Wanna hit the green?

WAILUA — Wailua Golf Course, once the nations’ best municipal course, may have lost the title years ago, but its condition has only improved, making it what Councilman Dickie Chang once called “the best bang for the buck.”

The 18-hole Wailua Golf Course, voted by Golf Digest as one of Hawai‘i’s best 15 courses, is able to survive through subsidies from the county administration, which maintains the facility and keeps it affordable to island residents and visitors.

Wailua Golf Course was originally built as a 9-hole course in the 1930s, according to county officials. The remaining 9 holes were added in 1961.

Local residents pay as little as $15 for a round of golf at Wailua. The fee goes even lower, to $12 for seniors, $9 for super seniors and $1 for junior players.

Not enough? Morning and afternoon twilight hours are half the price.

Weekend fees are slightly higher, but a monthly card takes care of that, allowing unlimited play for $60 a month and lower, depending on age.

Nonresidents pay $48 per round, and also have the option of purchasing a multi-use card that basically gives them a $5 discount per round.

Price is barely the main z for the oceanfront golf course. The meticulously maintained grass is always green, thanks to recent improvements which included a brand new irrigation system.

The adjacent Wailua Golf Shop, a concession owned by Glenn Tamagawa, offers affordable club rentals and golf lessons for adult and youth, as well as several golf-related gear and products.

The latest improvement also came from a concessionaire. Since November, golfers have 100 brand-new available golf carts. Rentals cost $10 for 9-hole rounds and $18 for 18-hole rounds.

Almost everything that a golfer may need is at Wailua Golf Course, from balls to lessons, clubs and carts. The only thing missing is a restaurant — the last concession closed a few months ago and the dedicated space remains vacant.

Visit www.kauai.gov/golf for more information on this 6,991-yard golf course.