The 45 holes of golf at the Princeville Resort have provided
some of the most memorable golf in the state. Located
on the North Shore of Kaua‘i, the three nines that
comprise the Makai Course were designed by Robert Trent
Jones Jr.
in 1971 and served as the site of the 1978 World Cup
(as well as LPGA Tour events from 1986 through 1999).
The Prince
Course, designed also by Jones was completed in 1990
and continually ranked as one of the most outstanding
layouts in the Aloha State.
Situated high atop cliffs overlooking
the endless Pacific Ocean, with tropical mountains as
a backdrop, this course
has
been a mainstay on everyone’s “best of ”
list. However, neglect had set in and the condition
and luster of the Prince Course
faded.
If there were a Supreme Court of Golf,
the previous owners would be indicted for neglect. The
routing on
this 7,309
yard course (with a slope reading of 140) is simply
marvelous. Perhaps breathtaking. The five sets of tees
present a quintilla
of golfing possibilities. The good news is that new
owners have
rescued the resort and major changes are in the works.
Mike Castillo, who left Poipu Bay to lead the resurrection,
states: “Give us till the end of 2006 and we
will regain our
#1 rating in Hawai‘i. Up here, the 60,000 square
foot Clubhouse will be getting a facelift to include
a Health and Wellness Center. The course will have
the
turf reworked,
bunkers renovated and a host of cosmetic changes to
restore the fabulous experience out here.”
“The Makai Course will undergo
a $6 million renovation with nine holes being closed
down at a time over the
course of
six months and the bunkering and greens reworked. “The
reputation and tradition of this course is hard to
beat,
but the
course has deteriorated over time. We are committed
to bringing it back.”
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