Makalei Golf Club

This course is awesome. Besides some challenging holes and beautiful, scenic views, there are numerous peacocks, yellow finches, grouse and mongooses that add to the adventure. Definitely a course I will play again.

Good bargain for Big Island golf. Tight course in a jungle setting. Good condition.

Had fun and great value for the money. Challenging course. Friendly staff

Very challenging and up and down the mountains; It was a pleasure to play and in great shape for a public course. The people are super nice and wonderfully friendly. We played for $40 per person at 10:30am via Golf Now and at that rate this was a steal

Fairways need work, greens ran true. Staff attentive

I have played Makalei many times and it is in great shape.

Nice greens and real sand in the traps, although it seems no one repairs their ball marks or rakes sand traps. Warm-up was impossible as driving range was a mile away and range balls were not included, so plan extra travel time. No water was furnished in the carts or on the course, only from the drink cart, which we saw twice - very unusual for Hawaii. We finished at 2:00 PM and the restaurant had already closed, so bring food! Personal service does not exist, especially for out-of-towners.

Very up and down with some very challenging holes, even from the white tees. I don't get the opportunity to ply mountain courses in Texas so it was a complete joy. The peacocks were amazing.

Had a great time, got grouped with a couple of locals who play there regularly and they helped a lot, but the elevation changes were tough to manage at times. Course was in good condition and greens were great. I would definitely play Makalei again.

I NEVER EVER WRITE REVIEWS, BUT THIS DUMP DESERVED ONE BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE ATTITUDE OF THE STAFF, INCLUDING MANAGER AND RANGER. ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.

Best and worst things about the course besides a very very poor staff attitude is the greens. I will circle back to this point at the end, and this review is worth a read. I am an 11.4 index and my game travels well. Looking for a challenge at a fair price before playing some of the nicer courses I came hear. We waited on every tee and every fairway shot and by hole 11 were three groups deep, one teeing off, us waiting on the tee and the group behind us pulling up while the group ahead of us was still on the tee. We called in twice and got the yeah yeah. When I asked for the owner's contact information, they finally sent out a ranger who told us there were no open holes which was a blatant, blatant lie, because we saw them. WORST WAS BESIDES SOME DIRT PATCHES IN THE FAIRWAYS, WE KEPT FINDING ABOUT A HALF DOZED OR SO FRESH BALL MARKS, AND DOZENS OF SCABS FROM WEDGES OR SOMETHING FROM ANGRY GOLFERS. THE RANGER SAID THE CLUB MANAGER WAS ACTUALLY PLAYING TWO GROUPS AHEAD OF US. SO HE KNEW THE GROUP AHEAD OF US LOST PACE AND HIS GROUP EITHER DIDN'T REPAIR BALL MARKS, OR OVERLOOKED THEM ON EVERY GREEN BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE THAN FOUR THAT COULD BE CAUSED BY THE GROUP AHEAD OF US. WHEN I SAY BALL MARKS I MEAN CRATERS BECAUSE THE GREENS ARE REALLY SOFT DUE TO MOUNTAIN RAINS. IN SUMMARY, VERY CHALLENGING COURSE, WITH A VERY POOR ATTITUDE AND CONDITIONS PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE OVERFLOW BUSINESS DUE TO KONA COUNTRY CLUB BEING SHUT DOWN FOR A YEAR. IF YOU WANT TO BE FRUSTRATED WHILE IN HAWAII AND GET A LESSON IN SMALL TOWN CIVICS, GET SERVED YEAH-YEAH ON A PLATE, THEN THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU.

We had a $45 GolfNow deal but would gladly have paid the normal $85 green fee ($65 if you tee off after 11). It's worth every cent. The course was in excellent condition. It slopes between 1800 and 2800 feet and that guarantees stunning views, a pleasant climate and the true challenge that fits a mountain course. The fairways were perfect, with dramatic lava features, beautiful flowers, dozens of magnificent peacocks (we've seen at least 4 of these amazing birds on every hole) and well maintained bunkers. And then there are the Bent Grass greens. Yummie! They are smooth, fast, undulating and every ball bites immediately: championship conditions. Everything here shows that maintenance is done with a lot of love for the course. It's a must play when you are on the Big Island.

This is a well maintained course, and had near perfect greens to putt on. Paid about $55 and was definitely by far the best value that we played on the big island.

The course is an very good condition.
The holes are challenging due to narrow fairways.
Most of the holes are surrounded by nature (trees, bushes) and offering best views from the mountain to Kona cost line.
Many hungry peacocks joining your golf game so that you know you are in the nature.
Value for money is on highest level in comparism to the very expensive shoreline golf courses.

Many beautiful holes, must have pinpoint accuracy otherwise lost ball. All up and down which makes club selection interesting.

Beautiful course! Loved watching the many peacocks and yellow finches. The course was difficult for me, a high handicap golfer, being very hilly with narrow fairways and lots of places to lose balls. But it was fun to play and a great way to spend some time in nature.

Some holes you need to play target golf High up in the mountains lot of wildlife. Greens are small and where in good shape. This is not a course for a high handicap

This is a great little gem of a course up on the maintain side. Beautiful surroundings and wildlife await you while it challenges your game. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Course is on the side of a mountain with 900 feet elevation changes. Hitting in the fairway doesn't mean you'll stay there. Greens were recently aerated so they were a bit slow. The course wasn't very busy so didn't have to wait much. We got a "hot deal" with Golfnow, so it was very affordable for Hawaii.

The course offered some great views with plenty of wild peacocks running around. The layout was beautiful with some very challenging holes. The front nine went up the mountain and the back nine brought you back down the mountain. GREAT COURSE WOULD PLAY AGAIN

Peacocks everywhere. Pheasants and Quail too. PHEASANTS WILL GO INTO YOUR CART FOR FOOD. NO GPS. ONLY THING THAT WE DIDN'T LIKE. HILLY, CHALLENGING AND BEAUTIFUL. DEFINITELY WORTHWHILE.