Kohala Coast Golf

Play, Stay and Live on the Big Island

The Kohala Coast is a golfer’s paradise, offering stunning courses paired with luxurious real estate options. Whether you’re visiting for vacation, seeking a second home, or exploring investment opportunities, here’s a guide to the top golf courses and nearby communities.

Mauna Kea Resort Golf Courses

Courses: Mauna Kea Golf Course & Hapuna Golf Course
Designer: Mauna Kea – Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1964, updated by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 2024) | Hapuna – Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay (1992)

Mauna Kea Resort has two beautiful courses with distinct personalities. The Mauna Kea Golf Course is famous for its dramatic oceanfront holes and challenging design. It’s a true championship course that tests all levels of players, with elevated tees and forced carries over ocean coves. The Hapuna Golf Course, set mauka (toward the mountain), offers expansive ocean views with a more forgiving layout, making it enjoyable yet still strategic. Hapuna is currently closed as they are replanting new fairways throughout the course.

When the Mauna Kea Golf Course opened in 1964 it was considered the most expensive golf course ever built, costing over $5 million at the time. Hapuna Golf Course features dramatic elevation changes, with some holes offering views from 700 feet above sea level down to the ocean.

Membership:

The Mauna Kea Resort offers an exclusive Club Membership available to homeowners within the resort. Membership includes golf privileges at both courses, beach and pool access, tennis, and fitness amenities, enhancing the resort lifestyle for owners.

Lifestyle & Real Estate:

Living at Mauna Kea Resort means access to world-class beaches, dining, and hotel amenities. Real estate options include oceanview homes and luxury condos within communities like Hapuna Estates, Kauna’oa, and Wai’ulu’ula. Residents often choose this area for its exclusivity, quiet beaches, and timeless Big Island luxury.

Mauna Lani Resort Golf Courses

Courses: North & South Courses
Designer: Originally by Homer Flint and Raymond Cain, redesigned by Robin Nelson

Mauna Lani offers two distinct 18-hole courses set among historic lava fields and ancient fishponds. The South Course is known for its iconic over-the-ocean 15th hole and lush fairways lined with kiawe trees, while the North Course weaves through stark lava landscapes with ocean and mountain views, providing a peaceful yet challenging round.

The South Course’s 15th hole, a par 3 playing 196 yards over the ocean, is often described as the most photographed golf hole in the world. Hole 17 on the Mauna Lani North Course is known as the “lava amphitheater hole,” featuring a green encircled by dark a’a lava rock, giving it a striking amphitheater effect.

Membership:

Mauna Lani offers golf memberships with unlimited play on both the North and South Courses, preferred tee times, and discounts at resort restaurants and shops. Membership options include Single, Family, and Family PLUS plans, with some including access to the Sports Club & Tennis Garden. Members also enjoy special tournaments and social events, making it ideal for those who want to be part of the Mauna Lani golf community.

Lifestyle & Real Estate:

Mauna Lani Resort features luxury condos across communities like The Villages, Golf Villas, and Ka Milo, offering residents beach club access, spa services, and optional golf memberships. There are luxury residential homes located in the ultra private 49 Black Sand Beach, Ke Kailani, and Champion Ridge. Living here blends resort-style luxury with a welcoming community atmosphere.

Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf Courses

Courses: Kings’, Lakes, and Beach Nine (three nine-hole courses combined in various ways)
Designer: Kings’ – Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish | Beach Nine – Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Waikoloa Beach Resort’s golf offers flexibility with its three nine-hole courses that can be combined for an 18-hole round. The Kings’ Nine plays like a classic links course with wide fairways and strategic bunkering, while the Beach Nine and Lakes Nine wind through ancient lava flows with ocean glimpses and beautiful water features. The courses are enjoyable for all skill levels without being overly punishing.

The Kings’ Nine was designed to replicate Scottish links-style golf, with pot bunkers and wide rolling fairways. The Beach Nine includes holes lined with palm trees and offers views of Anaeho’omalu Bay, creating a true resort golf feel. The Lakes Nine is named for its strategically placed water features, which come into play on five of the nine holes, adding challenge and beauty.

Membership:

Waikoloa Beach Resort offers the Kings’ Club Golf Membership for residents or property owners who use their Waikoloa Beach condo as a vacation rental. This is ideal for owners wanting to add value to their rentals. Gold Membership allows you to market your condo or home as a Kings’ Club property, giving guests preferred green fees, access to club concierge services, and complimentary use of practice facilities. Members also receive golf privileges for immediate family, complimentary bag storage, and marketing support to attract more rental guests.

Lifestyle & Real Estate:

Waikoloa Beach Resort is known for its vibrant atmosphere, anchored by the Queens’ Marketplace and Kings’ Shops, beaches, and dining. Real estate includes condos in communities like Waikoloa Beach Villas, Colony Villas, and Hali’i Kai, popular for vacation rentals and second homes due to proximity to golf, shopping, and Anaeho’omalu Bay.

My Experience

As someone who lives and works here, I never get tired of golfing along the Kohala Coast. Watching whales breach from the tee box at Mauna Kea or finishing a late afternoon round at Mauna Lani as the sun sets over the ocean is truly unforgettable. Each course has its unique feel, but all share that special Big Island energy that blends nature, history, and relaxation. I love the drastic contrast between the lava rock, pristine green fairways, and the blue ocean. It’s so much beauty all in one place!

Membership & Access

Most courses on the Kohala Coast are open to resort guests and the public, with memberships available for homeowners and locals seeking unlimited play and added benefits.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re teeing off at sunrise or relaxing on your lanai after a round, golf course living on the Kohala Coast offers a lifestyle that’s both active and deeply peaceful. If you’re curious about real estate opportunities near these world-class courses, contact me today. I’d be happy to share insights tailored to your goals.