Kaua‘i County opens summer youth golf registration at Wailua June 8

Kaua‘i County is keeping one of its most accessible sports pathways tied to Wailua Golf Course, where summer youth golf registration will open June 8 for boys and girls ages 7 to 15.

The county said enrollment will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wailua Golf Pro Shop, with the program priced at $35 per child, per session. Registration is first-come, first-served, and the flyer limits each session to the first 25 applicants, a cap that makes the program competitive as well as affordable for families looking for structured summer activities.

The 2026 program will be split into three sessions: June 15-26, June 29-July 10, and July 13-24. Instruction will run Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, then Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Darrel Rego of the Wailua Golf Course Pro Shop is listed as lead instructor, keeping the program anchored in the county’s own golf staff rather than an outside camp operator.

The county’s setup makes Wailua a civic asset as much as a sports venue. Kaua‘i says Wailua Golf Course began as a 9-hole course in the 1930s, expanded to 18 holes in 1961, and was designed by Toyo Shirai. The course has also hosted three USGA Amateur Public Links Championships, underscoring the level of play the public facility has supported over the years. County officials describe Wailua as Kaua‘i’s sole municipal golf course, which gives the youth program added significance for east-side families from Līhu‘e to Kapa‘a.

For parents, the program comes with practical requirements that help keep costs low but still place some burden on households. Participants must have a putter, 5 iron, 7 iron, 9 iron, wedge, driver and golf bag. Players are asked to wear casual clothes and sports shoes, and parents or guardians must provide snacks, beverages and sun protection. Only a parent or legal guardian can sign the waiver unless the signer brings a power of attorney or notarized authorization.

The annual program has remained stable from year to year. Kaua‘i County’s 2025 registration opened June 9, with the same age range and the same $35 fee. A 2024 flyer also listed the program at $35 per child, per session for ages 7 to 15, showing a recurring county effort to keep golf instruction within reach of local keiki rather than turning it into an expensive private option.