planned on playing kapalua but they just aerated the plantation course. is the bay course worth playing? any other suggestions? thank you.

Makena is a sweet 18. I believe the south course is closed because they are changing out all of the grass and redoing the whole course but the north is where I played and recommend it 100%. I didn't get a chance to play Kapa but with its reputation i'm sure you wouldn't be upset if you played the bay course o.-

Second for Makena. Played 18 before my wedding ceremony there!! Beautiful ocean vistas.

I think the Bay course at Kapalua is fantastic! I love the ocean holes (which you don't get on Plantation). Makena is great, too but for me, I'd pick Wailea Gold or Emerald courses over Makena.

Aloha.

Makena is nice. Some great holes along the water. I would second Wailea Gold & Emerald, beautiful courses. I played Kap Bay course years ago and remember enjoying. Nice par 3 over the ocean.

The Dunes at Maui Lani is a fun "links" style course in the middle of the island. I really enjoyed playing this course. I got paired up with locals and they told me mornings were best as the winds in the afternoon can be brutal.

If you were thinking about dropping the cash for plantation, why not take the ferry over to Lanai. Last time I was in Maui they had a package deal for $300 which included 36 holes one at "TheChallenge"designed by Jack Nicklaus and "The Experience" designed by Greg Norman. I didn't do it and I'm kicking myself now, but I heard they're pretty sweet courses. And for $300 for 36 holes and the ferry ride that's a good deal by Maui standards.

OOO, that sounds nice, but i dont know if my wife would be very happy w/that whole day trip golfing. hahah i'll try.
any other recomendations on the kaanapali or kapalua side?

The Bay Course is fantastic and has some of the best views on Maui. You won't go wrong playing it.

With respect to other courses, I generally recommend playing most of your golf at the resort you are staying at: (Unless you have the time to go to Lanai or want to play Plantation).
Why:
1. The main resorts Ka'anapali, Makena, and Wailea courses all have good courses. As a resort guest, you are likely to get a very good deal to play "your" resort courts. Combined with the convenience, it is a difficult deal to pass up.
2. Maui is roughly devided into two resort areas. Kapalua/Ka'anapali on one side and Makena/Wailea on the other side. While it is not enormous, it does take a long time to drive from one area to the other and back.

In my case, we were in Ka'anapali in August. I was able to get up early, have the hotel shuttle me to the course, play a fun 18, and get back to my room in time to have a late breakfast with the wife. Had I tried to drive to Makena/Wailea, I probably would have made it back before 1pm.

BTW - If I had not played it before (and didn't think I would get another shot at playing it soon), the Plantation course is one of the few courses I might knowingly play even with punched greens. It was that cool.

Play the punched greens. The course is that good.

hmmmm....thanks. i think i will play the plantation course.
i should probably play only early mornings right? heard it get crazy windy later in the afternoon.

The earlier the better to avoid the wind. The course is incredible. You will undoubtedly enjoy it.

I agree, if you don't get to Maui often, the Plantation course is a must on this trip.

This thread is making want to book a trip over.

Agree.

The wind at Kapalua is crazy, but fun. Most of the fairways are enormous. As a result, I never felt that I had to hit an impossible drive in a horrible crosswind.

Because of the wind, I managed to hit three drives over 300 yards including back to back on 17 and 18. I am not positive, but they are probably the only 300+ drives I have it in the past year.

On one hole, downwind, I drove it over the green on a par 4. The next hole, which is only slightly longer, I hit a good drive and a good 5 wood and ended up 30 yards short of the green.

Kapalua used to have a 'sunset rate' that kicked in at 2 pm, which is plenty of time to get in 18. And if they aren't busy, which in summer they often aren't, they'll even let you out a bit early.

The two kaanapali courses are ok as well, hell, every hole seems like a postcard.

Enjoy!

The bay course is INSANE. I had a lot of fun playing there. Very very nice course great layout and in really good shape.

Kapalua is my home away from home. Bay is a fine course to play, 72/136; but Plantation is the best. Both Makena tracts are good tests of golf and Wailea Gold will test ya as well. If your wife/GF plays Emerald is known as a woman friendly. My wife enjoyed it and I do from the back tees. Have fun