KAUA'I, Hawaii -- The Kaua'i Visitors Bureau announced that nearly all of the island’s golf-destination partners – five golf-and-resort properties offering a combined 135 holes – have been named to the ZAGAT Survey listing of “America’s Top Golf Courses” for 2006-2007.

Princeville at Hanalei had its Prince and Makai courses rated among the “Top Golf Courses” by ZAGAT, while Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club also had its two courses – Kiele and Mokihana – garner this same distinction.

A third member of the Kaua’i golf destination co-operative cited for excellence by ZAGAT Survey – Poipu Bay Golf Course – is home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf where Tiger Woods, Michael Campbell, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh have qualified to play Nov. 22-23 in this year’s edition of that star-laden event.

Robin Nelson-designed Puakea Golf Club in Lihue, Kaua’i also earned ZAGAT Survey praise for its scenery and high-quality par-3s.

“ZAGAT Survey is a world-renowned, highly objective rating entity, and having four of Kauai’s five golf-destination partners rated among the very best golf properties in the world is an important third-party endorsement and one which we hope will inspire people to visit Kaua’i,” says Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau. “Kaua’i’s other golf-destination partner – Kiahuna – has a wonderful golf course as well, so we’re excited for visitors to experience all five properties and judge each for themselves.”

Among the most thorough rating guides in all of golf, ZAGAT covers more than 1,000 of the best courses in the United States. Courses in the guide are rated based on the responses of nearly 6,000 reviewers who play more than 552,000 rounds annually.

Strength of layout, value, overall quality, facility and service standards are taken into consideration.

In addition to being named to this prestigious listing, the Kaua’i golf-destination partners were also honored by the ZAGAT Survey as “best of” in multiple categories.

Princeville:
• Most Popular (Prince Course, tied for No. 34)
• Top Ratings (Prince)
• Top Courses by Special Feature (Outstanding Accommodations)
• Celebrity Designs (Robert Trent Jones Jr.)
• Fine Food Too
• Par-3s (Prince)
• Par-5s (Prince and Makai)
• Private Functions
• Pro Shops
• Resort
• Scenic (Prince and Makai)
• Toughest (Prince Course)
• Women Friendly (Makai Course)
• Kaua’i Lagoons:
• Bunkering (Kiele Course)
• Celebrity Designs (Jack Nicklaus)
• Conditioning (Kiele)
• Finishing Holes (Kiele)
• Links-Style (Mokihana)
• Par-4s (Kiele)
• Private Functions
• Resort
• Scenic (Kiele)

Poipu Bay:
• Celebrity Designs (Robert Trent Jones Jr.)
• Conditioning
• Junior Friendly
• Links-Style
• Opening Holes
• Outstanding Accommodations
• Pro-Event Hosts (PGA Grand Slam of Golf)
• Resort
• Scenic
• Storied

Puakea:
• Scenic
• Par-3s

Additionally, Princeville (Prince), Poipu Bay and Kaua’i Lagoons (Kiele) were all cited by ZAGAT Survey as being “Top Courses by Region/Hawaii” as well. They were all listed among the top 10 courses in Hawaii.

Being named to the ZAGAT Survey is the latest acclaim bestowed upon Kaua’i golf-destination partners. Most recently, Princeville, Poipu Bay and Kaua’i Lagoons all garnered best-of distinction from Conde Nast Traveler Magazine in its 10th Annual “Top 100 Golf Resorts” reader poll.

The destination – “Kaua'i: Hawaii’s Island of Discovery” – is committed to grow golf’s presence under the support of the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau. The island has long been known to avid travelers and island aficionados for its lush, tropical beach ambiance and romantic setting, luxurious weather, and virtually untouched natural beauty (less than three percent of this Pacific paradise is developed).

What people are increasingly discovering, however, is the spectacular views found at the island’s golf destination properties and that most are relatively close to one another. This allows players to simultaneously and conveniently obtain desired tee times and enjoy majestic ocean-and-mountain-view scenery, Kaua'i's natural splendor, year-round golf weather and unequaled value and variety.

The critical acclaim and unique attributes of the five golf members of the destination – “Kaua'i: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green” – include:

1. Princeville at Hanalei (www.princeville.com, 800.826.1105)
· Home to Golf Digest’s No. 63 rated course in “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses/2005-06” (Prince Course)
· 45 holes of golf – the 27-hole Makai nines and the 18-hole Prince – all designed by Robert Trent Jones II
· Overlooks exquisitely beautiful Hanalei Bay

2. Poipu Bay Golf Course (www.poipubaygolf.com, 800.858.6300)
· Home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf
· Its Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort & Spa rated No. 32 in Golf Digest’s “Sublime 75: America’s Greatest Golf Resorts/2004-05”
· Four closing holes rise 150-feet to a red sea cliff

3. Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club (www.kauailagoonsgolf.com, 800.634.6400)
· Home to Golf Digest’s No. 90 rated course in “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses/2005-06” (Kiele Course)
· 36 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus (Kiele and Mokihana courses)
· Features multiple spine-tingling ocean holes

4. Kiahuna Golf Club (www.kiahunagolf.com, 808.742.9595)
· Designed by Robert Trent Jones II
· Features meandering creek, lava formations, rock gardens, ocean views
· Steeped in Hawaii history via its preserved ancient village

5. Puakea Golf Club (www.puakeagolf.com, 866.773.5554)
· Kauai’s newest 18-hole course, unveiled in 2003
· Owned by AOL Founder Steve Case
· Adjacent to lush site where Steven Spielberg filmed “Jurassic Park”

After-golf options delve into Kaua'i’s history, heritage and culture, along with boat tours , beaches, zip lines, ATV Tours, botanical gardens, snorkeling and scuba-diving, kayaking, hiking and much more.

For more information about “Kaua'i: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green,” visit www.kauaidiscovery.com/activities/golfing/ or call 800-262-1400.