The home course of The Champions Skins Game from 2001 to 2007, the 7,078-yard Wailea Gold is the most challenging of Wailea’s trio, with a rugged and masterful design that takes advantage of the terrain’s natural undulations. But four to six tee boxes on every hole also make it a suitable track for virtually every player. Created by architect Robert Trent Jones II, the Gold was honored by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest as one of the country’s ten best new resort courses when it opened in 1994. It has also been recognized by the Maui Historical Society for its preservation of prehistoric lava rock walls during construction, and hailed as one of the world’s best designed courses by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler in the magazine’s first golf resorts poll. Called a “thinking player’s course,” the Gold offers a true test of one’s golf skills. But the most difficult hazards on it are the distracting island views. In one round, you can enjoy spectacular vistas of the ocean, Molokini islet, ancient lava rock walls, coconut trees and sparkling white bunkers.
