Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, Hawaii

It is said that when legendary golfer and architect Jack Nicklaus created the Kiele Course at Kauai Lagoons, the terrain lent itself so well to his vision that he made but a single change to his original design. Little wonder that this incredible resort course received accolade after accolade for being one of the finest golf gems in the Pacific.

In 2010 Jack Nicklaus was again called upon, this time to head up the redesign of his famed Kiele ocean nine. The result is a spectacular 18-hole golf experience ranked the 6th best course in Hawaii in GolfWeek Magazine’s 2012 Best Courses: State by State.

On May 23, 2011, Kauai Lagoons Golf Club reopened its newly renovated Kiele Moana (ocean) nine and restored the celebrated Kiele golf experience to the Hawaii golf scene. Under the direction of original course designer Jack Nicklaus, the Kiele Moana nine (formerly the Kiele back nine) received extensive upgrades including new TifEagle putting surfaces, bunkers and three new holes. One new hole is a dramatic ocean hole that joins three others in creating the longest continuous stretch of ocean holes of any golf course in Hawaii, providing an amazing half a mile of breathtaking ocean vistas.

The Kiele Moana nine is paired with the Kiele Mauka nine to create the 18-hole signature layout at Kauai Lagoons. The Kiele Mauka nine features the par-3, fifth hole that Nicklaus called “one of the best holes anywhere.” Measuring 219 yards from the back and requiring a tee shot over a valley of mango and guava trees, the fifth hole tests each golfer’s skill and nerve. This hole is third of a four-hole span the Kauai Lagoons golf staff refer to it as the “amen corner” — once you make it past that, say “amen” and keep going.