Maui Guidebook » Golf | Central Maui

The Dunes at Maui Lani

Mark — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:00:29 +0000

The Dunes At Maui Lani

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: Challenging true old-world-style links course..
Minuses: Wind.
Sound-bite: “I swear they would have shined my shoes if I asked them to.”

DETAILS:
Very well kept true old-world-style links course. Uncrowded with spectacular views of Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains. The only view-spoiler (for some) will be the homes scattered along the course – but that has become the rule rather than the exception on many courses here in Maui, and they truly have pulled it off well here with careful placement.

Now countless courses back on the mainland call themselves “links” without remotely resembling the true classic links courses that started it all. Not the case here. This is a British Open course on Maui, built into the rugged terrain, and not the other way around. The course plays with the land, traversing up, around and over the natural million-year-old dunes – as their website says quite accurately: “Golf shots must be played through these gaps formed by nature, much like they are in the greatest links courses on earth.” and goes on to define the course “Like many classic links courses, the front nine heads out, and the back nine heads in. According to Nelson, “Anyone who has seen Ballybunion, Wild Dunes, or Shinnecock Hills will recognize a similar look and feel at The Dunes.”

The Dunes is designed to be very challenging for good players, but with the significant challenges presented it is also cleverly engineered to be an enjoyable play for higher handicap players as well.

Playing aggressively and trying to shave off some strokes will prove ill-advised. You definitely want to read the yardage book notes as a primer, and if you have the opportunity to join a local player or two, seize the advantage to garner insider tips as your ace-in-the-hole during play. Also bear in mind the holes closest to the clubhouse are not dune protected and #1 & #18 are long par 5’s that push the limits to a point where not respecting the wind can absolutely wreck your game. This is especially true later in the day when the tradewinds typically pick up – Nelson’s design is merciless for those who opt to rest on their laurels coming in to that final hole with an otherwise hard-earned scorecard.

Service:
When it comes to service, the genuine Aloha spirit and attention to your every need here is absolutely undeniable – even the high-maintenance types will leave impressed with the attention to detail. In one review I read the gentleman said “I swear they would have shined my shoes if I asked them to” when speaking of how eager the service was to please. That was no exaggeration – the staff here has genuine Aloha spirit and the kind of service you like to think you could expect (but don’t always get) when playing at a top-notch golf club.

This is a newer course on Maui (1999), and like most here, they have GPS in the carts. Oh and even more Aloha: your kid can come and play with you for just ten bucks! (You will be kind and tell him about the wind, right?!)

Course Tour on their website

Key Info:
Location: 1333 Maui Lani Parkway, Kahului
Phone: 808-873-0422
Rating sources: Maui Guidebook, Yelp & multiple Golf publications.
Web: http://www.dunesatmauilani.com
Price: $75 – $125

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King Kamehameha Golf Club

Mark — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:27:22 +0000

Rating: 4.05 out of 5 stars

Summary: 18 hole regulation | 72 par | 6,584 yards | Driving Range | Collared shirt, Bermuda shorts/slacks & soft spikes are mandatory

This is a semi-private course, however anyone can sign up for what they call “Member for a day” at $180, which includes a round of golf, lunch and access to the clubhouse, spas, locker and fitness rooms.

Speaking of the clubhouse, it is a sight in itself, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Marilyn Monroe and houses a magnificent collection of Hawaiian Art.

Course Tour on their website (tip: hover over the hole numbers for hole detail)

Key Info:
Location: 2500 Honoapiilani Highway, Wailuku
Phone: 808-249-0033
Rating source:
Web: http://www.kamehamehagolf.com
Price: $180*

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Waiehu Municipal Golf Course

Mark — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:25:57 +0000

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Note: Value figures into the high rating

Municipal course with spectacular layout and views. However conditions are what you expect at a municipal course, not overly challenging, and it is frequently busy/slow with all the hacks (ahem!)

All said and done, this place is a solid value if you want to golf a lot in Maui and don’t have a suitcase full of cash.

Oh, speaking of that suitcase, you *do* need cash to play here.

Front nine opened in 1920, back nine in 1966. County of Maui/Ron Kubo manage.

Key Info:
Location: 200 Halewaiu Rd, Waiehu
Phone: 270-7402
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.mauicounty.gov/facilities.aspx?search=1&CID=30&RID=157&Page=detail
Price: $25 – $55

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Kahili Golf Course

Mark — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:04:18 +0000

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Just recently lowered their rates, Kahili is hands-down the best value for what you get for golf on Maui. They also run specials on their website, and if it is within a week of your birthday you can play for a couple bucks more than the locals do: $55.

The course is somewhat similar in design to the semi-private Kamehameha Golf Club next door. This course has formerly gone by two different names, and in 2004 the course was extensively renovated for better play, including a switch to Bermuda grass.

Like all Maui courses, wind is a factor – especially in the afternoons. That said, the holes here are well designed, and with the wind in mind.

The course is typically very well maintained – at the time of writing we are in a severe drought, so courses in areas used to having at least some rain to water them (in other words: outside of the resorts) are suffering a bit.

Constructed in 1991, like most courses in Maui the carts have GPS.

Key Info:
Location: 2500 Honoapiilani Hwy., Wailuku
Phone: 808-242-4653
Rating source: Maui Guidebook & worldgolf.com
Web: http://kahiligolf.com/
Price: $75 – $95

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Pukalani Country Club

Mark — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:25:08 +0000

Rating: 3.45 out of 5 stars

Great value play. Among a sea of world-class resort courses Pukalani might not look like much, but compared to your avearge course back home this is still a good value – pair that up with some nice holes and drop-dead scenery and this is a great option for those on a budget.

Pukalani Country Club winds through a regular residential neighborhood (not a “golf community” like you see at some other courses) and hole #3 has two greens – one down a steep hill, or if you brought some extra balls, one across a gulch!

No pro, no GPS, no snack cart, clubhouse burned down and now everything is run out of trailers. If you don’t golf for the extras, and are on a limited budget, you will definitely be satisfied with what you get for your money here.

Oh, and it is cooler up here at 1100′, and believe it or not the trailer-served food is surprisingly good.

Key Info:
Location: 360 Pukalani St , Pukalani
Phone: 572-1314
Rating source: Maui Guidebook & Google
Web: http://www.pukalanigolf.com/
Price: $27 – $79

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Maui Guidebook » Golf | Central Maui

The Dunes at Maui Lani

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King Kamehameha Golf Club

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Waiehu Municipal Golf Course

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Kahili Golf Course

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Pukalani Country Club

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