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 12
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Pretty nice course by the ocean.

This course is very nice with some great views. It's in pretty good condition and their is some water on a few of the finishing holes.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Beautiful course in great condition

This is a great course with great features. The greens are smooth and a good speed and the fairways are also in great shape. It's pretty challenging and their is a good amount of water.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Really fun course, and well priced for the area

The Royal course provided a fun golf experience, with minimal waiting. The course doesn't compare to the Bay or Plantation courses in the area, but is also much more reasonably priced to play. The club house is extremely friendly, and the course is well-maintained. Would definitely recommend it to others.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 115
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Average Course At A High Price

There are two courses at Kaanapali - the Kai Course (South) and the Royal Course (north). The Royal Course is by far the better course - but this review is for the Kai Course. The conditions of this course were only average (no better than courses costing $50 to $75 less per round). Definitely not worth the $140+ price. Greens were a bit long and slow. Sand traps were inconsistent - some with 3-4" of fluffy sand, some with 1/4" of fluffy sand and rock-hard wet compacted sand underneath. Fairways and tee boxes had grass that was much longer than I expected - almost like playing from the rough. Cart paths were uneven and in need of repair. There are no real bathrooms on this course - only portable toilets. All of this together produces a course that is extremely overpriced! This is a $75 course that charges much more because of the Kaanapali name - and the fact that there are "only" 4 courses on the north side of the island of Maui. An average course at a high price.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

Excellent value with replay

Course is hard but forgiving very fun a must play beautiful

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

The course has great views.

The course has great views and the course was in great shape. The greens were running very fast and course was in excellent shape. The afternoon winds make the course very hard to make good shots. The price to play is a little high. Next time I would play the bay course at Kapalua it's better for your dollar.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

great eleavation changes

would definitely play again, need local knowledge of the greens

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Nice, but pricey

Greens in great shape. Fairways good, bunkers need to be refreshed. Pricey round but convenient to Kaanapali hotel so squeezed in a quick round with my wife. BUT, rental clubs for wife were old and tattered, grips ripping off on a couple of the clubs.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Course was nice but the Royasl a better challenge

Everything was great except the bunkers had very little sand (no base)

Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 59
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Poor weather
Used cart

Maybe it's the weather but...

Course was in good shape and was fun to play but... I'd play The Dunes twice and have dinner or spend the extra money for Kapalua before returning to Kanapali. Cigars were overpriced, sold me a $3 bic lighter... just not a value play.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

A Royal Treat

We played three rounds at Royal Kaanapali during our one week stay in Maui. I recommend this course for a variety of reasons including condition, history, playability and incredible scenery. I'm 55 with a 8.0 handicap. Playing the white tees made the most sense as it afforded me an opportunity to reach longer par 4's in regulation. I spent some time in bunkers, but they are exceptionally maintained. The entire course was well groomed. Beverage service was timely and friendly. I want to go back to Maui, and I especially look forward to a return trip to Royal Kaanapali

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Reasonable Course

We were told by locals to play the Royal Coursr, but this companion course was slightly less expensive and easier to get on. It was OK. We weren't happy about the fivesome in front of us and no marshalls (rangers, player assistants, etc.). Good views of that big ocean on most holes, but for the money I'd play one of the Wailea Courses.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

overpriced but still fun

Put this course anywhere but Hawaii and its half the price. Over $200 and you need to pay extra for range balls and hit off mats, really...
Course was OK, typical resort course layout. Generous fairways, only the undulations and grain on the greens and wind protect par. Friendly staff.
We had fun.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Practice course

Very easy to get on, pace was good...I wont address cost, condition, etc... as I am on vacation, on an Island that is expensive anyway. I played it as a practice round before I went to the Plantation Course. Wife drove the cart, I walked a lot of it.Cart girl was always available. Rental Nike's better than I thought... almost holed out a Par 3 from 199 with a 4 iron.....

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Not the best value for the money

Nice location, near number of resorts. Staff very friendly, got me off early. Course was very full, lot of couples and vacationers, some not avid golfers, so pace of play was horribly slow, no marshall to monitor play. Greens very nice, fairways were fair. For the price of green fees, there are much better courses to play.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Ok but not great

Slow players in front of us and no marshals to speed pace of play. Overpriced course

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 36
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Stay out of the sand!!!!

Played the Kai course on 1/30/15 on twilight. Pace was good (no marshal). THE SAND TRAPS HAD NO SAND! I was in 8 traps (and there are a lot of greenside traps) and only 1 had some sand. One had a board in it. This course charges over $200 rack rate and can't put sand in the traps??? And it's near the beach??? Pitiful. Greens were good. As others said: driving range (which you must walk to - 75 yards away - ) hits off mats and is NOT complimentary. Bring your own beverage glass as they have no cups for water (or ice for that matter). Cart service has both, but not when your round starts. Unless they fix the traps, I would NOT play there again. Price was WAY too high for that.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Course with Top Notch Staff

Course was in excellent condition. Greens ran perfect. Entire staff was great. Very friendly and helpful. I would definately play here again. The entire experience was perfect.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Golf at Ka'anapali Kai

Driving range off of mats, not included in price, has person handing out balls, and not offered when paying for tee time. We were two some, so pace appeared slow, no ranger on course

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Beautiful great views long and challenging

We had to keep carts on the paths due to heavy rain on Dec 23 and 24 so played even longer and slower...but we had fun just the same

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
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