Gold & Emerald Courses
From the moment you step up to the first tee of either course, everything you ever hoped golf in Hawai‘i would be like is satisfied. Simply breathtaking. The first hole on both courses presents elevated tees that provide commanding views. Vibrant tropical flora. Black lava rock. Impeccably lush fairways and greens—all set against the backdrop of the cobalt blue Pacific Ocean.
Once you’ve composed yourself after taking in the thrilling view and the surroundings, it’s time to get down to the business of golf. Robert Trent Jones II has designed two masterpieces that challenge golfers of all skill levels. The Emerald Course, described as a “tropical playground,” plays 6,825 yards from the back tees, but has four-to-six tee boxes on every hole to suit players of all skill levels. The course uses the natural lay of the land as the slope of Haleakala volcano descends into the Pacific Ocean. This provides ocean views and dramatic elevated tee boxes on many holes. The Emerald Course is the more forgiving of the two courses, with fewer bunkers and forced carries than the Gold Course, which allows the player
more freedom to feel confi dent enough to “swing away.” Don’t be fooled though, precision is called upon at times. The 10th and 17th holes share a double green that brings water into play on the approach to both. Bring your game, your sunscreen and your camera. Playing a round on the Emerald Course will give you a pleasurable all-around golf experience that will be a highlight of your trip to Maui.
The Gold Course, at 7,078 yards from the back tees, is without question a challenging championship course that demands skill and precision. The course presents elevation changes, forced carries, native tall grasses, lava-rock walls and 93 sand bunkers. Quite often, shot placement is definitely a consideration. There are rewards for risks taken, but punishment for the errant shot lurks. The undulating greens are very fair, but the slope of Haleakala volcano on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other make it challenging to correctly read them. The back nine is longer than the front and you’ll definitely feel the demands of the course increase after you make the turn. Described as a “thinking player’s course,” the Gold Course was voted to be one of the world’s best designed courses by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler in the magazine’s fi rst golf resorts poll.
If you have the opportunity, visit the Wailea Gold & Emerald Clubhouse lobby for Art on the Green. Available Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10am until 3pm, this art program hosts Maui artists working and displaying their art on site. Artists are on a rotating schedule that allows a vast diversity of styles and art forms to be showcased. Adjacent to the art-fi lled lobby is the SeaWatch Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lanai offers an unobstructed view across the golf courses all the way down to the sea, and you can watch players as they march up to the 18th green of the Gold Course or tee off on the 1st hole of the Emerald Course. Whether you come for the world-class golf, the art and dining, or all of the above, be assured a day at the Wailea Gold & EmeraldCourses will be an experience that youwill not soon forget.
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