(KAUA’I, Hawaii) – Three Kauai golf courses earned places in Golfweek’s “America’s Best Courses You Can Play” by state rankings, released in print and online.
The following properties were recognized:
• Princeville Makai Golf Club at The St. Regis Princeville Resort (No. 4)
• Poipu Bay Golf Course at Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa (No. 5)
• Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club at Kaua’i Marriott Resort at Kalapaki Beach (No. 10)
Each year hundreds of experienced Golfweek raters survey the nation’s best courses based on ease and intimacy of routing, variety of holes, conditioning and memorability.
“These three courses, along with other island gems like Puakea and Wailua Golf Courses, encapsulate why golf is such a popular draw to the ‘Garden Isle'” said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua’i Visitor’s Bureau. “The accessibility of such beautiful and well-regarded layouts and the rich amenities found at their respective resorts truly make Kaua’i an ideal destination.”
Princeville Makai Golf Club remained the No. 4-ranked public course in Hawaii. Located on the North Shore, the Robert Trent Jones Jr. design provides panoramic ocean and mountain views, challenging golfers as it winds its way to the magnificent coastline. Earlier this year, the course jumped 15 spots and ranked No. 65 on Golf Digest’s list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” for 2015/2016.
Poipu Bay, which hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf for 12 years, was the highest riser of the three honored courses, leaping five places since last year’s rankings. Another Robert Trent Jones, Jr. masterpiece, Poipu Bay is an ocean-links style course set between lush mountains and 150-foot ocean cliffs on Kaua’i?s sunny south shore.
Kaua’i Lagoons is the lone Jack Nicklaus Signature course on Kaua’i. The recently enhanced Kiele Moana Nine boasts the longest stretch of continuous oceans holes in the state.
For more information about golf on Kaua’i visit www.golfkauaihawaii.com, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KauaiGolf, or call 800.262.1400.
About Kaua’i Golf
Kaua’i offers more than 50 miles of white sand beaches — more beach per mile than any other island in Hawaii — with only five percent of the island developed for commercial and residential use. The Kaua’i golf destination is a cooperative of five world-class golf courses and three award-winning resorts:
1. Princeville Makai Golf Club (www.makaigolf.com, 808.826.1912)
• Re-opened in 2010 following an extensive renovation. The Makai Course has since been ranked by Golf Digest as one of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” 2015 and ranked No. 4 by Golfweek in Hawaii’s “Best Courses You Can Play” 2015.
• Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the 18-hole Makai Course incorporates serene lakes and stunning ocean coastline; the leisurely 9-hole Woods Course winds through native woodlands against a backdrop of lush mountains
• The St. Regis Princeville Resort is home to the Halele’a Spa and The Kaua’i Grill by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
2. Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club (www.kauailagoonsgolf.com, 800.634.6400)
• In 2015 was voted No. 10 in Hawaii in Golfweek magazine’s “Best Courses You Can Play” by State. It has also been named one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Golf Courses” by MSN Travel.
• Amenity of the Kaua’i Marriot Resort on Kalapaki Beach, which recently underwent major upgrades to all of its guestrooms, suites, restaurants and pool deck
• The championship 18-hole Kiele course features the longest continuous stretch of ocean holes in Hawaii with over ½ mile of oceanfront golf.
• The front nine holes are highlighted by the par-3, fifth green encircled by a tropical Mango and Guava tree forest
• The only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf experience on Kaua’i
3. Poipu Bay Golf Course (www.poipubaygolf.com, 800.858.6300)
• Along with Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa, Poipu Bay has been honored by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top golf resorts in the U.S.
• Named to Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” 2013-2014 and GOLF Magazine’s “Top Resort Courses by State” rankings in 2014
• 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
• A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design, the course underwent renovation and unveiled the eco-friendly Seashore Paspalum turf on all greens in 2011. Its four closing holes play atop a 150-foot sea cliff.
• The Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa completed a renovation in 2012 and features a water playground with river pool, waterfalls, a saltwater lagoon, tennis and the celebrated Anara Spa
4. Puakea Golf Course (www.puakeagolf.com, 866.773.5554)
• Consistently rated a favorite among Kaua’i golfers in local media outlets and ranked as the No. 15 course in Hawaii by Golfweek
• 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
5. Wailua Golf Course (http://www.golfkauaihawaii.com/wailua-golf-club, 808.241.6666)
• Regarded as one of the most beautiful municipal courses in the U.S., Wailua was recently named the No. 3 public course in Hawaii by Golf Channel
• The course’s original holes date back to the 1920’s. The course expanded to 18 holes in 1962 under the direction of Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer Toyo Shirai.
• Easily accessible from the Lihue airport, the scenic public course is a favorite of island golfers and tourists alike.
About the KVB and HVCB
The Kaua’i Visitors Bureau is a division of the Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau, which is contracted by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawai’i’s tourism agency, for marketing management services in North America. The HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawai’i tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawai’i’s economic goals, cultural values, and preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.
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