It’s not hard to see how the magnificent Kingfisher course got its name—players will likely encounter scores of the little birds darting along the water features. This short 18-hole course is only 6,216 yards from the regular tee and 6,651 yards from the tips. The course lies on a spectacular part of the island, with the cobalt blue ocean visible from all holes.
Designed by Graham Marsh, this course feels a little bit like one of its distant Hawaiian cousins, with natural rock formations as well as the cliff-lined fairways coming into play. As with most links, golfers really need to stick to the short stuff or they’ll be in trouble, but contrastingly, wider greens await and make the play a little easier, with the birdies there for the taking. The tea house on the 14th is on an outcropping of land overlooking a cove below, and there is no better place on the island to take a moment to enjoy the amazing ocean views.
As with LaoLao, the short over-the-water holes come in to play on the 15th and 16th, with the first—a short par-three—being just about as much fun as you can have on a golf course. Hitting onto the little peninsula can be a bit tricky with the wind gusting from right to left. The 18th comes up quickly after the excitement of the 15th and 16th, offering a relatively easy, long par-four to finish.
The course, with its tricky but not-too-lengthy layout and big greens, is recommended for golfers of all levels. Expect to pay US$170–190 per round, with special two- and three-day pack- ages available. Japanese is spoken at the club.