Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, Kiele Course, Lihue, Hawaii ? One of the Finest Golf Gems of the Pacific

The Kiele Course at the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club is an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature course located amid a tranquil, tropical setting. According to Nicklaus, the terrain lent itself so well to his vision that he made only a single change to his original design. The result is a course that's been hailed as one of the finest golf gems of the Pacific region.

With a unique style, the course features fairways that weave alongside impressive ocean cliffs, pass over promontories perched high above the Mawiliwili Harbor, and wind through 38-acres of freshwater lagoons. Golfers will encounter stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Kalapaki Bay, as well as mountains and forests of mango trees.

Even though the Kiele Course is considered the "crown jewel'' of the resort, the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club is making enhancements during 2009 to make it even better. After the enhancements, the new Kiele Course will boast more ocean holes than any other golf course in Hawaii.

One of the most noteworthy holes on the course is the par-3 13th, which is regularly included in the list of Hawaii's best golf holes. In the tee box, golfers find themselves posing on a cliff, gazing in awe at the daunting shot that awaits: a tee shot over a gaping, foaming gulf to a green that looks like a postage stamp in the distance.

The Kiele's signature hole is the 16th. At a mere 279 yards from the middle tees, golfers might be tempted into going for the green on this par-4 teaser. The tee shot is a blind one, however, into a narrowing, downhill fairway that tends to funnel balls to the left. Too far left or long, however, and tee shots and approach shots will find the Pacific Ocean.

The original Kiele Course has received numerous awards and honors over the years, including being ranked among "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses'' by Golf Digest and a ranking among the "Best Resort Golf Courses'' by Golfweek. The Kauai Lagoons Golf Club was also named a Gold Medal Golf Resort by GOLF Magazine.

The golf club features a full range of practice facilities, as well as a range of instructional options, from private to group lessons, to clinics, to playing and managing the course with a PGA Instructor.

The Kauai Lagoons Golf Club features a clubhouse with a rich ambience created by an open-air lobby adorned by statuesque columns and rich oak walls. From this setting, golfers and guests can relax and enjoy stunning views of the lagoon. There is also a golf shop featuring a wide selection of equipment, clothing and accessories.

In addition to golf, the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club offers 800 waterfront acres along the Kalapaki Bay. Also available to guests is one of the largest swimming pools in Hawaii, a spa, fitness center, as well as five oceanfront and open-air restaurants.