Inside the Annual Golf Tournaments at Hualalai: Where Pros & Members Compete

By Frank Schenk

Hualalai Resort sits along the Kona-Kohala coastline just north of (and adjacent to) Kukio, where championship golf unfolds against black lava flows and the Pacific Ocean. The setting offers a perspective on luxury living that feels distinctly rooted in place.

Golf here is integral to resort life, drawing attention to course design, member participation, and long-standing traditions tied to the land. Tournament season highlights how golf, ocean access, and private amenities intersect.

• Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf course designs
• Exclusive Hualālai Club Premier Member facilities
• Annual Mitsubishi Electric Championship events
• Private oceanfront dining at the Residents’ Beach House

The Hualālai Golf Course serves as the stunning host of the PGA TOUR Champions Mitsubishi Electric Championship, where the game’s greatest legends compete against a backdrop of crashing Pacific waves.

• Member And Guest Availability ensures that Hualālai Club Members, their registered guests, and guests of the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai can experience the tournament-ready greens throughout the year.
• Seaside Signature Holes utilize the dramatic coastline of the North Kona district to create challenging shots over the crashing surf and volcanic rock.
• Professional Standards are maintained daily to mirror the conditions seen during televised events, providing an elite playing surface for residents and visitors.
• Strategic Location places the course within minutes of the luxury villas and hillside estates that define this prestigious resort neighborhood.

This 18-hole signature course winds through green fairways carved directly from the 1801-1802 lava flows near the Four Seasons Hotel.

For those seeking a more private experience, the Ke‘olu Course offers a Tom Weiskopf-designed sanctuary that remains tucked away from the public eye.

• Ke‘olu Golf Clubhouse serves as a private social anchor for Premier Members, featuring refined locker rooms, professional pro shops, and expansive views of the upper fairways.
• Tom Weiskopf Design focuses on the natural undulations of the upland terrain, providing a technically demanding layout that rewards precision and strategy.
• Restricted Access guarantees a quiet pace of play and an intimate atmosphere that is highly valued by the resident population.
• Elite Maintenance ensures that the course remains in pristine condition, offering a secluded alternative to the more social signature course by the ocean.

The tranquility of Ke‘olu provides a stark contrast to the festive energy of the oceanfront tournament scenes.

When you’re not on the course, these resort venues are like home bases, places you can swim, dine, and gather steps from the sand.

• Hualālai Canoe Club: A casual, members-only hideaway above Uluweuweu Bay with relaxed dining, two pools, shaded lounge chairs, and an expanded lawn and activity area.
• Ocean Activity Center: Located beside the Canoe Club and staffed by the Alaka‘i Nalu, the watermen and waterwomen who help Members and guests get set up for ocean activities and access Hualālai’s signature experiences.
• Residents’ Beach House: A home-ownership privilege designed for drinking and dining near the shoreline, with a setting shaped by surf sounds and gentle ocean breezes.

The Residents’ Beach House supports friends-and-family get-togethers and private parties, while the Canoe Club is geared toward casual pool-and-lawn days that flow easily into time on the water.

The Mitsubishi Electric Championship is held on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Hualālai Golf Course, which is known for its wide fairways and dramatic final holes along the Pacific. This event attracts the top tier of the PGA TOUR Champions, making the signature course a focal point for international golf media every January.

This premier equity membership provides exclusive access to the Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole Championship Course and the 10-hole Short Course, along with the full-service Beach Club and its oceanfront dining. Members also enjoy the comprehensive Outdoor Pursuits program, world-class spa facilities, and the high-performance fitness center located on the Kona-Kohala Coast.

Property owners within the resort are eligible to apply for the Hualālai Club, which offers access to the championship courses and private social clubs like the Canoe Club. I always make sure to review the specific membership dues and amenity privileges with my clients to ensure their residential choice aligns with their desired level of access to the greens.

As an expert in high-end resort properties, I have spent years helping my clients identify the specific enclaves that offer the best balance of championship golf access and private coastal retreat.

Reach out to me, Frank Schenk, for a strategic conversation about the unique opportunities currently available in our most sought-after resort communities. I look forward to showing you the hidden gems and elite social circles that make living in North Kona a truly world-class experience.