I readily admit that I can be a little judgmental with the design and layout of courses. Is it my most attractive quality? Probably not. But does that mean I think you have to be playing on a Top 100 world course to have an absolutely amazing time? Hell no!
Princeville Makai, while not the prettiest golf course I have ever laid my eyes on is easily one of the prettiest settings for a course that I have ever seen. Located on the island of Kauai, perched atop the roar of the ocean sits a wonderfully fun resort course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and opened in 1971 this course exudes the best version of a course that was obviously built to sell home sites and offer an amenity for vacationing tourists. There's nothing wrong with that but we're not exactly talking about Pine Valley here.
So here's what you expect if you play at Princeville Makai:
World Class Views of Surrounding Nature
The course, which exudes a vibrance of green that I'm pretty sure only lives in Hawaii, was lush and pristinely maintained. But the best aspect of the course though was the views that framed many of the holes.
When you can use points of topography (e.g. that peak right there) from the Napali Coast as reference points for where to hit shots you know you have a picturesque back drop!
Back Nine Ocean Vibes
The back nine which starts with a couple ho hum holes really amps it up when the course turns players back towards the coast for the stretch of 12 through 15. Each holes has great views of the ocean that are pretty much impossible to be replicated anywhere else.
Grades (where 1 is significantly below average and 5 is significantly above)
Scenery: 5 stars
Design: 4 stars
Condition: 5 stars
Practice Facilities: 4 stars
Experience: 4 stars
Click here for a more detailed breakdown of how I think about course ratings.
If what you're into is a course with historical significance and an A+ design, Princeville Makai isn't what you're looking for. But if you're open minded and want to dive into a course that is plenty fun and set amongst some of the most beautiful natural settings in the world then head on over to Princeville Makai, get your camera ready and have yourself a ball!
