Mauna Kea and Mauna Lani South are the two courses every visiting golfer asks about on the Big Island. Both sit on the Kohala Coast’s sun-drenched lava fields. Both feature signature par-3 holes that land on every Hawaii golf bucket list. Both charge premium green fees. But they play very differently.

This head-to-head comparison covers layout, difficulty, conditions, green fees, and the signature holes that define each course. If your trip budget allows only one premium round, this guide will help you choose the right one.

At a Glance: Mauna Kea vs Mauna Lani South

Mauna Kea Golf Course: RTJ Sr.’s Hawaiian Masterpiece

History and Design

Robert Trent Jones Sr. carved this course from barren lava rock in 1964, making it the Kohala Coast’s original championship layout. Laurance Rockefeller commissioned the course alongside the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and it set the template for every Hawaiian resort course that followed.

RTJ Sr. used the natural terrain — undulating lava fields, coastal bluffs, and kiawe-dotted hillsides — rather than flattening it. The result is a links-style course that rewards ground-game creativity. Fairways are firm and fast. Greens are sloped, multi-tiered, and defended by deep bunkers. The course asks you to think your way around rather than overpower it.

The Signature Hole: Par-3 3rd

The 3rd at Mauna Kea is one of the most photographed holes in golf. You stand on an elevated tee with nothing but crashing Pacific surf between you and a green perched on a rocky promontory. The carry is approximately 180 yards from the back tees, played entirely over churning ocean. Trade winds swirl across the cliff face, making club selection a genuine gamble.

From the forward tees, the carry shortens to around 100 yards, but the visual intimidation remains. There is no bailout — you either hit the green or hit the ocean. It is the kind of hole you remember for decades.

What to Expect on the Course

Mauna Kea plays exposed to the Kohala Coast’s prevailing trade winds. There are few trees and no lava walls to block the breeze, which typically runs 10-20 mph and can gust higher in the afternoon. The wind is the course’s primary defence — it turns a moderate 6,875 yards into something that plays considerably longer on upwind holes.

Fairways are generous by championship standards, but the lava rough alongside them is absolute. Miss the short grass and your ball is likely gone. Greens are large and undulating, so getting on the putting surface is only half the battle — leaving yourself on the right tier is what separates good scores from average ones.

The back nine climbs into the hillside above the hotel with elevated tee shots offering sweeping coastal panoramas. These holes catch more wind but deliver the best views on the course.

Who Should Play Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea suits golfers who appreciate course architecture and enjoy playing in wind. If you are a student of the game — someone who likes to work the ball, manage risk, and solve design puzzles — this is your course. Single-digit and low-double-digit handicappers will get the most from it. Higher handicappers should read our beginner-friendly courses guide first.

Mauna Lani South Course: Lava Drama, Renovated Conditions

History and Design

Homer Flint and Raymond Cain designed the original South Course in 1981, and it has undergone significant renovation since. The course wraps around the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection property through dramatic lava fields, with ancient fish ponds and coastal inlets woven into the layout. The Fairmont Orchid also offers preferred tee time access.

Where Mauna Kea is windswept links, Mauna Lani South is sculpted resort golf through a volcanic landscape. The lava is the defining visual element — dark, textured rock framing bright green fairways against a cobalt ocean backdrop. It is arguably the most photogenic golf course in Hawaii.

The Signature Hole: Par-3 15th

The 15th at Mauna Lani South rivals Mauna Kea’s 3rd for drama. You play over a crescent-shaped lava bay to a green surrounded by black rock and crashing waves. The carry is shorter than Mauna Kea’s 3rd — around 150 yards from the back tees — but the visual spectacle is equally intense. Lava rock left, ocean right, no margin for error.

The difference is context. This hole arrives at the 15th, when your round is reaching its climax. At Mauna Kea, the signature moment comes early at the 3rd, and the rest of the round has to live up to it. At Mauna Lani, the drama builds toward the finish.

What to Expect on the Course

Mauna Lani South is more protected from trade winds than Mauna Kea. Lava rock formations and scattered vegetation create natural wind breaks on several holes, making club selection more predictable. Wind is still a factor — this is the Kohala Coast — but it does not dominate every shot the way it does at Mauna Kea.

Fairways on the South Course are wider than its North Course sibling, giving mid-handicappers room to play. The lava hazards are visually dramatic but generally set back from landing areas with grass buffer zones. Greens are receptive and not as severely contoured as Mauna Kea’s.

The inland holes through lava fields are striking — fairway corridors of vivid green cut through miles of dark rock — while the coastal holes on the back nine provide the ocean views and cliff-edge drama. The course flows well, with a natural rhythm that builds toward the finish.

Who Should Play Mauna Lani South

Mauna Lani South works for a broader range of handicaps than Mauna Kea. It is the better choice for golfers in the 15-25 handicap range who want a premium Kohala Coast experience without getting overwhelmed. The course is also ideal for golfers who prioritize aesthetics — the lava-and-ocean scenery is consistently jaw-dropping from the 1st tee to the 18th green.

Head-to-Head: How They Compare

Difficulty

Mauna Kea is the harder course. Wind exposure, narrower effective landing areas (once wind is factored in), and demanding green complexes combine to create a layout that punishes loose shots. Mauna Lani South is challenging but more forgiving — wider fairways, less wind, and greens that accept well-struck approach shots.

Conditions

Both courses are maintained to championship standards. Mauna Kea’s greens run firm and fast, suited to the links-style ground game. Mauna Lani South’s greens are slightly softer and more receptive, rewarding aerial approach shots. Both courses keep fairways manicured and bunkers in pristine shape. You will not be disappointed by conditions at either.

Scenery

This is a matter of personal preference. Mauna Kea offers sweeping coastal panoramas — wide-open views across the Pacific with Maui visible on clear days. The aesthetic is classic Hawaiian links: golden grass, deep blue ocean, volcanic hillsides. Mauna Lani South delivers a more intense, close-up volcanic landscape — black lava against green turf, ocean inlets, and dramatic coastal rock formations. Both are spectacular.

Green Fees

Mauna Kea is slightly more expensive at approximately $285 rack versus $275 for Mauna Lani South. Guest rates diverge more: around $225 at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel versus approximately $195 at Mauna Lani. For a detailed breakdown of every course’s pricing, see our Big Island green fees guide.

Signature Holes

Mauna Kea’s par-3 3rd is the more dramatic hole — the elevated tee, the crashing surf, the all-or-nothing carry. It is the hole that defines Big Island golf. Mauna Lani South’s par-3 15th is equally beautiful but slightly less terrifying, with a shorter carry and less wind. Both will produce your most-shared photo of the trip.

Book Mauna Kea If…

You are a single-digit or low-double-digit handicapper who thrives on course architecture and strategic challenge. Mauna Kea rewards shot-making, course management, and the ability to play in wind.

You want the bucket-list experience. Mauna Kea’s heritage as the Kohala Coast’s original course, its RTJ Sr. pedigree, and the par-3 3rd make it the island’s most famous round. If you are playing one course and want bragging rights, this is it.

You enjoy links-style golf. Firm fairways, run-up approaches, wind chess, and multi-tiered greens define the Mauna Kea experience. If links golf appeals to you, this is the closest you will get in Hawaii.

You are staying at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or Westin Hapuna Beach. Guest rates bring the price down to $225, and you can pair it with a round at the more forgiving Hapuna course next door.

Book Mauna Lani South If…

Your handicap is 15 or above. Mauna Lani South is the better choice for golfers who want premium Kohala Coast golf without getting punished on every hole. Wider fairways and less wind exposure make good scores more achievable.

You prioritise scenery and photography. The lava-field landscape on the South Course is more consistently dramatic across all 18 holes. If you are bringing a camera and want jaw-dropping backdrops throughout the round, Mauna Lani delivers.

You want a more predictable experience. Less wind means fewer surprises on club selection. The course plays closer to its yardage, which makes planning each shot more straightforward. You can trust your distances here more than at Mauna Kea.

You are staying at Mauna Lani or the Fairmont Orchid. Guest rates of approximately $195 make it the better-value premium course, and you also have the North Course available if you want a second round with a different challenge.

Can You Play Both?

If your trip allows two premium rounds, absolutely play both. They are different enough that one does not substitute for the other. Play Mauna Lani South first — it warms you up for the Kohala Coast conditions without overwhelming you. Then tackle Mauna Kea the following day when you have your wind bearings.

At rack rates, two rounds total approximately $560. Guest rates at the respective resorts bring the combined cost closer to $420. Add a value course like Waikoloa Village ($99) on your arrival day, and you have a three-round Kohala Coast experience for under $520 at guest rates.

For more on matching courses to hotels and building a complete golf trip, see our where to stay for Big Island golf guide and the Kohala Coast resorts comparison. Our Big Island golf resorts page covers every resort and course pairing on the coast.