The Wailea coast from the air, with beaches, resorts and golf courses

Unofficial golf trip guide · Maui

Where to stay for a Maui golf trip

Independent guide · Last checked: Nov 7, 2026

In short

Maui's golf sits on two sides of the island, about 65 to 75 minutes apart by car: West Maui (Kapalua and Kaanapali) and South Maui (Wailea). For a week, plan a base move: three nights at Kapalua or Kaanapali for the Plantation Course and the two Kaanapali courses, then three nights in Wailea or Kihei for the Wailea courses. Every course on this page takes visitors, but Kapalua's resort guests get a longer booking window, and the Kapalua Bay Course is closed until further notice. April, May, September and October are the best months, and the Plantation hosts the LPGA's LOTTE Championship from March 18 to 21, 2027.

Where to stay on Maui

Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.

Live map · KapaluaHotels and rentals at live prices, Sun, Apr 18 to Sat, Apr 24

Open the live map for Kapalua ↗

Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map to match your trip.

ABCDEF Kapalua1 Napili2 Kaanapali Beach3 Wailea4 Kihei5

ACourse to play

Plan ahead Book your rooms first, then your Plantation round as soon as its window opens (60 days ahead for Kapalua resort guests at the resort rate, 30 for everyone else at the standard rate, or up to 90 days at the premium rate) and Wailea 45 days ahead; Kaanapali opens much earlier.

Courses you can play on Maui

  1. Resort guests first

    Kapalua Plantation Course

    Coore and Crenshaw's big, hilly course above the ocean, home of the PGA Tour's season opener from 1999 to 2025. Open to the public, with priority for Kapalua resort guests.

    Open to the public. Standard tee times open 30 days ahead online, and a premium rate (standard plus 15 percent, online only) lets anyone book 31 to 90 days ahead. Guests of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, Montage Kapalua Bay, Napili Kai Beach Resort and The Kapalua Villas Maui by Outrigger get a 60 day window and the resort rate by calling 1-877-527-2582 or 808-669-8044 (07:30 to 16:00 Hawaii time). Cancel at least 48 hours ahead. The course hosts the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship from March 18 to 21, 2027; expect it to be closed to the public for at least the tournament week (March 15 to 21), and check with Kapalua before booking a mid-March round.

    Green fee: $475 (2026) · Course site ↗

  2. Open to the public

    Royal Kaanapali

    A Robert Trent Jones Sr. course that runs from the shoreline into the West Maui foothills, with a long 18th along a canal. Public, with dynamic pricing.

    Public. Book online (open 24 hours) or on 808-661-3691. The club says the general public can usually book up to 120 days ahead, and suggests booking at least 30 days ahead from December to April. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead. Singles and twosomes are paired into foursomes at busy times.

    Course site ↗

  3. Open to the public

    Kaanapali Kai

    The shorter, more forgiving Kaanapali course (par 70), with views of Lanai and Molokai. Public, booked with the Royal.

    Public, booked on the same site and phone line as the Royal course, up to about 120 days ahead, with a 24 hour cancellation policy.

    Course site ↗

  4. A green on the Wailea Gold Course with palm trees Open to the public

    Wailea Gold

    Robert Trent Jones II's tougher Wailea course among lava rock walls, the old home of the Champions Skins Game. Public, with a fixed published rate.

    Public. Book online or on 808-875-7450 up to 45 days ahead. Cancel no later than 24 hours before your tee time or the full fee may be charged.

    Green fee: $345 (2027) · Course site ↗

  5. The 10th fairway of the Wailea Emerald Course Open to the public

    Wailea Emerald

    The friendlier Robert Trent Jones II course next to Gold, with tees for every level and flowering plants along the fairways. Same clubhouse and rate as Gold.

    Same rules as the Gold Course: up to 45 days ahead, 24 hour cancellation. Both courses start from the same clubhouse.

    Green fee: $345 (2027) · Course site ↗

  6. Open to the public

    Wailea Blue

    Arthur Jack Snyder's wide, open course from its own clubhouse, and the cheapest of the three Wailea courses.

    Same booking site, phone line and 45 day window as Gold and Emerald, from its own clubhouse.

    Green fee: $285 (2027) · Course site ↗

  7. Open to the public

    The Dunes at Maui Lani

    A Robin Nelson course on sand dunes in Kahului, about 15 minutes from the airport. Handy for an arrival or departure day round.

    Public. Book online or on 808-873-0422. The club does not publish its booking window.

    Course site ↗

How tee times work

Every course here is public, but the windows differ. Kapalua opens standard Plantation tee times 30 days ahead online; a premium rate (standard plus 15 percent, online only) opens days 31 to 90, and guests of the Kapalua resort hotels can book 60 days ahead at the resort rate by phone. Kaanapali usually opens times up to 120 days ahead and suggests booking at least 30 days ahead from December to April, with prices that move with demand. Wailea opens its three courses 45 days ahead at fixed published rates. Cancellation rules run from 24 hours (Kaanapali, Wailea) to 48 hours (Kapalua).

Closures to know about

Kapalua Bay Course: closed since September 2, 2025, after drought and irrigation limits, and still closed until further notice in November 2026 (its range, golf shop and Taverna restaurant are open). Kapalua Plantation Course: reopened on November 10, 2025 after a two month drought closure. Its 2026 aeration closures were May 6 to 10 and September 8 to 13; the 2027 dates are not published. The Plantation hosts the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship from March 18 to 21, 2027 (tournament week March 15 to 21). Expect it to be closed to the public at least that week; Kapalua has not published the exact dates. There is no PGA Tour event at Kapalua in January 2027: The Sentry was cancelled for 2026, and the PGA Tour's 2027 schedule, published in August 2026, has no Hawaii event. Kaanapali 2027 aeration: Royal May 18 to 21 and August 17 to 20; Kai June 8 to 11 and September 14 to 17.

A sensible plan

For six nights, start in the west: play the Royal Kaanapali on day one, the Plantation Course on day two and Kaanapali Kai on day three. Then move to Wailea or Kihei (about 65 to 75 minutes) and play Gold, Emerald and, if you want a lighter day, Blue. Save the Dunes at Maui Lani for your arrival or departure day, since it sits near the airport.

Getting there

Fly into Kahului (OGG). With free-flowing traffic it is about 40 minutes to the Wailea courses, about 50 minutes to Kaanapali and about 65 minutes to Kapalua; the Dunes at Maui Lani is about 15 minutes away. You need a car, and the drive between West Maui and Wailea takes about 65 to 75 minutes each way.

Practical notes

Dress code
Kapalua asks for proper golf attire. Kaanapali wants collared shirts and golf slacks or shorts, no denim, swimwear or tank tops, and soft spikes only. Wailea is relaxed: T-shirts, jeans and jean shorts in good condition are fine, but no swimwear, jogging shorts or metal spikes.
Caddies
Kapalua runs a forecaddie program on the Plantation Course: 160 USD for one player or 185 USD for two, requested at least 7 days ahead from the caddie master, with a 48 hour cancellation charge.
Carts
Green fees at Kapalua, Kaanapali and the Dunes include a shared cart. Non-playing riders pay 65 USD at Kapalua, 30 USD at Kaanapali and 32 USD at the Dunes. Wailea allows two people per cart.
Cancelling
Cancel at least 48 hours ahead at Kapalua and at least 24 hours ahead at Kaanapali and Wailea, or you may be charged.
Rentals
Every golfer needs their own set at Kapalua and Wailea (no sharing rentals). Rental sets in 2026 to 2027: Kapalua 95 USD, Kaanapali 89 USD, Wailea 105 USD, Dunes 55 or 69 USD.
Stay rules
Lahaina town is still rebuilding after the August 2023 wildfire. Front Street reopened to traffic on August 1, 2026, but some streets and fenced areas stay closed; stay off private property and out of fenced-off areas.

When to book

  1. NowBook a room with free cancellation as close to the course as you can.
  2. Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
  3. April 18 to 24, 2027Your trip.

Free guide

The Unofficial Maui Golf Trip Guide

Every area, every course, how tee times work and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.

Maui golf trip questions

Where should I stay for a golf trip on Maui?

Split the trip: stay at Kapalua, Napili or Kaanapali for the West Maui courses, then move to Wailea or Kihei for the Wailea courses. The two sides are about 65 to 75 minutes apart by car, so one base for the whole week means long drives.

Can visitors play the Kapalua Plantation Course?

Yes. Green fees in 2026 run from 475 USD (445 for resort guests) with a shared cart, plus tax, and guests of the Kapalua resort hotels can book 60 days ahead instead of 30. The Kapalua Bay Course has been closed since September 2025 and has no reopening date yet.

Is The Sentry played at Kapalua in January 2027?

No. The Sentry was cancelled for 2026 after drought damaged the course, and the PGA Tour said in April 2026 that it will not play in Hawaii in 2027; its 2027 schedule, published in August 2026, has no Hawaii event. The Plantation Course hosts the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship from March 18 to 21, 2027 instead.

How far ahead can I book tee times on Maui?

Kaanapali usually opens times up to 120 days ahead, Wailea 45 days ahead, and the Kapalua Plantation 30 days ahead (31 to 90 days at a premium rate, and 60 days for Kapalua resort guests).

How long is the drive from Kaanapali to Wailea?

About 31 miles and roughly 65 minutes with no traffic, and about 75 minutes from Kapalua. That is why a base on each side works better than one hotel for the whole trip.

When is the best time for a golf trip to Maui?

The official Hawaii tourism site names April, May, September and October as the best months to visit. Kaanapali calls December to April its peak season and suggests booking at least 30 days ahead then.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Photo credits