Hole 12 - Another Great Hole

The Makai Golf Course

The Signature Holes

By Brian Weis

Eric Belmonte, PGA, Head Golf Professional, at Makai Golf Club describes the signature holes at the course.

HOLE 3 - Par 3

Yardage: 181, 153, 150, 130 yards
The third hole is as challenging as it is spectacular. This perilous par 3 requires a short iron shot from a teeing area elevated 100 feet above a protected green below. A beautiful lake fronting the green mingles with the beauty of Hanalei Bay in the background and the north shore's breathtaking mountains. With the trade winds blowing from behind and the enormous drop to the green, usually two clubs less are required, making this beauty less beastly.
Yards: 181 153 150 130

HOLE 7 - Par 3

Yardage: 181, 153, 150, 130 yards
An exceptionally frightening par 3, while at the same time featuring the tranquil beauty of the Pacific Ocean and Hanalei Bay. From the championship tees, one must carry nearly 200 yards over a ravine that is 160 feet deep--with the sea churning against the black rocks at the bottom--to a green fronted only by a cliff garnished with tropical vegetation and trees.

HOLE 13 - Par 3

Yardage: 255 198 175 145 yards
This testy par 3 is normally played into the stiff Pacific trade winds, requiring a well-struck shot with plenty of club. The Pacific Ocean lies beyond, providing frequent winter sightings of humpback whales, with soaring albatross and the Kilauea Lighthouse in the background. Be sure to hit several extra clubs into the stiff wind as the bunkers and steep face will not allow for a roll-up approach.

HOLE 18 - Par 5

Yardage: 567, 534, 505, 403 yards
A thrilling par 5 where the golfer coaxes his ball in successive shots over two large lakes to a solitary green fronted by water. This finishing hole reshuffled the leader board during every Women's Kemper Open the course hosted. A gusty, well-placed drive over the first lake can put you in position to go-for-broke over the lake protecting the green. Even a perfect lay-up second shot doesn't assure a par 5, as the wedge shot still must clear the lake.

More Information
Makai Golf Club at Princeville
4080 Lei O Papa Rd
Princeville, HI 96722
Phone: 808-826-1912

Revised: 03/16/2012 - Article Viewed 30,459 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.