Golf Guide: Kauai - HI

When tourists gawk at scenery on the other Hawaiian islands, eavesdroppers have been known to say, "If you think this is nice, you should see Kauai." And see it tourists should, since many of the world's most stunning vistas decorate this lush tropical isle. The most famous of these breathtaking locales is the Napali Coast, which can only be accessed via boat or helicopter, or on a rigorous hike. But the effort is worth the scenic payoff.

Waimea Canyon, on the island's west side, is known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," and it, too, will take travelers' breath away. The picturesque and funky Hanalei Town is the place to visit to experience the culture of Kauai, and if golfers find themselves on the south shore, they may want to visit one of the most-photographed attractions in the islands, the Spouting Horn.

Yet these attractions are but gilded lilies, since the embarrassment of riches golfers will find on Kauai's courses is enough to keep them smiling for months. The Prince Course at Princeville is worth the trip, especially since this Robert Trent Jones Jr. course has been rated the best in the state and is often considered his masterpiece. And yet many golfers may prefer the adjacent and more forgiving Makai Golf Club, which includes among its many impressive features one of the most spectacular one-shot holes any golfer will ever play, No. 7.

The incomparable Jack Nicklaus has worked so much magic at Kauai Lagoons, with fairways that skirt the Pacific and one green practically in it (and punctuated by a lighthouse), that many golfers will likely rank Kauai Lagoons among their favorite courses anywhere.