Hualalai Golf (Hualâlai)

The Hualalai resort is situated in the Kona district of Hawaii, close to the international airport in the northwest corner of the Big Island, and it boasts two 18-hole layouts. The first to appear was the Jack Nicklaus Signature course in 1996, followed six years later by the Tom Weiskopf-designed private Ke'olu course.

The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai is held on the Hualalai course every year and the field comprises senior major champions from the previous five years plus other tournament winners of the last two years and other sponsor-invited players. The tournament is played over 54-holes with a prize purse of almost $2 million.

Fairways on the front nine of the Hualalai course play through a variety of lava rock features and over a pond at the par three 5th but the bunker in the middle of the green on the par three 12th is probably the biggest talking point before the final trio of holes bring the round to a dramatic conclusion next to the ocean.

Yet another par three, the 164-yard 17th, is regarded as the signature hole on the card. If you come across any marketing images for this Nicklaus-designed course then the chances are at least one of them will be related to this hole which plays right toward the ocean, with lava rock and sand traps surrounding the green.