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Maui &
Lanai Course Reviews
Every day we receive phone calls and e-mails asking for our recommendations. So, we've written reviews of each course with rates, pictures and layout maps to help you decide which courses are best for you. Click on the link under Rates to book your tee times online up to 30 days in advance. Then, when you arrive on Maui, stop by the Maui Golf Shop to pick up your Discount Golf Vouchers. COURSE
MENU Our
Picks for the Best Courses to Play
Which are the must-play courses? Which courses should you play if you're on a budget? Which are the Pro's favorites? Below are our recommendations in order of preference. Click on the name of the course to read our Review.
Best
Savings at Twilight Rates
(11am-2pm) Cheapest
Courses Best Junior Rate By
the way, my favorite courses on Maui are the For information
on how Maui's weather effects
Make this an all-day golfing adventure. Upon arrival you are greeted by trams that will take you to your desired course or hotel within 20 minutes. The $10 shuttle fee is good for the entire day and allows you to ride to both courses and back to the boat. The shuttle first takes you to The Experience at Koele in Lanai City for an early 18 holes on the mountain. After lunch go on to The Challenge for another 18 on the cliffs at the reduced replay rate of $70. Catch the 4:30 or 6:45 ferry back to Maui and watch the sunset with a Mai Tai at your favorite Lahaina restaurant. We highly recommend that you book this once in a lifetime all day golfing experience. Book
your Lanai Golfing Day (including the ferry) with Maui Golf Shop
and SAVE. Pro' s Recommendation: Best to play The Experience at Koele in the morning around 8:30-9:00 am followed by The Challenge at Manele around 1:00 pm to give you the best weather conditions and easy access to the return ferry when you're finished with your rounds. (From The Challenge, you are only five minutes to the Lanai Harbor to catch the Expedition return boat to Maui at 6:45 pm.) Boat to Lanai leaves at 6:45 am, check in at 6:30 am. I feel this will be one of your best golfing experiences in Hawaii and the highlight of your vacation. Plus... the second round replay is only $70 plus tax. And remember, you can rent your
clubs at the Maui Golf Shop for as little as $25/ day or
hand pick a deluxe brand name set for up to $49. See our rates on
Rentals HERE.
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 couple of holes and the final ones are
on the open plains exposed to the 15-25 mph tradewinds, but most
are in the sandy dunes forest. These are some of the most interesting
golfing holes in Hawaii. Construction Updates: Hole 16 is closed for redesign. The 9th is now a new par 3 and the 10th a par 4 to replace the par 5, making the course play out at par 70. In future, hole 4 will be redesigned to make room for new home development. Renovations should be finished around the end of the year. Our favorite
holes: 3,
4, 10, 18
RATES
Junior Rate: $10 AERATION SCHEDULE
2008
Most improved course on Maui! One of Maui's best resort/public values and still improving. Lots of good things happening at Elleair (formally Silversword). New owners have improved the golf course with new designs on several formally awkward holes. They have also added GPS for quick yardage and fastest 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. 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. Our favorite holes: 4, 9, 15, 18 RATES
Junior Rate: $48.95 under 17
Club Rentals: $40 Taylor Made - RAC irons & R7 woods Rider Fee: $20 Advance Tee Times: 14 days Cart included AMENITIES AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
A long time
favorite for West Side golfers,
it 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 North hosted the World Cup in 1964 when
Nicklaus and Palmer teamed up to win and shoot the course record
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. Our Favorite
holes: 1, 5, 17, 18 RATES
Junior Rate: $60 under 17 (after
8am) AMENITIES AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
To
Course Menu
The South Course was redesigned in 2005 with new greens and tee boxes and reopened in November of that year. This shorter resort course offers lots of challenge as it's tight but fun. 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 that it runs along the Kaanapali Sugar Cane Train route and the train riders wave as they go merrily along. The railroad trestle at hole #4 is a great photo op. Fun to play in the afternoon after a morning on Kaanapali's white sand beach. Our favorite
holes: 4, 8, 12, 16 RATES
Junior Rate: $45 under 17 (after
8am) AMENITIES AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
Our favorite
holes 3, 5, 10, 12 RATES
Junior Rate: None AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
The Bay is Kapalua's first course and was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Sean In 1975, and I was one of the first assistant pros. 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. The exception is the finishing holes... 16 with a stream winding down the middle of the fairway makes the tee shot a little more of a decision 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." Our favorite
holes: 4, 5, 16, 18 RATES
Club Rentals: $55 Titleist 775 w/Scotty Cameron Putter AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
This is probably
the toughest and most spectacular golf course on Maui. It has
the widest fairways and largest greens but plays tight due to the
elevation changes 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 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. Our favorite holes: 1, 5, 13, 17, 18 RATES
Club Rentals: $55 Titleist 775 w/Scotty Cameron Putter AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
Our favorite
course. When you're on the 14th tee and can see 4 nearby islands
and the whales breaching you'll know why Makena North is our most
popular Maui course. What makes Makena stand out is its natural
beauty, challenging course design and great putting greens. Our favorite
holes 6, 8, 14, 15 RATES
Junior Rate: $60 under 15 AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
With two ocean holes, the sister course to Makena North and just as exiting to play. It's been the site of many recent PGA events including the Maui Open and the State Open. The South is well known as a good test and player course. In natural beauty it's similar to the North. The course conditions are great as it was recently renovated with new greens and improved bunkers. This is one of the better resort courses on the ocean in Hawaii. Be sure to play this one. Topnotch practice range and putting areas too. Our favorite
holes 4, 7, 10, 16 NOTE: Next May on the 27th, 2009, the South Course will close until 2010. RATES
Junior Rate: $60 under 15 AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
Maui's only private golf club. It's a fun short course in good condition. The easy to walk nine-hole course plays the white tees on the front and blue tees on the back. Maui Country Club was designed in the early 20's for the sugar workers. It's Maui's oldest golf course. In the 30s and 40s it drew all the golfing movie stars and celebrities including Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Only open on Mondays and Tuesday afternoon to non-members. Our favorite
holes 1, 4, 7, 9 RATES
Club Rentals: Mixed sets AMENITIES To Course Menu
Maui's only Upcountry course is 1,100 feet up the cool slopes of Haleakala, and one hour from the Crater. It's an enjoyable course for a budget golfer. The course is tree-lined with thick lush country grass in the fairways. Your ball sits up nice and high for easy approach shots. Only course in Hawaii with no fairway bunkers for easy driving, but lots of nice mature Norfolk pines. Cost is $68 and Maui Golf Shop has $5 off coupons and $20 club rentals to make this affordable for a family golf day. It's 5 degrees cooler up there and less humid than the coastal areas. A fun course, but best to play before 11am as the tradewinds blow in the afternoon. Pukalani means "Hole in the Sky." Our favorite holes 2, 8, 13, 18 RATES
Junior Rate: None AERATION SCHEDULE
2008
Our favorite
holes 5, 7, 14, 17 RATES
Advance Tee Times: 2 days in advance AMENITIES To Course Menu
Our favorite holes 4, 8, 11, 13 RATES
Junior Rate: $60 under 18 (after 12) AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
To Course Menu
The pretty sister to the Gold Course. Voted by Golf Digest "most friendly for ladies" but the back tees are no pushover. The name Wailea Emerald describes the great course conditions and color of the course. The Emerald is a very nice tropical resort course for couples. 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. Our favorite
holes 6, 9, 10, 18 RATES
Junior Rate: $60 under 18 (after 12) AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
To Course Menu
\Our favorite
holes 7, 8, 14, 18 RATES
Junior Rate: $60 under 18 (after 12) AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
To Course Menu
LANAI
Our favorite holes 2, 9, 12, 17
RATES
Junior Rate: $75 under 18 AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008 LANAI Designed by Greg Norman, The Experience is on top of Lanai and above Lanai City in a plantation style setting. The cozy hotel and upcountry course were built in the upper valleys of this pineapple island privately owned by Dole Co. Its signature hole is #17 (pictured right) that offers a 250-foot drop on a 390 yd. par 4 with a lake and large tree fronting the approach. "It's like hitting off the Empire State Building." Greens are bent grass and fast. The weather is cooler so bring a sweater for when the wind blows. Try the sister course, The Challenge in Manele, for a super oceanfront course in the afternoon for the replay rate of $50 and go back to Maui on the ferry. A great day of golf! Our favorite holes 16, 17, 18 Please Note: Rate Change - As of Feb. 1st, both Lanai courses will include the ferry fare in their rates as a package. The new regular rate will be $284.99. Maui Golf Shop rate will be $279.99. Replay rate remains $70, available at the course. RATES
Junior Rate: $75 under 18 AERATION
SCHEDULE 2008
To Course Menu
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With
17 fabulous courses, Maui and Lana'i are premier locations for
golfers of every ability. And, each course has it's own special
qualities. With so many choices, and a limited stay and/or budget,
which courses to play can become a difficult decision. 
Top
Tip: Spend the Day Golfing Lanai
ay, topped only by the great golf offered on Lanai. 
The
Dunes at Maui Lani
Elleair
Golf Club
Kaanapali
Royal - 
Kaanapali
Kai
Kahili
Golf Club 
Kapalua
Bay Course
Kapalua
Plantation Course
Makena
North Course
Makena
South Course
Maui
Country Club
Pukalani
Country Club
Waiehu
Municipal 
Wailea
Blue Course
Wailea
Emerald Course
Wailea
Gold Course
The
Experience at Koele
