At night, the story has been told, menehune—often compared to leprechauns —magically appeared to create wonderful accomplishments on the land. They must have been working overtime to craft the Kaua‘i Lagoons Kiele Course. For woven into the 750 acres of native ecosystem (which includes 40 acres of fresh water lagoons) is a sparkling and marvelously maintained 7,070 yard golf course of refreshing originality and challenge.

Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in September, 1987, the course mingles ponds, spectacular ocean views, guava and mango forests, two-cliff carries and harbor views to create an endearing golfing odyssey.

The metaphor could not be more clear at the tee box of the opening hole. Here first of 18 statues greets the bemused golfer. It is of the Happy Buddha (see photo). What a perfect icon for a round of golf.

Ken Kimura, the golf operations manager for the past 13 years, marvels over the design diversity of this elaborate course, “The par-5s are very fair. Longer hitters can reach the greens except for the 10th [562 yards and handicapped 2]. The par-4s are mixed: the 7th, 11th and 14th are short and the 18th is a long drive and over water to an island green. “ “The par-3s are all different, “ he continues with studied animation. “The 5th goes over mango valley, the 8th a short hole over a lagoon, the 13th over a cove, and the 17th to a peninsula island.” It’s no wonder he’s hung around for 13 years.

Typically, the Nicklaus fairways are wide (“even generous,” Ken adds) and the greens are commodious and devoid of deception. The hazards are two-fold: over 100 bunkers populate the fairways and green complexes, and the wind is your partner.

These factors are all apparent on the 436-yard 3rd hole, which is handicapped 1. The wide fairway has a small bunker smack in the middle, 240 yards from the tips. Your second shot must avoid a stretch of sand that runs for a 130 yards past the left edge of the elevated green. The approach is uphill and into the wind, which might require moving up a club. The statue at the tee box this hole is a camel, and you truly must get over the hump.

The 470 yard par-4 is next, and requires an artful drive past the right edge of an 80-yard fairway bunker sunk in the left portion of the fairway near the landing zone. The tiered, front-sloping
green is elevated and book-ended by the three bunkers on each side. But the real excitement is on the inward half where, despite the 562-yard 10th with its boomeranging dogleg left fairway engraved by a dozen bunkers, you’re going to have some gracious fun. The par-3 13th is simply a beauty.

From the side of a cliff, choose one of five tee boxes and launch over a swirling cove to a green flanked by front and back bunkers. The elevation and trade winds give more flight to your iron, so take that into account. Don’t rush the shot and enjoy the view.

But save some of your awe for the 330- yard 16th, a signature hole that is both novel and spectacular (above). From an elevated tee you .re downhill to a large fairway that doglegs left and tumbles down to a green that is terraced on the edge of a cliff that reaches out into the Pacific. Your first shot should go to the far right side at the top of the first fairway terrace. from there you have about a 100 yard chip shot straight downhill to this target green the size of a dime. A rear drop-off offers a sunken bunker to save your ball from the water, but try to avoid it. If your game has to go downhill, what a way to do it.

Then finish up on the 431-yard Golden Bear hole, which requires an ample drive to a wide landing area and a long carry to a tiered, boomerang green set amidst bunkers and palm trees on a peninsula.

It’s a marvelous finishing hole on an outstanding golf course.