At Princeville Resort on Kauai, Makai Golf Course continues to reign
PRINCEVILLE, Hawaii -- Designed in 1968 and opened in 1971, Robert Trent Jones Jr. returned 40 years later to redo his original 27 holes at Princeville into the new Makai Golf Club. The result is a stronger 18-hole layout; one of the best golf courses in Hawaii and one of the top resort plays in the United States.
Playing to a par 72 and more than 7,200 yards from the back tees, Jones says the course is "an easy bogey, but a difficult par," with its wide fairways and extensive bunkering, which now features bright white sand instead of red. As part of the redo, the course also got Seashore Paspalum on the fairways and its new greens, which are meticulously maintained.
There are five sets of tees and a select number of Albatross tees, that moves the forward tees up even more on certain holes to make the course playable for all levels.
Operated by Troon Golf, the course also offers sunset tours in the late afternoon for resort guests who just interested in taking in Makai's spectacular views.