Kona Country Club

The Ocean Course at Kona Country Club occupies coastal terrain along the western shore of Hawaii's Big Island, where the layout takes advantage of the dramatic elevation changes and volcanic landscape characteristic of the Kona region. William P. Bell designed the course in the late 1960s, bringing his Southern California architectural sensibility to the island setting. The routing moves through lava rock formations and established vegetation, with several holes playing along or near the coastline where the Pacific provides both scenic backdrop and strategic wind consideration. The course features the contrast between elevated tee shots and approach play into greens set among the natural lava outcroppings. The volcanic rock defines hazards and frames fairways in ways distinct from mainland courses, while the prevailing trade winds add variability to club selection and shot shaping. Holes closer to the water offer views across Keauhou Bay, and the routing includes both oceanside stretches and inland sections that climb through the property's topography. Kona Country Club operates as a semi-private facility serving both members and resort guests, reflecting the dual nature of many Hawaiian golf properties that balance local membership with visitor play. The club sits within the broader Keauhou resort area, where golf has been part of the recreational landscape since the development of Kona's leeward coast as a destination. The Ocean Course represents the earlier generation of Hawaiian resort design, predating the more extensively conditioned championship layouts that arrived in subsequent decades.