Beautiful Lahaina on the western shores of Maui has a rich story to tell. Once, it was the home of Hawaiian kings, with its undulating landscape serving as a playground for royals. At the height of the whaling industry, hundreds of ships set out to sea from Lahaina’s shores. Today, the rich regional history is carefully preserved and celebrated. In town, history meets modern sophistication, and art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques form Lahaina’s lively waterfront. While here, enjoy some of the finest golf in Hawaii, and it won’t be difficult to imagine the old whaling ships setting off to sea in full sail or that you are standing where rulers of old ones stood to survey their kingdoms.
Let Lahaina luxury agent Jeff Onderko introduce you to the finest courses for the greatest golf experience Maui has to offer, focusing on the courses near Kapalua and Ka’anapali Beaches.
Let Lahaina luxury agent Jeff Onderko introduce you to the finest courses for the greatest golf experience Maui has to offer, focusing on the courses near Kapalua and Ka’anapali Beaches.
Ka’anapali Golf Resort
Whether you call Lahaina home or have come on vacation to relax and recharge, you’ll experience world-class golf on all 36 holes of beautiful Ka’anapali Golf Resort courses. Visitors to the area experience being treated like royalty at the Ka’anapali Beach Resort. Many are so taken in by the Ka’anapali luxury homes in the adjacent Golf Estates that they decide to embrace the island lifestyle permanently. After a day out on one of these courses, it’s easy to see why.
Royal Ka’anapali Course
Photo courtesy of The Royal Ka’anapali Course
Are you fascinated by the romance and history of old Hawaii? The Royal Ka’anapali Course, by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., beautifully preserves the history of this place with historical markers and plaques. Along the shores, tropical breezes always blow, and the pleasant temperatures make golf a year-round hobby on Maui. The Royal Course winds along the shoreline, offering views of Lanai and Molokai Islands in the distance before rising into the rolling foothills of West Maui. This par 71 course is 6,700 yards in length.
Ka’anapali Kai Course
The sister course to the Royal, the Ka’anapali Kai Course is also part of the Ka’anapali Golf Resort. These 18 holes, designed by Robin Nelson, stretch for 6,400 yards to create a par 70 course. Ka’anapali Kai takes pride in providing a delightful golf experience for all levels of golfers. The landscaping celebrates the unique beauty for which Hawaii is known, and the course is lined with palm trees, fragrant tropical flowers, and lava rock boundaries.
Kapalua Resort
Exquisite design and challenging terrain have drawn championship golfers to this resort. A deep interest in the preservation of the area’s natural beauty enables visitors here to see tropical flora and fauna in their native environs, and both golf courses at these Kapalua properties have attained certification as Audubon sanctuaries. Don’t let the beauty around you distract you from your golf game, as you’ll need all of your faculties fully focused to triumph here.
The Plantation Course
Photo courtesy of Hawaii’s #1 golf course was born of a collaboration between Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. The Plantation Course, the host of the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, offers breathtaking views and dramatic elevation changes. The fairways are long, totaling 7,596 yards for the entire par 73 course, but they are also wide to accommodate a variety of skill levels.
The Bay Course
The Bay Course offers challenging championship golf as it meanders along pristine fairways and rocky outcroppings of the shoreline. Twenty professional tournaments have been hosted here over there years, beginning with the 1983 Kapalua International and continuing with the Kapalua LPGA Classic.
A short scenic drive to more great golf
Within 30 minutes of Lahaina, more memorable golfing options await. As a bonus, the scenery as you leave the coastline and turn toward the dramatic rise of the western mountains is a feast for the eyes. The topography of this region of Maui, a narrow isthmus between the mountains, is a popular golfing destination as it is away from the bustle of the shoreline and offers incomparable views. Majestic Haleakala rises in the distance, and from higher elevations, the ocean can be seen from both coastlines. Truly this short drive is one worth making for an unforgettable day of golf.
The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course
The Dunes offer 18 holes of links-style golf on a course designed to celebrate the natural shape and movement of the land. Course designer Robin Nelson was enamored with the unspoiled beauty of this unique place and strove to present golf at the Dunes as nature intended. The result is a stunning eighteen holes reminiscent of golf courses of old.
Need a warm-up before the big game? The Dunes features a practice range and putting green that is open late into the evening.
Need a warm-up before the big game? The Dunes features a practice range and putting green that is open late into the evening.
King Kamehameha Golf Club
Photo courtesy of Famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the elevated clubhouse of King Kamehameha Golf Club, aptly named for the ruler responsible for uniting Hawaii into a single, successful kingdom. This exquisite club is filled with amenities, from fine dining to therapeutic massage as well as a memorable golf course. Designer Ted Robinson, Sr. provided golfers with majestic views of Mt. Haleakala and the sparkling Pacific from nearly every vantage point on the course. Water features and challenging bunker placement will challenge golfers of all levels to employ every available skill and strategy for a great game of golf.
More than a vacation
It only takes a few days on Lahaina’s shores to understand why the kings of old chose this place to establish their courts. Already the salty breezes and endless sunshine have no doubt worked their magic on you, and perhaps you’ve developed more than a passing interest in a couple of the Ka’anapali luxury homes along the courses you’ve played. Jeff Onderko, a local real estate professional, would be happy to answer your real estate questions and help you find the perfect Lahaina home for your family.
