Start or finish your Kauai golf trip with Puakea G.C.

If you’re looking to get your golf trip to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai off on the right foot, you would be hard-pressed to do any better than Puakea Golf Course, a Robin Nelson-designed gem with a unique history.

Puakea, which was once a fine 10-hole golf course out of necessity,  is just minutes from the main airport, so it’s the perfect golf course to get things rolling. It’s a good choice on the way out, too, of course. 

Earlier today, we posted my review of Puakea on HawaiiGolf.com. You can read it here. And although Puakea Golf Course doesn’t offer accommodations, there are luxury digs just minutes away, and, of course, lots more great golf.

Even closer to the airport than Puakea is the Marriott Kauai Lagoons resort, which has a pretty good golf course of its own. Though it’s currently open, renovations by Jack Nicklaus promise a spectacular reopening in 2011.

The Marriott has its own secluded lagoon and beach, set along Kalapaki Bay, as well as a spectacular giant pool, great dining a spa, high-end shopping and plenty of water activities, including surfing lessons.

There’s also the nearby Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort, which is home to Poipu Bay Golf Course. The Grand Hyatt has a world-class spa, exceptional restaurants and plenty of great Pacific Ocean views. Poipu Bay, longtime site of the PGA’s Grand Slam of Golf, recently underwent a greens renovation to paspalum and is scheduled to reopen in December 2010 better than ever.