This breathtakingly beautiful, par-72, 7,114-yard championship course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., is consistently rated one of the top golf courses in the United States. The signature 3rd hole is 175 yards long; the Pacific Ocean and shoreline cliffs stand between the tee and the green, giving every golfer, from beginner to pro, a real challenge. Another par-3 that confounds duffers is the 11th hole, which drops 100 feet from tee to green and plays down to the ocean, into the steady trade winds. When the trades are blowing, 181 yards might as well be 1,000 yards. Book ahead; the course is very popular, especially for early weekend tee times. Note: As we went to press, Mauna Kea's greens, tees, fairways, and rough were all being replaced with new hybrids of turf that can be groomed for the skill levels of both resort and professional golfers. The bunkers were being restored to their original configuration. Plans call for the course to reopen by 2009; call ahead for updates.