout, conditions and views. Sorry about the issue on the 9th holes. We do hope to see you return for another round in the future.
A gem of a course right in Lihue!
Great course, fast , true greens. Bunkers were a little washed out from the rains a few days ago.
Pace of play was excellent! Many beautiful holes and an interesting layout.
Thanks for rating us a GEM! Mahalo for playing Puakea, hope to see you again soon!
Mahalo M. Patrick for the great review. Hope to see you again soon!
Great terrain and layout
This is a great layout and variety of holes. Good conditions and price.
Mahalo for the great review, hope to see you again soon!
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.
Spectacular value golf
Spectacular scenery next to mountains in Kauai beautiful course pace of play was great great value at $70
Mahalo Cliff for the great review, hope to see you again soon!
Good conditions good vistas
Plenty of difficulties to consider. Enjoyed the round very much.
Glad you enjoyed the layout. Hope to see you again soon!
Must play on Kauai !!
Do not mistake the fact that this is not a "resort" course. Plays in the natural surroundings with plenty of variety on each hole. Greens are in excellent shape.
Great Golf especially for the money in Hawaii
The course was in great condition with beautiful views and interesting holes. Pace of play was good. Practice range was okay not great. Got a good tuna sandwich for a reasonable price with chips included. One negative was the lack of covers for clubs on the carts and with a bit of rain during the round that was somewhat concerning. But overall it was a good track.
Maybe the best deal in Kauai?
Played this course twice. After six nice but standard hole, we get to a more hilly part, and we’re in for a great ride. The back nine is very solid, specially the 11 to 18 hole where you have to think your way on a very good design . Golf is not cheap in Kauai but at 85$ this is a very good deal. Also the café is a popular spot and the food is good.
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
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.
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!!
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.
Maui Golf Around Package
Maui Golf Around Package
Best of Maui Golf Package
WOW, Steven, thanks for the great review. Glad you enjoyed Puakea!