Vandalism Plagues Princeville Makai Golf Club

Seven of the nine greens on Princeville Makai Golf Club’s Woods Course were torn up last week resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.

The golf course has endured vandalism and theft over the years but the COVID-19 pandemic has exasperated the situation. Since the pandemic began, the course has been vandalized about 10 times, said Doug Sutter, Princeville’s general manager.

“It (vandalism) has started picking up and becoming more prevalent,” Sutter said. “And the damage is becoming more and more impactful. To do turns on the green is devastating.”

On Feb. 9, Sutter posted images on social media of the Woods Course greens torn up and a crashed golf cart in a pond. Aside from the greens, someone drove circles on the fairway on the Makai course, damaging to the lawn. Cost to repair the greens, Sutter explained, would cost upwards of $100,000 between labor, materials and time.

The damage was reported to Kaua‘i Police Department on Feb. 1. According to police, it appears a golf cart was driven throughout the golf course causing large indentations on several of the greens.

Another police report was made on Feb. 6. According to KPD, a suspect stole a golf cart, valued at $4,200, from Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas and ran over flagsticks on the golf course damaging some of the greens. The golf cart was driven into the lake and recovered by Bali Hai. The estimated damages to the golf course are $675.

“It’s really sad what’s going on right now,” Sutter said. “To have people doing this is unbelievable.”

The response to the Facebook post regarding the course’s damage from the public was overwhelmingly disappointed.

One person wrote: “So sad, who could do this to such an extraordinary place!”

“Unfortunately they’re picking on someone who’s already down due to COVID,” Sutter said. “This is an actual business. It’s like breaking down the front door of a Foodland.”

Although the pandemic has restricted travel for the past several months, Princeville Makai Golf Club has remained open for kama‘āina play. While the business is operating at a large deficit, Sutter said, they are up year over year on locals playing the course.

Despite the damage, Princeville will remain open, however, repairs to the greens aren’t possible at this time. Staff is educating patrons of the situation and moving putting holes to areas where they are least impacted.

Sutter is working with community members and hopes they can catch those responsible for the damage.

“A big mahalo for the response we’ve had,” Sutter added. “This place is so near and dear to their heart, it breaks their heart. it makes me happy to see people who appreciate what we do and are angry for what’s happening here.”

Anyone with information regarding the vandalism can call Princeville Golf Club at 808-826-1863 or Kaua‘i Police Department at 808-241-1711.