Five Kaua'i Golf Courses Earn Top-15 Status in Hawaii by GOLF Magazine

(KAUA'I, Hawaii) - The Kaua'i Visitors Bureau destination marketing co-operative - "Kaua'i: Discover Golf's Ultimate Island Green" - welcomes the news that its five partner courses are all ranked in the top 15 of GOLF Magazine's biennial "Best Courses Near You" state rankings.

Using a team of national golf raters, GOLF Magazine ranked 20 courses out of the nearly 100 eligible in Hawaii. Kaua'i had more courses in the top 15 than any other island, ranked as follows:

* No. 2: Prince Course at Princeville Golf Club
* No. 5: Princeville Makai Golf Club
* No. 8: Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club
* No. 9: Poipu Bay Golf Course
* No. 15: Puakea Golf Course

In addition to being named the No. 2 course in the state, Prince Course at Princeville Golf Club is No. 24 on GOLF Magazine's prestigious "2014 Best Courses You Can Play" in America - a list of the 100 best public-access courses.

"Having our courses recognized year after year by admired publications like GOLF Magazine cements Kaua'i as an international golf destination," said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau. "Every course is unique, but it's the beautiful setting and array of after-golf activities available throughout the island that visitors continue to savor."

Prince Course at Princeville Golf Club completed a major enhancement program in 2012 under the watchful eye of original designer Robert Trent Jones II. The newly designed greens and fairways are wider and more accessible to golfers of all skill levels, solidifying the course as a must-play in Hawaii.

Another Robert Trent Jones II design, Princeville Makai Golf Club, captures the best elements of Hawaii's geography, meandering from gentle woodlands through stunning coastlines. The 18-hole Makai Course is a staple in "Best Of" rankings by multiple publications and serves as an amenity of The St. Regis Princeville Resort, overlooking the stunning Hanalei Bay.

Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club features the longest stretch of continuous ocean holes in Hawaii. The Jack Nicklaus Signature course sits adjacent to the Kaua'i Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach and has also been named one of the "World's Most Beautiful Golf Courses" by MSN Travel.

Featuring dramatic 150-foot cliffs along the Pacific Ocean, Poipu Bay Golf Course and the accompanying Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort and Spa make up one of the most luxurious golf resorts in the world. Also a Robert Trent Jones II layout, Poipu Bay was the host of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf for more than a decade.

The highest riser in the GOLF Magazine rankings was local favorite Puakea Golf Course. Set at the base of towering Mt. Ha'upu, designer Robin Nelson left the landscape as undisturbed as possible to give the design a natural, enjoyable feel.

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

You can also follow Kaua'i Golf on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KauaiGolf, or "Like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KauaiGolf.

About "Kaua'i: Discover Golf's Ultimate Island Green"

Kaua'i offers more than 50 miles of white sand beaches -- more beach per mile than any other island in Hawaii -- with only five percent of the island developed for commercial and residential use. The Kaua'i golf destination is a cooperative of five world-class golf courses and three award-winning resorts:

1. Prince Course at Princeville Golf Club (www.princeville.com, 800.826.1105)

" Ranked the No. 2 course in Hawaii by GOLF Magazine (2014) and No. 22 among "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses" 2013-2014 by Golf Digest
" Robert Trent Jones Jr. design re-opened in 2012 following an extensive refurbishment project that restored original design aspect, and improved playability for all skill levels
" The 66,000-square-foot clubhouse features The Tavern Restaurant, by celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi, and the beautifully appointed 5,500-square-foot Prince Golf Shop

2. Princeville Makai Golf Club (www.makaigolf.com, 808.826.1912)

" Re-opened in 2010 following an extensive renovation. The Makai Course has since been ranked by Golf Digest as one of "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses" 2013/2014 and ranked No. 4 by Golfweek in Hawaii's "Best Courses You Can Play" 2013.
" Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the 18-hole Makai Course incorporates serene lakes and stunning ocean coastline; the leisurely 9-hole Woods Course winds through native woodlands against a backdrop of lush mountains
" The St. Regis Princeville Resort is home to the Halele'a Spa and The Kaua'i Grill by Jean-Georges Vongerichten

3. Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club (www.kauailagoonsgolf.com, 800.634.6400)

" In 2012 was voted No. 6 in Hawaii in Golfweek magazine's Best Courses: State by State, No. 7 on GOLF Magazine's "Best-Of" state rankings and one of the "World's Most Beautiful Golf Courses" on MSN Travel
" Amenity of the Kaua'i Marriot Resort on Kalapaki Beach, which recently underwent major upgrades to all of its guestrooms, suites, restaurants and pool deck
" The championship 18-hole Kiele course features the longest continuous stretch of ocean holes in Hawaii with over ½ mile of oceanfront golf.
" The front nine holes feature the par-3, fifth green encircled by a tropical Mango and Guava tree forest
" Features the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf experience on Kaua'i

4. Poipu Bay Golf Course (www.poipubaygolf.com, 800.858.6300)

" Along with Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort & Spa, Poipu Bay has been honored by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top golf resorts in the U.S. from 2000 through 2013
" Named to Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses" 2013-2014 and Golfweek's "Top 100 Resort Courses in America" 2012.
" Home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 through 2006, it has frequently hosted players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and other major champions
" A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design, the course underwent renovation and unveiled the eco-friendly Seashore Paspalum turf on all greens in 2011. Its four closing holes play atop a 150-foot sea cliff.
" The Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort & Spa completed a renovation in 2012 and features a water playground with river pool, waterfalls, a saltwater lagoon, tennis and the celebrated Anara Spa

5. Puakea Golf Course (www.puakeagolf.com, 866.773.5554)

" Consistently rated a favorite among Kaua'i golfers in local media outlets and ranked as the No. 15 course in Hawaii by Golfweek
" Golf Course Architect Robin Nelson used the natural layout of the land when he planned this layout, testing golfers of all levels and treating them to beautiful views of Mt. Ha'upu and deep lush ravines on several holes
" Owned by AOL co-Founder Steve Case

About the KVB and HVCB

The Kaua'i Visitors Bureau is a division of the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, which is contracted by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawai'i's tourism agency, for marketing management services in North America. The HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawai'i tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawai'i's economic goals, cultural values, and preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.