My wife and I played Quail Run October 10th and 19th and had a great time. The greens were quick but putted true. The fairways were a little thin due to the lateness of the season. The sand in the bunkers was consistant and firm. The course gave a variety of long and short holes along with some elevation changes. The beauty of the area makes for an interesting round of golf. We played at 1:00 pm each day and played in 3 hours 20 minutes and 3 hours 35 minutes. A definite must play in the Sunriver area.

Quail Run Golf Course Review
Oregon Golf Course Reviews

Wailua is a muni course on the east side of Kauai. It plays along the coast and is usually fairly windy. The course is kept in very good condition considering the constant salt spray and the amount of play it gets. The front nine is nearly flat and plays through tall palms. There is a little water in play but no forced carries. The course changes character on the back nine with elevation changes and wooded areas bordering the fairways. The wind is less in play on the back nine. Pace of play can be slow at times since the course is frequently full. The practice area has a large green and a driving range that looks directly at the ocean. This course gives you a taste of Hawaii golf without the $150-$200 price tag.

Wailua Municipal Golf Course Review
Kauai Golf Course Reviews

I played Kauai Lagoons on 11-7. The trade winds were blowing at around 20 mph and we had occasional rain showers. The staff was friendly and efficient. The condition of the course was good but other courses in the area are at least as good or better. Some areas of the fairways and green had small bare spots and there were many areas that were very wet due to recent rains. Several of the bunkers were very wet and some had standing water. The cart had Golf Buddy GPS that was removable so you could carry the across the fairway on hole that were cart path only. I have a laser and found the GPS to be 8 to 10 off of the distances the laser read. The course has many scenic views of the mountains and the ocean. On the Mauka nine there are no blind shots but two holes have long forced carries off the tee. On the Moana nine there are a couple of holes (6 and 7) that have blind shots with hazards in play that cannot be seen. Look online for discounts on this course.

Kauai Lagoons Golf Club Review
Kauai Golf Course Reviews

Kukiolono is a 3173 yard 9 hole muni course on top of a hill that overlooks most of the west side of Kauai. It is by no means a championship course but is a lot of fun, has great views, and is a good warm-up after a 5+ hour flight to the island. The second hole is a 580 yard par 5 dogleg right that is reachable in 2. It plays downhill and downwind on kikuyu grass. The sixth hole is 170 yards across a ravine into the trade winds. The fairways are firm and fast. The wind usually blows 15-20+ mph. The greens were rebuilt several years ago and are now generally smooth and true. The bunkers usually are fair at best since many novice golfers play here and aren't good about raking. The best thing about Kukiolono is that the green fees are $9 for all day and gas carts are $9 for two people for 9 holes. Don't forget to spend 50 cents for chicken feed for the chickens that are all over the course.

Kukuilono Golf Course Review
Kauai Golf Course Reviews

I have played Puakea many times since 2000. The latest time was 11-1-11. It is a "hidden" gem in plain sight. The 2 holes visible from the road give the impression of a course with nothing special to offer. Once you get past those holes the course reveals a combination of great design and beauty. Water is in play on 7 holes. On #3, #12 and # 13 water flanks the green and on #6 a lake fronts the green on a downhill (about 90 feet down) par 3. Water is lateral on the other holes and a straight tee shot will take it out of play. The par 5 fairways are well bunkered. Hole #11 is a great risk/reward par 5 with a choice of upper or lower fairways on the second shot. It plays 510 yards from the white tees into the trade winds. The upper fairway leaves an easier approach but risks going into a very deep grass filled ravine. The lower fairway leaves a steep uphill approach that is heavily bunkered. The greens have some grain but are puttable if you pay attention. I have always found Puakea in very good shape. The staff is the friendliest I have found in Hawaii.The views on this course reminds me of the scenes from "Jurassic Park". Check Ezlinks.com for heavy discounts.

Puakea Golf Course Review
Hawaii Golf Course Reviews

I played Makalei on 10-17. The course is 15 minutes above Kona at about 2000 ft so it is generally 8-10 degrees cooler. It has extreme up, down and side hill lies on nearly every hole. The course gains almost 1000 feet of elevation through the front nine and drops the same amount on the back nine. The greens are very good since they are not the typical bermuda greens found on the courses closer to sea level in Hawaii. Putting is a challenge due to the extreme terrain. Before playing here check to see if the cloud cover has dropped to the level of the course, it is possible to get to the 10th tee and find that you can't see more than 100 yards due to the fog/clouds. I have played Makalei and not been able to see a ball land from the 10th thru 15th holes due to fog. It is a fun course and a change of pace from the rest of the Kona area courses. Well worth the green fee (check Ezlinks.com)

Makalei Golf Club Review
Hawaii Golf Course Reviews

Big Island CC is about half and hour out of Kona but well worth the drive. I played on October 13 & 16. The elevation is around 2000 ft so you are out of the coastal humidity and in the cool breezes. The course is beautiful with diverse vegetation and wildlife (watch out for the turkeys and Ne Ne .) I found the course to be challenging but fair with water on nine holes. A conservative approach can take the water out of play on all but about four holes. The greens had a little grain but the terrain was more important in judging break. The signature hole is the 17th, a copy of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, except this green is surrounded by lava rocks instead of railroad ties and has a beautiful view of Haleakala on Maui in the background. The course as a whole was in great shape, the staff was friendly, and the price was right ($45 on Golfnow.com + booking fee and tax) about $50. this is my new favorite course on the Big Island.

Big Island Country Club Review
Hawaii Golf Course Reviews