Kauai's North Shore shines at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville

PRINCEVILLE, Kauai, Hawaii -- Kauai's jungly and lush north shore is home to two golf courses, including the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville.

Makai features an 18-hole championship course and a more casual nine-hole course, the Woods nine.

Operated by Troon Golf, the Makai resort and golf club received a monumental renovation a few years back when St. Regis took over the Princeville Hotel. The club, formerly an interchangeable 27-hole layout, saw 18 holes redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and reseeded with paspalum grass from tee to green.

The result, which debuted in 2010, is one of Hawaii's most spectacular ocean courses. A couple of holes on both the front and back nine play on cliffs right beside the ocean. The par-3 seventh hole demands a shot over water, while the short par-4 13th hole plays beside it the whole way. The more inland holes play through Cook pines as well as the Princeville vacation and residential development. Guests who stay at the St. Regis Princeville receive preferred rates.

A few minutes from Makai is the Prince Golf Course at Princeville at Hanelei, which closed in early 2010 for renovations and will reopen in December. For a more casual round, the Woods nine at Makai Golf Club is a walker-friendly alternative to the 18-hole course at Princeville.

Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville - hole 2

Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville is one of Hawaii's most spectacular ocean courses.

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Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville - hole 3

The par-3 third hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville is a short shot played from an elevated tee down to a well guarded green.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville - hole 4

The par-4 fourth, one of the shortest holes at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville, is the No. 1 handicap hole.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Makai golf course - hole 5

The par-5 fifth hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville plays to a well protected green.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville - hole 6

The sixth hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville is a long par 4 that plays out toward the ocean.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Makai GC at St. Regis Princeville - hole 7

The par-3 seventh hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville plays over the ocean.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Makai G.C. at St. Regis Princeville - hole 13

The 13th hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville is a long par 3 that plays toward the ocean.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Makai golf course at St. Regis Princeville - hole 15

The 15th hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville plays back toward the mountains.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville - hole 12

The 12th hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville is a long par 4 that plays out to the sea.

Aiden Bradley/Makai G.C. at St. Regis Princeville

Makai Golf Club - renovation

Makai Golf Club underwent extensive renovations and a redesign overseen by the original architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Aiden Bradley/Makai G.C. at St. Regis Princeville

Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville - hole 17

The 17th hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville plays inland among cook pines.

Aiden Bradley/Makai G.C.

Makai Golf Club - hole 14

The 14th hole at the Makai Golf Club at St. Regis Princeville is a short, drivable par 4.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf