Wailea, Maui, HI, United States
Among the world’s great golf destinations, few shine as brightly as Wailea. Renowned for its ideal golf weather – typically sunny with gentle breezes – Wailea Golf Resort on the magical island of Maui is rated among the best golf courses in the country by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest for the quality of its courses, accommodations, amenities and legendary spirit of aloha. Here, you can experience the Wailea Golf Club, whose championship Gold, Emerald and Blue courses boast breathtaking ocean views from every hole and dozens of prestigious awards. Truly, the best golf in Hawaii.
The former home course of the Champions Skins Game, the Wailea Gold Course is the most challenging of Wailea’s trio. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., it has been ranked among the country’s best new courses by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, and one of the world’s best designed by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler.
Jones flavored the Gold with elements of classic golf course design, then finished it with a rugged, natural look. Throughout the course are stark lava rock outcroppings, indigenous Hawaiian grasses, an abundance of kiawe (a relative of mesquite), and remnants of papohaku, prehistoric lava rock walls built by early Hawaiians and preserved for their historic value.
The Gold’s 200 foot elevation change from top to bottom enhances the numerous ocean and mountain vistas available from virtually every hole. The course has been labeled a “thinking player’s” course because it demands strategy and careful club selection to be played well.
Holes: 18
Rank: 1
Rated one of the “best new courses” by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, as well as “one of North America’s most women-friendly” by Golf for Women, the Wailea Emerald is akin to a lush tropical playground. Flowers bloom in great abundance: plumeria, bird of paradise, allamanda, gazenia, bougainvillea, beach morning glory, “firecracker” plants and more.
But don’t be fooled by the Emerald’s pleasant appearance. It is a superbly designed course created for pure golf enjoyment, regardless of one’s handicap. Measuring 6,825 yards from the back, the Emerald features four to six tee boxes on every hole, allowing players to tailor the course to their playing level.
Notable features include a large double green shared by holes #10 and #17. Fronting the green is the only lake on the course. This is perhaps one of the Emerald’s more picturesque spots.
Holes: 18
Rank: 2
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