Hawaii, Big Island Golf Course Reviews
Waikoloa Beach Course Review
Waikoloa, Hawaii (the Big Island), HI
71.6 rating; 134 slope |
Waikoloa Beach Golf Course Scorecard from the longest tees as of date of last review
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Waikoloa Beach Golf Course Overview: Waikoloa Beach Course is typical of Big Island Hawaiian resort golf. Not too long or too challenging, it makes use of all the usual trappings. Plenty of palm trees, water hazards and golf holes weaving between sporadic lava beds or more plentiful condominiums are the norm here. Of course, there is the obligatory, and in this case, fantastic golf hole winding down to the ocean. NOTE TO READER: the golf courses at Waikoloa are now organized into a 27-hole complex, with this course review happening before that. Most of these holes are reflective of holes on the Beach and Lakes nines, but the numbering / order may no longer be accurate. This will be updated the next time this course is played / reviewed (hopefully in the next couple of years), and will be expanded to cover all three nines. The best golf holes on the original Waikoloa Beach Course are reviewed below:
Waikoloa Beach Course Hole 2: The first par three on the front nine is over water the whole way. It looks more difficult than it is, however, as there is actually about 10 yards of grass between the water and the green, but this is indistinguishable from the tee, making golfers very nervous about coming up short.
Waikoloa Beach Course Hole 4: The first par five of the day is very long and challenging. The drive must negotiate a lake down the left and OB and condos on the right side. From there, the second shot must do the same so the third can be short enough to attack the pin on this large green. (not pictured)
Waikoloa Beach Course Hole 5: The danger from the tee is obvious: don’t go left OB onto the road or right into the lava. However, the extent of the dogleg right must be taken seriously as any shot to the right third of the fairway will be completely blind over the massive lava hill to any middle or back pin. The green is wide, but not deep, and bunkers and lava will gobble up anything short or right.
Waikoloa Beach Course Hole 5: The danger from the tee is obvious: don’t go left OB onto the road or right into the lava. However, the extent of the dogleg right must be taken seriously as any shot to the right third of the fairway will be completely blind over the massive lava hill to any middle or back pin. The green is wide, but not deep, and bunkers and lava will gobble up anything short or right.
Waikoloa Beach Course Hole 7: The signature hole on the Waikoloa Beach Course achieves exactly what it sets out to provide: great views and a chance to score well. The tremendously wide driving area affords almost any kind of tee shot, but the great tee shot can fly the bunkers on the left and give a player to go at the green in two for an opportunity at eagle...
...of course, the approach to the green and second shot if needed, are not as easy. The lava and ocean are definitely in play on both and the golfer will be faced with the need for accuracy.
Waikoloa Beach Course Hole 15: This par four has a rather unassuming drive that just must avoid the large bunker on the left of the fairway. However, second shot is played over a lake that was hidden from the tee to a tiered-green.
Waikoloa Beach Course Hole 17: This very difficult par 3 is visually intimidating, which is good because the golfer should be wary of how small the target is. The green is small and surrounded by trouble in the shape of water short and right, with bunkers and lava left and long.
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Annual Amer Ari at Waikoloa Beach Resort is slated for Feb 2015 Check the Waikoloa Weather |