Poipu Bay Golf Course- A Taste of The Garden Isle
At midnight we were awakened by an intruder in our home. My dad hides a crowbar under his bed for such an occasion. I was defenseless. With only 5 hours until our plane left I wasn’t interested in a messy situation anyhow. Turns out it was just my sister. She came in unannounced to tell us our flight was canceled. Without her breaking into our home I never would have made it to Poipu Bay Golf Course or to Puka Dog.
I would go for this crowbar personally. It is three feet long giving you plenty of swing power. With Black Friday coming up you should consider one for your significant other.
Mom woke up just before midnight (seems like a strange hour to be waking up). She checked her phone and noticed our early morning flight was canceled out of Pasco. She tried to reach us but couldn’t and so sent my sister to wake us up. After spending an hour on the phone Mom got our flight re-routed. We woke up the kids and at 2:30am I drove us two hours to Spokane to catch our new morning flight.
Of all the islands Kauai is my favorite. After working 25 of the last 30 days there was no way I was going to miss a day in Hawaii. I had a 7:00am tee time for the first morning we were there.
Poipu Bay Golf Course- First Impressions
Let’s be honest. When you’re in Hawaii everything is spectacular. Poipu Bay Golf Course has stunning views, immaculate landscaping, and a calming ocean breeze. The 18th hole is a spectacular finishing hole and provides a great backdrop from the clubhouse.
Course Highlights
Poipu Bay Golf Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr in 1991. It is over 7100 yards from the tips although I played from the 6600 yard tees. The course famously was home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Tournament from 1994 to 2006. Tiger Woods won this tournament at Poipu Bay Golf Course an impressive 7 times, including 5 consecutive years from 1998 to 2002.
The front nine provides spectacular views of Mt Hapu, or as my dad referred to it, Moses’ Mt Sinai.
The signature hole is #16, a 470 yard par 4 that hugs the Pacific Ocean. The views from this hole are spectacular. A hiking trail along the golf course provides a great scenic route for day hikers.
Round Highlights
After an opening hole birdie I figured Phil Mickelson’s course record was in danger. A 2nd hole double bogey proved me wrong. I drove the ball better than I ever have. Unfortunately my putting was horrific. The greens were in pristine condition. They looked and rolled beautifully. They use Palsaplum Supreme grass which I had never heard of or putted on. Some of my putts ended up 10 feet short while others I would hit 20 feet past the pin.
After birdies on 14, 15, and 17 I figured I was a lock to shoot in the 70s. I was greenside in two on the par 5 18th hole. A downhill short sided lie led to two chips and a bogey 6. I unfortunately shot an 80 but had an amazing time doing it.
Fortunately I was able to play the course twice. Again, after starting with a birdie I figured Phil’s record was a goner. I played a great front nine but was struggling on the back to keep it together. We were racing the sunset. I played 18 holes in under two hours.
The Food
Mom is a hot dog purist. It’s J.Dawgs or no dog for her. Puka Dog is the gold standard for me. Not only do they have mango relish (or coconut, pineapple, papaya, or star fruit relish), but all of it is stuffed inside the bun so it doesn’t spill all over you.
Poipu Bay Golf Course
The stunning mountain and ocean views, top notch service, and incredible course conditions make the steep price tag of Poipu Bay Golf Course worth the experience. Plus, if you have never hit out of a bunker with a rooster clucking right next to you then you’re missing out.
About the Author
I am a husband, father, ER doctor, and an avid golfer. With a handicap of 3.2 I have a fairly legitimate claim to be among the Top 100 Physician Golfers in the United States. You can read more about my story on my about page. Feel free to contact me or follow my sites on social media.
