Kapalua Golf Resorts (Maui)

I’ve played this course 30 times in the last 20 years. It is lush, playful and challenging. Especially fun is hole 17, a par three over a chasm with waves crashing below you.

This is probably the 3rd or 4th time I've played the Plantation Course and I have always enjoyed it. This time I was excited to see the changes that had been made when the course was shut down for quite a few months. The changes apparently were very minor because I couldn't pick any out. As far as I could tell, the holes were pretty much the same. Overall I was disappointed in the lack of noticeable changes and the condition of the course. The fairways and greens were ok, but if you ventured just off the fairway, you encountered a lot of clumpy bermuda grass, which is awful to play from. And, while the greens were in ok condition, they were still bermuda and were very grainy. I can't understand why they wouldn't have switched to something like paspalum, which is a far superior putting surface. Overall I was just disappointed. It wasn't the experience I was looking for when I pay $350. I would recommend it to a friend if they wanted to check it off their bucket list, but it's not worth $350. I played the Wailea Emerald course on this trip for about $200, and it was a great experience and worth the price.

When I first played the plantation course back in the early 90's, it was the funnest, best course I had ever played to that point. I still remember looking at the scorecard from the plantation house restaurant (which by the way is a fantastic restaurant) and seeing a 480 yd par 4 and another 330 yd par 4 and thinking what I might hit into those greens. Well, the former, 17, is down hill, down wind, down grain and was Driver, 8 iron, while the later, an uphill into the wind 13th ended up being Driver, 5 iron! What a course! With its huge, sprawling, undulated fairways that ran forever, it definitely played more like a links course than anything else. The amount of rollout on virtually every shot, even chips, especially down grain, needed to be taken into account.

Over the years, the course became much softer and slower. The course began to play much more like target golf with little run out. Most of the fun and strategy was lost given these conditions. I even remember playing in 2019 thinking this course is just not the same as it used to be and I wasn't sure it was worth the $300 price tag.

When I heard they were regrassing and updating the course, I was hopeful it would return to its former greatness and it has in every way. What a treat! It is once again, firm, fast, and very strategic. From the downhill, downwind, 600 yd par 5 18th that is very reachable to the uphill, into the wind 490 yd par 5 9th, (where i smoked a driver and 3 wood and still had an 8 iron into the green!),
the fun and strategy has been restored. Bring your A game and your thinking cap. I will be back again and again. I have more fun playing the plantation course than any other I have ever played, including all the
Bandon courses. While you may not agree with that lofty statement, the plantation course at Kapalua is an absolute must play if you are on Maui.

Course conditions were below standard for Kapalua, brown spots in many places, greens bumpy, poor value for $238

I first played this course in 1996 and returned in December 2016 as part of a Southern California golf association Member Outing

I first played this course in 1996 and returned in December 2016 (not December 2020)

What more can be said? It's Kapalua!!! yeah, it's price., But yeah, you can say you played it. After the redesign, course conditions have changed. The roll out you used to get is not there now. But it will return.
Nothing like standing on the 10th tee, on a picture perfect day, and watch whales jumping everywhere.
Staff is professional. Want something, don't hesitate to ask. They will do everything to accommodate.
Don't forget to get your complimentary engraved bag tag.
Course is kept in immaculate condition. From the tee boxes to the greens. Played 2 days. First was right after the greens were top dressed, and were slow. Played a week later and the ball rolled like on a table top,
Couldn't ask for a better experience. Planning my next trip.
One tip, Check put the Tournament package. You get rounds of golf on the Bay course, one on the Plantation, and a hour private golf lesson at the learning center.
Best lesson I ever got. Ask for Ben.

Hey, you're on the island of Maui, and you are at Kapalua.
What more is there to say. Yes, this is the afterthought when you think of Kapalua. The club house was moved, recently. It is now the old Village course clubhouse was.
With such, the course now plays in a different order than prior. That is ok, because the ocean holes play toward the end.
What a sight, when you stand on 16 tee, and watch whales playing in the bay. Or the unforgettable view from the 17 tee, as you tee over the ocean..
The only downside I noted was the bunkers. The sand is fluffed up so much, your feet sink getting in and out. As such, playing from the bunkers is a whole new experience.
Play the Champions Package. You get rounds on the Bay course, one on the Plantation, and a one hour private lesson at the learning center.

For the cost of a round you'd think they wouldn't pack us onto the course like sardines. I was playing alone and it wasn't long before there was a wait at every tee box. It wasn't because the twosome in front of me was slow. They were waiting at every tee box as well. The front nine took 2.5 hours and everyone was stacked up on top of each other. It looked like the back nine was going to be even worse. I gave up after nine. They didn't comp me when I returned to the club house.

Playing two weeks ahead of the 2020 Sentry Classic was a treat and a nightmare.
They closed the course for almost 11 months just to reseed greens and fairways. Well the effort was not wasted, almost like playing and putting on carpet. The greens were plywood hard, so much so I couldn't find a ball mark anywhere. Even though the greens were extra firm the grainless nature of the new putting surfaces they were surprisingly slow.
The carts were not allowed to leave the cart path. The renovation of the course removed every yardage marking from sprinkler heads. You were forced to play the course blind. The GPS in the cart was not portable so you had to guess on every shot; NOT cool for $359 a round.
The course should have informed this return client that there were no ways of determining yardage and that a rangefinder is mandatory for any chance of posting a score. I won't be back.

I played this course twice recently while in Kapalua. While it is not quite on the level of its sister course, Plantation, it is a great track in its own right. The back tees are only 6,600, so it is a little short for long hitters, but I just bagged my driver on most holes. The layout was very nice and everything was in great shape. Greens were slower than Plantation, but still rolled very smoothly. Much like the Plantation Course, the elevation changes and wind added some challenge. Great practice facility, clubhouse, and staff as well.

I played with my son and his buddy. Both are about 8 handicaps and I'm about a 12. The staff at the pro shop and the outside guys were all super. We warmed up on their great driving range and hit the course. Number one is a great starting hole and we got a bit of rain on 1 and drenched on 2 a par 3 and after that perfect and sunny. The wind was whipping but the course was in great shape. A real challenge. I've been playing this course for over 30 years and still to this day it does not disappoint. Once you get on the back nine and reach the now 16th for that great shot with a 3 wood or 4 hybrid to a tiny corner toward the green you go, WOW. This is special. Looking over Fleming beach and the crashing waves and Honolua Bay just further north it takes your breath away. Then you hit 17. One of the best par 3 anywhere. Mother nature couldn't have given a better gift to golf. Waves, sunshine and 160-180 yards over the water to a really sneaky green, It goes fast toward the ocean there. The grain in amazing. you have to be there to understand. Amazing place and can't wait to go again.

My family and I traveled to Maui for a vacation and my son and I played this course twice. The staff was great, the GPS carts were new and very accurate. The course was pristine and the greens were flawless.The winds and elevation changes made this a very challenging course. They have 6 or 7 tee boxes, however, so it is definitely playable for higher handicaps who play from the appropriate tee. The price is very high, but as far as once in a lifetime type courses, I would put this one up there with Old Head in Ireland and Whistling Straights in Wisconsin.

My family and I traveled to Kapalua on Maui recently and played this course while there. The price is pretty high, but as far as expensive, top of the line courses go, this one is right up there with Old Head in Ireland as my favorite. The conditions were pristine and the greens were flawless. The elevations and wind create quite a challenge on what looks like a wide open course.

This is a great course with difficult greens. Scenery is great and course conditions are very good.

I always enjoy playing this course. Great staff. Rental clubs were new callaways. Could have been cheaper but you get what you pay for.

Course was revamped in 2019. Course greens redone with half the break. Several holes have new forward tee boxes shortening the course. These changes weren’t needed and took the challenge out of the course. Not worth $340+

My wife and I played Kapalua Plantation recently during our visit to Maui. The course had just undergone a major $25 million renovation and was in perfect condition. The staff made sure that we were well taken care of and even gave us unlimited free snacks since the restaurant was also being renovated and was closed on the day we played. This course is a must-play at least once.

Love the Bay course! The routing is excellent, even if it has been rerouted to put the ocean holes (16 and 17) at the back of the round. That leads to some switch-backs along the way, but it's a minor glitch for what is an enjoyable experience all the way around.
In may ways, the Bay is more "fun" than the Plantation. It's forgiving without being easy. Remember, LPGA and PGA Tour players competed on it back in the day, so there are plenty of bunkers pinching greens.
The two coastline holes are pretty cool with the 17th a par 3 over an ocean inlet. For those looking for "island" golf without much stress, hang out at the Bay.

Played with two sets of strangers and had a blast playing Kapalua Bay course.
Great layout and beautiful views.
Would highly recommend to all levels of golfers.