Ka'anapali Kai golf course
The Ka'anapali Kai Course on Maui is popular with locals and tourists alike.
2290 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761, US
(808) 661-3271
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About Ka'anapali Golf Resorts (Maui)

Ka'anapali is a resort development in the west Maui town of Lahaina. It is home to two golf courses, Royal Ka'anapali and Ka'anapali Kai, as well as a number of beachfront hotel and condominium properties that offer stay-and-play golf packages. Ka'anapali is a three-mile stretch of beach with 13 places to stay and 45 restaurants. Hotel brands include the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Aston Maui Ka'anapali Villas, Royal Lahaina Resort, Maui Eldorado Ka'anapali by Outrigger, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, Aston at The Whaler on Ka'anapali Beach, Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort, Spa & Residence Club and Ka'napali Royal. The beaches are famous for stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, sailing, parasailing, sunset dinners and whale watching. Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the famous Royal Ka'anapali Golf Club in 1962 and the shorter Ka'anapali Kai course was added later.

Facts

Price Range$$$$
Property Class★★★★★
Acres1200
Year Opened1962
Number of Units500+

Amenities

RestaurantsFine, Bar, Casual, Buffet
Room TypesRoom, Suite, Villas/Casitas, Fractional Ownership
TennisYes
Fitness CenterYes
Practice FacilityYes
Beach AccessYes
Golf School/AcademyYes
Banquet SpaceYes
SpaYes

Services

Kids ProgramYes
Room ServiceYes
ConciergeYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?Yes
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No
Lahaina, Hawaii
Golf Packages
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Golf courses at Ka'anapali Golf Resorts (Maui)

Reviews

4.2
875 Reviews (875)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
5.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Great course with beautiful views

My girl friend and I played this course during our last day on vacation to Maui (Saturday). When we arrived the gentleman in the Pro Shop was extremely helpful with our club and locker rentals. Fortunately, we were able to go off about 45 minutes before our scheduled tee time and did not encounter any pace of play issues to the front or behind us for about 14 holes. The course overlooked the ocean and had amazing scenic views. I would highly recommend this course to anyone on vacation in Maui.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Easy course

If you want to keep your vacation low stress play this course. You can spray it left and right and still get away with par. The greens rolled very nice but you need to to be able to read the grain. Everything in Hawaii is expensive and golfing in a resort area is no exception. We played as a twosome in on a Tuesday in a late April and never saw anyone in front of us.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hard on

Played with s pro and preacher pro shot one over preach and I prayed allot of fun Blues are tuff play from whited

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Disapointment

We arrive at 30 minutes prior to our tee time. Upon arrival we were told that the greens had been airaided and sanded. We given the option of the Royal course for $50 each. I felted I trapped after planning this outing prior leaving for Hawaii.

The greens had more sand than the bunkers.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent

Great friendly staff. Nice course, good pace of play

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great course

We played this course later in the day and it was very quiet and we had no pressure. It is a tough course with a lot of sand traps and water hazards. It has beautiful scenery from almost every hole of the ocean and the islands out in front of Kaanapali Beach.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course, sand traps disgraceful

Nice layout, enjoyed the conditions, but sand traps were terrible.

Recommend adding sand and raking on a daily basis.

Heard the traps on the royal course are 100% better.

Overall enjoyed course

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Kanapali Kai

Can't really say anything bad about the course. The Royal is in better condition ( same grounds crew?). The Kai course might be more friendly for the average golfer. My wife played from the Fern tees and it was quite challenging for her. If you are staying in west Maui you only have four courses to choose and Kai is the least expensive. My only complaint are the bunkers. I'm no expert but that's not sand looks and plays more like dirt. It's also inconsistent in depth. I was in about three traps during the round and it took awhile to get it thru my thick head how to play a chip shot out of the bunkers. Personally I like Kahili Golf Club.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course.

Buy the 3 play package and save some money. Greens are in great shape.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Twilight Scam

Don't let the $109 rate fool you. It's a twilight rate but you can only play until 6 pm. The marshal wouldn't even let me finish my hole. Not much drink service coming around on the cart. Just overall experience was bad. I'd go elsewhere

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

slowest round ever

After playing the course earlier in the week I was looking forward to playing again. Heading out as a single at 3:00 pm I thought I would be able to at least get 9+ holes in before the mandatory 6:00 pm cart return time. I was wrong. On the first tee I found I was behind very slow and 2-somes and 4-some. I tried moving to various holes to find a gap but was unsuccessful. I found that there were multiple 5-somes on the course (yes 5-somes). After 1.5 hours and only 4 holes I decided enough was enough and returned to the clubhouse. Unacceptable. When I went back to the pro-shop to try the Royal course but was not given the option. I will not play here again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

great day

Wonderful vacation course. Not too challenging, beautiful views, and the course was in great shape even with the recent rains. Wide fairways but tough rolling greens. Almost every green is protected by traps which I would try to avoid at all costs. Even my wife broke 100. Saved almost 50% with golfnow. Very enjoyable experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Lacking a lot

Played on nicer public courses at home for a lot less. Did get a new cart, that was the upside.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing

AVERAGE COURSE - ASK ABOUT CONDITIONS

The course layout is fantastic with scenic views. The greens are better than good and somewhat difficult to read. However, the fairways were barely average. The grass coverage was very sparse in some areas and reasonably good in other areas. I expected much better fairway conditions for the price we paid. I advise caution for selecting this course for play. I feel like course management took advantage of me because I came as a visitor from a cruise ship.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

mixed feelings

Good course but some of staff prickly. Overbook the course for locals.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Forgiving fairways, reasonable length . Tricky greens due to Bermuda grass , mountainside break, and undulation. - makes low scores harder then one would expect. Beautiful views though not oceanside.. Nothing tricked up or gimmicky which I like.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A Fun Challenge

We had a great time playing this course! It was challenging but fair. From my golfshot preview of it it didn't look that interesting but the reality of the course was very interesting indeed. The course was in excellent condition. However, it's a must that you either stay in the fairway or watch your ball carefully until it stops. The rough was a bit high on most holes so balls in the rough were easily lost or at best usually took a while to find and ended up where I didn't expect them to be. There are some blind holes where it's not possible to keep an eye on it so you might lose a few balls.

I started off the round on the second tees thinking that the forward tees would be too easy--Not! For the second half played the forward tees and enjoyed that much better.

Wish I could have taken advantage of the discounted replay round to give this course another go round. Definitely recommend this course and would love to play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Greens execellent but overall experience underwhelming

we teed off at 7:18 to avoid mid-day heat. Fairways' grass condition was average but they were water-saturated from night watering. Traps were also saturated and not yet raked so full of foot prints etc..

The greens were excellent; speedy and very challenging.

Many holes border the highway so not a peaceful experience.

I suspect that the Royal Course is in better shape.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing views

Our first time playing on this course. It was advertised as the easier of the two Kaanapali courses. It might have been but the wind almost blew us off the hill. It seem like every hole was going against the wind. The views were spectacular in the course was in decent shape. After four hours we were both worn out!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
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