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Rating Index Rating
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3.6
763 Reviews (763)
5 Stars
185
4 Stars
340
3 Stars
141
2 Stars
60
1 Stars
37
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.3
76.4%
Recommend this course
634 out of 763 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.6
27 Reviews (27)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.3
Value
3.7
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.5
StaffFriendliness
4.3
70.4%
Recommend this course
19 out of 27 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.4
39 Reviews (39)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.5
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.2
Amenities
2.2
StaffFriendliness
4.4
69.2%
Recommend this course
27 out of 39 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
763 Reviews (763)

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 15
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Gorgeous with abundant wildlife, but…

This is a mountainside course in the jungle super beautiful with peacocks everywhere and they were calling out most of the day which was really cool. Everything is lush and green and you travel over 8 miles by cart throughout the course. The first hole is about 10 minutes away or so along with the driving range up mountain. The driving range is very rough and not ideal. The practice balls were all dirty, but it was fine to get a couple of warm-up swings. You drive downhill so most of your drives seem very far. Several straight up fairways can make it difficult lots of Undulations and off camber fairways. If you don’t hit your ball on the fairway 85 to 90% of the time it’s gonna be lost as the first cut is still very deep, even balls that were hit super well even a foot off of the fairway you may not find it. that was the only frustrating part, I had great shots that should’ve been really easy to find my ball, but I found myself hunting around a lot. Wild pigs have rutted up the sides of the fairways on many holes and the greens were OK but many people don’t fix their ball marks. You get all weather on this course I had sun, humidity, and heavy rainy mist, so it adds to the challenge, but I was OK with it and just adjusted. Bringing extra balls is a must for this course unless you are super accurate every time. I think if they widened the second cut and trimmed that down by 6 to 8 feet on each side, it would be a much better course to play. Regardless, I am glad I played the course. I got it on a hot deal for $60 but not sure I would come back and play again due to how difficult it is to find your ball even a foot or two off the fairway. The bunkers need a lot of work as well. It is a very laid-back course and I had it all to myself, which was really cool.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Mountain Course for sure

Makalei is a very steep mountain course. If you miss the fairway your ball is most likely lost, because the rough is quite long and shaggy. There are plenty of peacocks pheasants and other birds to see along with some beautiful mountain and ocean views.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hidden Gem

Hope this course remains hidden so that I can continue to play 31/2 hour golf!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Scenery

The scenery and ride between holes is simply majestic. Every hole is a decent clip through the jungle. Peacocks and pigs on course. The pigs ruin the course though by tearing it up. I play desert golf in Las Vegas thats why I loved it so much. If you are used to playing forest golf find another course.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Mountain course with inclines and side hill lies. Fun course to play. Great place when weather is warm at the coast. I will plan again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

course has lots of potential,

Great layout. Very challenging and hill. With lots of work could be premier course!

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fairways need work. Greens need work. There is no clubhouse.

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

Real Hawaii golf

This is where the locals play, amazing layout

Hard course but so much fun

Lots of wild life and great cooler weather

Can’t wait to get back

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

find hawaiian wild life

good golf course. beautifull sceanery, tropical botanic. wild life. friendly ptaffs are impressive.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Save your money

One of the worst courses I’ve ever played. No course maintenance, rough conditions. The only part of the day that was worth. The peacocks!

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very slow pace of play. Course needs work.

Not much in the way of positive feedback. From the start received two bottles of water with no ice for the cooler. Driving range in need of maintenance (only worn grass or mats to hit from). The Starter was very pleasant and offered good advice for playing. Then proceeded to play a 5+ hour round waiting on each hour 5-15 minutes. Highlights were the views on some of the holes and the peacocks. Normally would look forward to playing, but will pass until improved conditions.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Classic

This is Hawaii golf . Amazing views . Wildlife abounds . Cool staff . A must play for any level of golfers. It is super chill might have to do some passing of slower players but easily accomplished. Great course layout .

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 27
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Weather was the issue. When you go, check the weather, it rained hard and I was in the clouds so couldn't see the fairways or the greens. Would love to play this course in the sunshine!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Makalei 3/21

Weather was great so we chose the opportunity to play this course. It’s going through a remodel so things are somewhat crazy. The course it self is extremely challenging and the terrain will beat you up. Was not a fan of the current layout. When you finished on 18 you then traveled past 2-3 holes to get back to the parking area which meant you were passing others playing those holes. The value of the “hot deal” made it worth trying, would never pay there normal rate to play again. Wife loved the peacocks!!🦚

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

unusual course

driving through a rain forest to get there...assortment of hills and un-seen greens....qit when the rain got too bad

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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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

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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

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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.
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