Kapalua Plantation Course
There’s nothing better than the start of a new calendar year on the PGA Tour, and early January means that the best players in the world descend upon the Hawaiian Islands to enjoy some breathtaking golf and spectacular views.
The inhabited Hawaiian Islands are Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii (also known as the Big Island). Each island has its own charm, and if you plan accordingly you can put together a trip that allows for some island hopping.
There are a lot of great courses to play in Hawaii, and we’ve put together a guide for you here that includes some of the most highly touted courses in the area.
Kapalua Plantation Course, Maui
The home of the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Plantation Course at Kapalua underwent a major renovation by the iconic design team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw that wrapped up in 2019 further enhancing its already unforgettable layout. This course gives you an incredible sense of scale with wide fairways and large greens throughout. The views here are breathtaking, and you’ll encounter several dramatic elevation changes throughout your round. It’s a virtual certainty that you are going to be playing with and against a heavy wind here, so be sure to have your knock down shot ready to go so you can attack this course. Also be sure to check out the Bay Course for an enjoyable complementary experience to the Plantation Course as well as considering a stay at the iconic Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.
Kapalua Plantation Course
Wailea Golf Club Gold Course, Maui
Wailea Golf Club is located on the Southeastern side of Maui and is home to 54 holes of championship golf that golfers consistently rave about. This course once served as the home of the Champions Tour Skins Game, and the Robert Trent Jones Jr. design is simply beautiful as it features oceanside views and top-notch landscaping to give you the full Hawaiian vibe while enjoying perfectly manicured conditions. The course has a feel of naturally blending into its environment, and the incorporation of the centuries-old lava rock walls gives you a sense of setting that is second to none.
Wailea Golf Club Gold Course
Four Seasons Resort Lanai: Manele Golf Course, Lanai
If you are looking for luxury around every corner throughout your round, the Manele Golf Course at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai is available exclusively to resort guests and features a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that is located above 200-foot cliffs and is bordered by black lava outcroppings that pop against the crystal blue ocean waters and the lush green conditions of the golf course. Combine this incredible golfing experience with the iconic Four Seasons Resort Lanai experience, and you’re in for a trip that will be tough to beat.
Manele Golf Course
Wailea Golf Club: Emerald Course, Maui
One of the two sister courses of the Gold Course at Wailea Golf Club, the Emerald Course is also designed by the iconic Robert Trent Jones, Jr. but gives golfers a more forgiving layout all while also providing the same stunning views that you will find on the Gold Course. We often suggest getting a round in here first to prepare you for the challenge of the Gold Course, and then you can round out your trip with a round on the Blue Course to enjoy all of the great golf offered at Wailea Golf Club.
Wailea Golf Club: Emerald Course
Ka’anapali: The Royal Ka’anapali Course, Maui
Located in the foothills of Western Maui you’ll find this gem designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. As you can imagine, the backdrop of the course throughout your round features stunning panoramic views of the ocean, the nearby mountains, and the islands of Lanai and Molokai. The course features wider fairways which are welcomed here as you combat the nearby oceanside winds throughout your round, and the greens are known for rolling consistent and true here. Round out your golfing experience at Ka’anapali with a round at the Kai Course on a par-70 layout that is shorter but still packs plenty of incredible views and difficult shots.
Royal Ka’anapali
Poipu Bay Golf Course, Kauai
The island of Kauai is known for its natural beauty, and no place is that more prevalent than the stunning Poipu Bay Golf Course. Located next to the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, this gorgeous design was famously home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006 which could have been named Tiger Woods’ Grand Slam of Golf as he won the event seven of the 13 times that it was played here! Located on the South Shore of Kauai, this Robert Trent Jones, Jr. is consistently one of the highest ranked courses in the Pacific as golfers can expect to enjoy cliffside views of the ocean, lush conditions, and stunning vistas of the nearby mountains.
Poipu Bay Golf Course
Princeville Makai Golf Club, Kauai
Located on the beautiful island of Kauai, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design features six holes that run along the ocean giving you some of the most spectacular views on any golf course in the Hawaiian Islands. The course provides you with a lot of variety beyond just these oceanside holes as you’ll also encounter native woodlands, serene lakes, and mountainous backdrops that will leave you speechless as you make your way around this Hawaiian treasure.
Princeville Makai Golf Club
Mauna Kea Resort: Mauna Kea Golf Course, Hawaii (Big Island)
Mauna Kea Golf Course is an original Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design that has received some renovations from his son Robert Trent Jones, Jr. to pay homage to his dad’s original layout. The conditions are notoriously lush, and once you reach the 2nd hole you are greeted by stunning views of the Pacific Ocean that you’ll be able to enjoy throughout your round. The course offers a wonderful blend of shorter holes that place a premium on shot placement, as well as some longer holes that provide larger landing areas but play quite long as the course can tip out at over 7,300 yards from the Championship tees. It’s a must play for any golf trip to the Big Island, and we highly suggest you also check out the Hapuna Golf Course, the sister course to Mauna Kea at the resort.
Mauna Kea Golf Course