Golfing In Maui, Hawaii

Maui is a paradise for everyone: golfers, beach goers, hikers, nature lovers, surfers… basically you can’t miss by vacationing in Maui.

Golfing in Maui is a specifically unique experience that by itself is worth making the trip to the middle of the Pacific. The Fairway team spent some time there last year, and now share are our favorite tracks we visited in Maui:

1) The Plantation at Kapalua: The Plantation Course at Kapalua is consistently ranked as the #1 golf course in Hawaii. Designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, this course was developed on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains and offers challenging elevation changes, rolling terrain, and dramatic ocean views from virtually every hole. In addition, the Plantation Course is the site of the PGA TOUR Sentry Tournament of Champions each January, featuring an elite field of previous year's PGA TOUR winners. This is undoubtedly a bucket-list course, and the best part is, you can actually play it (and potentially score on it as a very reachable par 73 resort course)

The Plantation Course is $395 (plus tax) and comes with a shared cart fee. If you're staying at Kapalua Resort, the rate drops down to $365.

2) Emerald Course at Wailea: The Wailea Golf Club is home to three championship golf courses, the Gold, Emerald, and Blue, but our favorite is the Emerald Course. Located in beautiful Wailea on the island of Maui, this picturesque course plays at a par-71 and a little over 6800-yards. The Emerald Course offers breathtaking views, and challenging play was designed by Trent Jones Jr and was officially opened in 1994 to rave reviews. Golf Magazine voted it one of the top 10 new courses in the land. 

Rates to play this course depend on the time of day and year you decide to play, but rates vary from $109 up to $279 in peak months.

3) Gold Course at Wailea: The Gold Course at Wailea has everything the Wailea Emerald has, from amazing views overlooking the ocean and incredible elevation changes, but with a more significant challenge. If you've conquered the Emerald course (a must-play course), then it's time to move up to the more challenging Gold course. The Gold is every bit as fun as the Emerald, just a bit less forgiving. Playing as a par-72, this is a long course at just over 7000 yards; the Gold Course stresses a higher importance of accuracy and course management not to blow up your scorecard (we can attest to that, unfortunately).

Rates for this course is similar to the Emerald Course, ranging from $109 all the way up to $279 in peak months.

4) The Bay Course at Kapalua: The Bay Course at Kapalua is a must-play for anyone visiting the beautiful island of Maui. The Bay Course opened in 1975 and, in that time, has hosted more major professional tournaments than any other course in Hawaii. Picturesque holes are found throughout the course, with the 17th being the most celebrated. If you are looking to play over the Pacific Ocean, the 17th at the Bay Course is the only hole on the entire of Maui that can claim that distinction. The Bay Course is not the cheapest course on the island, but it certainly won't break the bank. 

Standard rates come in around $229, and if you are a guest of the resort, you can play it for $209.

5) Kahili Golf Course: The Kahili Golf Course in Wailuku is consistently voted as one of the top golf courses in Hawaii. Nestled along a mountain range, this course cuts through the forest and has a lot of elevation changes, making this challenging for golfers of all skill levels. This par-72 plays a little longer than 6500 yards but seems longer based on the challenging elevations you will face, making you question your club selection.

A course this challenging and beautiful usually will set you back a bit, but the Kahili Golf Course is one of the more reasonably priced courses on Maui, with rates ranging from $95 to $109.

Hit ‘em Straight!

The Fairway Team