Is Kapalua the best course in Hawaii? We think so!

The Plantation Course | Kapalua

The best of Hawaiian Golf.

You’ve made it to Maui, either in reality or in your day dreams. The question remains, should I spend a day on this beautiful island on the golf course? Yes! A resounding yes. If you have the chance to play the famed Kapalua - Plantation Course do yourself a favor and buck up the cash, you won’t regret it. The Plantation Course sits on the mountainside of some of Maui’s most dramatic landscape. You will be overwhelmed with views of the ocean, the island of Molokai and sweeping landscapes and looming trees. From the first step on the property it is sensory overload and if you are a fan of the PGA tour a real sense that TV does not do this place justice.

One of the most striking thoughts I walked away with was thank God this place allows (requires) golf carts and how on earth do the caddies trek tour bags around this place? The undulation change and land movement is truly unique and unexpected for a course on an island. I was imagining there would be some hills and slopes but nothing quite captures the feeling of a shot playing 30 yards downhill. It’s truly a blast to hit drives straight up a hill hoping they come to rest 220 yards away and then a few holes later wondering if you should lay back because you have drives rolling out to 350+ yards. The shot value, thought required and course design are just part of the reason this place is incredible.

The famed Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are by far my two favorite golf course architects and they always try to capture a feeling that this course has always been here, we simply discovered it. There are certainly aspects of this course that feel manufactured but the overwhelming sense is that they discovered 18 unique holes on the side of a mountain that just happens to have some of the best views in the states. The golf course offers challenge to players of all skill level, stretching as far back as about 7500 yards for the tour pros. The course offered plenty of challenge from 7,000 yards as the winds were howling. The course plays incredibly firm and fast and allows for you to run shots into the massive greens. The green complexes are large but tough, lag putting can be your best friend or worst enemy and most likely to lead to a score you are pleased with or feeling you left a lot out there. The starter was kind enough to remind us to read the wind, break and grain on every putt and “oh don’t forget every putt moves towards Molokai.” He was not wrong.

The biggest challenge of playing Kapalua can not be measured with a scorecard, rather a constant mental battle against the Hawaiian trade winds. The winds that keep you cool at a long day on the beach or that will lull you to sleep will keep you guessing all day long on the course. On the first tee box the starter laughed at how perfect of a day we had as not a gust of wind could be felt. As soon as we made the turn I laughed at my own naiveté for having believed him. Just two hours later, now on the highest and most exposed part of the golf course the wind was blowing a steady 20 and gusting well over 30mph. Now as much fun as we had blasting drivers downwind you will pay the price on nearly every approach shot and twice on par 3s. This was never more evident as I watched an 8 iron draw with the blow from the right side of the green, to the left and then all the way off the left side of the green on the short par 3 11th.

Enough about the challenge lets talk about the experience that will leave you smiling and asking them if they have a replay rate (they don’t). From the moment you walk on property you understand why this is the course where all the PGA tour winners from the prior year gather to hang out and play golf in January. The staff is incredibly friendly (a true sense of Aloha!), the views are constantly breath taking and you are experiencing pure good golf. I can’t recommend the experience highly enough. If you are reading this you are most likely a golf lover and we promise you won’t be disappointed. All that’s left to do is pack your clubs and your sunscreen and find a time to experience where the pros play. Mahalo and we hope you get to enjoy some Good Golf Only on Maui!