Golf Top 18
  • Home
  • Golf Course Reviews
    • Canada Golf Course Reviews >
      • Banff Springs Golf Course Review
      • Chateau Whistler Golf Course Review
      • Greywolf Golf Course Review
      • Kananaskis Mount Kidd Golf Course Review
      • Kananaskis Mount Lorette Golf Course Review
      • Nicklaus North Golf Course Review
      • Stewart Creek Golf Course Review
    • European Golf Course Reviews >
      • British Isles Golf Course Reviews >
        • Ireland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Ballybunion Cashen Course Review
          • Ballybunion Old Course Review
          • Dingle Golf Club Review
          • Dooks Golf Links Review
          • Doonbeg Golf Club Review
          • Druids Glen Golf Club Review
          • Druids Heath Golf Club Review
          • European Club Review
          • K Club (North) Golf Course Review
          • Killarney Mahony's Point Review
          • Lahinch Golf Club Review
          • Narin & Portnoo Links Review
          • Old Head Golf Links Review
          • Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris Links) Review
          • Rosapenna (Sandy Hills Links) Review
          • Rosapenna (St. Patrick's Links) Review
          • Tralee Golf Links Review
          • Waterville Golf Links Review
        • Northern Ireland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Portstewart Old Course Review
          • Portstewart Strand Golf Course Review
          • Royal County Down Golf Club Review
          • Royal Portrush Dunluce Links Review
        • Scotland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Prestwick Golf Club Review
          • Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club Review
          • Royal Troon Old Course Review
          • Troon Portland Course Review
          • Turnberry Ailsa Course Review
          • Turnberry Kintyre Course Review
      • Luxembourg Golf Course Reviews >
        • Golf de Clervaux Review
        • Golf-Club Grand-Ducal Review
        • Golf de Luxembourg Belenhaff Review
        • Kikuoka Country Club Review
      • Other Continental Europe Golf Course Reviews >
        • Dijon-Bourgogne Review, France
        • Golf Club Trier Review, Germany
        • Preisch Golf Club Review, France
      • Turkey Golf Course Reviews >
        • Cornelia Golf Club, Gaius – Tiberius Review
        • Gloria Golf Club (New Course) Review
        • National Golf Club Review, Turkey
    • Mexico / Caribbean Golf Course Reviews >
      • Cabo Del Sol - Desert Course Review
      • Cabo Del Sol - Ocean Course Review
      • Club Campestre Review
      • Diamante Dunes Course Review
      • Diamante El Cardonal Review
      • Moon Palace Golf Club Review
      • Palmas Del Mar - Flamboyan Course Review
      • Palmas Del Mar - Palm Course Review
      • Palmilla Golf Club Review
      • Puerto Los Cabos Review
      • Quivira Golf Course Review
      • Royal Isabela Golf Course Review
    • United States Golf Course Reviews >
      • Central USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • Blackwolf Run River Course Review, Wisconsin
        • Cog Hill #4, Dubsdread Golf Course Review, Illinois
        • Eaglewood Resort & Spa Golf Course Review, Illinois
        • English Turn Golf Course Review, Louisiana
        • Gentle Creek Golf Club Review, Texas
        • Grapevine Golf Course Review, Texas
        • Irish Course at Whistling Straits Golf Course Review, Wisconsin
        • Lakewood New Orleans Golf Course Review, Louisiana
        • The Glen Club Golf Course Review, Illinois
        • The Bridges Golf Club Review, Texas
        • TPC Louisiana Golf Course Review, Louisiana
        • Whistling Straits Golf Course Review, Wisconsin
      • Eastern USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • Florida Golf Course Reviews >
          • Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course Review
          • Disney’s Palm Golf Course Review
          • Mystic Dunes Golf Course Review
          • Reunion Independence (Watson) Golf Course Review
          • Reunion Legacy (Palmer) Golf Course Review
          • Reunion Nicklaus Golf Course Review
          • Sawgrass Country Club Review (East-West) (South-East)
          • Streamsong Black Golf Course Review
          • Streamsong Blue Golf Course Review
          • Streamsong Red Golf Course Review
          • TPC Sawgrass, Dye’s Valley Course Review
          • TPC Sawgrass, Stadium Course Review
          • Trump Doral (Blue Monster) Golf Course Review
        • Maryland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Beechtree Golf Club Review
          • Bulle Rock Review
        • New York Golf Course Reviews >
          • Bethpage Black Golf Course Review
          • Bethpage Red Golf Course Review
          • Trump Ferry Point Golf Course Review
        • Virginia Golf Course Reviews >
          • 1757 Golf Club Review
      • Mountain TZ USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • Arizona Golf Course Reviews >
          • Desert Mountain, Cochise Course Review
          • Dinosaur Mountain Golf Course Review at Gold Canyon
          • McDowell Mountain Golf Course Review
          • Sidewinder Golf Course Review at Gold Canyon
          • Stonecreek Golf Club Review
          • TPC Scottsdale Golf Course Review
          • Troon North Monument Golf Course Review
          • Troon North Pinnacle Golf Course Review
          • We-ko-pa (Cholla) Golf Course Review
        • Idaho Golf Course Reviews >
          • Canyon Springs Golf Course Review
        • Montana Golf Course Reviews >
          • Eagle Bend Golf Club Review
        • New Mexico Golf Course Reviews >
          • Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Review
          • Sandia Golf Course Review
          • Twin Warriors Golf Course Review
        • Utah Golf Course Reviews >
          • Coral Canyon Golf Course Review
          • Sand Hollow Golf Course Review
          • The Ledges Golf Course Review
        • Wyoming Golf Course Reviews >
          • Jackson Hole Golf Club Review
      • Western USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • California Golf Course Reviews >
          • Central California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Cypress Ridge Golf Course Review
            • Glen Annie Golf Club Review
            • La Purisima Golf Course Review
            • Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course Review
            • Rancho San Marcos Golf Course Review
            • Rio Bravo Golf Course Review
            • Sandpiper Golf Course Review
          • Inland Empire Golf Course Reviews, California >
            • Bear Creek Golf Course Review
            • Eagle Glen Golf Course Review
            • Empire Lakes Golf Course Review (closed 2016)
            • Green River Golf Club Review
            • Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet, Champions Course Review
            • Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet, Legends Course Review
            • Oak Quarry Golf Club Review
            • Los Serranos Country Club North Review
            • Los Serranos Country Club South Review
            • Temecula Creek Inn (Creek-Oaks Course) Review
            • Vellano Country Club Review
            • Western Hills Country Club Review
            • Yucaipa Valley Golf Club Review
          • Los Angeles County Golf Course Reviews, California >
            • Angeles National Golf Club Review
            • Balboa Golf Course Review
            • B.A.C.C. Review
            • Brookside Koiner (Course #1) Review
            • Brookside E.O. Nay (Course #2) Review
            • El Dorado Park Golf Club Review
            • Industry Hills Golf Club, Babe Zaharias Course Review
            • Industry Hills Golf Club, Eisenhower “Ike” Course Review
            • Lakewood Country Club Golf Course Review
            • The Links at Victoria Golf Course Review
            • Los Verdes Golf Course Review
            • Malibu Country Club Review
            • Mountain Gate (North/South) Golf Course Review
            • Palos Verdes Golf Club Review
            • Rancho Park Golf Course Review
            • Recreation Park Golf Course Review
            • R.H.C.C. Review
            • Robinson Ranch, Mountain Golf Course Review
            • Robinson Ranch, Valley Course Review
            • Skylinks at Long Beach Golf Course Review
            • Trump National Golf Course Review
            • W.C.C. Review
          • Orange County Golf Course Reviews, California >
            • Aliso Viejo Golf Course Review
            • Black Gold Golf Course Review
            • Costa Mesa (Los Lagos) Review
            • Coyote Hills Golf Club Review
            • Cypress Golf Club (closed 2008) Review
            • Meadowlark Golf Course Review
            • Mile Square, the Classic Course Review
            • Mile Square, the Players Course Review
            • Mission Viejo Country Club Review
            • Monarch Beach Golf Links Review
            • Navy Destroyer Course Review
            • Newport Beach Country Club Review
            • Oak Creek Golf Club Review
            • Old Ranch Country Club Review
            • Pelican Hill Golf Club, Ocean North Review
            • Pelican Hill Golf Club, Ocean South Review
            • Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Review
            • San Juan Hills Golf Club Review
            • Sea Cliff Country Club Review
            • Shorecliffs Golf Course Review
            • Strawberry Farms Golf Club Review
            • Talega Golf Club Review
            • Tijeras Creek Golf Club Review
            • Tustin Ranch Golf Club Review
            • Westridge Golf Club Review
          • Northern California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Crystal Springs Golf Course Review
            • DeLaveaga Golf Course Review
            • Fort Ord, Bayonet Golf Course Review
            • Half Moon Bay Ocean Course Review
            • Half Moon Bay Old Course Review
            • Harding Park Golf Course Review
            • The Links at Spanish Bay Review
            • Monterey Peninsula C.C. Dunes Course Review
            • Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course Review
            • Pasatiempo Golf Club Review
            • Pebble Beach Golf Links Review
            • Poppy Hills Golf Course Review
            • Presidio Golf Course Review
            • Rancho Canada West Course Review
            • Spyglass Hill Golf Course Review
            • Windsor Golf Course Review
          • Palm Springs Area, California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Cimarron Golf Resort, Boulder Golf Course Review
            • Classic Club Golf Review
            • Desert Dunes Golf Club Review
            • Desert Falls Country Club Review
            • Desert Springs Palm Course Review
            • Desert Willow Golf Resort, Firecliff Golf Course Review
            • Desert Willow Golf Resort, Mountain View Golf Course Review
            • Eagle Falls Golf Course Review
            • Indian Canyons South Course Review
            • Indian Springs Golf and Country Club Review
            • Indian Wells Celebrity Course Review
            • Indian Wells Players Course Review
            • La Quinta Dunes Golf Course Review
            • La Quinta Mountain Course Review
            • Mesquite Golf & Country Club Review
            • PGA West Nicklaus Private Course Review
            • PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course Review
            • PGA West Norman Course Review
            • PGA West Palmer Course Review
            • PGA West Stadium Course Review
            • PGA West Weiskopf Private Course Review
            • Rancho Las Palmas Golf Course, West – North Review
            • Rancho Mirage Country Club Review
            • The Reserve Golf Course Review
            • Shadow Hills Golf Club Review
            • Shadow Ridge Golf Club Review
            • Silverrock Resort Golf Course Review
            • Tahquitz Creek, Resort Golf Course Review
            • Terra Lago Golf Club, North Course Review
            • Terra Lago Golf Club, South Course Review
            • Trilogy at La Quinta Golf Review
            • Woodhaven Country Club Review
          • San Diego County, California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Arrowood Golf Course Review
            • Aviara Golf Club at Park Hyatt Review
            • The Bridges Golf Course Review
            • The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course Review
            • La Costa Resort and Spa North Golf Course Review
            • La Costa Resort and Spa South Golf Course Review
            • Lake San Marcos Country Club Review
            • Meadow Lake Golf Course Review
            • Riverwalk Golf Course Review
            • Torrey Pines North Course Review
            • Torrey Pines South Course Review
            • Twin Oaks Golf Course Review
          • Ventura County, California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Buenaventura Golf Course Review
            • Camarillo Springs Golf Course Review
            • Elkins Ranch Golf Course Review
            • Los Robles Greens Golf Course Review
            • Lost Canyons, Shadow Course Review
            • Lost Canyons, Sky Course Review
            • Moorpark Country Club. Canyon Crest-Creekside Review
            • Moorpark Country Club, Ridgeline-Creekside Review
            • Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course Review
            • Olivas Links Golf Course Review
            • River Ridge Golf Club, Victoria Lakes Review
            • River Ridge Golf Club, Vineyard Course Review
            • Rustic Canyon Golf Course Review
            • Saticoy Country Club Review
            • Simi Hills Golf Course Review
            • Soule Park Golf Course Review
            • Sterling Hills Golf Club Review
            • Tierra Rejada Golf Club Review
        • Hawaii Golf Course Reviews >
          • Big Island Golf Course Reviews >
            • Big Island Country Club Review
            • Hapuna Golf Course Review
            • Hualalai Golf Course Review
            • Kona Country Club Ocean Course Review
            • Mauna Kea Golf Course Review
            • Mauna Lani Resort North Course Review
            • Mauna Lani Resort South Course Review
            • Waikoloa Beach Course Review
          • Kauai Golf Course Reviews >
            • Hokuala Ocean Course Review
            • Kiahuna Golf Club Review
            • The Makai Course at Princeville Review
            • Poipu Bay Golf Course Review
            • Puakea Golf Course Review
            • The Prince Course at Princeville Review
            • Wailua Municipal Golf Course Review
          • Lanai Golf Course Reviews >
            • The Challenge at Manele Review
            • The Experience at Koele Review
          • Maui Golf Course Reviews >
            • Bay Course at Kapalua Review
            • Makena Resort North Course Review
            • Makena Resort South Course (closed in 2008)
            • Maui Nui Golf Club Review
            • Plantation Course at Kapalua Review
            • Royal Ka'anapali Golf Course Review
            • Wailea Golf Club, Emerald Course Review
            • Wailea Golf Club, Gold Course Review
            • Wailea Golf Club, Old Blue Course Review
          • Oahu Golf Course Reviews >
            • Ko’olau Golf Course Review (CLOSED 2020)
            • Ko Olina Golf Course Review
            • Turtle Bay (Palmer Course) Review
        • Nevada Golf Course Reviews >
          • Lake Tahoe / Reno Area Golf Course Reviews >
            • Coyote Moon Golf Course Review
            • Edgewood Golf Course Review
            • Empire Ranch Golf Course Review
            • Graeagle Meadows Golf Course Review
            • Gray's Crossing Golf Club Review
            • Incline Village Championship Golf Course Review
            • Incline Village Mountain Golf Course Review
            • Lake Tahoe Golf Course Review
            • Northstar Resort Golf Course Review
            • Old Greenwood Golf Course Review
            • Redhawk Golf Club, Lakes Course – pre 2007 redesign
            • Resort at Squaw Creek Golf Course Review
            • Schaffer's Mill Golf Course Review
            • Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch Review
            • Sunridge Golf Club Review
            • Wolf Run Golf Club Review
          • Las Vegas Area Golf Course Review >
            • Angel Park Mountain Golf Course Review
            • Arroyo Golf Club Review
            • Badlands, Desperado - Diablo, Golf Course Review (deceased 2017)
            • Bali Hai Golf Club Review
            • Cascata Golf Club Review
            • Coyote Springs Golf Course Review
            • The Falls Golf Course (closed in 2008) Review
            • Highland Falls Golf Club Review
            • Las Vegas National Golf Club Review
            • The Legacy Golf Club Review
            • Paiute Golf Resort Snow Mountain Course Review
            • Paiute Golf Resort Sun Mountain Course Review
            • Paiute Golf Resort Wolf Course Review
            • Primm Valley, Desert Golf Course Review
            • Primm Valley, Lakes Golf Course Review
            • Reflection Bay Golf Course Review
            • The Revere Golf Club Review, Concord Course
            • The Revere Golf Club Review, Lexington Course
            • Royal Links Course Review
            • TPC Las Vegas Golf Club Review
            • TPC Summerlin Golf Club Review
            • Wolf Creek Course Review
            • Wynn Golf Club Review
          • Other Nevada Golf Course Review >
            • Emerald River Golf Course (Deceased)
            • Mojave Resort Golf Course Review
        • Oregon Golf Course Reviews >
          • Bandon Dunes Golf Course Review
          • Bandon Preserve Golf Course Review
          • Bandon Trails Golf Course Review
          • Gearhart Golf Course Review
          • Old MacDonald Golf Course Review
          • Pacific Dunes Golf Course Review
          • Running Y Golf Course Review
          • Sheep Ranch Golf Course Review
          • The Golf Club of Oregon Golf Course Review
        • Washington Golf Course Reviews >
          • Chambers Bay Golf Course Review
    • Southern Hemisphere Golf Course Reviews >
      • Cape Kidnappers Golf Course Review
      • Denarau Golf Club Review
      • Jack's Point Golf Course Review
      • Kinloch Golf Course Review
    • Golf Course Review Awards
  • Golf Top 18
    • Favorite Courses
    • Favorite Holes - The Dream 18
    • Favorite Holes - The Second 18
    • Favorite Holes - The Third 18
    • Favorite Holes - The Par Threes
    • Favorite Holes - The Par Fours
    • Favorite Holes - The Par Fives
    • The Honorable Mentions
  • Recent Courses Blog
  • More

Hawaii, Big Island Golf Course Reviews

Mauna Lani Resort South Golf Course Review

Kohala Coast, Hawaii the Big Island, HI
72.8 rating; 133 slope 

Review by GolfTop18
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Year Last Reviewed: 2017
More Info on Rating Criteria
Mauna Lani scorecard
Mauna Lani scorecard from the longest tees as of date of last review
Similar Golf Course Reviews:
Mauna Lani Golf, North Course

Mauna Kea Golf
Hapuna Golf
Big Island Country Club



Mauna Lani Resort, South Golf Course Overview:  The South Course at Mauna Lani is as exciting as resort golf can get.  Cut from brown and black lava flows, the golf course doesn’t need or use any real heavy rough.  The threat of the obvious hazards is enough, and the designer generally allows plenty of room to find the green of the fairway.  However, there are also several golf holes with water hazards, both in the forms of lakes and of the magnificently blue Pacific Ocean.  The most memorable of the holes on Mauna Lani are reviewed below:
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 1:  The first golf hole of the day presents a pretty good scoring opportunity as it is a medium length par five.  The drive has to avoid the large lava outcropping to the right but beyond that, the hole is pretty wide open to a relatively docile green complex. 
Mauna Lani Resort South Golf Hole #1 Picture
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 3:  The golfer’s first real look at an overwhelming amount of lava on Mauna Lani confronts them on this 215 yard beast of a par 3.  Anything that goes a tiny bit right or a lot left is dead, so direction is paramount as the green is large and wide-open if a shot is hit short. 
Mauna Lani South Golf #3 Picture
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 4:  This long par 5 is usually into the wind and features lakes in play to the left the whole way and one especially tight to the green that will require a really good shot to negotiate sliding between the water and the collection bunkers (and lava) to the right, especially if played from a long way out.
Mauna Lani Golf #4 Picture
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 5:  After the rough 4th hole, this relatively short, straight par four offers a bit of a breather.  However, there is plenty of lava on the drive to catch the snoozing player. 
Mauna Lani #5 Picture
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 7:  Another great par 3 on the front nine, this one gives the player the choice of which penalty they would like if they miss the green:  lava, bunkers or Ocean.  The green is extremely deep, so club selection is also very important or the player could end up with a very, very long putt.  Visually stunning and long, there aren’t many holes as pretty as this one.  
Mauna Lani Resort Golf #7 Picture

Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 11:  

Mauna Lani Golf HOle #11 Picture
This par four is a great decision hole as it doglegs left around a large lava field.  The player can lay up right to leave a long iron to the green with water behind it, or attempt to cut the corner to leave just a pitch in, and a much more realistic shot at birdie, if successful.  However, cutting off too much corner can lead to a re-tee, so some discretion is required

Big Island Golf Review Photo
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 12 (left):This par three is pretty long and over water the whole way.  There is some room left and short of the green to bailout, from which the chip is not that difficult.  However, going right is a costly mistake.

Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 13:  Although not difficult, this hole is pretty as the Pacific Ocean flanks it down the left side.  The overzealous drive, even if hit pretty straight can go clear through the fairway into the Ocean, so an iron or fairway wood off the tee is recommended.  If positioned well to the left side of the fairway, the approach is wide open to a large and relatively flat green. 
Mauna Lani Golf #13 Picture
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 14:  This great and difficult par 4 begs the question when standing on the tee box:  where do I go?  There are so many patches of lava dotting the rough, fairway and surrounding area it is difficult to muster any courage from the tee.  However, at 415 yards, a strong drive is needed to leave a decent approach to the green.
Big Island Golf Photo
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 15:  The signature golf hole on Mauna Lani is gorgeous and makes many cameos on office walls all over the world.  Not many holes can offer shots clear over a beautiful cove of the Pacific Ocean, to a green ringed by bunkers and palm trees, but this one can.  It is not oppressively long or difficult on paper, but the nerves of the player can play a big part on this shot.
Mauna Lani #15 Picture
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 16:  This short par four can be driven in the right wind conditions, but there is lava and OB to the right; played conservatively, there is plenty of room on the generous fairway to have a good shot of short length to the small green.
Mauna Lani Golf #16  Picture
Mauna Lani Resort, South Course Hole 17:  With the relatively docile 18th coming, this par four is the last real test on the course.  There is water in the form of a lake and small creek to the left on the drive and some lava to the right.  If the drive can be negotiated, the approach is to a fairly open green.
Mauna Lani Golf Hole #17 Picture

Other Golfers Liked:
Mauna Lani Golf, North Course
Mauna Kea Golf
Hapuna Golf
Big Island Country Club

and more Big Island Golf Reviews
 are waiting.

Other sites of note:
-- Need more Mauna Lani 

Golf Course Reviews? 
Try TripAdvisor
 -- Golf Channel Travel Article on 
Mauna Lani South Course

We take your privacy very seriously and won't rent or sell your information.  
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use l Contact Us l About Us
Copyright of GolfTop18.com and Erin Melcher.  All Rights Reserved.