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3.8
331 Reviews (331)
5 Stars
112
4 Stars
161
3 Stars
43
2 Stars
9
1 Stars
6
Conditions
3.5
Value
3.6
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.6
84.4%
Recommend this course
307 out of 331 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
30 Reviews (30)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.3
96.7%
Recommend this course
29 out of 30 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
34 Reviews (34)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.6
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.1
88.2%
Recommend this course
30 out of 34 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6954 yards
Slope 130
Rating 73.1
Book a Tee Time at
Puakea Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1997
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Robin Nelson (2003) Robin Nelson (1997) Mark Miller (1997)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes
GPS No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies No
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

Reviews

3.8
331 Reviews (331)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 23
Brunch 10
19th Hole Specials 7
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 50
Elevation Changes 40
Water Hazards 37
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 38
Locals 29
Seniors 29
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 53
Near the Airport 51
Near Local Attractions 13

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This course is wide open. Good for a warm up round for more difficult courses .

The sand traps need some work and some of the fair way need attention and tee boxes areas need a lot of attention.And the green needs more consistent speed !

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course, slow restaurant and unfriendly staff

The course was beautiful and fairly challenging so definitely worth experiencing.

The staff were not very friendly or helpful.

The restaurant is super slow (though food was tasty). Give yourself an extra hour before tee time if you want to order food. There was no drink carts coming around either.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 47
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A little rough

The course is a little rough. It looks like they are cutting back on maintenance...or it is winter!

I respect the dress code...but I showed up unprepared. I was reminded that collared shirts are required. I get it and respect it. I just failed to pack correctly. The odd part was that the staff in the pro shop and restaurant did not seem to be following the dress code.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 47
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course is a little rough

The course has some rough spots. It looks like they have been cutting back on maintenance.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Vaca golf

Of course any day golfing is a good day but on vacation in Kawai you can not have a better time. Sun was shining and the course was beautiful.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Pukea golf

Excellent course. Not crowded at all. That’s kind of confusing on the back nine trying to find holes. Otherwise a great question play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Used to be a good deal

I've been playing Puakea pretty much exclusively for on my numerous trips to Kauai. Costco had offered passes for $100.00 US for 2 green fees prior to the pandemic. EXCELLENT VALUE. My Canadian wallet really appreciated the price due to our lousy exchange rate. The course then shut down for 2 years during the pandemic. I eagerly anticipated playing there again once it re-opened. Well, it did re-open to green fees of $188.00 US, but you could get a DEAL at only $119.00 US all day long. They don't even offer Twilight rates. You pay full price no matter when you tee off. All of a sudden it's not a great deal anymore. Not even a good deal. I called the pro shop prior to my most recent trip to Kauai in Oct 2023 and told them that I would be on the island for 3 weeks and would be playing at least 12 rounds. I told them I would use my hard earned Canadian money to play Puakea exclusively while I was there if I could get a bit of a deal for that many rounds. Not even a penny discount was offered. As a result I played my 12 rounds on Kauai, but only a couple of times at Puakea. The course is not so busy that they should be able to ignore that many guaranteed green fees. I've played there numerous times in the morning at 7:00 am and completed my entire round of golf by 9:30 taking my time. The starter would tell me that nobody has gone out since I teed off. The pro shop staff would tell me that they're quite busy that day with 30 players going out today. My course sends that many golfers out in an hour at my home course. I think they need to re-think their business plan to include non-residents and their exchange rates. .

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Enjoyable Course

Four Texas Golfers who play a lot at home. Older guys from 70 to 82. We each felt good about playing this course. And would play it again. But we leave now to go to Waikoloa on The Big Island. Wonderful golf awaits us there

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

What happened to Puakea?

This used to be one of the better courses on Kauai. Not sure what happened but course is in bad bad shape. Grass growing in the bunkers, fairways and tee boxes in bad shape too. Greens, however, were really nice. No beverage cart. No towels to clean your clubs. Staff shrugged their shoulders when asked what happened. Customer service is gone. Used to be my favorite course on Kauai. Go to Wailua instead.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Not the same course

My husband & I have played this course numerous times on our visits to Kauai over the last 15 years. Prior to this it was 2019 and before Covid. An 18 hole round that cost us $65 pp then now cost us each $179.00!. The tee boxes need work,there us no sand in the sand traps(only red dirt) and the wild boars have torn up the fairways. No bathrooms on the back nine due to the construction of new houses. The bathroom on the front nine was filthy. For what used to be (and still could be) a beautiful course we were very disappointed all in all.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Poor value/ overpriced

Have played this course many times over the years. In the past it was a good value. Since Covid and perhaps different management the course is NOT a positive experience. The back nine is riddled with ruts from Javelins (wild boars). The manager, Diego, is a little despot ordering staff like a little dictator. The green fees are extreme trying to recover the lost revenue from Covid..This course needs to be more user friendly and get “Real” about it’s rates and services.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Lots of Potential

Nice layout, needs a lot of work. The greens were nice. I would check it out again when we come back. They are trying to improve the course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
First Time Playing

just ok

Overall decent course, but better options on the island including the municipal course. Pro shop staff was friendly, but after checking in early and hitting balls at the range we were approached by another staff member and told we didn’t comply with the dress code. Since we were extremely early one member of our party drove back to the hotel to change. Although I was told I was ok for the day, the member came back again to continue to comment on my top. It was a very odd interaction and start to the day. My error for not seeing the requirement, but the attitude from the staff member was unfortunate. Definitely wouldn’t head back to play.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Awesome

Course was in great shape with a very playable design. Good location of water features and fairway bunkers. Pace of play was great, only ran into 1 other group on the back and they let us play through. Would definitely play again on our next visit to the island.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Not sure what all the hate is for

I played this course on my honeymoon and I was very pleased with the whole experience. A lot of the complaints for this course are that there was construction for the housing developments nearby--this does not affect the experience of playing this course whatsoever (unless you get offended by seeing construction while you are driving your cart to the next hole), the course is still gorgeous. You do not have to worry about the coastal winds as opposed to other courses on the island so I would highly recommend playing this track.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Pretty easy

Very flat, fair amount of damage from nearby construction. Prettiest hole was #4

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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