The morning dew is still clinging to the kikuyu grass when you step onto the first tee, the Pacific stretching out below like hammered silver. A pod of humpback whales breaches in the channel between Maui and Kaho’olawe, and for a moment you forget this is supposed to be a competitive round. This is golf on Maui—where the hazards include ocean cliffs, the distractions include breaching whales, and the 19th hole comes with a sunset that turns the sky every shade of mango and papaya.
Maui is home to some of the most visually spectacular golf courses in the world. From the championship layouts carved into West Maui’s volcanic hillsides to the manicured resort courses that line the Wailea coast, every round here comes with a backdrop that makes your home course feel like a parking lot by comparison. The island offers roughly 15 courses, but these seven stand out for the quality of their layouts, their conditioning, and—most importantly—the pure joy of playing them.
Wailea’s Gold Course delivers some of Maui’s most dramatic ocean-view holes.
The Wailea Golf Corridor: South Maui’s Crown Jewel
The Wailea Resort area is home to three distinct courses that together form one of Hawaii’s premier golf destinations. Situated on the sun-drenched southwestern slopes of Haleakala, the Wailea golf corridor enjoys reliably clear mornings, ocean views from virtually every hole, and the kind of conditioning that makes you wonder if someone hand-vacuumed the fairways. For a deeper look at everything Wailea offers beyond the course, check out our complete
For a deeper look at everything Wailea offers beyond the course, check out our complete Wailea guide.
Wailea Gold Course
Green fees: $250–$350 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,078 | Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
The Gold Course is the most challenging of the three Wailea layouts and arguably the most scenic course on Maui. Elevated tees offer expansive ocean views on nearly every hole, and the back nine climbs high enough on the Haleakala slopes that you can see Moloka’i, Lāna’i, and Kaho’olawe from a single fairway. The natural lava rock features are incorporated into the design rather than removed, giving the course a distinctly Hawaiian character that resort courses in other destinations can’t match.
Local’s Tip: Book a twilight tee time (usually after 1 p.m.) for significantly reduced rates—often 40–50% off—and some of the best light for photography. The Gold Course plays fastest in the afternoon when trade winds dry the fairways, and you’ll finish your round just in time for sunset drinks at the clubhouse.
Wailea Emerald Course
Green fees: $230–$310 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,825 | Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
The Emerald is the most resort-friendly of the three Wailea courses—wider fairways, fewer forced carries, and a lush tropical landscape with mature palm trees, plumeria groves, and bougainvillea framing every hole. Don’t mistake “resort-friendly” for easy; the Emerald’s greens are deceptively fast and contoured, and the ocean breezes that feel gentle on the tee box become a genuine factor by the time your approach shot is in the air.
Local’s Tip: This is the best course for couples where one golfer is more experienced than the other. The multiple tee boxes let both players enjoy the round, and the stunning landscaping means even a bad round feels beautiful. It’s also the most popular course for destination golf weddings.
Wailea Blue Course
Green fees: $210–$280 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,758 | Designer: Arthur Jack Snyder
The original Wailea course (opened 1972) is the most understated of the three but offers excellent value and a classic Hawaiian resort golf experience. The layout is straightforward and walkable, with consistent ocean views and mature trees that frame the fairways with dappled shade. The Blue Course underwent a significant renovation in recent years that refreshed the bunkers, greens, and irrigation systems while preserving the original routing.
Local’s Tip: The Blue Course is the best value in the Wailea corridor and the most walkable of the three. If you’re playing multiple rounds during your stay, mix in a Blue Course round between Gold and Emerald to save money without sacrificing the Wailea experience.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts the PGA Tour’s season-opening event each January/
Championship Golf: West Maui’s Bucket-List Courses
Kapalua Plantation Course
Green fees: $350–$459 | Par: 73 | Yardage: 7,596 | Designer: Ben Crenshaw & Bill Coore
The Plantation Course is Maui’s most famous layout and one of the most iconic courses in all of golf. Home to the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions (now The Sentry), this sweeping, wide-open design tumbles down the volcanic hillside from 700 feet above sea level to the ocean’s edge. The par-5 18th hole—a downhill bomb with the Pacific Ocean directly in front of the green—is one of the most photographed finishing holes in professional golf.
The Plantation Course plays long (7,596 yards from the tips) and windy, with enormous greens that can create 80-foot putts. The design philosophy rewards aggressive, creative shot-making over precision—wide fairways and minimal rough encourage you to swing freely.
Local’s Tip: Even at premium prices, this course is worth it at least once. Play the white tees (6,600 yards) unless you’re a single-digit handicap—the course is designed to be enjoyed from the forward tees, and you’ll have more fun trying to reach par 5s in two than grinding over 230-yard par 3s. The drive from South Maui is about 75 minutes; pair it with lunch in Lahaina on the way back.
Kapalua Bay Course
Green fees: $250–$350 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,600 | Designer: Arnold Palmer & Francis Duane
The Bay Course is the Plantation’s more intimate sibling—tighter, shorter, and more strategic, with several holes playing directly along the rocky coastline. The par-4 fifth hole, with its tee shot across a ocean inlet, is one of the most memorable holes on Maui. The course weaves through the Kapalua resort community, with Norfolk pines, Cook Island pines, and tropical gardens creating a parkland feel unusual for a Hawaiian course.
Local’s Tip: Book the Bay Course for the morning round and the Plantation for the afternoon if you’re doing a two-course day. The Bay’s coastal holes are at their calmest before the trade winds pick up, and the Plantation’s massive fairways handle wind better.
The Dunes at Maui Lani offers a links-style experience unique to the Hawaiian Islands.
Hidden Gems: Courses the Tourists Miss
The Dunes at Maui Lani
Green fees: $120–$175 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,841 | Designer: Robin Nelson
Tucked into the sand dunes of Central Maui between Kahului and Wailuku, this links-style course is the island’s best-kept secret and the best value in Maui golf. The layout mimics Scottish links with natural dune ridges, pot bunkers, and minimal landscaping—a striking contrast to the manicured resort courses on the coast. The wind is a constant companion (Central Maui funnels trade winds through the valley), which demands creative shot-making and a strong low ball flight.
The Dunes is where Maui’s serious local golfers play, and the pace of play is refreshingly brisk compared to resort courses.
Local’s Tip: This is the course to play if you want to test your game rather than take photos. The $120–$175 green fee (compared to $300+ at Wailea and Kapalua) makes it easy to play 36 holes in a day. The clubhouse restaurant serves surprisingly good poke bowls and local-style plate lunches—skip the resort dining and eat here after your round.
Kahili Golf Course
Green fees: $100–$159 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,570 | Designer: Robin Nelson
Perched on the lower slopes of the West Maui Mountains above Wailuku, Kahili is a hidden gem with some of the most dramatic elevation changes of any course on the island. Several holes play from elevated tees with panoramic views of Central Maui, the isthmus connecting the island’s two volcanoes, and the ocean beyond. The course is beautifully maintained for its price point, with bentgrass greens that roll true and fairways lined with native Hawaiian vegetation.
Local’s Tip: Kahili is only 30 minutes from Kihei and often has same-day availability when resort courses are booked solid. It’s also the most family-friendly course on the island—junior rates are deeply discounted, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it a great choice for introducing younger players to the game.
Planning Your Maui Golf Vacation
The best months for golf on Maui are April through June and September through November—you’ll find lower green fees, easier tee-time availability, and the trade winds are steady without being overpowering. Check our detailed
Check our detailed best time to visit Maui guide for month-by-month weather patterns and seasonal pricing.
For couples combining golf with romance, Maui is a natural fit. Our
For couples combining golf with romance, our Maui honeymoon guide covers the best experiences to pair with your tee times—from sunset catamaran cruises to private chef dinners on your lanai.
And if you’re wondering whether a vacation rental or a resort is the smarter play for a golf trip, the math is clear—check our breakdown of
Check our breakdown of luxury without resort fees to see how a South Maui rental saves you hundreds while giving you more space, a kitchen, and no daily resort charges eating into your golf budget.
The Emerald Course’s tropical landscaping makes every round feel like a botanical garden tour.
Where to Stay for a Maui Golf Trip
South Maui is the golfer’s sweet spot on the island. A vacation rental in Wailea puts you within a 10-minute drive of three world-class courses, while a Kihei base keeps you 20 minutes from Wailea’s golf corridor and 30 minutes from the Central Maui courses—all at a lower nightly rate. Either way, you’re waking up to the island’s sunniest, driest weather and returning each evening to a private lanai, full kitchen, and washer/dryer for your golf clothes.
A rental also solves the biggest frustration of resort golf vacations: the resort fee. At Maui’s top resorts, you’re paying $40–75 per night in mandatory resort fees on top of room rates and green fees. A vacation rental eliminates that entirely, and the savings across a week-long golf trip can cover an entire extra round at Kapalua.
After your round, explore the best restaurants in South Maui for everything from casual poke bowls to upscale oceanfront dining.
Local’s Tip: If you’re booking a dedicated golf trip (3+ rounds), reach out to our team and let us know your preferred courses and dates. We can recommend rentals with golf bag storage, covered parking, and easy access to the Piilani Highway—the fastest route to every course on this list.
Browse our Wailea & South Maui rentals →
Quick-Reference Course Guide
- Wailea Gold — $250–$350 — 7,078 yds — Challenging layout, best ocean views in Wailea
- Wailea Emerald — $230–$310 — 6,825 yds — Resort-friendly, couples favorite, lush tropical design
- Wailea Blue — $210–$280 — 6,758 yds — Best value in Wailea, classic layout, walkable
- Kapalua Plantation — $350–$459 — 7,596 yds — Bucket-list course, PGA Tour host, dramatic hillside
- Kapalua Bay — $250–$350 — 6,600 yds — Coastal holes, strategic layout, Arnold Palmer design
- Dunes at Maui Lani — $120–$175 — 6,841 yds — Links-style, best local secret, outstanding value
- Kahili — $100–$159 — 6,570 yds — Mountain views, hidden gem, family-friendly
There’s no better way to end a round than watching sunset paint from a Wailea fairway.
Book Your Maui Golf Getaway
Maui’s golf courses deliver something no other destination can: championship-caliber layouts set against one of the world’s most beautiful backdrops. Whether you’re chasing birdies at Kapalua or playing a relaxed resort round in Wailea, every swing comes with a view that makes the scorecard feel secondary.
Our team at Luxe Maui Properties can match you with the perfect South Maui rental for your golf trip—from oceanfront Wailea condos steps from the first tee to spacious Kihei homes with room for your whole foursome.