Hualalai Golf Club

Hualalai Golf Club sits on the Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1996 as part of the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. The course occupies a dramatic stretch of black lava fields along the Pacific Ocean, with seven holes playing directly beside the water. Nicklaus routed the layout through ancient lava flows, incorporating the natural volcanic rock formations into the design rather than removing them, which gives the course its distinctive visual character and strategic texture. The routing moves through three distinct zones: the oceanfront holes along Kona's coastline, an inland section that climbs through lava outcroppings and native vegetation, and a return to sea level. The par-three 17th hole plays over a cove of black lava rock to a green set against the ocean, and is among the most photographed holes in Hawaii. Throughout the property, Nicklaus preserved archaeological sites and petroglyphs, integrating cultural sensitivity into the design process. Hualalai operates as a private club for members and resort guests of the Four Seasons. The course reflects Nicklaus's mature design approach from the mid-1990s, with generous fairway corridors balanced by strategic bunkering and the ever-present lava hazards. The climate allows year-round play, and the layout takes advantage of prevailing trade winds that influence club selection and shot strategy, particularly on the exposed oceanfront holes.