Puakea Golf Course in Lihue, Hawaii: Championship, value-laden golf on Kauai

LIHUE, Hawaii-- Located in the heart of Lihue, and just minutes from Kauai's main airport is Puakea Golf Course.

Puakea dates back to 1991 and represents Kauai's golf course middle-ground. It's a shade less expensive than the island's premium resort courses while offering better conditions and experience than the island's municipal course and other daily fees.

The golf course was designed by Robin Nelson and plays to a championship standard from the back set of tees at 6,954 yards. The course routing, which has two generations of holes (10 holes built prior to Hurricane Iniki and the following eight in 1997), has an ingeniously subtle course routing that always factors in the Hawaiian trade winds. The result is that no back-to-back hole -- and in many cases no back-to-back shot -- plays into the same wind direction.

While the golf course begins near the center of Lihue, there are some notable holes on the front nine, such as the par-3 sixth that features the course's largest elevation drop from tee-to-green. By the back nine -- especially the long, scenic par-5 11th hole -- it plays into open, natural spaces along the Kauai mountains. Like every course on Kauai, ocean views are present throughout the round.

Puakea has great practice facilities that include a full driving range and short-game area. While the clubhouse and pro shop are made up of two double-wide trailers, the food in the restaurant is quite good and also features a full bar.