Mauna Kea Golf Course

I had the pleasure of playing this course with my dad in celebration of his 75th birthday and it was an unforgettable experience. The course was in excellent condition and the views were stunning. The pro shop was full of the most irresistible merch and gear I’ve ever seen in a golf shop and I paid nearly as much in there as I did on our pair of green fees. I can’t recommend this course enough, if you have the chance to play here, don’t hesitate, just do it, you will be so glad that you did.

Play the shortest tees your ego will
Allow! Back nine is a great fair test of golf although many elevated greens!

Well manicured, challenging golf course. Beautiful ocean views from most holes. Unfortunately, the day of play was a really trade windy day.

Great golf course, but really challenging with 25-30knot trade winds blasting. Not MK’s fault, but nature really added to the challenge of this round. 2nd 9 was better, winds backed off a bit.

Highly recommend adding this track to your schedule while on the Big Island. Of course, the signature par 3 over the water starts you off on a positive note, but overall the layout is rewarding. Staff very friendly and a fortunate timing slot allowed me to play the course as a solo in just over 3 hours. Never lost a golf ball either!

I had a great time playing this course, mostly because I got to spend 5 hours with my 83 yr old father. This course is tough with lots of sand and difficult approaches, and we were paired with a very nice relative beginner and her pace was slow (she quit after 14 holes). Very few people on the course so we were not pressured or anything, but the course is hard with lots of sand and difficult elevated greens. My dad played the front tees and that helped, he golfs a lot so he knows how to pace himself. Huge variety of prices including GolfNow and discounts for Marriott Bonvoy and MVCI owners (free club rental). Ask around!

Scenery was excellent, on a clallenging up and down layout with lots of bunkers and perched greens.

On the downside the course conditions seemed like a municipal course. Greens with weeds growing through, weird ridges cut in to greens by mowers. The bunkers were horrible, nobody raked them and lots of dirt and grave. No real starter to speak of and a run down looking clubhouse, was an early warning sign. Goat track is extreme but one of our group used the term!

For the cost it was a fail, better value at the sister course, Hapuna, which is looked after much better, and more professional.

The golf course is very difficult, particularly for a resort course. The course rating and slope reflect the challenge. Lots of bunkers most with inconsistent sand. The rest of the course - greens, fairways, tees were in very good conditions.

Can’t get much better views of the ocean and volcanos on just about every hole.

Pace of play was great (slightly over 4 hours) and the starter was got us out early.

Only concern was lack of help in getting ship sticks labels printed. Had to walk back to the Mauna Kea Hotel to get this done. Recommend that the golf staff have the ability and resources to handle this aspect.

If you can you need to play this course at least once!
Bunkers need a little more sand but overall course in great condition. Need to have more parking since not everyone staying at resort. Great views and one of my favorites on Big Island!

If you drive to the course then good luck parking your car. You would think they would have worked out parking for off site golfers but the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing!
The greens are warn out and not maintained and the same is true for the fairways. The bunkers NEED SAND unless you like hitting in gravel. The staff don’t care if you enjoy your round or not. I got the feeling it isn’t their job. Save your money and play at “Hapuna Prince” where the course and staff are wonderful. HP is the best course in the area with perfect maintained greens, fairways and friendly staff!