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Rating Index Rating
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3.6
754 Reviews (754)
5 Stars
182
4 Stars
338
3 Stars
140
2 Stars
58
1 Stars
36
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.9
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.1
Amenities
2.3
79.3%
Recommend this course
628 out of 754 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.5
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.6
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.0
Amenities
2.3
StaffFriendliness
4.4
69.6%
Recommend this course
16 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.6
48 Reviews (48)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
12
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.1
StaffFriendliness
4.7
77.1%
Recommend this course
37 out of 48 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
754 Reviews (754)

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
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Tremendous value and a fun track

A 1,000 foot elevation change on the front nine - nice and cool at the top. Some challenging holes. Tee boxes, greens were fine, and the fairways ok. Peacocks, wildlife and a stunning setting. All contributed to a great day

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

We loooved the Peacocks!!!!

Fairways need attention also too many uphill holes for a high handicapper. What's the purpose of the stone fence built all the way across the fairway on the first par 5 hole? It's not quite a "natural" hazzard, is it?

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0

If you like slope...

Played twice and the difference in weather is amazing. First day cloud and wet but not cold and the second was sunny but not to hot. the views were tremendous! The course is on the side of a mountain and the holes are formed with it. Watch your putting...two factors-the mountain and the ocean. Good luck!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

The elevation change was interesting.

The peacocks and other birds were fun to see. Playing with the different elevation changes made this an interesting course to play.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Didn't like this course after playing the village course at waikola

Fairways in terrible shape. Peacocks were nice to see though.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Beautiful ocean views.

This course is very fun to play with lots of elevation change, fantastic views and beautiful peacocks on every hole.

The beginning experience is very poor. For the third time had no golf carts available to go to the driving range. The clubhouse and starter staff was ambivalent to this and made one feel as if we were interrupting their day.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 70
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 1000 Contributor

A beautfful course with the bonus of hundreds of peacocks and ocean views

This is a great course; terrific layout, ocean views, hundreds of peacocks greeting golfers on tee boxes and fairways!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Very interesting layout

Good course for the price I paid on golf now,good condition,rental clubs(taylormade)were ok!gave me a chance to try Taylormade clubs.I would play this course again,I had good weather but could be wet if clouds roll in,course is quite high in elevation,lots of uphill,downhill holes,par 3's off the blues are a challenge.Fun course to play!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Spectacular scenery and creative golf course architecture

Scenery, views spectacular! Greens terrific shape, but smallish. Fairways were sparse and thin, Bunkers were fair but need more sand. Extreme ups and downs on holes and course slope and rating justified. Fun challenge...no 2 holes the same!

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 57
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Pennsylvania Advisor
Verified Purchaser

Worth playing for $49

This is a course we always play when on the Big Island. The peacocks and the bent grass greens (unusual for Hawaii) make the course fun. The fact that the course is at 2500 feet of elevation makes the ball go a long way. Play from the Blue tees.

The greens were in ok shape but could have been cut lower. There was very little grass on the fairways.

Worthwhile playing, but try to get the $49 rate.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

It is fairly challenging and has anumber of great holes.

Enjoyed playing this course. Some of the fairways were somewhat sparse but did not detract from enjoying the course.
Great staff---friendly reception and accommodating starter. Overall...excellent. will play again. Good value.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Fun course with lots of elevation changes!

Lots of uphill and downhill shots hard to judge distances especially with rental clubs, which were TM Rocketballz and were in great shape and played well. Had a lot of fun lots of peacocks to see and some amazing views! Pace of play got a little slow but the Marshall noticed and got on the group to pick up the pace which was nice!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

The course has great holes but some you can not see your landing area. Most of the greens are small but run true.

Excellent course that is very challenging. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Excellent Course!

We had a wonderful experience on this course. It is a beutiful course, that was a great value in Hawaii.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

The course is too difficult for the average player

While there are spectacular views and some awesome holes this course often penalizes good shots due to generally poor fairway conditions. There are areas of hard and sparsely turfed fairways that do not stop a well struck ball from rolling into to trouble or worse. There is not enough rough before you reach unplayable ground. On a positive note the greens and tees were in very good condition generally.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Makalei, Hawai`i

Course on side of mountain. Front 9 uphill and Back 9 coming back down. Very scenic setting in the country with peacocks everywhere. Course, facilities and equipment (carts) well maintained.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great fun course, lots of up and down, nice greens, plenty of peacocks,

Great course, well maintained, beautiful settings with the wildlife abound. Wonderful staff. Have a jacket in bag as it does get cool sometimes at the higher elevation.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Good course with Bird Sanctuary as pleasant add-on.

This is Hawaii, for goodness sake. A value at twice the price.
Thank you, GolfNow.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

spectacular but difficult

We watched the weather carefully, as this course is in an area that can be wet, but we were blessed with a beautiful day. Every hole at Makalei has it's own unique personality, with plenty of challenges. This is a shot-makers course and scoring will be difficult, but even if you shoot a high score, the views, peacocks, and unique features (lava tubes!), make it worth the effort. I've payed a lot more money for a lot less golf course.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

fun course to play

excellent all the way around.. I'm not long on answers, get to the point and write it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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