Went to big island on vacation and was able to play one round. Was going to play mauna kea, but decided that may be a bit much for me, so i started looking for an alternate course. Decided on mauna ... Continue »

Went to big island on vacation and was able to play one round. Was going to play mauna kea, but decided that may be a bit much for me, so i started looking for an alternate course. Decided on mauna lani and could not be happier.

Played on january 22, 2015. Just went into pro shop on the 20th and the lady there got me a great rate (130.00 vs. the normal 200.00).

Showed up early to get some practice in with rental clubs (all taylormade sldr). Pro shop staff and everyone else were just wonderful people. Only thing negative was i asked for stiff shaft, but got regular shaft. In the end, clubs were nice, so was not a huge deal. Also, this was the only thing negative i encountered at mauna lani.

In any case, got to hit some balls, got to putt the massive practice green, then was told i was up by the starter. Starter actually came ans found me on practice green, instead of just announcing that i was up, which was a nice personal touch.

Was by myself, so i got set up with a twosome that were very nice. We teed off exactly on time, and were able to play the entire course (including stopping for pictures) in 3.5 hours.

Course itself was absolutely phenomenal. Tee boxes were perfect, fairways were perfect, greens were fast and perfect, etc. Sand was fluffier than the sand on the beach. Many holes on the water, with number 15 being the nicest hole i have ever seen. I actually had a shot get screwed up by me getting hit by ocean spray. Just absolutely phenomenal.

After round i stopped at the bar for a beer, and even the bar was wonderful. Great view, great ambiance, and great beer selection.

In sum, Mauna Lani south is, hands down, the best course i have ever played. Nearly everything about mauna lani was just perfect. Could not have asked for a better round of golf. Next time i am on the big island, i hope to be able to play the north course. If you are on the big island and can get a round in, definitely play mauna lani south.

Wow. Just wow. I agree with the previous reviewer about the beauty of this course. #15 is, without a doubt, the prettiest golf hole I've ever played, and the course is probably my all time favorite. C... Continue »

Wow. Just wow. I agree with the previous reviewer about the beauty of this course. #15 is, without a doubt, the prettiest golf hole I've ever played, and the course is probably my all time favorite. Conditions were pristine from tee to green to traps to rough. Interestingly for a course so nice, the service was only average. No one met me at bag drop to unload, or afterward, and the people in the pro shop were cordial but not really friendly.

It is not a particularly challenging course, which I think is appropriate since it gets a lot of play from vacation golfers who don't know the course. I played the course with another single that had never played it, and we managed to get around without getting into too much trouble. The rack rate is $235, but they had a few discounted tee times on their website, and I paid $160, which for a course of that quality is a steal. We liked it so much we played the North course at the $75 replay rate. Overall, a terrific course, and although Mauna Kia is a beautiful course also, this one has it beat.

Round #3 of the big island adventure was this morning at the South course at Mauna Lani. It's pretty hard to put it into words, but wow. I don't think I've ever played a course as pretty as this. Just... Continue »

Round #3 of the big island adventure was this morning at the South course at Mauna Lani. It's pretty hard to put it into words, but wow. I don't think I've ever played a course as pretty as this. Just jaw droppingly pretty. Conditions were just like the North, which I had played a few days ago. Greens were great, nice and quick, and very true. Fairways absolutely perfect, sand traps awesome, and rough that wasn't going to kill you. If anything could be improved, a few of the tee boxes weren't exactly level. This wouldn't have bothered me too much, except I think the worst of the bunch was the back tee on #15, which is their signature hole (and an awesome hole at that).

I've got the time for four rounds for this trip, and I told myself for the last one I would play my favorite course of the 1st three a second time. I think it's going to have to be this one, it was just too good to not play it once more.