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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 12
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

nice course

This was my second time playing this course when we have been visiting Kauai. It is a nice course with some interesting holes and it was in pretty good condition. We just had the bad luck of getting behind 3 groups of women who were slow enough to add an extra hour plus to our round. There was no marshall on the course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/01/2018

dhags5 - Didn't see any sexism in the comment...he just stated the slow groups ahead were females...would you have been upset if he'd said the 3 groups of old men or young kids? Just stating facts.

Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/01/2017

Why is it relevant that the slow groups in front of you were women? Please reconsider your future comments with a less sexist world view.

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best Course on Kauai

Had a wonderful round here!

Staff is super friendly and helpful.

Interesting and challenging layout with great views of mountains shrouded in mist.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Challenging and beautiful course

This was my second time playing the course. I found it much more fun this time and a better course than I remembered from two years ago. There's quite a variety of holes, wth the back nine more challenging and scenic. But there are a lot of traps, and I found many of them. This course is a good buy compared to many of the scenic courses on Kauai.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Last round

Before heading back to the mainland this was my last round. Had great breakfast to start and some locals to play with as I was a single. Had a great round and will be back the next time on Kauai

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

DD

Awesome! Staff were extremely friendly and helpful, especially Richard

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Tale of two courses

This 18 has dramatically different 9's. The front wanders through a residential area and is ok but nothing spectacular. The back is situated in the countryside and very nice, very scenic. Overall condition is very nice, particularly the greens...large and lush. The bunkers are typical volcanic red sand and thick but pretty well placed. All in all, a bargain and fun for a public course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice fairways and greens

This course was very nice. No ocean view but enjoyed playing the course. Had challenging bunkers with good water hazards as well. Staff was wonderful. Will play here again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hidden Gem

When someone tells you a course is across the street from Costco, your initial response is huh! This amazing course winds its way through residential areas and then in and out of the rain forest. Highlights include dramatic par 3s over water and unique changes in elevation. It is a bargain at its price and should not be missed. We've played it for years on our trips to Kauai and are never disappointed. Have fun!!!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Course but Slow Play

Was a beautiful, well maintained golf course on a beautiful Hawaiian day with light trade winds. However, the pace of play was SLOW...took almost 5 hours to complete our round, but will be back. Beautiful views.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Pace of play on the back nine is slow and there is no marshal to speed things us. The starter did not monitor the groups starting and as a result people would go off the first tee when ever they felt like it.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course value anywhere, but especially Hawaii.

This course provides a great golf Hawaii experience. Course was in excellent condition, very friendly staff, beautiful mountain views, good pace of play (even though they were busy) and a great greens fee. We will definitely play here again on our next visit to the island.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Value

Very friendly and welcoming staff. Fun and challenging course. Felt it was a good value for Hawaiian golf. Small but well-stocked pro shop. Grill options and drink cart could be improved.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing

Good price

The staff was outstanding and very friendly. There had been a lot of rain and the course was pretty muddy. It was the cheapest course to play on the island, but I'd pay a little more for a nicer course. Great food at the restaurant.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

KAUIA GOLF

GREAT COURSE BUT SENIOR TEES SHOULD BE ADDED

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Judy

Good course among all the pricey ones on the island lots of sand!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

A real gem, even if a little scruffy

This is a top-notch layout, starting from the very first hole with a stream lined with lava rocks snaking along the right side. Highlight is the par 3 6th with the dramatic downhill elevation change. This course has managed to remain homey and low-key, although you're afraid that some developer will come in and make it all resort-y any day now and start charging double the price or more. It would still be worth a visit. It's really an excellent, fun to play and it remains THE golf value on the island. There were some scruffy spots here and there, though. Around a few greens, there were some bare dirt patches, and several greens had that crabgrass-like weed that marred the putting surface, although they stay very flat and remained putt-able.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great day on the course

It is always a pleasure to play this course.....always very lush.....very scenic and challenging. We. Will be back

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