Maui Course Reviews
WEST MAUI
West Maui Golf Courses consists of Kapalua Golf Courses- Kapalua Bay & Kapalua Plantation and Kaanapali Golf Courses - Kaanapali Royal and Kaanapali Kai. West Maui is a popular vacation destination with it's long white sand beach, gorgeous sunsets, and perfect weather. The Kaanapali Golf Courses are fun for the average golfer. Want a challenge? Book either Kapalua Plantation or Kapalua Bay golf course and play where the pros play. The Plantation is home to the Hyundai Tournament Championship every January.
KAANAPALI ROYAL- A long time favorite for West Side golfers Kaanapali Royal has one of Maui's few oceanfront holes, #14. This Robert Trent Jones classic design was Maui's first resort golf course opening back in 1962. Kaanapali Royal hosted the World Cup in 1964 when Nicklaus and Palmer teamed up to win and shoot the course record of 64. Surrounded by hotels and condos, this is a popular course for the Kaanapali visitors. Play early before the trades blow in and make the course more challenging. This course also hosted the Senior PGA event for 10 years. It's famous for its demanding finishing holes with lots of water to navigate. Great finishing holes # 17 and 18 offer a real test of skill over the water. Kaanapali renamed the North Course "Kaanapali Royal Golf Course" as it was when it first opened.
Our Favorite holes: 1, 5, 17, 18
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The South Course was redesigned in 2005 with new greens and tee boxes. This sporty resort course offers lots of challenge with it's tight fairways. With its southern location in Kaanapali, it can be windy on the North Course but calm on the South. One of the fun features is the Kaanapali Sugar Cane Train that runs through. You can wave at the train riders as they go merrily along. The railroad trestle at hole #4 is a great photo opportunity. Kaanapali Kai is fun to play in the afternoon after a morning on Kaanapali's white sand beach.
Our Favorite holes: 4, 8, 12, 16
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
Kapalua Plantation, is considered one of the toughest and most spectacular golf courses on Maui. It has the widest fairways and largest greens but plays tight due to the elevation changes, sloping fairways and strong trades that challenge you on every hole. Bring extra balls as the waist high rough eats golf balls. Try to play with a partner experienced at Kapalua Golf Courses as local knowledge is a must to score well here. The par 73 should be 83 even for pros playing the first time! Remember to play safe whenever possible as most short and wild shots turn into lost balls. You will enjoy the Plantations big sloping greens.
The Hyundai Championship is played here every January with the opening of the PGA Tour season where the best in the world come to challenge one of Maui's best courses. Either Kapalua Golf Course- Plantation or Bay are best played around 10am to beat the morning rains that frequent the area.
Our Favorite holes: 1, 5, 13, 17, 18
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
Kapalua Bay Golf Course was Kapalua's first course designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane In 1975. Clif was one of the first assistant pros in the mid 70's. This course runs by the Ritz Carlton down to the ocean and offers some challenging golf on two short but tricky ocean holes when the trades are blowing. The back side is more sheltered from the wind and plays a little easier except for the finishing holes. #16 has a stream running down the middle of the fairway making your tee shot tricky with the wind blowing 20 mph into your face. #17 is a tough well-bunkered par 3 with a lake on the left for a long iron shot. Most enjoy playing golf on the Bay because of the ocean holes. Lava flowing into the sea created Kapalua which means "Arms embracing the Sea." The Kapalua Bay Golf Course has recently renovated their greens. They are in great shape. Either Kapalua Golf Course- Plantation or Bay are best played around 10am to beat the morning rains that frequent the area.
Our Favorite holes: 4, 5, 16, 18
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
SOUTH MAUI
South Maui Golf Courses consists of Wailea Gold, Wailea Emerald, Wailea Blue as well as Maui Nui, old Elleair Golf Course. You will find Maui's best courses on the South side. The weather is un-beatable and like Kaanapali, it hardly rains in South Maui. However, Kihei and Maalaea can get windy in the afternoon. Play golf in the morning to maximize your enjoyment. The Wailea Golf Courses- Wailea Blue, Gold and Emerald, are a Maui Golf Shop favorite for ocean views and the incredible shape of the courses.
The Old Blue was the second resort course on Maui, built in 1972. It is still one of Maui's most popular resort courses. The Blue is close to Wailea hotels and the new Shops at Wailea making this a favorite for visitors. Its wide fairways and large greens make for enjoyable golfing for all. Most players have their best scores on the Blue as it's user friendly. The calm warm weather makes golf more enjoyable. We recommend this course as a good resort value
Our Favorite holes: 4, 8, 11, 13
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
Wailea Gold is the flagship of the Wailea Golf courses. Wailea Gold was the home of Senior Skins Game and the Ladies Skins in years past. Wailea is known for this warm calm weather, great course conditions and ocean vistas. Wailea Gold is the most demanding of the three Wailea Golf courses and has lots of outstanding golf holes. One hundred and twenty eight white sand bunkers protect the lush fairways and fast greens. We would recommend Wailea Gold as one of the better resort courses on Maui. A must play. Excellent practice facility with target range and three chipping and putting areas.
Our Favorite holes: 7, 8, 14, 18
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
The prettiest of all the Wailea Golf Courses, Wailea Emerald was voted by Golf Digest "most friendly for ladies". Don't be fooled, the back tees are no pushover. The name Wailea Emerald describes the great course conditions and color of the course. Wailea Emerald is a very nice tropical resort course for couples. There are lots of short fun holes and reachable par 5's. Birdies are probable for better players. Enjoy the amenities of Wailea's practice facilities with one of the better target ranges and chipping areas in Hawaii. Wailea Emerald is a very popular course and enjoyable for short hitters
Our Favorite holes: 6, 9, 10, 18
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
One of the Most improved course on Maui! One of Maui’s best resort/public values and still improving. Lots of good things happening at Maui Nui, was Elleair (formally Silversword for old timers). New owners have improved the golf course with new designs on several formally awkward holes. They have also added GPS for quick yardage and faster play. The driving range is much improved also and on grass. There are new carts and a friendly staff. The course is located in the heart of Kihei close to South Maui’s condos and Maui Golf Shop.
Great for average golfers but challenging from the back tees for better players. Is best played in the morning before the afternoon trades spring up.
CENTRAL AND UPCOUNTRY MAUI
Central and Upcountry Maui Golf Courses consist of the Dunes at Maui Lani, Kahili Golf Course, King Kamehameha Golf Club, and Pukalani Golf Club. Unlike West and South Maui, you will not find the large resorts or plethora of condo's. You will find four of Maui's best courses. If you are looking for a good deal then you found the right place. Kahili Golf Club and Pukalani Golf Club reside on the West and East Maui Mountains, respectively. They offer great deals and a memorable round of golf for the golfer on a budget. "Play Hawaii's only Links Style course- The Dunes at Maui Lani for a "Scottish feel" without the chill. Want a real treat? Be a Guest for the day at King Kamehameha Golf Club. King Kamehameha Golf Club is Maui's Premiere Private Golf Course.
Maui's newest course and already one of our must-plays! This interesting test of golf offers spectacular mountain and valley views of West Maui Mountains and Halelakala Volcano. The first and last holes are on open plains exposed to the 15-25 mph trade winds. The rest of the course is protected in the sandy dunes forest. These are some of the most interesting golfing holes in Hawaii. This popular links course has a "Scottish feel" without the chill. It offers many options to the player with pot bunkers in key positions along the fairway and around the greens. You'll enjoy this challenging new course and the reasonable rates. The Dunes also offers one of Maui's best target practice facilities with large practice greens.
Our Favorite holes: 3, 4, 10, 18
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
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Maui's only upcountry course is 1,100 feet up the cool slopes of Haleakala. It's an enjoyable course for a budget golfer. The fairways are tree-lined with mature Norfolk pines and thick lush country grass. Your ball sits up nice and high for easy approach shots. Pukalani is the only course in Hawaii with no fairway bunkers allowing for easy driving. It's 5 degrees cooler upcountry with less humidity than the coastal areas. A fun course best played before 11am as the trade winds blow in the afternoon.The Hawaiian translation for Pukalani is fittingly translated as "Hole in the Sky." Pukalani is home to Maui Golf Shops Teaching Academy. For lessons or just a tune up, call Clif Council, PGA at 808-264-2350 (direct).
Our Favorite holes: 2, 8, 13, 18
To book your tee times or for more information Call us at 800-875-4653 or email at golfrounds@golf-maui.com
KING KAMEHAMEHA GOLF CLUB
The King Kamehameha Golf Club is Maui's only 18-hole private golf course with Maui's highest USGA Course rating at 75.7. The average golfer should play the white tees to fare better. Most holes are level or play downhill featuring lots of roll. The normal trade winds play a factor in club selection. The fairways are large targets and roughs are cut reasonable short. King Kamehameha Golf Club features many doglegs as holes hug the natural terrain. The greens sizes are large, very smooth and sometimes have three levels making for exciting pin placement. Several beautiful water features and waterfalls come into play on 5 holes making well placed approach shots a must.
King Kamehameha is a private golf course. To play King Kamehameha please call the Maui Golf Shop at 1-808-875-4653