Accolades Underscore the Garden Isle’s High Quality Golf-and-Resort Destination Lifestyle Options and Tropical Beach Ambiance
(KAUA’I, Hawaii) – The Kaua’i Visitors Bureau today announces that golf resorts on the Garden Isle have been honored in Golf Digest magazine’s biennial ranking of the “75 Best Golf Resorts in North America.”
The Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa in Poipu made a large leap up the esteemed rankings jumping from No. 32 in 2007 to No. 16 in this iteration of the Golf Digest list. Poipu Bay Golf Course, which hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994-2006 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is adjacent to the Grand Hyatt and one of many amenities guests can enjoy, which include Anara Spa, Pacific Ocean perch views, beaches, restaurants and open air architecture which makes the resort seamlessly mesh with the lush, tropical setting.
Kaua’i Marriott Resort & Beach Club in Lihue ranked No. 60, the same number it registered in 2007, no small feat considering there are 17 resorts on the ’09 list which were unranked two years ago. Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club – designed by Jack Nicklaus – is one of the resort’s favorite guest amenities, along with its family-friendly beach setting, 26,000-square-foot swimming pool (the largest single-level pool in the state), and oceanfront dining. Furthermore, guests will enjoy a $50 million transformation scheduled for completion this fall, which will bring additional luster and options.
To determine the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America, Golf Digest called on its 900 course rating panelists, who also produce the America’s 100 Greatest Courses list. The panelists rated hundreds of resort courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean on a scale of 1 (“awful”) to 10 (“perfect”). The ratings were then averaged and multiplied by 10 to establish a final score. The complete rankings can be viewed at www.golfdigest.com and in the October issue of Golf Digest, on newsstands now.
“For the big-game hunters of golf looking to knock off some of the best courses and resorts in the country, now is a good time to do it,” says Matt Ginella, Golf Digest Travel Editor. “Almost every one of the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America are offering unprecedented stay-and-play packages.”
That’s certainly the case in Kaua’i where the many values and options can be researched at www.kauaidiscovery.com/activities/golfing/.
A third Kaua’i resort – the world-famous Princeville property – was ranked No. 23 in 2007 but was not included this go-round because portions of the Princeville Resort area-the hotel and the Makai Golf Course-have been closed since last fall. The top-ranked Prince Golf Course has remained open. The hotel is currently undergoing its metamorphosis from the acclaimed Princeville Hotel to the luxurious St. Regis Princeville Resort, home to 45 RTJ Jr. designed holes (Prince / 18 holes and Makai / 27). The St. Regis Princeville Resort is expected to be a Top 20 resort in Golf Digest’s next list. The St. Regis is scheduled to open the first week of October 2009 with 18 of 27 holes being renovated at Makai Course planned for a late ’09, early ’10 debut.
“Having three Kaua’i golf-and-resort destination partners so well regarded, as well as our beaches, culture, unspoiled natural beauty, family friendly options, and other attractions is why our brand tagline is what it is – ‘Kauai: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green’,” says Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau.
Golfers who frequent Kaua’i also make sure to play Puakea Golf Course in Lihue. It is a standalone public access course designed by Robin Nelson which ranks No. 13 in Golfweek Magazine’s “America’s Best Courses You Can Play” by state in golf-rich Hawaii.
For more information about the Garden Isle, visit www.kauaidiscovery.com/activities/golfing/ or call 800-262-1400.
About “Kaua’i: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green”
Kaua’i is colored by lush, numerous shades of green – flora and fauna blanket the mountains and juxtapose brilliantly with the turquoise Pacific Ocean, white clouds and blue skies. Buffeted by entrancing trade winds, Kaua’i offers more than 50 miles of white sand beaches – more beach per mile than any other island in Hawai’i. Only four percent of the island is developed for commercial and residential use.
The unique attributes of the golf destination cooperative “Kaua’i: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green” include a plethora of scintillating holes including:
1. Princeville Golf Courses (www.princeville.com, 800.826.1105)
* The Prince Course was rated No. 67 in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses 2009-10” and rated the No. 1 course in the state
* 45 holes of golf – the 27-hole Makai course (currently closed for renovation, scheduled to open late 2009/early 2010) and the 18-hole Prince – all designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
* The St. Regis Princeville Resort is scheduled to open the first week of October 2009
2. Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club (www.kauailagoonsgolf.com, 800.634.6400)
* Voted one of the “Top 50 Resort Courses” worldwide by GolfWorld magazine in its “2009 Readers’ Choice Awards”
* Currently 18 of 36 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus are in play consisting of six holes from the Mokihana Course and 12 holes from the Kiele Course. Included are the original Kiele 16th, 17th and 18th holes. The signature 16th hole – a short par 4 lined on the entire left side by a dramatic ocean bluff requires a precise drive and approach and the 18th that Jack Nicklaus aptly named the “Bear” is a demanding par 4 playing to an island green. The rest of the back nine at Kiele will continue receiving extensive upgrades, including the addition of one new ocean hole which will create a one-half-mile long stretch of oceanfront golf.
* The Kiele Course front nine holes feature the par-3 fifth green encircled by a tropical Mango and Guava tree forest
3. Poipu Bay Golf Course (www.poipubaygolf.com, 800.858.6300)
* Along with Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa rated No. 16 in GolfWorld’s “America’s Top 50 Resort Courses, 2009”
* Four closing holes play atop a 150-foot sea cliff
* Home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 through 2006, it has frequently hosted players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and other major champions
4. Puakea Golf Club (www.puakeagolf.com, 866.773.5554)
* Rated the 13th best course in Hawaii – Golfweek Magazine
* Golf Course Architect Robin Nelson used the natural layout of the land when he planned this layout, testing golfers of all levels and treating them to beautiful views of Mt. Ha’upu and deep lush ravines on several holes.
* Owned by AOL co-Founder Steve Case
Contact:
Dan Shepherd, Buffalo Communications, 703-891-3320,
dshepherd@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
