Home base during my summer in Hawaii was Maui. For good reason. It has the best weather, the best golf, and I had a free place to stay.

I was lucky enough to hit all three Wailea courses, the three Kapalua courses, Pukalani Country Club in upcountry Maui, Princeville and Poipu Bay in Kauai, and on the Big Island, Hapuna Golf Course and Mauna Lani’s North and South courses. My itinerary provided a good taste of the whole spectrum of Hawaii golf—and an excellent basis for comparing across the board.

So which one is the best? Well they all had their pros and cons, but for me, it was no contest: Wailea.

It came down to this–every time I strayed from the Wailea courses, I found myself thinking, “this is great, but it’s not Wailea.” The conditions weren’t as immaculate, it was too windy, it rained, the courses weren’t as scenic, the service wasn’t as exceptional, the list goes on.

Returning back to home base was always a treat, because I found after playing courses that charge $200 or more green fees, that they had nothing on Wailea. It’s always pristine. Every single hole has a great view of the ocean. It’s challenging but it doesn’t require you check your ego at the door. And the weather is magically always perfect—we were there five weeks, and it rained exactly one day. In the heat of August, when it’s 105 degrees, 90% humidity at home in NC, it was a pleasant low-humidity 82 degrees in Maui.

Granted, there are still plenty more courses to check out. Next year, in Hawaii…

Look for my reviews on Hawaii golf coming soon.

The par-4 Number 17 on Wailea Emerald, my favorite hole on my favorite course in the world. RTJ Jr. knew what he was doing. You just might be able to reach the green on your drive (yes, even the ladies, a rare find), but watch out for water on your right. And watch out for whales in the distance.

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