Dramatic scenery, large double green highlight the Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club on Maui
The Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club is one of three 18-hole courses at this south Maui luxury resort development.
Both the Emerald and the next-door Gold Course at Wailea Golf Club were built at the same time by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1994. Many agree the Emerald is the easier of the two courses and plays slightly shorter from the championship tee box at 6,825 yards. The Emerald is also a highly rated golf course for women and was a regular selection as a "Top Golf Course" in Golf For Women magazine. There are relatively few forced carries here and four to six tee boxes on each hole, making the design especially elastic to set up.
One of the more dramatic points of the Emerald course is the large double green shared by holes No. 10 and No. 17 (17 is a drivable par 4) and the large brackish water lake that guards both -- one of only two lakes on the property. The par-5 18th hole is also especially scenic, playing straight toward the tip of Maui's southern end and the ocean.
Wailea Golf Club has a third course, Old Blue, which plays out of a separate clubhouse. On site at the Gold and Emerald facility is a full practice center and driving range, pro shop, locker rooms and upscale dining at Gannon's, A Pacific View Restaurant that overlooks the golf courses and the ocean.
![The 18th hole on the Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club is a downhill par 5.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35015.jpg)
![The par-4 first hole on the Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club plays downhill toward the ocean.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35016.jpg)
![Both the Emerald and Gold courses at Wailea Golf Club have "papohaku" rock walls incorporated into the design.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35017.jpg)
![The par-3 third hole on the Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club plays 200 yards from the back tees.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35018.jpg)
![The Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club is considered among the most women-friendly courses in Hawaii.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35019.jpg)
![Like the next-door Gold Course, the Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club was built on top of black lava rock.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35021.jpg)
![The Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35022.jpg)
![From many points on the Wailea Golf Club's Emerald and Gold courses, you can see the West Maui mountains.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35023.jpg)
![Many golfers agree the Emerald Course at Wailea Golf Club is slightly easier than the Gold Course, which is located next door.](/photo-galleries/images/small/35024.jpg)