Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, this course opened in 1992 and was rated one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 10 New Courses” in America and ranked 4th among Golf Digest’s “Best New Resort Courses in America” the year it opened. It features two very distinct experiences.
The front nine will challenge golfers with a Scottish Links style layout, while the back nine has a more tropical setting as it winds through verdant landscapes. The course forms a horseshoe around the Punaho’olapa marsh, an unspoiled 100-acre wetland and bird sanctuary. Water comes into play on 14 of the Palmer holes. The signature 17th hole offers panoramic ocean views from the green while the hole is dotted with nine bunkers, which makes it as challenging as it is scenic.
This par 72 course measures 6,225 yards from the resort tees. When played from the Palmer (black) tees, this 7,218-yard seaside course presents a stiff challenge to even the best players. Sand traps are plentiful, with more than 70 menacing the fairways and protecting the greens. However, there are five sets of tees on each hole that provide an enjoyable experience for golfers of any ability.
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