Princeville, Hawaii
Princeville Makai sparkles with unforgettable North Shore views and Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s strategic, inviting design. Playable for all, but still demanding in the wind, it’s a must-play for visitors—one of Hawaii’s most stunning rounds.
Princeville Makai is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. signature—his very first solo design—where dramatic bluff routing showcases both strategic, playable golf and unforgettable North Shore vistas. It’s a study in bold variety: long par 5s that stretch along the sea, short par 4s begging for smart choices, and greens recontoured for modern speeds and complex pin positions. The 2024 bunker and turf project honed the playable surfaces, while the 2010 redesign locked in Seashore Paspalum and smarter surrounds. What unifies Makai is its openness—wide fairways, wind exposure, and breathtaking transitions from mountain to Pacific, all perfectly tuned for resort and vacation golf that never bores the skilled player.
Jones Jr. launched a new era of big-shouldered, scenic resort courses here, blending movement, risk, and beauty.
The longest hole on the course, this true three-shot par 5 plays directly into or across the trade winds with panoramic sea views right of the fairway and hazard lines left. It’s a test of positioning and wind judgment from tee to green.
Favor accuracy off the tee to avoid running into native rough or bunkers; lay up smart for a clear third into a narrow green shaped for rollouts.
Wind can push shots into lateral hazards, and a misjudged lay-up can leave an awkward approach.
Firm, lush resort turf with immaculate post-2024 bunkers and drainage; greens run smooth for vacation play but test line and speed.
Resort-typical: plan for 4.5–5 hours at peak, faster on early/shoulder times.
Laid-back aloha spirit with attentive, friendly staff and big-occasion energy on bluffside holes.
Resort golf attire—collared shirts, proper shorts/pants, golf shoes; no strict jacket/tie.
Study trade-wind patterns before your round—most mistakes come from under-clubbing or over-shaping into the ocean breezes.
The views are epic and worth a pause; spikeless golf shoes help on resort terrain and new fairway slopes post-renovation.
Prime light, calmer winds, and less crowded tee sheets—worth the sunrise wakeup for full North Shore magic.
Island sun bites harder than you think, especially as rounds stretch—be ready, especially with exposed late-day tee times.
Course opens as Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s first solo design
Hosts the World Cup of Golf, major international team event
Major renovation—greens, bunkers, conversion to Seashore Paspalum
Comprehensive bunker and drainage refinement, major playability upgrade
Where else can you play over blufftops with Hanalei Bay glimmering left and the storied peak of Makana (Bali Hai) in your backdrop? From sun-splashed opening holes to the Pacific surf pounding just below, every shot at Makai comes with a postcard view.
In 1971, Robert Trent Jones Jr. launched his solo career here, crafting a routing that would define modern Hawaiian resort golf. The RTJ Jr. DNA—bold bunkers, wide fairways, and risk/reward moments—runs strong from tee to green.
Makai’s resume includes hosting the 1978 World Cup of Golf—then dubbed the Olympics of Golf—and four LPGA Women’s Kemper Opens. Today, its fame is stitched into every approach shot played against the wind, beneath the watching cliffs.
The trade winds off the Pacific are always plotting—switching direction, roaring down the valleys, forcing mid-round recalibration. Makai isn’t about brute force, but about learning how to play with, not against, the elements.
Makana (Bali Hai), made famous by the film 'South Pacific,' is visible throughout the routing.
Makai means 'toward the sea' in Hawaiian—fitting for its bluffside setting.
RTJ Jr. regards this as the project where he discovered his 'voice' as a designer.
The course was entirely re-turfed with Seashore Paspalum during the 2010 renovation.
The 2024 renovation improved every bunker for both playability and visual impact.
Championship pedigree, demanding layout, five minutes away
Former PGA Grand Slam host, epic ocean holes
Forgiving, friendly round for variety after Makai
Everyday favorite—a classic local play with value
Jack Nicklaus oceanfront drama near the airport
Princeville or Hanalei for North Shore convenience and access to Makai and Prince; Lihue or Kapa'a best for multi-course island hopping.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If Princeville Makai Golf Club is your kind of course, Manele Golf Course is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience and puts the same premium on presentation.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club shares a memorable sense of place, making it a compelling counterpart to Princeville Makai Golf Club.
Why it matches: Aurora International Golf Club is a natural next stop after Princeville Makai Golf Club: it shares a memorable sense of place.
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