Reviews of Makalei Golf Club (Golf)

Oliver Gilbert

Not your normal course. On the side of the mountain, very up and down. No sand traps, lots of swales. Fun, and a great value. The cart paths through the forest are very steep.

Judith Mitchell

Golfed here twice during our stay. The value was great for 18 holes of golf, a cart, clubs, and even cold water. The course was long, narrow in places, and challenging but not overwhelming. It had some great natural features like lava tubes and beautiful flowers and plants everywhere. The elevation helped in that it was never too hot, and we played both times in the afternoon. It was amazing to see Peacocks roaming around the course - sometimes mocking us as we played. There were also spectacular ocean views including views of Maui. The staff was very nice and the service was great- would highly recommend.

stephon bushon

With the thin fairways and undulations that slope left or right it's a hard read... but a true golfer longs for this sort of environment. The place is absolutely beautiful up in the mountains with Cool breezes and beautiful birds taking your breath away. I haven't played in years but I did play this course about fifty to a hundred times several years ago it has improved since then and I just played for the first time today and I had the time of my life even though I scored 113.

Art Johnson

A true gem of a course on the Big Island. Set in the forest at an elevation that is much cooler than the courses at sea level and the large trees all around hamper the wind somewhat making it a pleasant round of golf. If you love birds this is your course as there are loads of friendly peacocks and multiple other feathered friends to view. The fees are decent and Kamani rates are great. Add a super friendly staff a consession cart on the spot to keep you going. Only down side is the sand traps are under repair and if you don't stay on the course we'll say goodbye to your ball cause no way to even try and find it as grass and bushes and thick trees make it impossible to find. But hey all in all you will find it to be a fun and memorable experience .

Artie Guerin

Lived in Kona for 4 years, and played most of the big island courses. Makalei is clearly the most fun, and challenging, on the island. Great greens, fairways okay, and bunkers (well, try to stay out of them). But golf is also a sensory experience, and the views, natural setting, and cool fresh mountain air easily make up for any drawbacks. Only one side by side fairway, so bring some extra balls for errant shots. It's wise to have some local advice as many of the holes are tricky. I heard a scratch golfer say the safest plan was to try to land near the 150 markers, where you're most likely to have a flat lie. Anyway, I loved playing there and wish I was there today.

Rod Matson

Beautiful views, challenging course. Lots of ups and downs, got a good workout.

P A

Kc was an amazing GM with so much Aloha!

Luther Geistfeld

Very disappointing condition. Nice layout but obviously seriously neglected maintenance. Poor grass on fairways, traps were unplayable and weeds everywhere. Spend a little more and get a decent track.

Kyle Williams

***CAUTION*** We were waiting for our ride to pick us up after playing. I explained to them the ride was coming from Kona and were only a few minutes away as I had just spoke with them on the phone. They said they wanted to lock the gate and close up. We then had to walk from the club house to the highway and stand on the side of the road where it was extremely dangerous! They still didn't have the gate closed and locked by the time our ride had showed up. This was very rude and unprofessional. I will probably never golf there again...BeWaRe!!!

Scott Cantor

Great fun and awesome views. Good food and friendly staff! Go play golf now!

N Clever

Cool elevation, beautiful coastline views, love all the wild peacocks

Frank Lambrecht

So wild

Hugh Telphia

Expensive but you wanna play their

Nick Briley

Friendly staff, watchout for the peacocks.

Victor Han

Cockpits all over the fairways

Becky Ice

I will always love this beautiful course. Not 5 stars because it always rains in afternoon

Les Noggle

The views are very nice but the overall condition is not good, they have changed the holes around and it is a good 10 minute drive to the first tee. The fairways are okay at best and the bunkers are total garbage. Greens are about the only thing that is good.

Stephen Butler

It's a decent public course. It was a little dry the day we played. Not a flat fairway on the whole course. Take extra balls.

DAVID BUZBY

Uphill challenge, beautiful course, lots of wildlife...

Jon Kraus

Nice course in good shape, except for the sand traps. But that worked out as they were being played as ground under repair free drop! Great views and lots of birds.

Steve Nightingale

Friendly staff with wonderful views. Birds everywhere to watch your golf ability,lol. Great price with green fees includes cart.

Jessica Markancek

Great mountain experience. Tough but fun course

Mike Gregg

Greens have a spot fungus problem right now that affects putting. Otherwise good shape.

Chuck & Ginny Martinson

Beautiful course on the Big Island. Peacocks roam all over the course.

Dennis Peterson

Played Makalei on 3/12/19 with another single after 2pm for super twilight rate, plus I found a $20 off coupon (I think it came from the Budget car rental brochure). The course is in a beautiful, jungle like mountain setting with plenty of vertical. It's not meant for walking, with long distance between some holes. You'll see much wildlife, with plentiful birds and mongoose. Some male peacocks will splay their colorful feathers for you. The course is not immaculately groomed, but it's in good shape, and the greens are nice condition. It rained moderately hard for about 7 holes, but that's just mother nature in Hawaii. It was not crowded, we finished 18 holes in about 3 hours. I got soaked, but had a good time!

Gary Hara

The greens are in good shape, bent grass but the tee boxes and fairways were not well kept. This is a very hilly course so you have to adjust hitting the because of the slopes and you have to make elevation adjustments hitting up hills and then down hills. The gas cart that we had was loud and it struggled to go uphill and the brakes were very sensitive. They have a lot of peacocks and that were fun to see. The staff was friendly and very helpful and the food served there at the restaurant was tasty.

Ayn H

Very nice. Check it out

bradda kimo

Course is nice and secluded. It is in good shape, staff is friendly. Driving range is good and reasonable cost, unlike Kona Country Club. I have always thought the golf community supports special needs people, or maybe it's just Makalei. I am a caregiver for my 60 year old brother who has severe downs syndrome. He is also deaf and does not speak. I don't like leaving him at home, so I take him pretty much every where I go. He doesn't complain, he's just happy to be out and about. Now Makalei charges an extra rider even if they don't play. Now I understand you are in business to make money, but why do you charge a person like that $25.00 PLUS TAX!! I know you have to insure the rider, so they have to pay something. I can see maybe $5.00 - and he is Kamaaina!! This is soo wrong, that it's shameful!! Be thankful you're not a Special Needs person and people don't treat you that way. The counter person wanted to accomodate but the manager did not want to. Maybe she's getting ready to ask for a raise.

Ed Coppola

Great place

Steve Moon

I give you 5 stars. The view from the driving range is the 5th star.

christine bickel

The peacocks on the course are beautiful, beautiful place to play golf, challenging because it's so hilly

Rusty Shackleford

Best price in town

Shannon Bennett

Amazing Views, challenging course.

Tristen King

I love this course!! Great altitude nice and cool

C. C.

course was challenging and fun, but overall the course was not to the standard of other courses on the island. The driving range was neglected, the sand traps were not raked out (just big piles of sand everywhere), greens had patches, bad food, and way over priced. The course is good for skills training, tough shots, strategy practice; however, for $100 I would choose some other course over it.

Paul

Course was quiet. For such a challenging course and being such an average golfer was really happy with my round. Be aware they need the carts back by 5.30. Can be very challenging if not straight. Very scenic peacocks everywhere, lava tubes. Carts are compulsory and in fees. Don't think you could walk this course, lots of up hill holes. Would do it again. It isn't a 5 star uber designed coastal flat course but greens ran well and a heck of a good day and unique experience

Chris Graham

Great course

oOlivas Robert

Great food

Sam Huddleston

Nice course.

Jerry Cutsforth

Really in tough shape.

rod smith

Great venue... great scenery...great game... what's my score??...don't ask....

mike walls

A challenging course that's a lot of fun. Good staff and in reasonable condition. An excellent bargain.

Jerry Schumm

Played the course about 12 years ago and thought it was a good course,with great vistas high above Kona. Played again today (11/2/17) and was very disappointed. The course has the potential to be a really great tract - challenging, interesting, different. However, a serious lack of maintenance over the years is evident throughout the course. Many of the sand traps were mostly dirt, abundant with weeds. The fairways were pretty beaten up with a mixture of grasses and textures. I’m sure the locals love the course as it’s affordable and fun, but if you are a serious golfer on vacation, my recommendation is that you avoid this course.

ITS BRAN YO

Nice views, decent course

James McCully

New routing takes course back to the original design, big improvement ! I like the forest setting with no houses anywhere on the course. Still Bent Grass greens which I love, true rolls. Between this course and Big Island CC for best value/best conditions in West Hawaii.

Brian Baker

This is my favorite course on the island. The most friendly staff and good course conditions. The weather is normally cooler there so it is where I go to beat the heat from town.

Micalle Culver

Very challenging course. Great staff. Priced very nicely. Buy the birdseed!!! Peacocks everywhere and they run to you upon hearing the shake of a zip lock. Have always enjoyed playing here. My personal island favorite. Membership rates are unbeatable. Driving range has the most spectacular view compared to all courses. Great place to spend an hour of peace improving your swing. Lots of events to participate in.

the dj stuff guy

Played here MORE than a few times now. Was never impressed, but I went back because I liked the layout. The course has never been maintained well when i played. The greens are so unkempt it ruins the round. Every time I've gone for the past 2 years they have been bad. Plus they haven't had real sand traps in over a year. They have been "under construction" for a long time. They tell you to drop beside them instead of play out of the rock hard surface. This time though..... I could not be more disappointed by my last round. The rude counter lady the last time I brought out of town guests started it off. I was told on the phone that my plus 1 would be no problem getting the kamaaina rate with me. NOPE. not when we got there. That request for a good rate was met with a stare and bad excuse for an apology. Also my buddy was wearing a nike dry fit golf shirt, but it didn't have a "collar" so in order to golf he was forced to purchase your overpriced shirts in the shop. I have been here before wearing the same sport type shirt and had no problem golfing. It's golf apparel FFS. So she basically set the tone for a junk round by killing our attitude. And then the course is just SOOOOO BAD. 100 for a round, 80 bucks to buy a shirt!? Plus she was so rude. 100 dollars a round if you have a guest in town for this course is just SO overpriced. It's not worth it at all.

Grant Johnson

What an awesome break from all the coastal courses! This choice was a good one. Huge elevation change, very challenging, beautiful course!

Richard Hartley

Friendly staff,nicely stocked pro shop,challenging course however a nice course to play the hilly terrain makes it interesting to play.

Doug Griffin

About ten years ago, my wife and her parents were winding up our vacation and looking to get one last round of golf in. Earlier in our vacation we had played Princeville, Kauai Lagoons and Kona Country Club and ejoyed all those experiences. On a whim, we found Makalei in the phone book. Found the prices reasonable as, again, we were just looking to squeeze in on last round. When we got there, we did not know what to think. We were in a lush forest, so it was nothing like Kona golf. While I cannot tell you what I scored, I can tell you that when we discuss golf in Hawaii, Makalie is what sticks out. It exceeded our expectations. I was more impressed with this course than I was the like of Princeville and Kona. Each hole was amazing with views, tropical forest, flowers, etc. Incredible! A true gem. Again, 10 years ago, but in looking at their website, it still looks the same and still, likley, a bargin compared to other courses in the area. Highly, highly recommend this course!

redoty2

This course is highly overpriced. Not well groomed, tee boxes in horrible shape and hard to find a level stance. Could be a great course but value places it on the bottom of the list. $119 per person including cart is outrageous. Go a few miles farther to Big Island for a much better experience. There were places on the course that would better be described as cow pasture.

Masako Neher

Cool air and peacook world !

Brock Kunz

Great place to get out of town and not too expensive. Great scenery and wildlife.

Mary Ann Wepfer

In terrible shape. Needs an overall

Da Hamma

Cheapest place in Kona

Mark Wiegand

Loved the course. Would have given a 5 star but there was some work being done on the course and didn't like that the carts had to be in by 6. Could have played that course all day. Lots of hills.

Therese Long

The course was in extremely rough condition.

Bob Spencer

Great driving range and course.

Becky Wimmer

Great price for this challenging course

Robert Sampimon

Nice golf course, well kept and good greens.

Kiawe Woods

Just played the course for the first time this afternoon with my wife. It was a totally different experience than I expected. Totally LOVED it! Very hilly terrain in high altitude surrounded by forrest and lakes. Beautiful indeginous plants and wildlife everywhere. The greens were about a 7 out of 10. Some sand bunkers appeared erroded due to previous rains but was fine for me( never went in the bunker) If you love the BEACH you'll be dissapointed. Very affordable. Took our time playing, nobody behind us. Recomend getting a bag of bird feed from the proshop. Peacocks,wild fowl,pheasants eat from yoir hand. Theres a lot of other courses to play if you caan dish out the cash. This course however is the only one at high elevation. Very scenic in sub tropical rainforest surrounding. Definitely will be back.

Aaron Howell

Bring your A game, a good attitude towards golf course design and an extra sleeve of balls. High into the hills above the Kona airport, I enjoyed the views and temperature reduction from 2000'+ above sea level. Challenging course winds up and around through the dry/rainforest-like environment, with lots of uneven lies and elevation changes. Pro shop is small but plentiful, people are super kind and the greens were in great shape. A locals course with lots of smiles. Target golf if you're not too confident or accurate in 235+ shots. Only critique is besides the 150 barber pole, distance to center wasn't well marked. So bring a laser or play with a local.

Barbara Clark

Excellent golf & lots of birds.

Russell Rudel

Cheap and super fun!!!

Queen of pups Mottl-Long

It was an amazing experience and a beautiful scene, with beautiful peacocks roaming the course, and the golfing was quite enjoyable some holes were challenging and some less chalenging but still breathtaking . Over all I loved my experience and I would go back again!! I loved it and I am only 10!!!! Thoe not in the best condition still a very enjoyable trip!! For everyone to know this is an amazing place to be and see the breathtaking peacocks up close!! They run strait up to you if they hear the ruffling of a chip bag!! It was just fantastic!!!!!

Dawn Christenson

We were stuck behind four poor players in a tournament and we weren't even in the tournament. The marshal didn't allow us to move to the back to avoid the tournament. We weren't even allowed to finish 18 as they wanted the carts back by 5 even though the club said they close at 6. Not a good experience. We were not treated well.

Jeff Foote

Best place to play on the Big Island

Paul Ogawa

Great course layout. Not the best condition, but being up in the mountainside, it is cooler than the resort courses Oceanside with great views. Can be challenging, play the correct tees for your ability.

Jose Valbuena

Great value for visitors and locals alike! And you can even get a lunch and tee time package for about the same price as a tee time only. Golf is challenging on this narrow course.

Waverider Smith

* Nice Mountain Style Course.....18 holes--High Slope Rating * In Fair To Average Shape... * Very Basic Amenities- Club House, Pro Shop, Restaurant... * EXCELLENT VALUE FOR THE MONEY FOR VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE * If you are looking for a course with wide fairways, then this is the wrong course for you....

Lisa G.

Incredible golf experience beyond expectations! The Makalei Golf Club delivers! It's a golf outing complete with a mountainous journey with breathtaking views, interaction with nature, peacocks and turkeys, and a unique look into how volcanic activity has shaped the land and course along the way. Truly memorable golf experience on the Big Island of Hawaii that we will never forget! #onewithnature

Justin Sims

This place has been my favorite spot to golf on the big island for the last 20 years. Highly recommended!!!

Homer S

The affordable place to go and usually not crowded.

David Dorr

Lots of wildlife on this course

Chicken Hazmat

Great... Lots of Peacock, Turkey, Chicken, and Pheasants!

Lance Tanino

Welcomes non-golfers. I look forward to my next visit to rent a golf cart and having a meal at their restaurant.

Robert Yaya

Awesome and great prices..

Zak Xiong

Rough fairways, slooowww greens & and tee boxes a bit overgrowned. Bunker conditions not all there either. Expected better for a Hawaiian course. Wish them the best.

Kika

Great location and layout. About 10 degrees cooler than the sea level courses and extremely hilly. Very difficult course and you must be very accurate or you will lose a lot of balls in the tall cane grass or trees. Surprisingly a lot of elder players on the course which slows down pace of play. Only course on island with bent grass greens but they are slower than mainland bent grass due to the moisture in the area. The golf carts need some more torque and power to go up the hills. Be prepared for a 15 minutes ride to 1st tee up the slope but only 5 minutes down after 18th hole. I do have to say that some of the employees are not as service oriented as you'd like/expect but I think that is just hit or miss with who they employ at that period of time.

Stephen Ferguson

Best greens on the Big Island for a public course.

hiro hase

Golf course with many peacocks Steep slopes, drive carts carefully!

Eddie Underwood

Course is currently in rough shape, good time non the less. Still beautiful and affordable. Perfect for hanging with friends for round of golf. Staff is super friendly!!!