Kohanaiki

Few private clubs in Hawaii carry the combination of pedigree and raw drama that Kohanaiki does. Designed by Rees Jones and opened in 2014, the course occupies a stunning stretch of Kona coastline on the Big Island's leeward side, routing through ancient lava fields that give it a visual identity unlike almost anything else in American golf. The black rock contrasts sharply against fairways carved through it, and the Pacific shows up repeatedly as backdrop and hazard alike.

Playing the Kona coast means contending with the trade winds that funnel through the lava corridors — conditions that can transform a straightforward approach into a genuine puzzle. The Big Island's west side stays drier than Hawaii's windward shores, so you'll rarely lose a round to weather, but the wind earns respect quickly.

Kohanaiki is an equity club tied to a broader residential community, which keeps the membership intimate and access exclusive. For those who do get on, it represents one of Hawaii's most distinctive and demanding private golf experiences.