Emerging from a breathtaking backdrop and the vision of the foremost name in golf design, The Club at Hokuli’a aspired from the beginning to take its place among the world’s finest golf courses.
The Jack Nicklaus touch at Hokuli’a is evident in the superb shot values. “You’ll have to play every club in your golf bag”, said Darren Sayre, Hokuli’a’s Head Golf Professional. The course has attracted the interest of other golf luminaries. PGA champion Hale Irwin is a touring pro and Hokuli`a member.
The texture of the course accommodates players of varying skill levels. The par-72 course, which opened in 2002, stretches 7,337 yards from the Nicklaus tees, and compacts to a friendlier 5,314 yards from the front tees. Fairways are park-like, but top players will be tested. From the back tees holes become longer, views to the green narrow, and angles to the pins are tougher.
It’s a rare find in Hawaiian golf, one of a select few private, oceanside courses on the Island of Hawai`i. In fact, five holes play next to the ocean. Golfers here also enjoy both balmy temperatures year-round and mild Kona breezes that typically top out at 5 miles per hour. And the greens feature Champion Bermuda, a grain less grass that “roll very true”, Sayre said.
Signature Hole: 15th – 487 Yard Par 4 – This downhill par four is just flat out beautiful. With a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean, your eyes are treated to a colleague of colors ranging from black lava and white bunkers to green grass and sparkling blue waters. Palm trees are found along the fairway of this dogleg left as well as behind the green. If you can hit a draw you are going to have a blast watching how far down the fairway your ball will tumble which will set up a much shorter approach then you may have expected seeing the yardage on the scorecard. This dramatic of an elevation change is reminiscent of the finishing two holes at Kapalua Plantation which represent two of the most enjoyable holes on the islands.
Best Par 5 at The Club at Hokuli’a: 9th – 525 Yards – This hole is all about the green. At 525 yards it is well reachable in two for many players, but the choice in doing so will be strongly based on how confident you feel with your distance control. The back third of the green is severely sloped and will suck approach shots well away from the hole if distance control is anything less than spot on. Two-putting from the lower tier will be extremely fortunate as I can’t imagine anyone practices the putts they will face here. If the pin is ever put on the rear tier I can only imagine how intimidating the lag putt down the slope would be. If you end up carding a double bogey with a four-putt, you can at least soak in the ocean view off to the right of the hole.
Conclusion: The Club at Hokuli’a is a great course that Nicklaus fans will instantly appreciate. However, golfers that aren’t Nicklaus fans, citing that his courses are too difficult, won’t convert to the Golden Bear’s style on account of Hokuli’a. The collection of one-shotters is visually impressive as is the variety. The excellent conditioning, significant elevation changes, and ocean views throughout the course make Hokuli’a one of the most unique and impressive layouts in the Hawaiian islands.
