KAANAPALI KAI COURSE
Designed by Arthur Jack Snyder in 1971.

HIGHLIGHTS BY DA GAME SHOW HOST DAVE WARD

The shorter, friendlier course in Ka‘anapali. Just as well groomed as the Royal but recent renovations, particularly the greens and the addition of many new bunkers add to the challenge. The par 3s on this course are flat out tough! The third hole plays 235 yds. from the tips!
I love the 18th hole…big time risk/reward scenario. If you are brave enough to attack the short dogleg left, a birdie is a very reasonable expectation. Careless play will result in a watery grave for your ball and your score.

OVERVIEW

The Kai is Maui’s 2nd easiest course for scratch golfers playing from the tips. Bogey golfers tend to struggle more than their female counterparts and scratch competitors, because the Kai is actually tighter and is thus ranked by the USGA as the 4th toughest on Maui from the Sand (white) tees. Lady golfers who play the red (Hibiscus) tees will love the Kai, as it is Maui’s easiest golf course for them.
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TEE-TO-GREEN

Topography is the same as the Royal: hillside and rolling. Roll helps on level and downhill holes, given the firm fairways, and the course plays shorter. Elevation can make fairway and green targets a little smaller, and winds as well as contours befuddle your efforts to keep your ball on the short grass. Roughs are made for recovery. No real sharp doglegs on the Kai, and the fairway bunkers are mostly visual hole framers. Lies in the fairways are almost always even, and you have only a few holes where your stance may be off kilter. The greens are medium-to-large. They hold well, but hole placements can tempt fate. Putting is much easier here than on the Royal Course. Undulations are there, especially on the newly revamped 3rd. Water comes into play on the finish, with two short carries.
DIFFICULTY
HAZARDS AND ROUGHS
GREEN SIZES

EDITOR’S NOTES

The Kai Course is a good place for short hitters because there are very few instances where any kind of carry is required (Nos 7 and 16 are about it). This is the easier of the two Kaanapali golf courses, yet longer hitters can still find OB and thus inflate their scores. Daring intermediates who think are safe, but anyone wild who pulls out driver on every hole is asking for it. Scratch golfers will find this course is trickier from the tips, as there is some tightness here and you need to pay attention to where fairways fall off into bunkers or gulches. The views here are aplenty with the resort hotels and upscale homes lining the fairways.
FOR THE MEEK
ROOM FOR ERROR
WOW FACTOR

FACILITIES AND AMENITIES

Kaanapali’s 36-holes share the same clubhouse, which has lockers, showers, and a stellar 19th hole run by a popular isle chef whose upscale restaurants dot some pretty sharp locations, including this one. Roy’s. Learn it, know it, eat it 😉 There is also a suitable driving range, lighted, with PGA professional instruction on hand led by David Havens, who is the 2014 PGA Aloha Section Teacher of the Year. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Larry, Pablo, Victor, June, Todd, Dale, Sutee, and the many super-friendly faces you’ll encounter when you visit this must-play Pro venue.
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CONCLUSIONS

Golfers staying on the West side who want convenience and the easiest golf they can find need look no further as the Kai fills the bill perfectly. This golf course is a staple in the local golfer’s diet because they can come here to rebuild their shattered confidence when their games go to pieces.
Couples, seniors, and anyone who isn’t too wild off the tee will find the Kai a pleasant experience. There are great views, the course received a major update in 2007, and so conditions there are always great. The simple design makes golf here fun.
Photos
Big Break Kaanapali
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The ninth season of Golf Channel’s Big Break premiered on April 15, 2008. It featured an all-female cast and was filmed at Kaanapali. New hosts that year were Stina Sternberg and Andrew Magee. The winner, Kim Welch, received an exemption into the 2008 Navistar LPGA Classic, entry fees to all 2009 Futures Tour tournaments waived, an Adams Golf endorsement deal, and a BMW Z4 Coupe. In the final, Kim overcame an early 2 hole deficit to defeat Sophie Sandolo 4 & 3.

  • Contestant Age Hometown Status Week Eliminated
    Kim Welch 25 Sacramento, California FUTURES Tour player Winner
    Sophie Sandolo 31 Nice, France Ladies European Tour player Runner-up
    Lori Atsedes 44 Orlando, Florida FUTURES Tour player Week 11
    Christina Lecuyer 27 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Cactus Tour player Week 10
    Susan Choi 23 Natick, Massachusetts Newly Turned Professional Week 9
    Samantha Head 35 Orlando, Florida Ladies European Tour player Week 8
    Courtney Erdman 25 Altadena, California FUTURES Tour player Week 7
    Tina Miller 25 Miami, Florida Former FUTURES Tour player Week 6
    Dana Bates 44 La Quinta, California Teaching pro Week 5
    Adrienne Gautreaux 26 Dallas, Texas FUTURES Tour player Week 4
    Elizabeth Stuart 26 Tampa, Florida FUTURES Tour player Week 4
    Cirbie Sheppard 24 Auburn, California Mini Tour player Week 3
Video Clip
KAANAPALI GOLF COURSES INTRODUCTION
Course Details
USGA Course
Tees Rating Slope OUT IN TOT
Lava/Black 70.7 135 3171 3217 6388
Sand/Yellow 69 130 2983 3027 6010
Fern/Green 67.1 126 2740 2823 5563
Hisbiscus/Pink 62.2 109 2227 2295 4522
Year Built: ‘67, ‘76, ‘05
Greens: TifEagle
Fairways: Tifway
Practice Range: Yes
Lessons: Yes
GPS Tracking: Yes
Metal Spikes: Yes
Walking: Yes
Fivesomes: No
Pro Shop: Yes
Lockers/Showers: Yes
Rental Shoes/Clubs: Yes
Cart Fees: Included
Rider Fee: Yes
Twilight Rates: Yes
Online Booking: Yes
Restaurant: Yes
Bar: Yes
Architect: Arthur Jack Snyder/Robin Nelson (‘05)
General Manager: Ed Kageyama, PGA
Contact

Kaanapali Kai Golf Course

2290 Kaanapali Parkway
Lahaina, HI 96761
www.kaanapaligolf.com
(808) 661-3691
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