Lanai City, Hawaii
The Experience at Koele delivered one of Hawaii’s most unique inland golf adventures—blending elevation, ravines, and bold risk/reward moments. The quirky mountain setting and shotmaking demands left a lasting impression, making it the thinking player’s island getaway.
The Experience at Koele embraced the natural mountain topography of Lanai, routing holes over deep ravines and dramatic elevation changes for a bold, distinctive ride. Greg Norman and Ted Robinson blended strategic driving corridors with risk-reward options that forced decisions off every tee, while the mountain setting meant wind and elevation played significant roles. Expect heroic shots on the back nine, especially the plunging par-4 17th, with every green complex cut into the terrain to reward both well-placed aggression and careful course management.
Norman and Robinson dialed up challenge and beauty by leveraging Lanai’s vertical landscape—not building ‘difficulty for difficulty’s sake,’ but routing for drama, variety, and shotmaker’s delight.
A short, audacious par-4 where driver is in play for bold players but trouble lurks for those who miss the mark. Its elevated green and strategic bunkering force choices between a safe layup and going for glory.
Weigh aggression off the tee—driveable if you challenge the left, but a safe iron keeps big numbers away.
Overcook it and bunkers, slopes, or even OB can derail your round fast.
Variable—lush but dependent on maintenance cycle and rainfall
Leisurely resort round; allow for photo stops on scenic holes
Secluded, serene, and a touch mystical in the mountain air
Resort golf attire recommended; confirm with the property
Koele’s elevation means cooler temps and variable mountain winds—be ready to add or shed a layer.
Par 3s and long approaches often ask for committed, pure strikes—practice your hybrids and long irons.
Severe terrain and steep elevation changes mean walking is tough—use a cart and prepare for unique perspectives from every tee.
Course opened, designed by Greg Norman and Ted Robinson
Koele named #1 Top 10 Hawaiian Resorts by Golf Digest
Jack Nicklaus Design commissioned for a full redesign
Redesign did not result in reopening; course remains closed
Hole 17’s legendary drop from an elevated tee—nearly 250 feet to the fairway—created one of the most unforgettable visuals in Hawaiian golf. Players would pause just for a photo, marveling at the canyon below before attempting the daunting drive.
Koele’s front nine meandered through ravines and tree corridors, demanding precision and thoughtful angles, while the back nine exploded into the open, bold drama of the Lanai mountains, peaking at the show-stopping 17th.
After closing in the wake of economic downturns, Koele was set for a Jack Nicklaus-led redesign. Despite the excitement, the project stalled, leaving one of Hawaii’s most distinct courses in a state of suspended animation.
At its peak, Koele anchored Lanai’s rise as a luxury golf destination, pairing with Manele to offer guests a rare, dual-course mountain-and-ocean golf experience that helped define high-end Hawaiian resort golf.
One of Hawaii’s only true mountain resort courses
Hole 17’s cliff tee is the source of countless golf trip legends
Closed for years, it remains a favorite memory for those lucky enough to have played
Paired with Manele, Koele anchored Lanai’s luxury golf boom
Ted Robinson highlighted Koele as a design masterpiece on his portfolio
Stunning oceanfront holes and the natural companion to Koele—play both for the full Lanai experience.
A Big Island public resort staple, great for scenery and solid resort conditioning.
Frequented by visitors seeking ocean-and-vista golf; offers dramatic Big Island views.
Well-known Maui option; reliable booking and a favorite for visitor rounds.
Famed tour venue; best-in-class vistas and challenge if you expand your Hawaiian itinerary.
Lanai City / Lodge at Koele area—walkable to both Koele and Manele, for a fully immersive Lanai golf retreat.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club is a natural next stop after The Experience at Koele: it shares a memorable sense of place.
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in Jay Peak Resort Golf Course's own setting.
Why it matches: If The Experience at Koele is your kind of course, The Ranch Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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