Regardless of where you play, golfing in Maui is memorable. The scenery is stunning, the courses are well manicured and generally offer a good challenge for any level golfer. So even if your game stinks that day, the experience should remain a pleasant one.
Don’t be concerned about leaving those cherished golf clubs at home when visiting Maui because a full-set of rental clubs may be better than the ones in your golf bag. Prior to visiting, check out the lodging deals that often includes a golf package.
There are 14 golf courses in Maui and include some noted course designers such as Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Obviously it’s difficult to play them all in one Maui visit, so we will touch on three courses below.
Ka’anapali Golf Courses: The two side-by-side 18-hole courses – Royal and Kai – reside amidst the huge Ka’anapali Resort hotel complex and will have most golfers longing to grab their clubs and play a round on the rolling hills that offer panoramic coastline views.
The Ka’anapali greens are well manicured and both are have a form of Bermuda grass named tiffed eagle. The two courses host approximately 65,000 rounds per year.
“The word ‘aloha’ comes to mind when playing golf in Maui. You won’t find many places with the same sense of welcoming and the beauty is second to none,” said Sutee Nitakorn, head golf professional for the Ka’anapali courses. “The golf conditions on Maui are also different with its set of challenges. A combination of traditional blowing trade winds and deft Hawaii greens set you up for a unique golf experience.”
The Ka’anapali Royal course is the more heralded of the two tracks. Designed by famed golf architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. and debuting in 1962, Royal was the first resort course in Hawaii. Longtime pro golf fans may have seen the course on TV since it once hosted LPGA events (1982-85) and the original Seniors PGA Tour (1988-2000).
A par-71 track, Ka’anapali Royal goes 6,700 yards from the furthest tees. The layout combines wide fairways and undulating greens, making some of its holes both distinctive and demanding. The original layout was rerouted so that its sea level holes were located below the highway and the No. 5 hole became features a beautiful oceanfront green. Royal’s middle holes are on the bluffs above the highway and feature sweeping views of the West Maui landscape, Lanai, and the ocean.
The other 18-hole course – Ka’anapali Kai – meanders along the same gently rolling topography as the Royal course, but plays a little easier. At its tips, the par-70 Kai track is 6,388 yards, a modest distance by today’s more lengthy standards.
Despite its length, Ka’anapali Kai can play longer on certain days. All of Maui’s golf courses are subjected to Hawaii’s frequent trade winds that offer a cooling breeze on humid days and also make the courses more difficult than they appear on the scorecard.
Arthur Jack Snyder is the architect of Ka’anapali Kai, which opened in 1967, and was later renovated by Robin Nelson. The redesign includes makeovers of several holes to accentuate ocean views and Lanai and Molokai islands. The Kai layout has canals, lava rock formations, gullies, and sizable plantings of Norfolk pine and coconut.
“The Royal Course has more characteristics of a tournament course with longer holes and more undulating greens,” Nitakorn said. “Although the Kai Course can be just as challenging, it is more playable to the higher handicapper. Both golf courses offer great views and fun golf.”
Cost for adults to play either Ka’anapali course ranges from $79 to $255, depending on the time of year and time of day.
Wailea Blue Course: One of the three Wailea Golf Resort courses, the Blue Course is a friendly track that has been ranked among America’s best resort courses by Golf Digest. The 54-hole resort also includes the Gold and Emerald courses.
As one would expect, the views are intoxicating on the Blue Course, the first course (1972) ever built in Wailea. There are holes with a nearby ocean view and other ones that provide a nice visual of majestic Mt. Haleakala – a dormant 10,023-foot volcano –in the distance.
Portions of the par-71 course run through the Wailea Grand Champions by Destination Residences Hawaii residential community, so you might even be playing the fairway that overlooks your condo balcony. The scenery also includes several lakes, fountains, and colorful flowering plants and bushes that are native to Hawaii.
Most golfers won’t find the Arthur Jack Snyder designed course intimidating. It’s modest in length, measuring 6,545 yards from the tips and 6,173 yards from the white tees. The fairways are wide and will accommodate stray drives, while the greens are large and kept at a speed where golfers can quickly adapt their putting.
Cost for adults ranges from $99 to $199, depending on the time of year and time of day.
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Visit his website at www.tahoeskiworld.com.
