Puakea Golf Course
Puakea Golf Course in Lihue offers an accessible yet strategic 18-hole public course framed by Kauai’s lush landscape. Well-maintained fairways and greens combine with inviting practice facilities to create a welcoming experience for golfers of varied skill levels.
Course Overview
Located in Lihue on the island of Kauai, Puakea Golf Course offers an engaging test of golf within a warm Hawaiian setting. This 18-hole, public layout provides a blend of playability and challenge appealing to a broad range of golfers, from casual visitors to those seeking to sharpen their course management skills. The course features a parkland style with gentle elevation changes and a lush tropical backdrop that captures the natural beauty unique to Kauai without overwhelming the layout.
Puakea’s fairways are generally generous, allowing players to attack with confidence, but the strategic placement of bunkers and occasional split fairways introduce an element of decision-making that keeps each round interesting. The rough can be thick in spots, rewarding accuracy off the tee. Once on the greens, expect smooth putting surfaces with moderate undulation that require focus and precise reading before each stroke. The greens are on the smaller side, emphasizing the importance of approach shots and course awareness.
Visitors appreciate the well-maintained tee boxes and fairway turf, which hold up well even under heavy island sun. The driving range and practice putting green provide ample opportunity for warm-up and honing short game skills before heading out. A noteworthy aspect of the experience is the friendly and attentive staff who help smooth the pace of play and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Scenic views frame several holes, with glimpses of Kauai’s coastal environment that provide a subtle, calming contrast to the concentration demanded by the layout. Wind plays a variable role and should be factored into shot selection, particularly on exposed holes.
Amenities include a clubhouse with dining options that feature local flavors, giving players a chance to enjoy a meal or snack after their round. Equipment rentals are available, though visitors should be aware of specific policies regarding guests participating in lessons or practice swings.
Puakea stands out as a versatile golf destination on Kauai, providing a solid round for those looking to enjoy golf in a relaxed, island setting without sacrificing the integrity of a thoughtfully designed course.
Course Highlights
Puakea features well-placed fairway bunkers and split fairways creating strategic options, especially on the mid and back nine holes. The course’s smaller greens require precise iron play and strong short game. Scenic views of Kauai’s coastal environment add a tranquil backdrop without distracting from the golf. The driving range and practice putting green offer excellent preparation areas. Friendly staff and thoughtful maintenance practices enhance the overall experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Reviews
ERIC REBBERT
A local golfer suggested that we play this course. We were glad we did. Nice layout and a solid track. The staff are exceptional! We paid a discounted rate because they just punched the greens. Some great scenic views along the way. We were a mid afternoon twosome and made our way around in 3.5 hours. Only negative was the bunkers which have been neglected (but if you don’t hit it in the bunker no problem!) Would definitely recommend.
Teresa
This is one of the better courses on Kauai that seems to be managed well and greens maintained. Reasonable rates. Great views. Some difficult holes and definitely need to accountfor some wind, but easy to have a good time.
Benjamin Holthaus
First and foremost, the price is absolutely ridiculous. It was my wife and I’s honeymoon, she doesn’t play so I just got booked for myself, and she’d ride along. She wanted to learn how to swing, so at ONE hole, I was showing her how to swing, and a course employee came along asking if she was paid for, and that if she is going to swing at all, even once, we need to pay an additional $210 ($140 for the ticket and $70 to rent clubs, because she can’t use my rentals). Absolute insanity. The course was empty by the way, no one there but us. Also, the course is half dead. Go anywhere else.
Mike G
This is a pretty nice golf course, I enjoyed playing here a lot. It's not an easy course, but with some course management and knowing your misses, you can get around just fine. There are houses that are just adjacent to the course, but the course is not super narrow. During my visit, the course was recently aerated, but that's alright, means the course is being maintained. The tee boxes are pretty nice with nice grass, especially the par 3's. The fairways are also nice with well maintained grass, really liked the the fairway grass. The rough is what it is, rough. The grass can get thick and grab your club face, so staying in the fairway is best on this course. There are fairway bunkers throughout the course, but look ahead and plan a longer or shorter shot will keep you safe. There is sand in the fairway bunkers, but can't tell you how much, I was able to avoid them. Some of the fairways were split fairways with obstacles or small gulch, added to the challenge and course management will get you to still do well on these holes...had fun on these holes. The greens were enjoyable to put on, rolled smoothly. There is undulation on the greens but not an unreal amount, so being able to read the breaks will help. Look ahead before you hit to know if the the flag is front, middle, or back, the greens are on the smaller side. During my visit the front 9 greenside bunkers were being renovated, again signs the course is being maintained. The back 9 greenside bunkers were still alright, they had sand and nice to hit out of. Amenities -Range- there is a nice driving range with grass to hit off of. They give a small basket of complementary range balls with your round...nice touch. -practice putting green- the practice putting green is nice with variations of undulation and representatives of the greens on the course. -There is a restaurant on property with good food. We got the Bento and musubi which were both good and reasonably priced. Liked the course a lot and had a lot of fun, played a good round as well. I will be coming back to this course the next we visit.
Mike G
This is a pretty nice golf course, I enjoyed playing here a lot. It's not an easy course, but with some course management and knowing your misses, you can get around just fine. There are houses that are just adjacent to the course, but the course is not super narrow. During my visit, the course was recently aerated, but that's alright, means the course is being maintained. The tee boxes are pretty nice with nice grass, especially the par 3's. The fairways are also nice with well maintained grass, really liked the the fairway grass. The rough is what it is, rough. The grass can get thick and grab your club face, so staying in the fairway is best on this course. There are fairway bunkers throughout the course, but look ahead and plan a longer or shorter shot will keep you safe. There is sand in the fairway bunkers, but can't tell you how much, I was able to avoid them. Some of the fairways were split fairways with obstacles or small gulch, added to the challenge and course management will get you to still do well on these holes...had fun on these holes. The greens were enjoyable to put on, rolled smoothly. There is undulation on the greens but not an unreal amount, so being able to read the breaks will help. Look ahead before you hit to know if the the flag is front, middle, or back, the greens are on the smaller side. During my visit the front 9 greenside bunkers were being renovated, again signs the course is being maintained. The back 9 greenside bunkers were still alright, they had sand and nice to hit out of. Amenities -Range- there is a nice driving range with grass to hit off of. They give a small basket of complementary range balls with your round...nice touch. -practice putting green- the practice putting green is nice with variations of undulation and representatives of the greens on the course. -There is a restaurant on property with good food. We got the Bento and musubi which were both good and reasonably priced. Liked the course a lot and had a lot of fun, played a good round as well. I will be coming back to this course the next we visit.
David Alvarez
Amazing, amazing, amazing course! The views surrounding the entire course were breathtaking and like no other I've ever played. The staff were friendly and helpful. Played early afternoon on a Thursday and basically had the whole front 9 to ourselves. Back 9 was a little slow due to a couple (twosome) who were obviously beginners... but that's no fault of the course. They also had just aerated the greens on the back 9, but we were made aware of that before and they discounted the price, which was stupid low to begin with. Best value on the entire Island! Only issue was the fact that there were no yardage markers to be seen... anywhere! Which made it a little tough to judge distance without a range finder. But not enough to effect my overall experience... or my rating.
Benjamin Holthaus
First and foremost, the price is absolutely ridiculous. It was my wife and I’s honeymoon, she doesn’t play so I just got booked for myself, and she’d ride along. She wanted to learn how to swing, so at ONE hole, I was showing her how to swing, and a course employee came along asking if she was paid for, and that if she is going to swing at all, even once, we need to pay an additional $210 ($140 for the ticket and $70 to rent clubs, because she can’t use my rentals). Absolute insanity. The course was empty by the way, no one there but us. Also, the course is half dead. Go anywhere else.
Teresa
This is one of the better courses on Kauai that seems to be managed well and greens maintained. Reasonable rates. Great views. Some difficult holes and definitely need to accountfor some wind, but easy to have a good time.
andrew phillips
Really friendly , great service just turned up off a cruise ship and was fitted in, beautiful course great views, some work being done on the back 9 bunkers at the moment but didn't cause any problems, round of golf hired clubs half bucket range balls, sleve of balls well worth the price, would highly recommend
Chris Hunt
Great course, nice carts. We play this course all the time.
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Course Details
Access & Location
4150 Nuhou St, Lihue, HI 96766, USA
Puakea Golf Course Clubhouse - includes pro shop and casual dining
Walking is permitted, and the terrain is generally gentle with paved cart paths. Comfortable walking shoes recommended to handle varied tropical grasses and occasional sun exposure.
Open to the public with daily tee times available online or by phone. Equipment rentals and practice facilities accessible on site.
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