The perfect island vacation for a golf trip: The courses of Kauai
Though it's only the fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai can make a case as the perfect island for a golf vacation. Its golf courses are all within reach during one vacation. Each comes with their share of ocean holes with a dramatic, mountainous backdrop.
Kiahuna Golf Club is on the fast track on the Hawaiian island of Kauai
While more renowned courses like the Prince Golf Course and Poipu Bay Golf Course steal the headlines on Kauai, Kiahuna Golf Club is leading the island in embracing a relatively new strain of grass that could one day be commonplace on most Hawaii golf courses.
Hawaii's best golf in pictures: A look at Kauai
One of the smaller islands of Hawaii boasts a big reputation as one of its finest for golf: Kauai. Kauai currently has only nine golf courses, but three of them are often ranked among Hawaii's top 10. Its complimentary set is also worthy of a play. Here's a look at some of the incredibly photogenic Kauai golf courses.
Puakea Golf Course on Kauai: Hawaii gem gets prettier with each hole
Puakea Golf Course is like that shy girl in your office who wears thick glasses and keeps her hair up in a bun. Then she shows up to the company Christmas party a total knockout, hair down and in a tiny, backless dress. Don't let first impressions fool you at Puakea, or you'll miss a real beauty on Kauai.
Susan Choi chasing her long-shot LPGA dreams on The Golf Channel's Big Break Kaanapali
Susan Choi's refreshingly joyful golf attitude is featured prominently in Big Break Kaanapali. In a golf world of cold-hearted killer stares, Choi jumps up and down after good shots, smiles like you don't get charged for every grin, just genuinely seems happy to be playing. The only amateur among this season's contestants, the 23-year-old Choi took anything but the typical phenom track to Kaanapali.
Kauai: Hawaii's "Garden Isle" is an Eden of island golf and resorts
For having only nine golf courses, Kauai greatly overachieves in quality; its top courses can hold their own with any on the Hawaiian Islands. A bonus: it's so small you can see each of Kauai's courses on one trip, Brandon Tucker writes. And that's a good thing, because no single course is a supreme favorite here. Each member of your group may come home with his or her own darling.
Kauai, Hawaii golf trip and travel Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a Hawaii golf vacation? Let TravelGolf.com's set of answers to frequently asked questions guide you through courses, island, airport and transportation information for the island of Kauai.
Reader: Tucker's right, Poipu Bay in Hawaii is pretty awesome
"Between the natural beauty, incredibly hospitable population, great beaches and golf courses, who missed the nightlife? Poipu Bay was a perfect setting to watch the whales from virtually every hole on the back nine, as well as a few on the front. A birdie on 18 was the iceing on the cake as they say. My biggest mistake was waiting 25 years to go there!"
Princeville at Hanalei's Makai Golf Course: Put your ego aside, play this friendlier Kauai gem
For the resort golfer looking for those Hawaii coastline money shots, Princeville at Hanalei's Makai Golf Course has more oceanfront holes running along the North Shore. Both the Ocean and Lakes' nines weave out to the coast, and the Ocean's par-3 seventh hole, playing on rugged coastline 200 feet above the ocean, is among Kauai's most famous.
The Makai golf course at Princeville Resort on the Hawaiian island of Kauai
The Makai Course is one of two golf courses at the Princeville Resort on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. The original course at Princeville, the Makai consists of three nines: the Lakes, Ocean and Woods. Of the three, the Lakes and Ocean nines offer multiple coastal holes with spectacular scenery, with the signature par-3 seventh hole on the Ocean being the jaw-dropper.