Hawaii, Kauai Golf Course Reviews
Kauai Lagoons Kiele (pre-redesign) Golf Course Review
Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii
73.7 rating; 137 slope
Last played: 2006
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Overview: A perfect combination of golf hole
variance makes this course one of the best in the entire world. This Nicklaus design meanders through jungles
of mango trees, lagoons, and along the cliffs of the Pacific
Ocean. There are only a
small number of holes where the adrenaline won’t be pumping on at least one
shot, and it’s all in the wonderful Kauai
climate. See below:
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 3: This tough par four has bunkers in the middle of the fairway, which essentially makes the space between that and the trees on either side not very wide. The second shot is uphill to a tight green surrounded by a lot of bunkers that will make for tough up and down pars.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 3: This tough par four has bunkers in the middle of the fairway, which essentially makes the space between that and the trees on either side not very wide. The second shot is uphill to a tight green surrounded by a lot of bunkers that will make for tough up and down pars.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 5: A great and beautiful par 3 with a long carry over an enormous and deep mango forest (that the player gets to drive his cart down and through in an uniquely Hawaiian experience). Anything short will fall to its doom or be mired in one of two huge bunkers that also wrap around the left side of the green. There is a bail out area right, but it’s still a long carry over the jungle. The backdrop of the Kauai mountain ranges and native flora make this hole as beautiful as it is fun and challenging.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 6: A great Hawaiian par 5 dog leg right. The drive has a carry over another mango jungle and the farther right the drive goes, the longer the carry, but the shorter the second shot will be. This shot also brings the huge fairway bunker into play. However, if the drive is mastered, the green is relatively wide open and can be reached in two, although anything right is still dead.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 8: A tiny, downhill par three with a small green that is fronted short and right by a pretty little lake. Simple on paper, but the trade winds have a tendency to blow shots right into the water. The over-careful tee shot will leave a downhill chip to a green running away from the player.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 12: This is where the course really begins to heat up with a long par four headed straight to the Pacific. The downside to the hole is the proximity to the landing strip of the Lihue airport. While no drive could ever hit a plane, it can't get loud from time. The green is also tiered and tough to putt.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 13: A world-class, beyond beautiful, one-shot masterpiece over a cove in the Pacific Ocean. Anything short or left will find the largest water hazard in the world. The green has a tier and the surrounding traps are plentiful. Very scary, but very fun, and a hole the player will never forget.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 16: Set on a lava peninsula by a lighthouse, the tee shot should be an iron hit about 200 yards. If pushed right, it will find a steep hillside, which will make the approach shot a lot more dangerous. However, if pulled, it will find the Pacific Ocean. The straight shot will leave a wedge to the downhill peninsula green with ocean short or left and a deep collection bunker behind. The green is rock hard and the ideal shot will find the right front edge of the green and collect to the middle. Chasing after a left pin placement is foolhardy and should never be attempted. The views are unparalleled and this is another hole on the Kiele course that won’t be forgotten.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 17: A short peninsula par 3 into the prevailing trade winds. The green is very shallow and anything misjudged that misses the water will most likely catch the horseshoe shaped bunker that wraps around the right 50% of the green.
Kauai Lagoons Kiele Hole 18: A tough, but memorable finish to a great golf course. The drive on this 400+ yard hole must be hit well to leave a short shot to the island green, which is surrounded, not only by water, but by bunkers as well. Anything pushed right will find the water on the drive as well.
