Makalei Golf Club
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | 72 | 7091 yards | 74.3 | 144 |
| Blue | 72 | 6698 yards | 72.4 | 140 |
| White | 72 | 6161 yards | 68.7 | 134 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6161 yards | 75.0 | 133 |
| Red | 72 | 5242 yards | 65.6 | 118 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5242 yards | 69.4 | 121 |
| Peacock (W) | 72 | 3582 yards | 60.3 | 103 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue M: 72.4/139 | 385 | 342 | 598 | 407 | 176 | 473 | 410 | 184 | 423 | 3398 | 404 | 565 | 290 | 222 | 392 | 502 | 193 | 321 | 411 | 3300 | 6698 |
| White M: 69.6/134 W: 75.3/127 | 350 | 293 | 580 | 388 | 154 | 435 | 351 | 164 | 391 | 3106 | 375 | 544 | 269 | 199 | 355 | 478 | 161 | 278 | 381 | 3040 | 6146 |
| White II M: 67.2/122 | 350 | 293 | 580 | 388 | 154 | 435 | 351 | 164 | 391 | 3106 | 375 | 544 | 269 | 199 | 355 | 478 | 127 | 278 | 381 | 3006 | 6112 |
| Red M: 65.6/118 W: 69.8/118 | 297 | 259 | 495 | 306 | 123 | 389 | 331 | 144 | 313 | 2657 | 352 | 441 | 209 | 157 | 308 | 425 | 110 | 234 | 349 | 2585 | 5242 |
| Handicap | 13 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 2 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 11 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 4 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Restaurant, Beverage CartsAccolades
-
Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Hawaii (2016 #18)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
-
Photo submitted by u430456762 on 06/03/2025
-
Photo submitted by u430456762 on 06/03/2025
-
Photo submitted by u430456762 on 06/03/2025
-
Photo submitted by u6887246 on 05/05/2025
-
Photo submitted by jpsimon10 on 04/21/2025
-
Photo submitted by dkang819 on 12/19/2024
-
Gas carts climb the mountain! Photo submitted by oxiAZY6d6XHGgzHjMOaU on 11/18/2023
-
peacocks every hole Photo submitted by Suzie4548328 on 05/25/2023
-
Photo submitted by Suzie4548328 on 05/25/2023
-
Marshall at work! Photo submitted by u235328896 on 01/04/2023
-
Photo submitted by SHendricks01 on 12/30/2022
-
Photo submitted by SHendricks01 on 12/30/2022
-
Pretty boy. Photo submitted by ramonteleone on 11/09/2022
-
Photo submitted by u000006193225 on 10/26/2022
-
Photo submitted by mdiefend on 02/25/2022
-
Photo submitted by DUBUTOR on 02/07/2022
-
Really hard to beat this view! Photo submitted by fishmanjimmye on 01/08/2022
-
Blood or jam Photo submitted by u00000701478 on 11/23/2021
-
Bunker Photo submitted by u00000701478 on 11/23/2021
-
Tee box Photo submitted by u00000701478 on 11/23/2021
-
Photo submitted by u00000701478 on 11/23/2021
-
Photo submitted by schaucarol on 11/09/2021
-
Photo submitted by sckrause on 10/20/2021
-
Photo submitted by sarguy on 08/10/2021
-
Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 01/05/2021
-
Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 01/05/2021
-
Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 01/05/2021
-
Photo submitted by GlenHampton on 01/05/2021
-
Photo submitted by Bruce6093729 on 11/12/2019
-
Photo submitted by coryno on 08/07/2015
-
Photo submitted by coryno on 08/07/2015
-
Photo submitted by coryno on 08/07/2015
-
Photo submitted by coryno on 08/07/2015
-
Photo submitted by coryno on 08/07/2015
-
Photo submitted by coryno on 08/07/2015
-
Beautiful approach on Par 5 Photo submitted by Pete1444216 on 11/10/2012
A lot like a goat ranch greens are infected with weeds , no ball wash or any signs for the hole no yardage posted . It’s like there’s no management,
Mountain gem
This is an amazing course. Very humble base station here about as humble as it gets but a great team and a truly remarkable golf course. Extremely memorable. Highly recommended
Theres enough vertical for a ski hill but holes are all well laid out. It’s a core course squared. Totally in nature. May get a little fog which makes it even more surrral. One of the very best golf experiences in the world.
Play the side of a Volcano
Never played this course before. When I walked in the pro shop the first thing I was told was " you know this course is rated the toughest in Hawaii" He was right.
Course is hilly, rough is tough, moguls on every fairway.
It is an experience though. Environment is awesome. Fairways cut through the jungle on the side of a volcano. Where else can you do this. Sunday was very crowded. 5.5 hour round. That's too much. Try a weekday
It is worth the experience.
Makalei Mess
The clubhouse and facilities have been under repair for more than a year. Check in and toilets are in trailers. Signage for the 10 minute drive up to the driving range and first hole is poor. Rental clubs were pretty beat up and my right handed set had a left handed putter. Fortunately, one of my playing partners loaned me a putter. Management has removed the yardage markers in the fairway making it difficult to judge distances without a GPS. Many of the greens had polenta and other weeds which caused your put to change direction. Definitely not worth it unless you are only there for the scenic views.
What an experience!
We literally played on a bird sanctuary. Great course layout with interesting holes. Lots of up and down elevations. So much fun (if you have a positive mindset). Stay in the fairway and you will be fine. If not, bring extra balls. We saw the Marshall a lot so he kept the flow of play amazing and it was a Saturday. Super nice guy!
Some greens on back 9 have weeds affecting the roll but…the scenery of the entire course makes it totally worth playing. Just enjoy it for what this course is. You will not regret playing it. Again, what an experience.
An adventure to play.
Good layout on side of mountain. Challenging course. Condition not good but playable. Several greens nearly taken over with a foreign grass or weed. Play the ball up and enjoy your round.
Best value near Kona
Had my longest drive in golf (in a golf cart). The drive from the club house (a construction module) to the driving range is about 5 minutes). Remember that range balls are given out at near the club house, not the range - so back down the hill I went to fetch the balls I paid for and back up again. All in all, a 20 minute journey. Had two minutes to hit balls and were told to go to the tee. Frazzled and a bit out of sorts, we began our round. Thankfully, we played well as the pace was very fast up until the last few holes. Course is well kept for the terrain and environment. Temperature was perfectly mild. Some fairways are very uphill and some are very downhill.
All in all, a good value for around here. Would play again and be leased stressed now that I know the layout.
Great views!
All stuff is very nice! Course is beautiful! You can see peacocks around— so exciting! Will come back!
Hawaii Mountain Golf
My son and I had a great time, the course views were great. A course that’s as you would image when you think of Hawaii mountain golf. Tons of elevation change on the course. I’d let people know that there is no clubhouse at the moment. Driving range was awesome. The greens on the first 11 or 12 holes were good, the remainder were having weed issues. We saw Turkeys, Peacocks (even an albino), Nene and of course Chickens/Roosters. Small, undulating greens. Course was decently tight. I could see if you were having a bad day, losing quite a few balls would come into play. All that being said, we were on vacation and had a very nice day on the course.
Fun course to play
I enjoy playing this course , very hilly, wonderful views, challenging designs. Much more grass than last year. Biggest problem is whatever type of grass is invading the greens☹️☹️, makes putting a real challenge.
Challenging
Makalei is a hilly targety layout, miss the fairway and you will have grassy lie. Undulating greens. Gotta bat your ball often on uneven lies. Good fun anyways. Too bad the cafe/bar was being renovated, always love the post round sitdown with new friends and cold beer.
In very poor shape
This course was in very poor shape. The fairways are weeds . Lots of weed patches on the green that will affect your putts. Some bunkers are out of play as they don’t have sand in them. There are many beautiful views from this mountain layout. If money was put into the course it could be great ! Lots of beautiful peacocks running around - including an albino.
Mauna Lani Auberge Stay & Play Package
Mauna Lani Auberge Stay & Play Package
Ka'anapali Stay & Play Package