Polishing time at Princeville Makai

Princeville Makai Golf Club in Princeville, Hawaii, has started a $3 million course refinement project designed to enhance playability and boost agronomic conditions on the Robert Trent Jones Jr. design.

Work includes bunker renovations, cart path upgrades, and agronomic enhancements aimed to address drainage and continue strong turf health. Princeville Makai is located on Kauai’s famed North Shore and averages 78 inches of rain each year.

The project commenced April 15 with nine holes shut down for construction for approximately six weeks, followed by work on the remaining nine holes over six additional weeks. Nine holes will always be open during the refinement project, with nine-hole and 18-hole rounds available for guests.

Key elements of the project include:

• Comprehensive renovation to every bunker, incorporating a technically advanced drainage and liner system featuring Capillary Concrete
• Drainage improvements executed in key areas to enhance playability and turf health
• Cart path improvements in select areas to enhance guest experiences.
• Crews will also execute an aggressive aeration of the Seashore paspalum turf during the closure

Troon senior vice president of golf course development Ron Despain is leading the bunker renovations and cart path changes, with construction work executed by Heritage Links. Agronomy projects will be done in collaboration with Princeville Makai Golf Club superintendent Chris Parde, the club’s agronomy team and Troon senior vice president of science and agronomy Jeff Spangler.

“It’s exciting and gratifying to have an ownership team that invests back into the product and shares the goal of keeping Princeville Makai Golf Club among the top golf courses in the world,” Princeville Makai Golf Club general manager Michael Neider said. “The bunker enhancements, cart path improvements, drainage refinements and turf management projects will further elevate our guests’ experiences for years to come.”

Princeville Makai Golf Club opened in 1971 as the first solo effort of golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. In 2009 and 2010, the course was completely renovated by Jones Jr., introducing Seashore paspalum turfgrass on all fairways and greens.

Princeville Makai Golf Club is managed by Troon Golf, the resort and daily-fee division of Troon.