Kapalua Bay Course
The original course at Kapalua, Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane's Bay Course opened in 1975 along the northwest shore of Maui. A par 72 of around 6,600 yards, it is the gentler, more classic companion to the famous Plantation next door, and home to the only golf hole in Hawaii played across an arm of the ocean, the par 3 fifth.
Photograph: Kapalua Bay Course, via Google · Jason Port
The verdict
The Bay Course is where golf at Kapalua began. Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane opened it in 1975 as the resort's first course, routed along the coast and through the tropical landscaping on the gentler, lower ground of the northwest tip of Maui. For sixteen years it was the headline round until the Plantation arrived in 1991, and rather than be eclipsed it settled into a happy second act as the more relaxed, more playable companion, the course you enjoy without the championship intimidation of its big neighbor.
For the traveling golfer, the Bay is the perfect counterpoint on a Kapalua trip, the round that lets a group breathe after the drama of the Plantation. It is shorter and more forgiving, with generous fairways and a flow that suits a holiday rhythm, but it keeps the ocean close throughout and delivers one of the most photographed holes in Hawaii. It is open to the public as a resort course, and it pairs naturally with the Plantation for a two course west Maui stay, or with the south shore courses for a full island itinerary.
Kapalua Bay at a glance
- Opened
- 1975
- Designer
- Palmer and Duane
- Type
- Tropical coastal resort
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 6,600 yds
- Access
- Public resort
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from course databases and resort sources. The Bay plays as a par 72 of around 6,600 yards from the back tees, a gentler and more forgiving test than the Plantation, rolling along the coast through tropical landscaping with the par 3 fifth played across an arm of the ocean. It is a public resort course; green fees are seasonal and resort set at the premium Hawaii level, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Bay is a course to enjoy rather than to battle, and that is its charm. The fairways are generous and the rough is rarely savage, so a holidaymaker can swing freely while a better player still finds shape and angle to think about, with Palmer and Duane setting the interest in the bunkering and the well guarded greens rather than in brute length. The trade wind off the ocean is the main variable, turning a short par 4 into a real decision when it blows, and the firm, sun baked turf lets the ball run.
The signature is the par 3 fifth, the only golf hole in Hawaii that asks a carry across an arm of the ocean, with the green set on a rocky point and the surf below. It is a hole that defines the round and the photographs, but the rest of the course earns its keep with coastal views, flowering landscaping and a steady rhythm of holes that keep the sea in the eye. The greens are subtle and well bunkered, the par 5s are reachable for the longer hitter, and the closing stretch returns through the resort with the island laid out around it.
What lingers is the easy pleasure of the place. The Bay is not trying to be the Plantation, and it is the better for it: a relaxed, beautiful coastal course that captures the tropical golf experience without the championship edge. For a group at Kapalua it is the ideal second round, and for a visitor who wants ocean views and a gentle test rather than a wrestling match, it is one of the most enjoyable rounds on Maui.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course; open to all, with preferred rates and tee times for guests of the Kapalua resort hotels and villas |
| Green fee | Indicative green fees for the 2026 season sit at the premium Hawaii resort level, generally below the neighboring Plantation, with winter the peak and guest and twilight rates; they are seasonal, so always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Direct with Kapalua Golf or through your resort; pair it with the Plantation for a two course day or stay |
| Walking and carts | Cart golf is standard, with the routing rolling along the coast; check current walking policy with the club |
| Best months | Year round golf; winter brings the biggest crowds and rates, while spring and autumn offer the best value on the breezy northwest coast |
| Getting there | At Kapalua on the northwest tip of Maui, about fifty minutes from Kahului airport, beside the Plantation Course |
Access verified June 2026 from resort sources; green fees are seasonal, so always confirm directly before booking. Ask about a Maui golf trip.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Kapalua itself, where the resort hotels and villas sit a short ride from the first tee and earn preferred golf access, with beaches, restaurants and the quieter green end of west Maui around them. Staying in Kapalua puts both the Bay and the Plantation within reach for a two course stay, and the Lahaina and Kaanapali coast is a short drive south for more dining and beaches.
Because Kapalua is at its best as a pair and Maui as a whole rewards a wider trip, most visitors play both west shore courses and add the south. Combine the Bay with its big neighbor the Kapalua Plantation Course for a west Maui stay, then base part of the trip on the sunny south shore for the Wailea Emerald Course for a complete island itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Kapalua and Maui.
Build a Maui golf trip
The Bay is the relaxed, ocean side companion to the Plantation and a perfect part of a Kapalua stay. We plan trips through Hawaii, arrange the tee times and the resort access, and handle the hotels and the order of play across the island. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Kapalua Bay questions
Can visitors play the Kapalua Bay Course?
Yes. The Bay is a public resort course open to all, with preferred rates and tee times for guests of the Kapalua resort. Green fees are seasonal and resort set at the premium Hawaii level, though lower than the neighboring Plantation, so always confirm directly before booking.
Who designed the Kapalua Bay Course?
The Bay Course was designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane and opened in 1975 as the original course at the Kapalua resort. It has hosted many professional events over the decades and remains the gentler, more classic companion to the later Plantation Course.
What is the par and yardage at Kapalua Bay?
The Bay plays as a par 72 of around 6,600 yards from the back tees, a more relaxed and forgiving test than the Plantation. It rolls gently along the coast and through tropical landscaping, and its signature hole, the par 3 fifth, is the only golf hole in Hawaii played across an arm of the ocean.
Where is the Kapalua Bay Course?
The Bay Course is at the Kapalua resort on the northwest tip of Maui, Hawaii, about fifty minutes from Kahului airport. It sits beside the Plantation Course, and together they make Kapalua one of the great two course golf resorts in the islands.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par, yardage and access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.