Feel like royalty -- not a pauper -- at Hawaii Prince Golf Club on Oahu

EWA BEACH, Oahu, Hawaii -- Playing the 27-hole Hawaii Prince Golf Club feels like a walk in a windy tropical park.

It isn't the bunkers or trees or 10 ponds that defend par. It's the tradewinds. These steady ocean breezes make selecting clubs difficult and certain holes play long and demanding.

Arnold Palmer and longtime associate architect Ed Seay designed the club in 1992 as an amenity of the Hawaiian Prince Hotel Waikiki. A complimentary shuttle transports guests for the 40-minute ride between the club and hotel. The course's three nines -- simply called A, B and C -- are all different.

The "A" loop is the easiest, where palm trees line wide landing areas. The fairway corridors significantly shrink on the "B" nine, choked by a thick layer of more traditional trees. Water adds drama to six holes on the "C" nine.

Ted McAneeley, the corporate director of golf for Prince Resorts Hawaii, said most players like the B-C combination best.

"Any skill level can play here because of the design," he said. "It is resort friendly.