Mauna Lani — South Course

The Mauna Lani South Course routes through ancient lava fields on the Kohala Coast and gives you six oceanfront holes along one of the driest, sunniest stretches of coastline in Hawaii. The original 1981 layout by Homer Flint and Raymond Cain was reworked in 1991 by Nelson and Haworth, and both design teams made the deliberate choice to leave the lava largely undisturbed. The result is green corridors carved through fields of dark volcanic rock, a visual contrast that looks like nothing on the mainland.

The oceanfront holes are the headline, and they deliver. The course reaches the coastline on the back nine, where holes play along and above the rocky shoreline with the Pacific as an immediate presence. The 15th, a par 3 that plays over a natural inlet of crashing surf to a green backed by lava formations, is the most photographed hole on the course and one of the most recognisable in Hawaiian golf. The 178-yard carry is more visual intimidation than genuine difficulty, but the wind off the ocean and the sound of the surf below make it an experience that lives well beyond its architectural bones.

Away from the ocean, the routing moves through the lava field interior, where fishponds, petroglyphs, and native vegetation punctuate the landscape between shots. Several ancient fishponds work as lateral hazards, which gives the water features a historical dimension manufactured lakes cannot replicate. The lava waste areas that border many fairways are in play but carry a local rule allowing a free drop, so the volcanic terrain stays interesting rather than punitive.

At 6,913 yards from the back tees, the South Course is not long by modern standards, and the 127 slope reflects a layout that does not overwhelm a mid-handicap player. The greens are medium-sized and reasonably receptive, with enough internal contour for interesting putting without becoming tricky. The trade winds, especially consistent along the exposed oceanfront holes, are the course's primary defence. Club selection on the coastal holes can shift two clubs depending on wind direction.