From Poipu Bay in the south, where Tiger Woods once reigned, to Princeville and the rainforests of the north, Kauai has become a must-play for golfers visiting the islands.

“I’m obviously biased, but the golf courses on Kauai are spectacular,” said Kevin Geanides, general manager of Timbers Kauai. “It’s a very special place.”

Kauai has nine courses on an island of about 67,000 people. Mount Waialeale, at the center of the island, is one of the wettest places on earth, so the courses are always green and in superb condition.

What a shot! The dramatic hole is one of six along the Pacific Ocean at Makai. Photo / John Marshall, AP
What a shot! The dramatic hole is one of six along the Pacific Ocean at Makai. Photo / John Marshall, AP

And the views.

Because the island is small, the ocean is usually visible, even if it’s only in the distance, and some of the courses are set at the edges or cutting through rainforest.

The weather is almost always perfect, rarely getting above the low 80s. And while it does rain, the storms usually move through quickly, so it’s just a matter of taking cover for a few minutes before swinging away again.

Kauai also is at the northwest edge of the islands, so it’s remote enough that crowds are rarely a problem.

“There’s such a diversity of courses for such a small island,” Poipu Bay Golf Course general manager Craig Sasada said. “You get some really nice golf courses and the traffic is light. If you like a golfing vacation, this is a great place to come.”

Poipu Bay is the most well-known course on Kauai, thanks to a certain 15-time major winner. Poipu Bay hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994-2006, when Tiger Woods was at his prime and won there seven times.