The Hapuna Beach Residences are just steps from the clubhouse and first tee. Up the hill, the Hapuna Estates all front the course.

Hapuna Golf Course is a visually striking course that weaves through tall native grasses that contrast with dramatic mounds of 1,000-year-old black lava. The links-style layout, designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, takes full advantage of its elevation overlooking the Pacific. Stretching out to nearly 6,900 yards, every hole is postcard perfect and every one dazzles with views from Mauna Kea and Hualalai mountain peaks to the sparkling ocean. But no hole promises those fortunate enough to play it a view quite like No. 12. The tee, nearly 700 feet above sea level, offers players one of the island’s most spectacular panoramic views of the Big Island all the way to Maui in the distance. Concentrating on the course and not the scenery can be problematic.

Hapuna’s challenging play and environmental sensitivity make it one of Hawaii’s most unique golf courses. There are plenty of highlights, including each of the par fives. As you would expect from Arnold Palmer, each one is a signature, each with its own set of risk/reward opportunities. For long hitters, all four can be reached in two shots but the strategy must be carefully planned and the shot-making precise.

Arnold Palmer’s brazen style of play is exemplified in his design for No. 3. The fairway bends to the left all the way to the green but actually ends temporarily about 240 yards off the tee. The green is well protected, especially by the water on the left, so any shot onto this green, whether long or short, carries with it a sense of peril.