Kauai Golf Guide: Every Course on the Garden Isle (2026)

Introduction

Kauai has nine golf courses, and visitors can book seven of them — headlined by Princeville Makai ($369 rack) on the North Shore, the Ocean Course at Hokuala (dynamic pricing, around $299) in Lihue, and Poipu Bay ($295) on the South Shore, with genuine bargains at Wailua Municipal ($80 weekday) and Kukuiolono ($15 all day).

The Garden Isle packs its golf into three distinct climates: the lush, rain-kissed North Shore cliffs of Princeville, the convenient Lihue hub minutes from the airport and cruise port, and the sunny South Shore resort belt around Poipu. Below is every Kauai course, organized by region, with current visitor rates (verified September 2026 against course websites and the county rate sheet — confirm when you book, as several Kauai courses now use dynamic pricing). Ready to play? Compare tee times on golfscape for live availability.

Kauai golf course on ocean cliffs above Hanalei Bay with lush green mountains and palm trees

Kauai Golf at a Glance

Region	Courses	Visitor Green Fees	Character
North Shore (Princeville)	2	$369+	Bucket-list cliffside golf + a private legend
Lihue & East Side	3	$80–$299	Ocean holes near the airport + the county muni
South Shore (Poipu & Koloa)	3	$93–$295	Sunny resort golf row
West Side (Kalaheo)	1	$15	Hawaii's cheapest round

Two Kauai courses are private with no visitor access: the Prince Course at Princeville (now the North Shore Preserve club) and The Club at Kukui'ula — details below. One timely note: Princeville Makai reopens Tuesday, September 29, 2026 after a September closure, with 20% off booked tee times for the reopening.

North Shore: Princeville

Princeville Makai Golf Club — Resort · Par 72, 7,223 yds · $369 rack (cart, GPS & range included)
Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s first solo design (1971), renovated to the tune of $6 million and now ranked among Golf Digest's 100 greatest public courses in America. Six oceanfront holes perch above Hanalei Bay with Bali Hai views that justify the green fee on their own. The Albatross Pass ($715 + tax for 3 rounds, about $238/day) is the multi-round play; kama'aina pay $129 (book by phone). Juniors 6–12 play free with a paying adult after 10 AM, and 13–17 play half price. Callaway rentals $85 + tax.

Prince Course at Princeville — Private · No public access
The legendary RTJ Jr. jungle layout (1990) — once Hawaii's most feared tee sheet — is now the private North Shore Preserve club, limited to homeowners and their guests. There are no public green fees; if you're not connected, the Makai Course next door is your North Shore round.

Lihue & the East Side

Ocean Course at Hokuala — Resort · Par 72, 7,156 yds · Dynamic pricing (around $299; lowest rates online)
The former Kauai Lagoons (opened 1988) was reimagined after its 2015 sale as the Ocean Course at Hokuala — a Jack Nicklaus design with Hawaii's longest stretch of oceanfront golf and a finishing hole wrapped by the Pacific on three sides. Hokuala doesn't post a fixed rack rate; book direct online for the best number. Multi-round players should look at the Mālama Program ($150 annual fee, then $175 per round including cart and practice facility, valid through December 31, 2026). Kama'aina rates via the golf shop (recently $165). Callaway Elyte rentals $85; free PGA-instructed clinic every Sunday 11 AM–noon. (Our legacy Kauai Lagoons page tracks the old name.)

Puakea Golf Course — Public · Par 72, 6,954 yds · $170 before 11 AM; $145 after 11 AM (cart & tax included)
Robin Nelson's daily-fee design plays through volcanic cliffs, ravines, and old sugar-cane land — Sports Illustrated once called it "too spectacular to keep off our list." Book online for the best rate. Playing three or more days? The Guest Weekly Package ($499, or $649 with PXG rentals) covers a round a day for seven days. Kama'aina $75; juniors $20; Kauai residents: the $100 monthly club (first round free, then $30) is the island's best locals' deal after Wailua.

Wailua Golf Course — Municipal · Par 72, 6,961 yds · $80 weekday; $100 weekends & holidays
Kauai's county muni is one of Hawaii's best public-golf values: a full-size course along the ocean at the Wailua River mouth, open to visitors at $80–$100 with twilight drops to $40–$50 after 2 PM (carts $24 extra; rentals $40). Residents pay just $18–$23, and Hawaii-resident juniors play for $1. Tee times are by phone, up to 7 days out; beginners and slow players are asked to start after noon.

South Shore: Poipu & Koloa

Poipu Bay Golf Course — Resort · Par 72, 7,123 yds · $295 before noon; $245 after 12 PM
The longtime home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and the Grand Hyatt Kauai's course — RTJ Jr. again, with oceanfront closing holes and ancient Hawaiian sites along the routing. A second round within 10 days is $200, and Grand Hyatt guests get resort rates through the concierge. On a budget, target the BreakAway menu: nine holes for $150, the "Ocean 11" (holes 8–18) for $175, or Practice & Play for $75. Unlimited packages (3 rounds $645, 5 rounds $1,025, 10 rounds $1,950) are shareable with a spouse. Book online 30 days out; rentals $95.

Kiahuna Golf Club — Resort/Semi-Private · Par 70, 6,787 yds · $163 (cart with GPS included); twilight $93
Poipu's relaxed alternative, winding past lava walls and archaeological sites — opened 1984, rebuilt after Hurricane Iniki, and under new Troon management since May 2026. Nine holes or twilight (3–6 PM) is $93; kama'aina pay $63 morning / $53 afternoon; juniors $67 with a paid adult. Rentals (Callaway Elyte) $73. Paco's Tacos in the clubhouse is the post-round move.

The Club at Kukui'ula — Private · Par 72, 7,052 yds
Tom Weiskopf's South Shore design inside the Kukui'ula development is members-only, with no public tee times.

West Side: Kalaheo

Kukuiolono Golf Club — Semi-Private · 9 holes, par 36 · $15 all day — cash only
The cheapest round in Hawaii, full stop: $15 for all-day play on a hilltop nine with panoramic ocean and mountain views, on land gifted to the public by plantation owner Walter McBryde. Juniors play for $3; an annual membership is $200. Bring cash, rent a cart for $10 if you like, and don't miss the Japanese garden by the clubhouse.

Which Kauai Course Should You Play?

Bucket list: Princeville Makai — the North Shore cliffs are Kauai's signature golf image.
Best ocean finish: Ocean Course at Hokuala — the 18th is ringed by the Pacific on three sides.
Best resort value: Puakea after 11 AM ($145) or Kiahuna twilight ($93).
Best pure value: Kukuiolono ($15 all day) or Wailua twilight ($40 weekday).
Best for families: Makai (juniors 6–12 free after 10 AM) or a casual nine at Kukuiolono.
Best wind test: Poipu Bay — bring a flighted ball you trust, like the Titleist Pro V1.

Practical Tips for Playing Kauai

Know the booking windows. Poipu Bay opens 30 days out online; Hokuala's best rates are online-only; Wailua books by phone up to 7 days ahead; Makai kama'aina times open 48 hours (before 10 AM) to 7 days (after 10 AM) out.
Pick your coast by weather. The North Shore is lusher because it rains more — winter rounds in Princeville can be wet. Poipu is the sun belt; when in doubt, play south.
Stack the afternoon deals. Poipu Bay drops $50 after noon, Puakea $25 after 11 AM, Kiahuna to $93 after 3 PM, Wailua to $40 after 2 PM — Kauai rewards the late tee time.
Respect the trades. Afternoon wind is real at Poipu and Wailua; mornings play easier. Humidity eats gloves — rotate a couple of FootJoy WeatherSof gloves and keep a spare dry.
Sun protection is mandatory. Four-plus hours on exposed fairways: we pack the Neutrogena Sport Face SPF 70 and reapply at the turn.
Do the rental math. Rental sets run $70–$95 across Kauai, so three-plus rounds approach airline bag fees. Frequent visitors ship clubs ahead with Ship Sticks or grab a pre-owned set from 2nd Swing. Our Hawaii golf packing list has the full breakdown.
Kama'aina: bring ID. Resident rates are deep — Wailua from $18, Puakea $75, Kiahuna $53–$63, Makai $129, Hokuala around $165.
Plan around the one highway. Kauai's road doesn't circle the island; Lihue to Princeville runs 45–60 minutes with traffic. Cluster North Shore and South Shore rounds on separate days.

Playing multiple islands? Compare with our Oahu, Maui, and Big Island guides, plus the island-by-island math in the Hawaii golf trip cost guide.

Sample Kauai Golf Itineraries

Three days, value play (about $240 in green fees): Day 1 — land at Lihue and play Wailua twilight after 2 PM ($40). Day 2 — Puakea after 11 AM ($145), sunset at Kalapaki Beach. Day 3 — morning drive to Kalaheo for Kukuiolono ($15, cash) with a picnic lunch. Add Kiahuna twilight ($93) if the budget stretches.

Three days, resort week (about $960 in green fees): Day 1 — Ocean Course at Hokuala (dynamic; book online for the best rate). Day 2 — Poipu Bay after noon ($245), dinner in Poipu. Day 3 — drive north for Princeville Makai ($369) as the finale — from September 29, the reopening offer takes 20% off.

Either way, check golfscape's Kauai page for same-week availability before booking direct — dynamic pricing occasionally drops below posted rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many golf courses does Kauai have?
Kauai has nine golf courses, and visitors can book seven of them: Princeville Makai, the Ocean Course at Hokuala, Puakea, Wailua Municipal, Poipu Bay, Kiahuna, and Kukuiolono. The Prince Course (North Shore Preserve) and The Club at Kukui'ula are private with no public play.

What is the best golf course on Kauai?
Princeville Makai Golf Club is the consensus pick — a Golf Digest top-100 public course with six oceanfront holes above Hanalei Bay. On the South Shore, Poipu Bay (former PGA Grand Slam of Golf host) is the championship alternative.

How much does it cost to golf on Kauai?
Visitor green fees run from $15 (Kukuiolono, all day, cash only) up to $369 at Princeville Makai. Resort golf clusters between $163 (Kiahuna) and $299 (Hokuala), with twilight discounts of 20–50% at nearly every course.

What is the cheapest golf course on Kauai?
Kukuiolono Golf Club in Kalaheo — $15 for all-day play, juniors $3, cash only. For full-length golf, Wailua Municipal is $80 on weekdays and drops to $40 after 2 PM.

Is the Prince Course at Princeville open?
Not to the public. The Prince Course is now the private North Shore Preserve club for homeowners and their guests — no visitor tee times. Princeville Makai, next door, remains the North Shore's public championship course and reopens September 29, 2026 after its September closure.

Where should I play near the Lihue airport or cruise port?
The Ocean Course at Hokuala and Puakea are both about 10 minutes from Lihue Airport and Nawiliwili Harbor — ideal for a first-day or last-day round. Wailua Municipal is 15 minutes up the coast.

Book Your Kauai Tee Times

Kauai's seven visitor-friendly courses rarely sell out except during peak winter weeks — but Poipu Bay's mornings and Makai's post-reopening tee sheet will move first. Start with live availability and compare tee times on golfscape, then check the individual course pages for full rate tables and contact details. For course rankings statewide, see our Top 10 Golf Courses in Hawaii (2026).

Hawaii Golf Guide is reader-supported. When you book or buy through links on our site — including golfscape and Amazon — we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Green fees change frequently; all rates here were verified as of September 2026, and each course page lists the latest numbers.