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
Fun course to play!
Great course. My wife and I enjoyed playing and the staff was very friendly. The starter was very nice and had our rental clubs all ready to go with some good tips about the course. Hole 6 was a great par 3 hole!
We play here every visit!
We like Puakea, it is a fun course and the staff is really nice. The food (sandwich, to go) was good and priced right. We could have gotten the same rate without Golf Now...
They don't have any over-length clubs and that was a bit of a problem for me. I'll rent elsewhere next visit, but Puakea will be on my must play list.
Nice track
Nice course but the greens are not in the best of shape and slow.
this course is challeging
this course has some tough holes with narrow fairways,and long uphill holes.lots of nice scenery also.
Every hole is different on this interesting course
My wife and I really enjoy this course. The holes are interesting and fair with lots of challenges. The designers did a great job of using the topography, creating water features and working round the ravines. The bunkering is good. the course condition is not the greatest but is quite adequate. This year the grass on the tees is in trouble but the greens are OK if a little slow. Usually the speed of play is good and it is rarely crowded. The staff are helpful and very friendly. Great short game practice area and grass tees on the range.
Great value for a Hawaiian course
This course is a real gem, with interesting holes, meandering through some jungle yet close to the mountains and yet almost overlooking the harbor. On one hole we seemed near enough to a cruise ship funnel to be able to hit a wedge into it. Only complaint is the greens were very slow. Noontime greens fee was a good value.
Great value, Very good condition. Nice folks
Good, challenging course for me (bogey shooter). In very good condition--fairways, traps, water, greens. With Golf Advisor discounted rate, very good value compared to other Kauai courses.
Puakea golf outing
We were cruising and made a tee time for 2 people ferm the ship. We were late. No problem. Very relaxed atmosphere oa busy Saturday. Good rental equipment and fair price for balls and tees. Well laid out course for all handicap levels.
Paradise on Kauai
The course is well laid out without any shared borders on fairways, unlike the muni course on the island. Length is reasonable and winter green conditions were a bit off from their best. Local regulars are quite helpful on placement so buddy up at the first. Price point is very fair among the choices on Kauai.
January 15 2014
We were treated by the staff very well, we were paired with a couple of good guys and had a great time. I would recommend this course to anyone.
Good for the price
I have played this course every yr for the past 5-6 ys during Jan/Feb. Quite easy to get a low price tee time on golfnow.com. and now the only course in Kauai where that is possible. Pace of play is reasonable taking a little more than 4 hrs. I did not find the staff with the usual customer friendly that I have seen in the past. Fairways are fine, but some of the greens have a variety of grass growing making putting difficult. Still it remains one of the best deals in Kauai.
Best Deal in Kauai
We found this course on Golf Now and not by local ads. The staff met us in the lot and walked us through everything. Great Staff! The funny thing was he said, don't judge us by the first 2 holes (because they backed up to Costco and a strip mall), Once we played the first two holes the course opened into a beauty of nature and course design. It was a fantastic day of golf and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the Princeville course we played the next day. Only this course was $125 less! Thank you Golf Now!
Puakea: The best golf value on Kauai
Don't let the first impression of the Puakea Golf Course fool you. Beyond the trailer clubhouse and the flat holes behind the local Costco hides a tropical paradise.
Puakea opened as a 10-hole course in 1997 after a hurricane halted construction. It was rescued when AOL founder Steve Case purchased the land in 2000. Original architect Robin Nelson was brought back to complete all 18 holes, which opened in 2003.
The 6,954-yard layout remains a local favorite for its scenery and affordability. Green fees are a steal once golfers get outside of the housing development of the first five new holes and into the jungle for the original routing. Great views of Mt. Ha'upu come later in the round.
The sixth hole requires a heart-stopping 176-yard downhill shot over water. The two par 3s on the back nine -- the 228-yard 13th hole and the tiny 134-yard 16th hole -- are a study in contrast.
Puakea can be a little rough around the edges compared to the higher end resort courses on the island. The traps might be unkept and the greens slow, although they're minor annoyances considering the price. The clubhouse doesn't look like much, either, but the food inside is much-improved and a pretty good choice for lunch.
A little mix of a resort and local course
Puakea is a great option on Kauai for those who want a great Hawaii golf experience but without the resort price tag. The opening holes aren't much, but holes start getting really interesting midway thru the front nine and by the 11th hole you're playing a world class Hawaiian golf course. It's also a great place to hit balls and work on your game with full facilities.
golfing in hawaii
absolutely beautiful day! great service from the parking lot to the end of the round. one person in pro shop - not so excited. must have had a hard day (was at the end of the day)
overall, nice to be able to use golfnow.com.
I have played this course several times this November & December
The person running the proshop is consistently irritable and difficult. The sand traps are in very poor condition.The back 9 is beautiful with exciting holes over canyons and water.
Better than curb appeal
Golf course is fun and can play as long as 6900 if you want more length. I would play it again as it's actually better than it looks from the street. It's forgiving for the average golfer.
Starts out ordinary and continues to get better, especially the back nine. Greens could be faster.
First few holes are boring but continues to get better with back nine holes being very good.
Great deal for a good course on Kauai!
$55 or 59 is cheapest deal for a good course on Kauai. Even cheaper than wailua. Fun holes galore, staff is really good to us.
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