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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

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not a run-of-the-mill resort course!

Great layout and terrific ocean views. Plus lots of wildlife - peacocks, turkeys, roosters, mongooses, pigs…and more I’m sure.

Greens are great, fairways could use some TLC.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Dont go

Long treks between holes. Fairways not brilliant, not a lot of grass on them, difficult to strike the ball properly as they are very powdery. Extremely undulating sending good shots into heavy bushes and trees ( totally unfair). Lots of money to spend here. Greens strangely enough extremely quick although the approaches and surrounds have a lot of thick heavy leaved weeds (?), unless they are meant to be like that. Repaired no end of pitch marks.

Apparently under new ownership. My advice would be leave it off your schedule until it is brought up to date.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The peacock course

Staff very friendly and helpful. Course fairways in poorest conditions ever.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 42
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good layout

Course was fun and playable. Greens were great, fairways were dry and hard pan. Staff was friendly and welcoming. A little pricey due to fairway conditions.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great golf value

We had a great time course is challenging mostly up hill fairway greens need grooming nice Mountain View . Thanks

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful views but a difficult course to walk even with cart

The course is erratically laid out with endless drives up and down this mountainous course. The greens are in better than average shape but the fairways are splotchy and in need of some major repair. The cart paths are in need of repair. The views from the mountains are beautiful and some of the holes quite scenic but the walk from cart to green and back are difficult at times.

I just like getting out to play and this course allowed me to do that. Decent 19th hole amenities and friendly and helpful staff

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Rain Rain Rain

We had Rain on hole number 9....but no Rain check...

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 74
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing

Rugged Terrain Course

Loved the layout. You travel large distances between holes. Staff was extremely friendly. Pace of play was very slow so we skipped the last couple holes .

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

Great course

We loved it, it was beautiful and challenging. We did lose quite a few balls, so be prepared for that if it's your 1st time. Pace of play was a little slow but all the peacocks and birds kept us pretty entertained. We got one of your hot deals so the price was a great value. Nothing fancy but a fun game of golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Jungle adventure!!!

First of all, you take what you think about a mile and a half cart ride up the mountain!!! Their driving range Gould be considered on the side of a cliff!!! Fairways have very little grass, mostly flat weeds. Pace of play would be faster if you weren’t constantly looking for your ball in the brush that lines all the fairways. And this is because most of the fairways slope and there is isn’t that longer grass to hold the ball from rolling into the brush!!! Needless to say, I would never play this course again!!!

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Makalei Golf

Very nice course, long way to some holes. Lots of angled fairways, many drives down the middle end up off the fairway. Great views abound, beautiful Peacocks all over the course.

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