GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
3.5
764 Reviews (764)
5 Stars
185
4 Stars
340
3 Stars
141
2 Stars
60
1 Stars
38
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.7
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.1
Amenities
2.3
73.9%
Recommend this course
634 out of 764 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.4
26 Reviews (26)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.5
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.4
StaffFriendliness
4.3
65.4%
Recommend this course
17 out of 26 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.4
40 Reviews (40)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.0
Value
3.4
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.2
StaffFriendliness
4.4
67.5%
Recommend this course
27 out of 40 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
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.

Book a Tee Time at
Makalei Golf Club
Powered by GolfNow.com

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)
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

Reviews

3.5
764 Reviews (764)

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 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Liked the layout/routing

Good routing of holes with elevation changes and rolling fairways. Tees need some TLC. Greens in good shape. Not busy when we played as a twosome in 3 hrs.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 33
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice layout but conditions iffy

This place could be awesome of they kept the fairways in better shape. Very nice layout and greens were decent; but they need to hand out ballmark repair tools and give lessons to patrons on how to repair ballmarks on the greens!!!!

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great day at Makalei!

Stunning views, good course conditions. Huge elevation changes and lots of side hill or up and down hill lies. Some very beautiful holes, and interesting as well. Had an awesome day and the staff were great. Incredible value for the cost.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Bring a range finder

The view from the driving range was nice but this course winds its way though the jungle for miles. Play with someone who has been there or bring lots of balls. The peacocks are all over and great to look at. A range finder is a must as scorecards and tee distances don’t jive. Seems about a mile from clubhouse to driving range and first tee. The course has extreme elevation changes. If you decide to go play it more than once.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Love Makalei

You will find this course enjoyable if for nothing more than the scenery and wildlife. It can be very tough, you have to keep the ball in or close to the fairway. You have to adjust for elevation differences too. If you lose a ball just take a drop where it went out and continue playing.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Great Course

First time golfing the course. Great course for

The money. A lot harder than expected. Spectacular views.

Mike

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good value for money

It was our first game of the year and we enjoy thé course. T-off boxes need some TLC, bit course condition was ok.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Find a different place to play

This course is in terrible shape, tee boxes are scruffy, some bunkers have weeds/grass growing 2-3 feet high, greens are very shaggy.

You drive for about 10 minutes up the mountain, to get to the first hole, through very little directional signs, then you finish up 18 and have to drive down through 2-3 holes to get back down to the clubhouse

The scenery and the peacocks would be the only reason to play here

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Interesting course

This is a one of a kind experience. It is worth trying but not because of the golfing value. The course is situated in the cloud forest at 2500 feet elevation with astonishing scenery. Spectacular flora and fauna rarely seen anywhere, unique not just to a golf course. The course design is interesting and challenging, unfortunately the course is not very well maintained. Greens and bunkers are in bad shape, putting is a lottery not a skill test. It is about spending 3-4 hours in a fantastic environment and doing some golf on the side. If the course were better maintained that would be an exceptional course, this is just below average golfing in a stunning environment.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Incentivized Review
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Greens need work....

The course was challenging and very scenic. My only concern was for the tee box area and the greens. The tee box areas we not level and sometimes muddy; the greens were bumpy and need to be rolled and flattened.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesome

Great course and would recommend to all. Going back again before I go home

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Challenging course to play!

This is an impossible course to walk. I don't think you are even allowed to walk the course and rightly so! It takes about 5-7 minutes in a gas powered golf car just to get to the first tee up a volcanic mountain. If you were trying to walk, you would be exhausted before you even tee'd off!

You are either on the course or you are dropping a ball where it disappeared into the jungle! And sometimes they disappear just off the fairway or green. Bring at least an extra 4-5 balls! Lots of elevation change here. You are either hitting up a mountain or down it! Rarely a level shot or lie.

Beautiful views of the ocean from afar and lots of wildlife. Peacocks looking to be fed from your cart. (Don't do it! It is not allowed and bad for the birds!) Nene and little yellow finches all over the place along with plenty of mongoose.

And there were quite a few areas where the wild pigs had torn up the fairways.

This is not a beautifully manicured resort course and if you play the ball down, you will really need to be on your A game to get close to your handicap, .but it is a beautiful natural environment and a truly great golf experience in a uniquely Hawaiian environment.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Heavenly views and temperatures

Great changes in elevation (ranging from 1,800 to 2,850 ft) and sloped lies make this course very challenging. Ocean views, including glimpses of other Hawaiian islands, compete with peacocks, turkeys, grouse and colorful birds for your attention. Perhaps the greatest attraction is the very friendly staff and the clientele, mostly locals who know a great deal when they see one. Mondays this month cost only $39 for 18 holes, including cart. Cart is mandatory, understandable when you see how steep the paths are. An unforgettable experience.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
4.0
Previously Played

Let it fly

Makalie is a mountainous course that has a bit of target golf style but an absolute pleasure to play. Greens are undulated and partnering with a local is a huge advantage. The tee decks are a bit shaggy but the greens and fairways are groomed and player friendly. Many beautiful viewpoints. The hole routing has it all too, up hill, down , fades and draws. I played it twice and by far a much better round due to course knowledge. Love the peacocks and occasional pigs. Clubhouse could use a wraparound deck and larger, windowed cafe.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great layout and views

Love the layout and views. The greens were fine and fairways okay but tee boxes need some work. I would include it on my list of courses to play on the Big Island.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Nearby Courses
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Private
0.0
0
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Private
0.0
0
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Private
0.0
0
Kaupulehu Kona, Hawaii
Resort/Private
4.0
1
Kaupulehu Kona, Hawaii
Resort/Private
4.0277777778
7
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Private
4.5
2
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Public
4.1183401049
866
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Resort
4.4706624186
1053
Waikoloa, Hawaii
Resort
3.9490196078
125
Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Resort
4.7892001245
148
Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Resort
3.9803921569
16
Golf Packages

Best of Maui Golf Package

REQUEST QUOTE BELOW*
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

REQUEST QUOTE BELOW*
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 Bay Course

Maui Golf Around Package

REQUEST QUOTE BELOW*
MAUI | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Napili Kai Beach Resort and golf at Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, the Royal Ka'anapali Course, Ka'anapali Kai Course, or King Kamehameha Golf Club.

Maui Golf Around Package

REQUEST QUOTE BELOW*
MAUI | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Napili Kai Beach Resort and golf at Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, the Royal Ka'anapali Course, Ka'anapali Kai Course, or King Kamehameha Golf Club.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account