Made it to Wailea Golf today to hit up the Emerald course. One of three options at the resort, the Blue a short course, the Gold the former Senior Skins game course (a real golf challenge they say), a... Continue »

Made it to Wailea Golf today to hit up the Emerald course. One of three options at the resort, the Blue a short course, the Gold the former Senior Skins game course (a real golf challenge they say), and the Emerald a mix of the two. All three are excellently maintained. The Gold and Emerald course share a clubhouse while the Blue is closer to the resorts. Before we get to the course, the facility is really a top notch golf location with a great range, range carts, a large practice green, and a locker room that rivals any resort I've seen. Lots of guys working the course both in the clubhouse and out on the course. At just under 200$ a pop this is what I would expect, as the Four Seasons, Fairmont, and Grand Wailea are all within walking distance.

As the course goes, Wailea Emerald is a challenge met with a variety of holes each uniquely presenting their own quirks. Up a hill, down a hill, dog legs, small greens, large greens. The tee boxes are in great shape 9/10 as are the fairways and rough. The Sand was soft but still could have been a little more filled. The greens were fast and smooth, but also the humidity did make the ball stick, so hard to read at times, especially in the shade. I was paired up with a great guy who was about my handicap and a very nice couple from Denver. We teed it up at 6:40 AM and almost immediately we let a single go past us... on the third hole. By the 5th hole another single came up and sat behind us the entire round. There were singles and doubles the next 4 or 5 groups behind us. Yet we kept pace at exactly 4hrs. I am not sure what is going on with the management and tee times. The Emerald wasn't as difficult as some may say it is. Today it provided a different challenge, rarely seen in a Hawaii, 90 degree heat with no wind and lots of humidity. After the round I felt completely drained.

I would love the opportunity to play the Gold and Blue courses, and should you be on this side of Maui this is the golf course you want to pay to play. I highly recommend a visit here the next time you come to Maui.