Hawaii, Kauai Golf Course Reviews
Puakea Golf Course ReviewLihue, Kauai, Hawaii
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Puakea Golf Scorecard as of the date of last review
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Puakea Golf Course Overview: Puakea is a unique routing on the island of Kauai as it has several "resort" golf holes that play between houses, others that skirt public streets lined by business and yet others that are solitary in nature without views of any houses and even a little ocean view that peeks through. There is a good value here for $ spent versus overall experience, even if the pure golf experience is a little more docile than some of the pricier options on the island. Some of the very best golf holes are described more fully below:
Puakea Golf Course Hole 1: The opening par four is not easy. Clocking in at around 400 yards, the drive must be hit well between the bunkers to the left and the creek to the right. The second shot will then cross the creek, but it does hang around about 10 yards left of the green and must be avoided. |
Similar Golf Course Reviews:
- Kiahuna Golf Club - Makai Golf Course - Wailua Golf Course - Kauai Lagoons Golf Course - Princeville Prince |
Puakea Golf Course Hole 3: Another decently tough par four at around 400 yards, this drive can be sent left of the bunkers and short of the lake long and left to leave a better approach to the green sandwiched between water to its left and another sand trap and mounding to the right side.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 5: This short par four is pretty straight forward, unless the player wants to take on the water and series of bunkers and try to get near the green (wind permitting). The green, as expected on a short par four, is quite small so angles based on pin placements are important.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 6 (left): The signature hole is epic and scary; teeing off from high above the green, the player's vista is heavily jungle-laden, which is awesome and serene. However, the green is not big and surrounded by trouble, with club selection being key and wind and elevation making that tough.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 7 (below): This par four has a beautiful, but relatively tight drive over a little bit of jungle with obvious trouble on either side. If the player can hit the fairway or short rough, the approach is uphill to a relatively easy green.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 7 (below): This par four has a beautiful, but relatively tight drive over a little bit of jungle with obvious trouble on either side. If the player can hit the fairway or short rough, the approach is uphill to a relatively easy green.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 10: The archetypal resort par four has the pond to the right and the bunkers to the left. The big bomber can fly the water but it's not recommended. The green is a little uphill and well-guarded by sand.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 11: This par five is fairly straight forward off the tee but has a difficult, uphill approach shot to a green this is guarded by deep bunkers on its right side, making back-right pins super nasty.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 12: The most unique par four on the course has an unusual drive with water and trees right and OB left. There are undulations in the middle of the fairway that make the ideal landing area partially blind, but, ultimately, a strong, straight drive is needed as the approach is to a green with bunkers to the left and water just right of the green, which breaks heavily towards that hazard.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 13 (right): This par three is pretty long and sets up between two large trees. The real danger is obvious, though, which is the water hazard lurking right of the putting surface. However, the bunkers are also well-placed and will make for a difficult up and down if the player short-sides themselves.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 14 (below): The par four here is pretty straight away with no distinguishing architectural features, but its location is far from the civilization part of the golf course, and the views are surrounding flora are close to the best on the course.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 14 (below): The par four here is pretty straight away with no distinguishing architectural features, but its location is far from the civilization part of the golf course, and the views are surrounding flora are close to the best on the course.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 15: This strong par four sweeps left along the jungle line with a row of red-sand bunkers on the right side. The green is tucked up against the jungle so the player needs to bring their A-game here.
Puakea Golf Course Hole 16: The final par three is short with a wide green. Only truly bad shots should be punished here, but the player can soak up the jungle environment and try to hit it close.
