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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
450 Reviews (450)
5 Stars
175
4 Stars
201
3 Stars
52
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
10
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.0
92.8%
Recommend this course
416 out of 450 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
14 Reviews (14)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.3
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.7
92.9%
Recommend this course
13 out of 14 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
48 Reviews (48)
5 Stars
28
4 Stars
17
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.4
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.7
95.8%
Recommend this course
46 out of 48 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
450 Reviews (450)

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 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great value, beautiful course

Our first of 3 rounds this week and we are tempted to just go back here over and over! Wonderful course, beautiful views, challenging. Highly recommend!!

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

Fun and challenging golf course

The person who I played with thought this golf course was challenging but very fair for 18-23 handicap golfers.

I have played high end and high dollar courses in the past and my experience here was very similar.

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Last played many years ago. Greatly improved layout

I last play Puakea over eight years ago. At that time the front nine was a bit scruffy - a bit like a cramped municipal. That's all gone. It's still a relatively short course, but the elevation changes and layout are now truly worthy of the beauty of Kauai.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 57
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful and challenging

The course was in good condition given the fact that it was just aerated. It will challenge any legal of golfer yet its fair. The restaurant is outstanding with many non golfers visiting it. The pro shop staff is friendly and helpful.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Puakea Golf Course

Worst course in Hawaii, Apparently they have no greens keeper, all bunkers were overgrown with weeds, Fairways full of weeds, spotty mowing, course was in very very poor condition,

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
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
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Much improved from years ago. Now lovely

I played Puakea many years ago. The back nine was always great - lush and scenic but the front was a bit scruffy & cramped. This has been radically changed with the new layout so that the whole course is a pleasure to play

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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 Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best Kauai golf

Course is in great shape. Greens are quick and true. Each hole has a character of it's own. Love to play here.

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

Good course for the money

Good public golf course on Kauai. The greens were in excellent shape and the course was fun to play. The back nine plays much harder than the front nine.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
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 golf course

Love this course.. Back 9 a bit more challenging than front. Only two ocean holes, but landscaping so varied/nteresting that you hardly miss them

Recommend cart for this course. No gps on cart. Bring your rangefinder.

Course really well maintained, impeccable greens

Cost is very reasonable . Green fees include the cart and practice range balls.

We did not eat at the restaurant but the food smelled delicious. We will plan to do that next time we play!

Definitely, one of Kauai's hidden gem golf courses

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging and fun

This course was fun and challenging. Played with my wife with rental clubs (PXG) ant throughly enjoyed the round. Greens were a bit slower than they looked and I left 80% of my putts short. Fairways were in great shape. Only criticism is the bunker conditions. Most had grass intruding into trap and a few had large clumps of grass that had been pulled out leaving large clusters and gaps. I would play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
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

Great course in Lihue

If I lived here I'd be on this course daily. Beautiful views.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course with friendly staff!

My son and I are average golfers and this was our first time on Kauai. We had a 9:40 tee time and a free bucket of balls, so we had plenty of time to practice on the driving range and putting green. They paired us with a young couple that matched our level of play. Course is perfect, red sand bunkers are well placed and much prettier than normal sand traps. Local and tourist golfers were polite and the overall feel was chill. Great experience. Easy booking online with $60 deposit.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Golf Day

The course was challenging but not so much to frustrate your play. Rental clubs were new and an excellent brand. PXG’s. We had a fun day!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great staff

Loved the course needed a little work around bunkers but loved my round

Staff was friendly and helpful

Greens were great rolled true

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
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
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 31
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Incredible Golf in Hawaiian Paradise!

Pace Of Play was very good overall. No one was behind us so we did not feel pushed at all. We did have a threesome in front of our twosome and occasionally waited a couple minutes for them.

Course Conditions were Excellent! Spectacular views!

Staff Friendliness was Excellent!

Value for The Money was good $271 for a Twosome with a cart.

Course Layout is Excellent! Long par 3s and some challenging Par 4 & Par 5s!

Off-Course Amenities are Excellent! Loved the food at the Puakea Grill! WAY BETTER than any typical golf club! We played there 3 times in one week we loved it so much!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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Golf Packages

The Ocean Course at Hokuala Stay & Play Package

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KAUAI | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences, Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club, or The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort and golf at The Ocean Course at Hokuala.
Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences

The Ocean Course at Hokuala Stay & Play Package

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KAUAI | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences, Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club, or The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort and golf at The Ocean Course at Hokuala.

Savannah Harbor Stay & Play Golf Package

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SAVANNAH, GA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa and golf at The Club at Savannah Harbor.
The Club at Savannah Harbor

Savannah Harbor Stay & Play Golf Package

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SAVANNAH, GA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa and golf at The Club at Savannah Harbor.

Princeville Makai Stay & Play Package

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KAUAI | Enjoy lodging accommodations at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, or The Cliffs at Princeville and golf at Princeville Makai Golf Club.
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