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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
458 Reviews (458)
5 Stars
178
4 Stars
205
3 Stars
53
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.1
93.1%
Recommend this course
424 out of 458 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
21 Reviews (21)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.8
95.2%
Recommend this course
20 out of 21 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
43 Reviews (43)
5 Stars
24
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.4
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.7
95.3%
Recommend this course
41 out of 43 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
458 Reviews (458)

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.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fantastic course!

The wife and I loved the course! The staff was super friendly, and made us feel at home. The breakfast burrito pre-round was excellent. The course was in great shape, and challenging. If you haven't played kakulu grass, it is definitely challenging, even for experienced golfers. The greens were perfect, rolling extremelynwell. We are looking forward to playing here again in the future. PS The wife says, "Ladies, do not be intimidated. It is really a fun course!"

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Fun course with great views

Had a fun time with my dad while on the beautiful island of Kauai. Better cost compared to some of the other insanely expensive courses you can play. Good greens and mostly good conditions, with just a few tee boxes in not great shape. Some locals in front of us clearly "on" something and slowed us down towards the end, taking forever to find their balls, but it was fine. No starters or marshalls, and great staff.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Island golf

First time playing but my dad’s 3rd… good fairways and greens, some work to be done on a few tee boxes. No starters or Marshall’s so on the last 6 or so holes a couple locals were going very slow and looking for their balls left and right, so what could’ve been a sub 4 hr round turned into 4 1/2. But it’s island golf so slower is fine. Beautiful views of the mountains, and overall an enjoyable experience. Great staff too!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course was challenging but fair. Very good greens. Reasonable price for the Island.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Would like to see water stations at a few holes.

I would like to see at least 2 water stations on the course. Maybe one on the front nine and one on the back nine.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 41
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Best greens we played on the island

Staff was friendly, other players were polite. Best course for the price on Kaua’i. The greens were better than other courses charging over double. Good layout. I would definitely recommend and play again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice layout

Course needs some better maintenance, the marshal was a complete jerk, there was virtually no one on the course, we were at the first tee box 10 minutes ahead of our time and he told us to hurry up…never thanked us for paying $350 to play….

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course. verify your tee time

We were set up to play at 9:00am, got the verification e-mail. when we checked in they told us our tee time was 8:40 because a tournament was behind us. I rechecked my e-mail and the time had changed. I had checked it the night before to make sure we were on time because I had the same problem on Oahu with a wrong tee time. Normally no problem, but, they didn't reach out to let us know we got moved up so we were in a rush to make the time. Made the box on time but were rushing the first couple holes to get stretched out and relax to enjoy being in a beautiful place. Ended up playing decent. The surroundings were just as I remembered, with a few more houses sprinkled in. Hawaii is never a bad place to golf. Enjoy

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

Well enough

Front 9 was in really nice condition Back 9 had green traps in repair and tee boxes were in bad condition., un mowed, etc. still really enjoyed our time and enjoyed the various challenges.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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Kapalua Resort Plantation Course - Hole 18

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