Since being battered by Category 2 Hurricane Lowell in early September, the courses — and community — of Kauai, Hawaii, have been in the recovery and restoration phase. Now, the courses of the Go Golf Kaua‘i collective have reopened for play.
Here is an update on the courses for golfers planning a visit:
Poipu Bay Golf Course: Fully open and offering multi-round unlimited packages for three, five and 10 rounds, as well as distinct Breakaway specials, including practice-and-play packages, seven- and nine-hole options, and the fan favorite Ocean 11.
Puakea Golf Course: Completely operational. Tree and debris removal remains ongoing along the property’s perimeter but does not affect the golf experience.
Princeville Makai Golf Club: Completely operational. More than 200 trees were lost across the property during the hurricane, and debris removal continues along the perimeter of the playing corridors.
The Ocean Course at Hokuala: Completely open. Visitors are encouraged to book in advance to secure available tee times during this transitional period. Customized stay-and-play packages are also available through Troon Golf Vacations, with lodging options at Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences, Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club or The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort.
Wailua Golf Course: All 18 holes of the municipal course that hosted three U.S. Amateur Public Links championships (1975, 1985 and 1996) are open, though the driving range remains closed because of damage from Lowell.
Tiger Woods to design Northern Ireland links course
A player of Tiger Woods’ caliber does not win 15 major titles without being able to perform under pressure. Now let’s see how he responds when designing a new course.
In a country already rich beyond belief with links courses, Woods’ TGR Design firm will reportedly join luxury hospitality group Galgorm Collection to build a course near Bellarena, located along the northwest coast of Northern Ireland. For context, it will be about 20 miles west of Royal Portrush, host of the 1951, 2019 and 2025 Open Championships.
Galgorm Collection says this will be the first championship links course built in Northern Ireland in more than 100 years — hence the high expectations. The course will be part of a larger $86 million-plus development that, subject to final approvals, is on track to open in 2029.
The roughly $40 million golf facility will feature the course, a clubhouse and driving range, several practice areas and eight golf lodges.
How Donald Ross would want you to play
Course architect Tim Gerrish is making sure Donald Ross’ architectural legacy lives on at a Ross-designed course in Connecticut.
Most of the phased work Gerrish is overseeing at Shennecossett Golf Club in Groton, Connecticut, can be considered tweaks — bunkers, tees and trees.
Founded in 1898, the municipal course, which is less than an hour away from the iconic Yale Golf Course, was originally created for four-hole play. It was later expanded to six, nine, 11 and, ultimately, 18 holes. In 1916, Ross arrived to redesign the course, and he finished in 1919 with the rerouting of three holes. In 1997, the course completed a land swap with Pfizer and built three holes overlooking the water.
The 16th and 17th holes offer vistas of the Thames River and Long Island Sound. Those views are occasionally enhanced by sightings of the USCGC Eagle, a 295-foot, three-masted barque that the government still uses for training officers of the U.S. Coast Guard, or a nuclear submarine.
Gerrish, according to GolfCourseArchitecture.net, is working from archival photos and a 1934 aerial survey discovered by superintendent Eric Morrison to restore Ross’ original intent. For example, Gerrish is lowering the third-hole tee box so the fairway hazards remain blind off the tee.
Drone delivery takes flight on Portuguese fairways
Golfers looking for one of the neatest on-course amenities will have to travel to Salgados Golf Club in Algarve, Portugal.
The club has introduced Europe’s first operational on-course drone delivery service, which combines unmanned flight with automated ordering. Don’t worry, the orders are prepared and boxed by humans — for now, at least.
Golfers use an AI concierge via WhatsApp, which places the order into the clubhouse point-of-sale system. Once the order is ready, a drone flies across the course to make its delivery.
