• The Dunes at Maui Lani

Where and When to play golf on Maui and Lanai

By Clif Council, PGA

Most think of golfing the Hawaiian Islands as a sunny and warm experience with gentle trade winds. But those who have been here know that the conditions vary and each island has its own unique weather pattern. Being the middle of the Pacific Ocean and in the tropical section 23º above the equator gives Hawaii some of the best weather conditions in the world. The yearly temperature only changes 2 degrees between summer and winter but most prefer the winter conditions because it's slightly cooler and the trade winds can stop for weeks at a time.

So where do I play and when? Here are some of my suggestions as a 30-year resident and PGA teaching pro.

Windward

Rule of thumb:
Play the windy areas early morning or late afternoon. It can rain in the morning.

The prevailing East to West trades come from southern Mexico and run into the Hawaii islands after 3,000 miles of open sea. Warmed by the tropical waters, the trades sometimes produce rainsqualls and short showers as they bump into the old volcano slopes on the eastern or windward sides of Maui. From Hana to Paia, and Wailuku to Kapalua the trade winds and showers prevail during the morning hours, since the wind is moving slower during the cooler periods of the day. As the temperature increases the trades increase in velocity and blow the clouds over the island faster making the rainsqualls shorter.

1. 
   Pot bunkers guard the green on the Dunes 14th.
   The Dunes at Maui Lani was recently voted one of the best new courses in America. Great course with lots of natural sand dunes, large lakes in the middle of the front nine and on the finishing par 5... one of Maui's toughest finishing holes with the trade winds blowing. I'd rate The Dunes one of the must plays in Hawaii. Book here.
   
   
2. Pukakani Country Club. This upcountry course is fun and not expensive. It gets lots of play in the winter as the weather is normally very nice early in the morning. The 1500-foot elevation makes for cooler playing conditions and nice views of West Maui and Haleakala. The trade winds start around 11am so play early and get back to the condo for an afternoon on the beach or relax by the pool. Book here.
   
   
3. Kahili Golf Club, formerly Sandalwood, is nestled into the windward side of the West Maui Mountains. It can catch a good deal of wind and sometimes drizzles in the afternoon. Kahili is a fun course, but watch out for those raised par 3s and the side hill lies. Book here.
   
   
4. 
   The Plantation Course... long and tough.
   Kapalua - Plantation & Bay. Known for hosting the SBS Championship, the Plantation is an exciting wide-open golf course that plays tight because of the crossing trade winds and waist high tall grass surrounding the boundaries. Conditions can be calmer in the morning but it rains frequently until the trades blow the clouds away. I recommend playing in the afternoon, as the course plays easier with the trades blowing downwind on the long tough holes and take advantage of the twilight rate after 2pm. This one of Hawaii's longest courses. Call early in the week as the twilight times go fast and you may not be able to finish all 18 holes during the winter months. Book here.
   
   
5. Waiehu Muni, known as the poor man's Pebble Beach, this is Maui's first coastline course built. It has a fun front nine with most of the holes bounding the ocean and a hilly back nine with lots of short par 4's. Greens can be little weedy, but overall this is a fun course for golfers wanting an oceanfront experience. Be prepared for slow going and lots of six-somes, as the course gets 400 players per day. TIP: Although you're allowed to walk this course, spend the $$s for the cart unless you're in good shape... the hills on the back nine can really grind you down.

Leeward

Rule of thumb:
Perfect conditions in the morning, windy in the afternoons.

The West & South coasts or leeward side are known for their sunny calm conditions which golfers and beach lovers enjoy. It is calmer and drier because the trade winds blow around these areas leaving a pocket of still air and sunny conditions for most of the morning. These windless areas are Lahaina & Kaanapali on the West and Kihei, Wailea & Makena in the South. The most popular resorts are located here behind the big volcanoe that dominates and shelters the areas. Even the whales like it as they come into the calm waters to give birth and mate again.

1. 
   Makena North is one of Maui's favorites. The North plays up and down the mountain and is a very challenging course. Makena may also see a tropical shower in the afternoon. Makena offers incredible views of the entire southern coast of the island, with Molokini lined up behind many of the greens, like a true landmark. Make sure you play Makena North during your Maui stay. For views, challenge, and peace and quite, the Makena North course is the place to play. Book here.
   
   
   
2. 
   View from the tee at the 8th hole on Wailea's Gold Course.
   Wailea - Blue, Emerald & Gold Courses are near Makena, so approximately the same weather conditions apply. Morning play is cooler with less wind. The Blue Course's wide fairways make it popular with the high-handicappers. For the ladies, Wailea's Emerald Course is a MUST PLAY... Golf Digest voted the Emerald Course "most friendly for ladies." However, from the back tees it's no pushover. Most challenging of the three is the Gold Course with its great ocean views. It has lush fairways and fast greens. The Gold is a "must play." Book here.
   

3. Elleair is best played in the morning before the wind kicks up around 11 am. The course was designed by lengendary Canadian course architect Bill Newis. The holes feature wide fairwas with a good mixture of long and short par 4s. This is a great course for the budget minded golfer. Book here.
   
   

The Sugar Cane Train crosses the tressle at the tee of the 7th hole on Kaanapali's South course.


4. Kaanapali features two courses for great AM play. The North Course is the former PGA Senior Tournament site and plays two holes along the beach. The South Course is "easier" with wider fairways and is perhaps the only golf course in the country transversed by a steam railway line... bring your camera! Book here.
   

Lanai - Our Most popular golf package- Play both same day! awesome!

Rule of thumb:
Play Koele in the morning, Manele in the afternoon.

1. 
   Another view of Koele's 17th hole
   The Experience at Koele is up on the mountain above Lanai City at about 1,800 feet of elevation and plays through lush greenery and Cook Pines. It boasts the 444 yd. par 4 17th hole that shoots, from the back tees, into Lanai's deepest ravine 250 ft. below. Morning play is best while the day is calm. It can get cool up there, so you may want to bring along a sweater. By afternoon, the winds kick up and you may also have rain. Book here.
   
   
2. The Challenge at Manele plays along the water and across the high ocean cliffs. Every hole has sweeping ocean views and many require precision shots from cliff to cliff. Conditions are good either morning or afternoon. Book here.
   
   Aerial view of the cliff-hugging holes on The Challenge
   
   But, if you play both courses, we suggest you play The Challenge in the afternoon as it leaves you closer to the ferry allowing a more relaxed 19th hole. Last ferry leaves at 6:30pm so don't miss it. This is a special golfing experience in Hawaii so don't miss out, play both the same day!

Top Tip: Spend the Day Golfing Lanai

Make this an all-day golfing adventure.

Take the first ferry from Lahaina Harbor at 6:45 am and enjoy the short ocean trip as the sun rises over Haleakala and the dolphins dance around the boat. Maybe a whale will pop up as you enter Manele Bay. The local shuttle service will take you to The Experience at Koele in Lanai City for an early 18 holes on the mountain. The $10 shuttle fee is good for the entire day and allows you to ride to both courses and back to the boat.

After lunch go on to The Challenge for another 18 holes on the cliffs of Manele Bay. This is a once in a lifetime all-day golf adventure you must experience! Catch the 4:30 or 6:30 ferry and watch the sunset with a Mai Tai at your favorite Lahaina restaurant. You'll be asleep by 9pm when you get home. Book here.

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. For the best golf deals and prices come to Maui Golf Shop before you play. WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY

Please consider the following advice:

The best time to play golf on Maui is in the morning! The afternoon trade winds usually kick-up between 11a and 12p and can make golf very unpleasant to play. Usually, as a rule, Maui golf courses are less crowded in the morning. This fact makes for a very pleasant golf experience as there is less waiting on tee boxes and in fairways. We understand, that for some courses, there is a huge price difference between morning and afternoon tee times. Do yourself a favor, book a morning tee time at one of Maui's fabulous golf courses and enjoy your round. Trust us, the extra money spent on a morning tee time will be well worth it.