Spirit of Aloha | Articles | Golfing in Paradise | May/June 2003

Golfing in Paradise
By Marcus Ocean

Kiele Course, Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club

This Jack Nicklaus-designed course makes great use of the landscape - lush vegetation, rolling hills, deep ravines and picturesque lagoons

In my opinion, the golf gods gave Jack Nicklaus two great gifts: One, success as a legendary golfer, perhaps the best who has ever played the game. And second, success as a legendary golf-course designer. Whenever I travel around the country to play golf, I always see if there's a Nicklaus course around. Hawai'i has three of his designs.

The first golf course Nicklaus designed in Hawai'i was the Kiele Course at the Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club in Lïhu'e, Kaua'i. Kiele was, and still is, one of his finest creations.

Nicklaus layouts are geared toward "risk and reward" golf. Take the risk if you can and the reward is great. Don't take it and you are still rewarded for good thinking.

The Kiele Course is a perfect example. You must be able to clear ravines, creeks and lagoons. At the time it was built in the late '80s, it was named America's best new resort golf course-and Hawai'i's toughest.

Along with its sister course, Mokihana, Kiele is located on the Kaua'i Marriott Resort and Beach Club property. More than 7,000 yards long from the tips, Kiele is situated above the pounding surf of the Pacific, with spectacular views of the Hoary Head mountain range and the crescent-shaped Kalapakï Beach.

Nicklaus made great use of the landscape, which features rolling hills, seemingly endless ravines, the lagoons and the natural vegetation so abundant on Kaua'i. Kiele has large, fast, undulating Bermuda-grass greens protected by bunkers and water. In fact, water is a factor on eight of the holes, including the 18th, perhaps the most challenging finishing hole in Hawai'i.

An interesting feature is that each of the holes has a name and a monument statue. It might be amusing to study the monument to figure out how the hole got its name. The first hole is called The Buddha, and the customary thing to do is rub The Buddha's belly for good luck.

Kiele has perhaps the most beautiful starting hole in all of Hawai'i. There is a mountain range to the left and right, a thick jungle area straight ahead, palm trees, a very undulating but large fairway and, off in the distance, a huge green.

On the par-5 second hole, you can see the risk-and-reward factor come into play right from the tee box, with a dozen bunkers running down the right side all the way to the green. You must decide how much to cut off the fairway to have a second shot at the green.

The No. 1 handicap hole, tagged The Camel, is the par-4, 401-yard third hole. It is the most difficult hole on the course. A huge fairway trap runs almost from the tee-shot landing area to under the green. There are also some steep and deep bunkers surrounding the perched green. You must go up no less than two clubs for the second shot into this deep green. Short on this hole is no option.

The first of the four demanding par-3 holes is The Eagle, a 203-yard uphill shot over a deep ravine. It takes steady nerves to pull the club back on this tee shot.

My favorite hole on the front is the other par 3, No. 8. It's only 147 yards, all downhill, but with a left to right sloping green protected by a nice-size lake on the right. This green runs fast, front to back, so don't fly your shot to a back pin placement.

After you have played the ninth hole, drive slowly and take in the beautiful lagoons for which the property was named.

Even if the wind is only a mild breeze, the par-5 10th hole plays much longer than its 548 yards. The first two shots must find the center of the fairway or you can expect no better than a bogey. Anything short right is out of play and anything left will find the long bunker. The only way to play this hole is straight.

No. 12 brings the Pacific Ocean into view. Although listed at 437 yards, this hole will give you a chance at par or better. The wind is usually behind you and it's all downhill. The risk here is hitting right at the pin. The green runs front to back, and you should try to bump and run a shot into this green.

The par-3 13th hole is called The Frog, but it should have been named The Kodak: All the groups preceding my foursome stopped to take pictures. And no wonder-the hole is over an ocean inlet and a gulch filled with tropical vegetation, and the tee boxes are perched on a high bluff that looks down on Nawiliwili Bay and Harbor. Pin placement and wind will determine your club selection, but again, short is not an option.

Kiele's signature hole is the very short but demanding 16th. There is just no way to get the reward of a long tee shot that could reach this green. The risk is too high to even try; instead, a long iron or fairway metal down the right side will reward you with an easy second shot in. You must be short to the right side of the green or the ball will carry to the back and into the bunker or the Pacific.

The finishing hole is called The Bear-and yes it is. The right side of the fairway is where you want to be, but it is bordered by water all the way to the green. The left side is out-of-bounds. Hopefully, you have saved your best drive of the day for this hole. Assuming you find the center of the fairway, you'll be left with anywhere from 155 to 180 yards out, and looking at a green that sits out on a small peninsula surrounded by a lagoon. Unless you can flush your approach shot over water to a shallow green, it might be best to lay up close to the fairway side of the water and chip onto the green.

This hole offers all of what Nicklaus wanted you to experience. Take a risk, don't pull it off and you're stymied. Play smart and perhaps you can reward yourself with a par.

The Bear knew what he was doing when he designed the Kiele Course. It's an experience you must share with the master golf course designer.

Great Golf on KAUA'I

Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club/Kiele Course/Mokihana Course
Lihu'e • 241-6000

Kiahuna Golf Club
Po'ip¯u • 742-9595

KukuioLono Golf Course
Lihu'e • 332-9151

Po'ip¯u Bay Golf Course
Po'ip¯u • 742-8711

Princeville Golf Club/Makai Course/Prince Course
Princeville • 826-3580/826-5000

Puakea Golf Course
Lihu'e • 245-8756

Wailua Golf Course
Wailua • 241-6666

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