Maui / Hawaii

The take

Maui is a golf trip only if you are honest about what it is. This is not maximum course depth. This is a premium island trip with one essential trophy course, a strong South Maui resort cluster, high lodging costs, and enough non-golf pull that over-scheduling golf is the fastest way to ruin the point.

The 2026 Maui golf story is recovery. Kapalua Plantation, the Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design opened in 1991 on the West Maui slopes, reopened after the 2025 water-related closure and is again the island's must-play round. The 2026 Sentry was not contested at Kapalua, and the Bay Course remains closed while water is directed toward Plantation. Translation: Plantation is the play, but you verify current conditions before spending like nothing happened.

Read the full take

Architecturally, Plantation is Maui's big-land golf course. It uses extreme elevation, trade winds, and tilted fairways to create shots that feel almost cartoonishly large. Wailea Gold is the South Maui strategic counterweight: Robert Trent Jones Jr. resort golf with lava rock, ocean views, trade-wind club selection, and a more traditional rhythm. The Dunes at Maui Lani and Maui Nui add value and convenience, but they are support acts. Maui is not Bandon with palm trees. It is a luxury island trip with a few very good golf decisions.

The best version chooses a side: Kapalua for the Plantation anchor and West Maui resort feel, or Wailea for the cleanest luxury beach/resort setup with good golf nearby. Trying to play both sides repeatedly is how a beautiful island becomes a transportation exercise with better sunsets.

Best version

Stay in Kapalua if Plantation is the non-negotiable anchor. Stay in Wailea if the group includes spouses, beach priorities, and a desire for the cleanest luxury resort experience. Play Plantation once, Wailea Gold once, then use Wailea Emerald, The Dunes, or Maui Nui depending on budget and drive tolerance. Do not try to turn Maui into a 36-a-day golf grind. That is not why the island exists.

Skip if

Value-first buddies trips.
Groups that want five or six serious courses.
Players who only care about architecture rankings.
Anyone who will resent Hawaii resort pricing.

Insider notes

Stay in Kapalua if Plantation is the non-negotiable anchor.
Stay in Wailea if the group includes spouses, beach priorities, and a desire for the cleanest luxury resort experience.
Play Plantation once, Wailea Gold once, then use Wailea Emerald, The Dunes, or Maui Nui depending on budget and drive tolerance.
Do not try to turn Maui into a 36-a-day golf grind.

The courses

8 core rounds. Scan first, then click into the course detail when you want the full read.

Full destination course detailsExpand this section for the deeper course reads, then click again to hide it.Expand

#23GD Public

4.7(914)

2000 Plantation Club Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA

(877) 527-2582

Must play

Kapalua Plantation Course

Designer: Bill Coore / Ben Crenshaw
Year: 1991
Par: 73
Yardage: 7,596 yards
Difficulty: High in wind
Green fees: 2026 posted standard rate is $475 plus tax with shared cart; Kapalua resort rate is $445 plus tax. Premium advance booking may price higher. Forecaddies are $160 for one player or $185 for two players by request.

Plantation is the reason Maui belongs in a golf conversation. It is huge, windy, scenic, and a little strange in the best way. The 18th is the fantasy drive hole, where gravity briefly pretends to be your swing coach. Play it with humility or prepare to meet the trade winds personally.

Strengths

Massive views
Coore/Crenshaw architecture
PGA Tour history
Unique land movement
Unforgettable 18th

Weaknesses

Expensive
Can frustrate casual players
Drive from Wailea is long
2025 water issues make current-condition verification mandatory

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 17, 18

4.6(464)

2000 Village Rd, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA

(877) 527-2582

Strong play

Kapalua Bay Course

Designer: Arnold Palmer / Francis Duane
Year: 1975
Par: 72
Yardage: Approximately 6,600 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Currently closed; do not plan a paid round until Kapalua confirms reopening.

Bay used to be the sensible Kapalua second round. Right now it is not a planning assumption. The golf shop, range, and Taverna may be open, but the course itself is not the answer until Kapalua says otherwise.

Strengths

Convenient Kapalua pairing
More playable than Plantation
Famous ocean-over par 3 when open

Weaknesses

Closed
Less architectural interest than Plantation
Closure weakens West Maui course depth

Monitor only

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 14, 17, 18

4.6(240)

100 Wailea Golf Club Dr, Wailea, HI 96753, USA

(808) 875-7450

Must play

Wailea Gold Course

Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Year: 1994
Par: 72
Yardage: Approximately 7,078 yards
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: 2026 Maui Guest rate is $325; afternoon after noon is $225. Cart is included.

Gold is the South Maui golf anchor. It uses lava walls, wind, and angles better than the resort setting suggests. If you are staying in Wailea and only playing one course there, this is the pick.

Strengths

Strongest Wailea course
Lava-rock strategy
Resort polish
Good views
Enough challenge

Weaknesses

Premium pricing
Less dramatic than Kapalua
Resort routing

Must play if staying Wailea

0/5

Signature holes: 8, 10, 17, 18

4.8(325)

Wailea Golf Club Dr, Kihei, HI 96753, USA

(808) 875-7450

Strong play

Wailea Emerald Course

Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Year: 1994
Par: 72
Yardage: Approximately 6,825 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: 2026 Maui Guest rate is $325; afternoon after noon is $225. Cart is included.

Emerald is the more relaxed Wailea round. That is not an insult. On Maui, a beautiful, playable round can be exactly the right call.

Strengths

Beautiful setting
Broad playability
Strong resort fit
Good vacation rhythm

Weaknesses

Less demanding
Lower serious-golf pull
Still priced like Maui

Strong play

0/5

Signature holes: 10, 14, 17, 18

4.5(319)

100 Wailea Ike Dr, Kihei, HI 96753, USA

(808) 879-2530

Strong play

Wailea Blue Course

Designer: Arthur Jack Snyder
Year: 1972
Par: 72
Yardage: Approximately 6,765 yards
Difficulty: Medium-low
Green fees: 2026 Maui Guest rate is $265; afternoon after noon is $175. Cart is included.

Blue is the soft landing. Good if the schedule needs it. Not the round to brag about when someone asks why you flew to Maui with clubs.

Strengths

Convenient
Playable
Historical Wailea role
Easy vacation fit

Weaknesses

Lower ceiling
Less memorable
Should not replace Gold/Emerald for serious groups

Useful play

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 12, 18

4.3(628)

1333 Maui Lani Pkwy, Kahului, HI 96732, USA

(808) 873-0422

Strong play

The Dunes at Maui Lani

Designer: Robin Nelson
Year: 1999
Par: 72
Yardage: Approximately 6,841 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Public daily-fee value play; tournament/group rates currently post below the resort-course tier, but verify live tee-time pricing before booking.

The Dunes is the sneaky useful round. It will not impress the person who only wants infinity pools and logoed towels, which is partly why it works.

Strengths

Better value
Natural dune terrain
Central location near Kahului
Different look from resort golf

Weaknesses

Less manicured
Less ocean drama
Not a trophy round

Strong value play

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 9, 13, 18

4.4(468)

470 Lipoa Pkwy, Kihei, HI 96753, USA

(808) 874-0777

Strong play

Maui Nui Golf Club

Designer: Bill Newis
Year: 1987
Par: 71
Yardage: Approximately 6,400 yards
Difficulty: Medium-low
Green fees: Public daily-fee rate; value-oriented by Maui standards. Confirm current tee-time pricing.

Maui Nui is the budget valve and practice hub. The Toptracer range is a nice bonus if the group wants to hit balls, settle bets, or avoid paying trophy-round money every time someone touches a club.

Strengths

Convenient South Maui location
Better pricing
Toptracer range
Easy vacation fit

Weaknesses

Not a destination round
Less conditioning polish
Not the architectural reason to come to Maui

Useful play

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 10, 15, 18

4.6(297)

2500 HI-30, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA

(808) 249-0033

Strong play

The King Kamehameha Golf Club

Designer: Ted Robinson Sr.; later refinements by Ted Robinson Jr.
Year: 1991
Par: 72
Yardage: Approximately 7,060 yards
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Private club access; confirm through member/club channel.

King Kamehameha is the private-access wrinkle. Excellent if real, irrelevant if not. Do not let it distort the normal Maui plan.

Strengths

Private-club feel
Upcountry setting
Frank Lloyd Wright clubhouse
Different from resort coastal golf

Weaknesses

Access-dependent
Not part of standard visitor planning
Less convenient to Wailea/Kapalua

Bonus access play

0/5

Signature holes: Access-dependent

Full course library

Where to stay, eat, and stray

Lodging

Where to stay

Montage Kapalua Bay

This is the premium Kapalua answer when Plantation is the spine and the group wants space without going rental-house casual.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

The Ritz is the cleanest resort answer for a Kapalua-first trip. Stay here if the group wants Plantation and a proper resort bubble.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

This is the luxury lifestyle answer. If non-golfers matter, Wailea and Four Seasons make a lot of sense. If eight guys just need beds and tee times, this is probably too polished and too expensive for the job.

Dining

Where groups actually eat

Merriman's Kapalua

If staying West Maui, this is the polished dinner play. Book it and stop pretending the group will "figure out something good."

Plantation House

Plantation House is the correct after-Plantation move when you want the day to make sense. Finish the round, stay on property, watch the light do the work.

Spago Maui

Spago is the polished Wailea answer. It is not trying to be local-counter magic; it is a high-end resort dinner that usually understands the assignment.

Things to do

Beyond the golf

Beach and pool days in Wailea or Kapalua.

Snorkeling / boat trip.

Whale watching in season.

Planning mechanics

Logistics

Flights, driving, walking

Flights

OGG is the answer for most travelers. Drive times matter: Kapalua and Wailea are on different sides of the island, and traffic can turn a nice plan into a long day. JHM can help West Maui if the flight pattern works, but do not build the whole trip around it unless the schedule is real.

Ground transportation

Rent cars or arrange resort transfers. If playing both Kapalua and Wailea, build in real drive time. Do not pretend island miles are mainland miles.

Walking

Maui golf is mostly resort/cart golf. Kapalua offers forecaddies by advance request, but this is not a caddie-culture destination. Wind, elevation, sun, and hydration matter more.

Weather

When the trip works best

April-May

Excellent balance, lower peak pressure.

June-August

Good weather, busier family travel, hotter afternoons.

September-November

Often the best value/comfort window.

Planning ranges

Cost and value levers

Kapalua Plantation

$475 plus tax standard 2026 rate; $445 plus tax resort rate - The defining spend.

Kapalua Bay

Closed - Do not build around it until reopened.

Wailea Gold/Emerald

$325 Maui Guest / $225 afternoon in 2026 - Best South Maui golf.

Itinerary builder

Build your itinerary

The sample on the right is an illustrative Streamsong example.

It is meant to show the depth and shape of a real plan. Build your own around your group, dates, rounds, lodging, dining, and travel timing.

Build my itinerary

Illustrative sample output

Streamsong in 3 Days: 4 Rounds, Mixed Group

3 nights at Streamsong Lodge covering all 3 courses plus a repeat of whichever lands best with the group. With a mixed-skill group and a social thread running through the trip, the sequencing matters: start approachable, build toward bold, and protect evenings for the group to decompress together.

Recommendation

Start with Red to set the right tone for mixed players, not Black. Black's scale can deflate weaker players early and that poisons the rest of the trip.

Day 1

Morning: Arrive, check in to Streamsong Lodge, and get settled without rushing. Arrival timing is unknown, so do not force a same-day round.

Afternoon: If arriving early-to-midday, use the practice facilities to shake off travel; skip forcing an afternoon round on an unknown schedule.

Evening: Make this the nicer dinner night. Gather the group, debrief the plan, and use the evening to build energy for the heavy golf days ahead.

Insider note: Day 1 is the setup day, not a golf day. Burning a round here on travel legs is the most common mistake groups make at Streamsong.

Day 2

Morning: Tee off on Streamsong Red first thing. It is the most balanced course and the right anchor for a mixed-skill group on fresh legs.

Afternoon: Afternoon round on Streamsong Blue. It is more open and wind-affected, which rewards better players while staying manageable enough for the group.

Evening: Keep dinner casual and on property. Two rounds is a full day and the group needs to recover, not power through a production.

Insider note: Red in the morning lets the group settle in before Blue asks harder questions in the afternoon wind.

Day 3

Morning: Play Streamsong Black. Use it as the bold contrast round the guide describes, not as the centerpiece, and set expectations accordingly for higher-handicap players.

Afternoon: Replay the course that resonated most with the group. Red is the likely call for mixed groups, Blue for stronger players who want another look.

Evening: Final evening on property. Keep it relaxed since departure timing is unknown and no one should be grinding through dinner logistics.

Insider note: Black is the experience round, not the best round. Frame it that way for the group before the first tee so no one is quietly disappointed by the rougher edges.

Tradeoffs

Four rounds in two full golf days is aggressive but workable at a comfortable pace. The plan keeps Day 1 golf-free to protect legs and group cohesion rather than chasing a fifth round nobody would enjoy.

Black is scheduled for Day 3 morning rather than being skipped. It adds useful contrast and a memorable moment, but it was deliberately placed after the group already has two courses under its belt rather than as an opener.

The nicer dinner was placed on Day 1 rather than a golf day. This protects energy on the days that matter and gives the group something to build toward without splitting a long golf day around a formal meal.

Book first

Book all four tee times at Streamsong before lodging fills. The property manages its own tee sheet and availability tightens fast in peak season.

Confirm Streamsong Lodge rooms for all three nights in a single block. A small group of 3-4 makes this manageable, but winter weekends can still book out early.

Arrange caddies for at least Red and Blue if the group is open to walking. First-time looks benefit significantly from local knowledge on both courses.

Watchouts

Two rounds on Day 2 is the heaviest ask of the trip. If anyone in the mixed group is a high-handicapper or infrequent player, build in flexibility to skip the afternoon Blue round rather than grinding through it.

Streamsong is genuinely remote and there is no nightlife option off property. Groups expecting energy beyond the lodge bar will be disappointed, and that expectation gap kills trip morale faster than a bad round.

Black's scale and difficulty can frustrate less experienced players, especially after already playing 36 holes the day before. If the group's weakest player struggled on Day 2, consider swapping Black for a Red replay.

LodgingExpand

Lodging decides the trip. Kapalua is best for Plantation and West Maui quiet. Wailea is best for luxury beach resorts, restaurants, and overall non-golf fit. Kaanapali and Kihei can work for space or value, but the island's recovery and local conditions should always be respected and checked before booking.

Ultra-luxury residential resort

Montage Kapalua Bay

0/5

Best for: Kapalua-focused premium trips and couples

Cost: Ultra-premium; villa-style units can work for groups with budget.

4.7(1,003)(808) 662-6600

1 Bay Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

This is the premium Kapalua answer when Plantation is the spine and the group wants space without going rental-house casual.

Pros

Excellent West Maui base, residential space, close to Kapalua golf, luxury service

Cons

Expensive, quieter, far from Wailea, Bay Course closure leaves less nearby golf depth

Luxury resort

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

0/5

Best for: Kapalua golf, couples, and resort comfort

Cost: High to ultra; packages and season matter.

4.6(2,999)(808) 669-6200

1 Ritz Carlton Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA

The Ritz is the cleanest resort answer for a Kapalua-first trip. Stay here if the group wants Plantation and a proper resort bubble.

Pros

Close to Kapalua golf, full resort amenities, strong West Maui base

Cons

Expensive, not Wailea, quieter nightlife, fewer golf options while Bay is closed

Ultra-luxury beach resort

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

0/5

Best for: Couples, premium mixed groups, and Wailea-first trips

Cost: Ultra-premium Wailea pricing; peak nights can get punishing.

4.7(2,645)(808) 874-8000

3900 Wailea Alanui Dr, Kihei, HI 96753, USA

Pros

Best-in-class resort service, beach, dining, Wailea golf access

Cons

Very expensive, long drive to Kapalua, golf is not on-site

Adults-only luxury boutique resort

Hotel Wailea

0/5

Best for: Couples, quiet luxury, and Wailea without the beachfront crowd

Cost: Ultra-premium boutique resort pricing.

4.8(878)(808) 874-0500

555 Kaukahi St, Wailea, HI 96753, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

Hotel Wailea is a terrific couples answer and a poor "boys trip headquarters" answer. That is not a flaw. It just knows what it is.

Pros

Adults-only, Relais & Chateaux positioning, hillside calm, strong romantic fit

Cons

Not beachfront, shuttle/beach logistics, not a classic buddies-trip setup

Large luxury beach resort

Grand Wailea Maui

0/5

Best for: Families, mixed groups, and Wailea beach trips

Cost: High; resort fees, room category, and peak periods matter.

4.4(5,409)(808) 875-1234

3850 Wailea Alanui Dr, Wailea, HI 96753, USA

Grand Wailea works when the trip has spouses, families, or people who care deeply about pool infrastructure. No judgment. Just call it what it is.

Pros

Massive resort amenities, Wailea location, beach/pool scene, strong family fit

Cons

Large-resort feel, expensive, not a golf-first lodge

Beachfront luxury condos

Kaanapali Alii

0/5

Best for: West Maui groups wanting space, kitchens, and Kaanapali beach access

Cost: Premium condo pricing; unit quality and management vary.

4.7(920)(866) 664-6410

50 Nohea Kai Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA

For a group that wants West Maui space without resort-room claustrophobia, Kaanapali Alii is a serious option. It is not the Plantation-side flex, but it is practical.

Pros

Full kitchens, larger layouts, hotel-style services, strong group comfort

Cons

Not Kapalua, not Wailea, West Maui recovery/traffic context matters

Kihei beachfront condos

Mana Kai Maui

0/5

Best for: Value-conscious South Maui groups and beach-first travelers

Cost: Usually below the Wailea luxury corridor, but unit pricing varies.

4.5(907)(808) 879-1561

2960 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, USA

Mana Kai is the "do not pay Wailea resort pricing just to sleep nearby" option. Smart for the right group, underwhelming for people expecting Four Seasons polish.

Pros

Keawakapu Beach location, condo flexibility, easier South Maui base

Cons

Older/unit-dependent inventory, fewer luxury-resort amenities

Condos and villas

0/5

Best for: Food-focused groups willing to drive to Haiku

Nuka is the "we care enough to drive" dinner. Great if the group is food-curious. Silly if everyone just wants to be back near the hotel bar.

Pros

Excellent sushi reputation, small-room local feel, different from resort dining

Cons

Drive-dependent, small space, not convenient from Wailea/Kapalua after golf

Details

Casual local / Filipino-Hawaiian

Joey's Kitchen

0/5

Best for: Kaanapali/Napili lunch and casual West Maui meals

4.5(477)(323) 822-0671

8301 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Joey's is exactly the kind of meal that keeps a Maui trip from becoming all resort menus and $31 cocktails.

Pros

Better local casual option, easy West Maui fit, good lunch stop

Cons

Not a destination dinner, location-dependent

Details

Iconic Maui dinner

Mama's Fish House

0/5

Best for: Bucket-list meal, couples, celebration

4.8(11,363)(808) 579-8488

799 Poho Pl, Paia, HI 96779, USA

Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:45 PM