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Rating Index Rating
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3.6
755 Reviews (755)
5 Stars
182
4 Stars
338
3 Stars
140
2 Stars
58
1 Stars
37
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.9
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.1
Amenities
2.3
78.4%
Recommend this course
628 out of 755 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.5
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.7
Layout
4.0
Pace
4.1
Amenities
2.4
StaffFriendliness
4.4
68.2%
Recommend this course
15 out of 22 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.5
47 Reviews (47)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
12
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.7
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.0
StaffFriendliness
4.6
74.5%
Recommend this course
35 out of 47 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
This mountain course delivers a thrilling layout of dramatic elevation changes, steep terrain, and resident peacocks roaming the tee boxes. Friendly staff, relaxed pace of play, and strong value make it a rewarding Big Island experience.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Woodland
Par 72
Length 7091 yards
Slope 144
Rating 74.3

Malakei Golf Club wanders through a colorful landscape of indigenous flora and fauna, providing a home to a variety of wildlife including peacocks, pheasants, and wild turkey. Situated in the Kona region of Hawaii, which is widely renowned for its coffee farms, the course offers dramatic elevation changes that range from 1,800 to 2,850 feet. The golf course plays through lush forests accented with lava tubes, cinder cones, and an ancient stone wall that dates back over a century. The fast bentgrass greens, rolling fairways, and cooler climate are reminiscent of a course in northern California but the stunning panoramic views will definitely remind you that you are in Hawaii. Malakei Golf Club's 15h hole is a signature hole thanks to its memorable scenery. It not only offers an incredible view of Maui's 10,000-foot Mount Haleakala, it is also your best chance for a hole in one.

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Makalei Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1992
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Dick Nugent (1992)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No. Only with permission.
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Food & Beverage

Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Hawaii (2016 #18)
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Reviews

3.6
755 Reviews (755)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 12
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 37
Bunkers 16
Thick Rough 15
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 31
Advanced Golfers 18
Locals 18
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 22
Convenient to the City 19
Near the Airport 17

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Pace of play was a problem

The state of Hawaii started to offer a reduced fee for residents recently. The course was extremely crowded with three groups on every hole. Sometimes it was 10 minutes between shots which really made the round long and not as enjoyable.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
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 Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 13
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Another Beautiful day at Makalei

Perfect weather. Kamaaina Rate even more perfect. I have golfed Makalei once a month over the past 2 years and I am always Happy. Price, Price, Price makes me happy.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesomeness!

Awesome staff, from the pro-shop to the starter were awesome! Course was beautiful and the local wildlife had no problem sharing their course with us! Over all great experience!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Hidden gem

This course is fabulous. It’s elevation changes make it challenging and it’s scenery around the course and through vistas of the beach and ocean from 2000’ above sea level make the warm ocean days refreshing on this course.

The mandatory cart requirement keeps rate of play moving as the consistently changing elevations would challenge the healthiest triathlete.

This course is just fun and has peacocks and a few geese here and there for an added attraction. Their new pro-shop and adjacent structure are presently under renovation but they still have some cart service on the course. I’m reminded of going to a wine tasting at Dick Steltzner’s Napa Valley winery in the 70s where the tasting was held in his Quonset hut and the tour included his recently cut tunnel for his wine storage and future tasting room location. Makalei is well designed and it’s staff keep the course in incredible shape and easy to navigate. We loved it!

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

Fun course

This course was challenging but fun with great views. Pace of play was bad at 5:30 hours and the course was wet. Short par 5s make them getable.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Bring lots of balls

Course to slanted with no catch for balls so they roll into the jungle on good hits. 1 hole steep uphill, ball rolls backwards until it finds a divot

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Ball eater

Very friendly staff but the course not so much. Good shots roll off the fairway and are lost. Peacocks are a nuisance. One hole so uphill that ball rolls backwards until it finds a divot to stop in.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great course, one of my favorites in hawaii

Makalei is a course that gives you a true Hawaiian feel. Great elevation changes and layout. There are a ton of peacocks on the course which my wife and I found added to the overall experience. It’s at a higher elevation so it was much cooler than the coastal courses we played in our trip.

The value for money is great. If we come back to the big island we would undoubtedly play this course again.

It’s very close to the airport so if you have a late flight out it makes for a good last day activity.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Fun layout. Generous fairways. Hilly Fare test.

Had fun here. Had trouble finding my way around. Could use some signs for sure. Lots of up and down which I like. Place is a jungle with lushness everywhere. Peacocks and geese were fun. Lots of construction being done. For the rate I enjoyed it and would play here again. Nice and cool temps compared to lower elevation courses. Green speeds were inconsistent but I think it’s the grain.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Mountain course

Mountain course We had a great time playing this mountain course that had an elevation drop of 1000 feet. Staff are very friendly.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Golf with Peacocks

Beautiful course, Beautiful views, peacocks all over. Just fun. Never an even lie.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
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