UDisc Honors Mauka Disc Golf Course: #3 in the World, Top 10 Disc Golf Courses in World
DISC GOLF COURSE
Score: 94.1/100
Number of Holes: 18
Multiple Tees? Yes
Tees: Concrete
Targets: DISCatcher Pro (28-chain)
Cost: all-day pass (lower rated offered for residents with valid Hawaii state driver’s license). 5-day pass for 0.
Tee Time Required? Yes
Cart Rental: No
Course Established: 2021
GOLF COURSE
Number of Holes: 18
Restaurant? Yes
When disc golf first came to Princeville Makai Golf Club (PMGC), it was played along a nine-hole traditional golf course. The nine-hole was an accessory to the club’s main attraction, an 18-hole beauty that Golf Digest ranked among the world’s top 100 public courses.
“Former GM Doug Sutter and Kauai resident Santa Phil Worwa shared an incredible vision and worked together to help the Princeville Makai Golf Club take a chance on disc golf on a Robert Trent Jones Junior-designed golf facility,” Andrew Duvall, course designer and son of disc golf equipment giant Innova’s co-founder Harold Duvall, told us. “They worked with Innova through [Canadian course designer] Darrell Bankes to help get the project rolling.”
Andrew, Harold, and Bankes traveled together to Hawaii to design the first version of the course, which closely followed the nine-hole golf course layout so as to not interfere with traditional golfers. In short order, however, it became clear that using that part of the property solely for disc golf would be more financially beneficial to PMGC. That created the opportunity to craft a truly spectacular disc golf experience in a stunning Hawaiian landscape.
“In time, the disc golf course ended up outperforming the nine holes of golf, and the added maintenance cost savings in moving to a disc golf-only model made sense for the club,” Andrew said. “With the golf no longer in play, designing on the fringes, crossing fairways and making the most of all the features that a golf course might avoid allowed for this to become a disc golfer’s dream: Wooded shot shapes, big water carries, mountain views, unique tee and green features, and two sets of tees for two completely different course experiences for all levels.”
The changes were completed in record time thanks to the hard work of the Makai Club’s grounds crew and local business Kickass Concrete.
Though the greens fees are high compared to what most disc golfers are used to, Andrew believes they’re very worth what you get – as well as cheaper than most other nearby recreational opportunities.
“The only issue is the views are so good that it might distract you from the disc golf,” Andrew quipped.
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