LIHUE — One of Kauai’s golf courses was recognized as the best in 2017.
The Ocean Course at Hokuala received the North America’s Best Golf Course 2017 award by World Golf Awards.
“This was the fourth annual World Golf Awards. Basically, what that is, it’s a tourism golf course ranking based on the votes of golfers. So, it’s a voter-based award from golfers around the world,” said Cort Walter, golf sales manager of the Ocean Course at Hokuala.
The Ocean Course was one of 50 nominees including public and private courses. The local golf course was also given the Hawaii’s Best Golf Course 2017 award by World Golf Awards.
“It’s more validation that we’re doing the right thing here at the Ocean Course under Timbers Resorts development,” Walter said. “We’ve gotten the course to the pristine level that it once was, and we’re just very honored and excited about this new chapter here on the property with more to come under the development of Timbers Resorts on Kauai.”
Walter said this is the first award the course has received since being under new management.
“Most of the accolades to the course happened when it was the Kauai Lagoons. This is one of the first awards with the new ownership and the newly renovated golf course,” he said. “MSN Travel used to rank the course. It had the course ranked one of the top 15 most beautiful courses in the world.”
Walter added the course has known of the accolade since October, but World Golf Awards made the official announcement in November.
“It’s just golfers telling golfers,” he said. “It’s the word of mouth getting out there about the property and about the golf course, and just letting the world know that we have an excellent product here and we’re an excellent golf course that can stand up with any of them.”
Walter added: “From myself, our general manager Fran Roach and all of our staff here at the Ocean Course, we’re excited about this chapter for the property and the growth that we’ve undertaken already and will continue to do on the property. It’s an honor to receive this award, and we’re excited to keep things moving in the right direction here at the Ocean Course.”
