Princeville GR
Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii
Golf Digest, 2005
Princeville Resort
Prince Course, Princeville, Kauai County, 808-826-5001, $125-$175. The Prince Course is named after Prince Albert, a kinsman of Kamehameha the Great. Ranked No. 63 among Golf Digest's 2005-2006 America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterpiece is scenic, with panoramic views of the Pacific and the emerald mountain range, and challenging (perhaps too much of a test for high-handicappers because of the many forced carries). Heed the starter's warning and don't enter the thick bush. The islands might be devoid of poisonous reptiles, but the jungle has a merciless plant with razor-sharp leaves.
Skilled players will appreciate this wonderful layout with elevation changes, uneven lies and deep bunkering. Its length (7,309 from the tips) also favors "A" players, although five sets of tees make it appear more inviting to those of varying skills. Unlike a lot of highly touted courses, there is no sameness here and, because of the hilly terrain that winds through thick native vegetation, there are no parallel fairways.
The Prince Course has perhaps a half-dozen holes worthy of signature distinction. The seventh, at 205 yards over a ravine stretching down to Hanalei Bay, is a beautiful beast. And the tee for the 390-yard 12th sits 10 stories above a mango-lined fairway that appears no wider than a bowling lane.
Makai Course, Ocean/Lakes/Woods, Princeville, Kauai County, 808-826-3580, $105-$125. Trent Jones Jr. created three distinct nines. Any combination is spectacular, but those who desire the challenge of trade winds and target golf might prefer the Ocean/Lakes combo. The Makai has been the site of the World Cup and the LPGA World Match Play Championship, among other professional competitions. Despite Trent Jones Jr.'s reputation for target design, the Makai has an old-school feel to it. Fairways are generous, albeit canted toward thick Bermuda rough, water hazards and bunkers containing coarse sand not easily negotiated. Several Ocean holes provide breathtaking views of the deep blue, and the back tees on the seventh offer a 360-degree view of Kauai's North Shore.
Another beauty is the par-3 third, which drops 100 feet from tee to a water-guarded green. The Lakes' finishing hole, 544 yards from the back tee, is classic risk-reward target golf. Cut too much off the dogleg left and you'll have to fish your ball out of the lake; too little and you're through the fairway and possibly out-of-bounds.
Best Bar Nearby: The on-site bar made Golf Digest's 2008 50 Best 19th Holes list, as well as AOL Travel's Best Beach Bars. Golf Digest says, "Look out the windows of this bar/restaurant and you see the 18th hole, the Pacific Ocean and the cliffs of Bali Hai: 'It looks like a painting'; with a view like that, the bar 'might as well be made of cardboard,' but it's 'a really low-key yet classy' spot to grab a drink. AOL opines, "When Kauai’s lush sea cliffs are mirrored in the surface of the infinity pool, a simple 19th hole becomes a mesmerizing happy hour. Surf hero Laird Hamilton considers Hanalei beach his home break, watch for him and other big wave riders. Let the pros ride the rollers, Makana’s mai tais are a great reason to stay on dry land."
