Poipu vs. Princeville: Which Side of Kauai Is Better for a Golf Trip?
Poipu and Princeville are both beautiful, but for a golf trip, Poipu's reliable sunshine, three courses within five minutes, and central location make it the clear winner.
Princeville Makai with Hanalei Bay and the north shore mountains behind — stunning views, but those rain clouds rolling in are exactly why Poipu is the safer base for a golf trip.
This is the first decision every Kauai golf trip comes down to: south shore or north shore? Poipu or Princeville? Both have world-class golf. Both have stunning beaches. Both have restaurants, shops, and accommodations ranging from budget condos to luxury resorts.
But for a golf trip specifically, they're not equal. One side gives you better weather, more course access, and a central location that minimizes driving. The other side gives you one spectacular course and a lot of time in the car.
I know Poipu like the back of my hand, so you should know my bias upfront. But the data backs me up on this one.
The weather: this is where the debate ends
Kauai's geography creates two dramatically different climates on one small island. Mount Waialeale, in the island's interior, is one of the wettest spots on earth. The moisture hits the north shore first, which is why Princeville and Hanalei are so impossibly green and lush — they get roughly 85 inches of rain per year.
Poipu, on the south shore, sits in the rain shadow. It averages about 35 inches of rain per year — less than half of what the north shore gets. That translates to more sunny days, more predictable conditions, and fewer rounds interrupted by passing showers.
When you're spending $295-375 per round on championship golf and planning tee times months in advance, weather reliability matters. A rained-out morning at Princeville Makai doesn't just ruin one round — it disrupts your entire trip schedule. At Poipu, rain cancellations are rare. The sun is almost always shining, and even when a brief shower passes through, it's usually gone in 15 minutes.
During the winter months — which happen to be peak golf season — the gap is even wider. October through March brings significantly heavier rainfall to the north shore, while Poipu stays relatively dry and sunny. If you're planning a winter golf trip (and you should — whale season is December through April), Poipu's weather advantage is decisive.
This alone would settle the debate for me. But it gets better.
The golf: three courses vs. one
Here's what you can reach within a short drive from each home base.
From Poipu: Kiahuna Golf Club — steps away (literally, if you're staying at our condo). Poipu Bay Golf Course — 5-minute drive. Kukui'ula Golf Course — 5-minute drive. (private, but accessible through the Lodge). Kukuiolono Golf Course — 15-minute drive. Puakea Golf Course — 25-minute drive. The Ocean Course at Hokuala — 25-minute drive. Wailua Golf Course — 35-minute drive. Princeville Makai — 60-minute drive.
From Princeville: Princeville Makai — right there. Wailua Golf Course — 35-minute drive. Puakea Golf Course — 45-minute drive. The Ocean Course at Hokuala — 45-minute drive. Kukuiolono Golf Course — 75-minute drive. Kiahuna Golf Club — 60-minute drive. Poipu Bay Golf Course — 60-minute drive. Kukui'ula Golf Course — 60-minute drive.
From Poipu, six of the eight courses on Kauai are within 35 minutes. Only Princeville Makai requires a real drive (60 minutes), and even that is doable as a day trip.
From Princeville, everything except Makai is 35-75 minutes away. If you want to play Poipu Bay — the best course on the island — you're looking at a two-hour round trip on top of a five-hour round. That's a seven-hour day for one round of golf. From Poipu, the same round takes about five and a half hours total.
If you're planning to play three or more courses during your trip (and most golf travelers do), Poipu saves you hours of driving time. Those hours are better spent on the course, at the beach, or at dinner.
Princeville Makai: the one reason to consider the north shore
Let me be fair to Princeville. If you're only planning to play one course on your entire trip, and that course is Princeville Makai, staying in Princeville makes sense. You'll be right there, you can book early morning tee times without a long drive, and you'll have the rest of the day to explore the north shore.
Princeville Makai is my #2 course on the island — a 9.2 with six oceanfront holes, dramatic cliffside par 3s, and a Robert Trent Jones Jr. renovation that made it world-class. It's an incredible course that every golfer visiting Kauai should play.
But here's the thing: you can still play Makai while staying in Poipu. The drive is 60 minutes — long but scenic, taking you through the heart of Kauai past small towns, taro fields, and the famous Tree Tunnel. Book a morning tee time, play 18, grab lunch at the Makai Grill, explore Hanalei town or hike the first mile of the Kalalau Trail, and drive back to Poipu in the evening. It's a full-day excursion, and it's one of the best days you'll have on the island.
The reverse doesn't work as well. Staying in Princeville and driving 60 minutes to play Poipu Bay means starting your day at 5:30 AM to make a 7:00 AM tee time. Then driving an hour back after your round. Then doing it again for Kiahuna. And again for Hokuala. Three south shore rounds from a Princeville base means six hours of driving over the course of your trip — six hours you could spend playing golf or relaxing at the beach.
Beyond the golf: what else each side offers
Poipu is Kauai's sunny south shore resort area. It has Poipu Beach (consistently rated one of the best beaches in America), Brennecke's Beach for bodyboarding, Spouting Horn blowhole, Poipu Shopping Village for dining and shopping, Old Koloa Town for restaurants and history, and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. The vibe is relaxed resort — not touristy in a Waikiki way, but polished and convenient. Everything is walkable or a short drive.
Princeville is Kauai's dramatic north shore. It has Hanalei Bay (one of the most beautiful bays in Hawaii), Tunnels Beach for snorkeling, the Napali Coast trailhead at Ke'e Beach, Queen's Bath tide pools, and the charming town of Hanalei with boutique shops and restaurants. The vibe is more rugged, more natural, and more adventurous. It's stunning but spread out — you'll drive more to get between activities.
For a pure beach-and-hiking vacation, the north shore is arguably more spectacular. For a golf trip where you want convenience, reliable weather, and easy access to multiple courses, the south shore wins.
The practical case for Poipu
Here's the scenario most golfers face. You're on Kauai for five to seven days. You want to play three to five rounds. You also want beach time, good restaurants, and some sightseeing. You don't want to spend your vacation in a rental car.
From Poipu, a typical day looks like this: wake up, walk to Kiahuna for a morning round (or drive five minutes to Poipu Bay), play 18, grab lunch at Paco's Tacos, walk to Poipu Beach for the afternoon, dinner at one of the Koloa restaurants. Everything is close. Nothing requires planning or logistics.
From Princeville, the same type of day requires more coordination: wake up early, drive 45-60 minutes to your tee time at a south shore course, play 18, drive back, arrive in the afternoon with less energy and less time. Or you play Makai every day, which is great but limits variety.
The convenience gap compounds over a week. By day four or five, the difference between a five-minute drive to the course and a 60-minute drive to the course feels enormous. Vacation days are precious, and Poipu respects your time in a way Princeville can't for a multi-course golf trip.
What about splitting time between both sides?
Some visitors split their trip — three nights in Poipu, two nights in Princeville. If you have a week or longer, this can work. Play the south shore courses from Poipu, then move to Princeville for Makai and north shore sightseeing.
The downside is the hassle of packing up and changing accommodations mid-trip. You lose half a day to the move, and you're paying for two different rentals. For trips shorter than seven days, I'd pick one base and stick with it.
If you do split, stay in Poipu first (play the south shore courses while you're fresh and energized), then finish in Princeville (play Makai, explore the north shore, wind down before your flight).
The verdict
For a golf trip, Poipu wins — and it's not particularly close.
The weather is more reliable. The course access is dramatically better — three courses within five minutes, six within 35 minutes. The location is central to the entire island. The beaches, restaurants, and amenities are right there. And the one thing Princeville has that Poipu doesn't — Princeville Makai Golf Course — is still accessible as a day trip.
Stay in Poipu. Play the south shore courses as your home rounds. Make one day trip to Princeville Makai. And spend the time you saved not driving on the beach, at dinner, or on the lanai watching golfers finish the 9th hole at Kiahuna.
That's the play.
Planning a Kauai golf trip from Poipu? Our 2-bedroom condo at Pili Mai sits directly on the Kiahuna Golf Course fairway — steps from the 9th hole green and five minutes from Poipu Bay Golf Course. Check availability →
