GolfWorld Magazine Readers Love Kaua‘i Golf Courses

Four Voted to the Nation’s Top 50 in their Category

(KAUA‘I, Hawaii) – Readers of GolfWorld magazine have placed their votes and the results are in – multiple golf courses on Kaua‘i have been elected as best in the country in the publication’s inaugural “2009 Readers’ Choice Awards.”

To generate these lists GolfWorld processed more than 21,000 individual golf course ratings and 252,000 criteria evaluations.

In the “Top 50 Resort Courses” category Poipu Bay Golf Course, adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa, was voted No. 16. While ranked 16th nationwide, Poipu Bay was No. 2 in the state of Hawaii, and is the former longtime home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf (1994-2006).

Kaua‘i Lagoons Golf Club was rated No. 19. It is affiliated with the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club. The back nine of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Kiele Course at Kaua‘i Lagoons is receiving extensive upgrades, including the addition of one new ocean hole which will, in addition to existing holes, create a mile-long stretch of oceanfront golf. The planned ocean nine reopening is mid-2009.

Princeville Resort, with 45 holes of golf on Kaua‘i’s north shore, was rated No. 22 nationally by GolfWorld’s discerning readers. The 27-hole Makai course (18 holes of which are currently being renovated) and the 18-hole Prince – all designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. – comprise Princeville’s renowned golf amenities.

Located in Lihue, Puakea Golf Course garnered the distinction of being voted No. 34 among the “Top 50 Public Courses” by GolfWorld readers. Designed by Robin Nelson, the course is adjacent to the lush site where Steven Spielberg filmed “Jurassic Park.” Puakea was voted the seventh best course in Hawaii by Golfweek magazine earlier this year.

Along with Kiahuna Golf Club, an outstanding Robert Trent Jones Jr. course design with Seashore Paspalum greens that many consider the best in Hawaii, Princeville (Prince and Makai courses), Poipu Bay, Kauai Lagoons and Puakea comprise the Garden Isle’s golf destination cooperative “Kaua‘i: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green.”

“We hope people will be inspired by this honor from GolfWorld readers to visit Kaua‘i and enjoy our golf courses, resorts, beaches, scenery, weather and other attractions,” says Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau.

For more information about the Garden Isle, visit www.kauaidiscovery.com/activities/golfing/ or call 800-262-1400.