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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
459 Reviews (459)
5 Stars
179
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
93.2%
Recommend this course
425 out of 459 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
10
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
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.8
95.5%
Recommend this course
21 out of 22 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
44 Reviews (44)
5 Stars
25
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
95.5%
Recommend this course
42 out of 44 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
459 Reviews (459)

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 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once 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 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing layout and views!

Good bang for the buck. Fantastic layout. Course upkeep mediocre including alot of ruined areas by wild pigs. Not disappointed though and would play it again.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Puakea course

Interesting layout. Had several shorter par fours, but once on the green the challenge had only begun. Conditions were above average for a daily fee venue. I’ll go back.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great views and layout for this course!

My husband and I had not played this course since 2017, since after that it was closed and then, when reopened, was 3 to 4 times the price (now $179). After reading some of the reviews, we were hesitant to book, but we have great memories of this course, and decided to give it a try after finding an online price of $129. The scenery and great views are still there to enjoy and every hole is unique (awesome par 3 #6). Range balls are included and the practice areas are great. We found all the staff members welcoming and helpful. Once on the course, the bunkers don't seem to be maintained at all, and there are several other areas which need some work. Although we enjoyed our round, we still thought the green fee was too high for the conditions of the course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
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 Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course, beautiful layout, friendly staff, grill not designed for a golf course

I love this course! It’s beautiful with challenging and interesting holes. It winds through beautiful wooded areas as well as wide open fairways with stunning mountain vistas. The staff is very courteous and helpful. I’ll definitely come back to play here!

The only shortcoming is that the grill has a very wide variety of offerings but ordering- even from the 8th hole- is a chore. After scanning the QR code on the cart you then have to create an account to submit an order. A bit cumbersome when you are trying to focus on playing. If you don’t do this and think your order is complete it’s not.

Any hot food - hot dog, BLT, or anything requires cooking means a 20 minute wait at the turn if not ordered ahead.

Otherwise a fabulous place. Just bring some snacks if you don’t want to eat there.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout poor maintenance

The course and layout is beautiful as long as you hit it in the fairway and on the green all day. Should you veer off the preferred route the bunkers and rough are unmaintained.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout

All good if you keep it on the fairway and greens. Bunkers and rough are a little unkept. Beautiful layout and views.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 50
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A little rough

The course is a little rough. It looks like they are cutting back on maintenance...or it is winter!

I respect the dress code...but I showed up unprepared. I was reminded that collared shirts are required. I get it and respect it. I just failed to pack correctly. The odd part was that the staff in the pro shop and restaurant did not seem to be following the dress code.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 50
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course is a little rough

The course has some rough spots. It looks like they have been cutting back on maintenance.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This course is wide open. Good for a warm up round for more difficult courses .

The sand traps need some work and some of the fair way need attention and tee boxes areas need a lot of attention.And the green needs more consistent speed !

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

Beautiful course, slow restaurant and unfriendly staff

The course was beautiful and fairly challenging so definitely worth experiencing.

The staff were not very friendly or helpful.

The restaurant is super slow (though food was tasty). Give yourself an extra hour before tee time if you want to order food. There was no drink carts coming around either.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Vaca golf

Of course any day golfing is a good day but on vacation in Kawai you can not have a better time. Sun was shining and the course was beautiful.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Used to be a good deal

I've been playing Puakea pretty much exclusively for on my numerous trips to Kauai. Costco had offered passes for $100.00 US for 2 green fees prior to the pandemic. EXCELLENT VALUE. My Canadian wallet really appreciated the price due to our lousy exchange rate. The course then shut down for 2 years during the pandemic. I eagerly anticipated playing there again once it re-opened. Well, it did re-open to green fees of $188.00 US, but you could get a DEAL at only $119.00 US all day long. They don't even offer Twilight rates. You pay full price no matter when you tee off. All of a sudden it's not a great deal anymore. Not even a good deal. I called the pro shop prior to my most recent trip to Kauai in Oct 2023 and told them that I would be on the island for 3 weeks and would be playing at least 12 rounds. I told them I would use my hard earned Canadian money to play Puakea exclusively while I was there if I could get a bit of a deal for that many rounds. Not even a penny discount was offered. As a result I played my 12 rounds on Kauai, but only a couple of times at Puakea. The course is not so busy that they should be able to ignore that many guaranteed green fees. I've played there numerous times in the morning at 7:00 am and completed my entire round of golf by 9:30 taking my time. The starter would tell me that nobody has gone out since I teed off. The pro shop staff would tell me that they're quite busy that day with 30 players going out today. My course sends that many golfers out in an hour at my home course. I think they need to re-think their business plan to include non-residents and their exchange rates. .

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Pukea golf

Excellent course. Not crowded at all. That’s kind of confusing on the back nine trying to find holes. Otherwise a great question play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Enjoyable Course

Four Texas Golfers who play a lot at home. Older guys from 70 to 82. We each felt good about playing this course. And would play it again. But we leave now to go to Waikoloa on The Big Island. Wonderful golf awaits us there

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
First Time Playing

just ok

Overall decent course, but better options on the island including the municipal course. Pro shop staff was friendly, but after checking in early and hitting balls at the range we were approached by another staff member and told we didn’t comply with the dress code. Since we were extremely early one member of our party drove back to the hotel to change. Although I was told I was ok for the day, the member came back again to continue to comment on my top. It was a very odd interaction and start to the day. My error for not seeing the requirement, but the attitude from the staff member was unfortunate. Definitely wouldn’t head back to play.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Awesome

Course was in great shape with a very playable design. Good location of water features and fairway bunkers. Pace of play was great, only ran into 1 other group on the back and they let us play through. Would definitely play again on our next visit to the island.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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Kapalua Resort Bay Course

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MAUI | Enjoy lodging accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and golf at the newly refined Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, the Royal Ka'anapali Course, the Ka'anapali Kai Course, or the King Kamehameha Golf Club.
Kapalua Resort Plantation Course - Hole 18

Best of Maui Golf Package

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MAUI | Enjoy lodging accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and golf at the newly refined Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, the Royal Ka'anapali Course, the Ka'anapali Kai Course, or the King Kamehameha Golf Club.
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