| Photo by Rob Brown |
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Wailea's Gold layout is one of the Maui
golf courses we wholeheartedly recommend.
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My wife and I are planning a Maui golf vacation. What are your picks for golf in the Makena and Wailea areas, and which other Maui golf courses are worth seeking out if we rent a car or taxi?
If you have to choose between playing the Maui golf courses at Wailea or Makena, we recommend Wailea (waileagolf.com). And, of its three layouts, Gold, Emerald, and Old Blue, the Gold and Emerald courses are the best bets.
As Golf Odyssey readers will be advised in the upcoming April issue:
"Don't waste your time or money playing Old Blue...It's neither well designed nor scenic. The course, on par with many a well-maintained muni, is littered with condominiums. At $155 for Wailea Resort guests [$185 for the general public] Old Blue may well be one of the most overpriced courses in the United States."
The two Maui golf courses at Makena (makenagolf.com) are good, too, and offer more "serious" golf, but, based on our multiple visits, the course conditions are not as consistently good as they are at Wailea. Between the North and South courses here, we recommend the South. Even though some of the holes are a little hokey, its rugged back nine is probably the most thrilling of all at Makena.
As for courses that are worth renting a car to play, we'd first have to go with the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort (kapalua.com). Aside from offering sheer beauty and a true, championship golf experience, you'll relive your round again and again when you see the PGA Tour playing there on TV each year at the season-opening Mercedes Championship.
For something really different, you may also want to check out the Dunes at Maui Lani (dunesatmauilani.com). It's more of a linksy course like those in the UK and Ireland, and, like them, it winds through a series of ancient sand dunes, which are rare in lava-based Hawaii.
Another option is to take the short ferry ride across to Lanai to play either the Challenge at Manele or the Experience at Koele, both unforgettably dramatic (and recently renovated) courses. Details on making the journey coming soon in a tip devoted entirely to this topic.
If you really want the lowdown on Maui,
consider taking a free, trial subscription to Golf Odyssey before April 20, 2008. Just click here, and I'll send you two free issues: the April issue, which contains a heck-of-a-lot more expert advice about the best places to play, stay, and dine on Maui, and the the May issue, with secrets about Carmel, Calif. (near Pebble Beach) and Wales, which is sure to get a lot more attention due to its hosting of the 2010 Ryder Cup. There is absolutely no risk or obligation to subscribe.
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