Kauai Golf Course Comparison
Find your perfect match with our comprehensive course analysis
Written by a Local Golf Expert
Jade KawanuiKauai's Courses Compared: A Data-Driven Analysis
Choosing the right course can be tough when there are so many great options. To help you decide, I've put together this comparison that looks at Kauai's main courses at a glance. I've included objective data like price and difficulty, but also my own rating for scenery. This tool allows you to quickly weigh what matters most to you—be it budget, challenge, or breathtaking views—and find the perfect match for your game and your wallet.
Course Comparison Chart
Poipu Bay Golf Course
Location: South Shore
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Price Range: $$$$
Scenery Rating: ★★★★☆
Difficulty (Slope): 129/144
Best For: Ultimate Challenge, PGA History
Championship course that hosted the PGA Grand Slam for over a decade. Spectacular clifftop finish along Shipwreck Beach.
Ocean Course at Hōkūala
Location: East Shore (Lihue)
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Price Range: $$$$
Scenery Rating: ★★★★★
Difficulty (Slope): 130/134
Best For: Postcard Views, The Nicklaus Experience
Jack Nicklaus masterpiece featuring jungle-to-ocean transition. Longest continuous oceanfront stretch in Hawaii.
Princeville Makai Golf Club
Location: North Shore
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Price Range: $$$$
Scenery Rating: ★★★★★
Difficulty (Slope): 127/134
Best For: Breathtaking Scenery, A True Test
Perched above legendary Hanalei Bay with iconic Bali Hai mountains. One of the world's most beautiful golf settings.
Wailua Municipal Golf Course
Location: East Shore
Designer: Toyo Shirai
Price Range: $
Scenery Rating: ★★★☆☆
Difficulty (Slope): 127/129
Best For: Incredible Value, Authentic Golf
"Dollar for dollar, the best golf course I've ever played." Hosted U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship three times.
Puakea Golf Course
Location: East Shore (Lihue)
Designer: Robin Nelson
Price Range: $$
Scenery Rating: ★★★☆☆
Difficulty (Slope): 129/135
Best For: Hidden Gem, Fun & Challenging Layout
Dramatic routing through volcanic cliffs, ravines, and giant sinkholes. "Too spectacular to keep off our list" - Sports Illustrated.
Kiahuna Golf Club
Location: South Shore
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Price Range: $$
Scenery Rating: ★★★☆☆
Difficulty (Slope): 126/134
Best For: Relaxed Vibe, Historical Setting
Ancient Hawaiian archaeological sites woven into the layout. Sanctuary for native Nene (Hawaiian goose).
Kukuiolono Park & Golf Course
Location: South Shore
Designer: Historic
Price Range: $
Scenery Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Difficulty (Slope): N/A
Best For: A Quirky, Fun 9-Hole Round
Authentic old-school Kauai golf for about $16 (cash only). Hilltop views, no tee times, honor system payments. Pure aloha spirit.
Price Range Key
- $ = <$75 per round
- $$ = $75-175 per round
- $$$ = $175-250 per round
- $$$$ = $250+ per round
*Prices based on standard non-resident 18-hole rates. Slope Ratings are based on USGA data and provide a measure of relative difficulty for a bogey golfer. Higher numbers indicate greater difficulty.
🎯 Quick Filter
- Best Value: Wailua
- Best Views: Makai
- Most Challenge: Poipu Bay
- Hidden Gem: Puakea
📍 By Location
- North Shore: Makai
- East Shore: Wailua, Hōkūala, Puakea
- South Shore: Poipu Bay, Kiahuna, Kukuiolono