Playing the Makena Golf Course is an unforgettable Maui experience, where every shot is framed by the deep blue Pacific and the majestic slopes of Haleakalā. This guide gives you the on-the-ground knowledge of a seasoned coach, breaking down the course’s main challenges and providing a clear strategy for every part of your game. We'll cover how to handle the ever-present wind, read the tricky greens, and navigate the most memorable holes so you can play with confidence and truly enjoy your round in paradise.
Success at Makena isn't just about hitting good shots, it’s about understanding the environment. The course is built on the side of a dormant volcano, and that topography, combined with ocean winds, influences everything. Before you even tee up, internalize these two local truths.
The first and most important force to contend with is the wind. The trade winds in Maui are a near-constant factor, typically blowing from the northeast. This means the wind will feel different on almost every hole as the course routing doglegs and changes elevation. For a right-handed golfer, a steady trade wind can turn a simple fade into a wild slice, or make a draw hang in the air and fall short.
This is the golden rule for reading greens in Hawaii. The entire island of Maui slopes down from the summit of the Haleakalā volcano (mauka, toward the mountain) to the ocean (makai, toward the sea). Even when a putt looks perfectly flat, there is an invisible pull toward the ocean.
Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s design asks questions on every hole. While a full renovation is transforming this iconic layout, the classic holes offer lessons in strategy that will apply to any course carved from this landscape. Let's look at how to tackle a few of them.
The front nine winds its way through the volcanic terrain, presenting elevation changes and stunning views right from the start. It demands precise iron play and smart course management.
Standing on the elevated tee, this hole looks like an easy birdie chance. You can see the green below, and the urge is to grab your driver and go for it. This is the first real test of your discipline. The fairway tightens considerably in the landing area, with lava fields and heavy rough waiting to catch a slightly errant tee shot. The smart play is to take a club that leaves you a full wedge into the green, something like a 3-wood or even a hybrid.
The Approach: Your approach shot will be from a downhill lie to a green protected by bunkers. The downhill lie will naturally de-loft the club, so a 9-iron might fly more like an 8-iron. Take one club less than the yardage suggests, play the ball slightly back in your stance, and make a smooth swing. The goal is to land on the front half of the green and let it feed toward the pin, always keeping in mind the amakai break.
The back nine kicks off with a challenging par 5 that doglegs to the right. Big hitters might be tempted to cut the corner over the trees, but this is a low-percentage shot. The safe play is a tee shot down the left-center of the fairway. This opens up your second shot and takes the fairway bunkers on the right side out of play.
The Layup Shot: Unless you are very long, this is a three-shot hole. Your second shot is the most important one. The ideal layup is to a flat lie about 100-120 yards out. Don't get greedy. Hitting a 3-wood as far as you can might leave you with an awkward half-swing from an uneven lie. Play for your favorite wedge distance. This disciplined approach turns a difficult hole into a scoring opportunity.
The closing stretch at Makena is legendary, bringing you right up to the coastline for some of the most beautiful and challenging holes in golf.
This is a brutally beautiful Par 4. The tee shot requires a forced carry over an ancient lava rock wall. Again, strategy trumps power here. Aim for the center of the generous fairway. The second shot is where the hole gets tough. It plays into a small, heavily protected green. The wind will likely be in your face or coming off the right. Take plenty of club and aim for the center of the green. A par here feels like a birdie.
This is the hole you and your camera have been waiting for. A par-3 that plays entirely over a stunning ocean cove. You're hitting from a cliff to another cliff. The yardage can be deceiving because of the wind swirling off the water. Trust your caddie or your instincts, but do not doubt your club choice once you've made it.
The Shot: Pick a target on the green - not the pin, the middle of the green - and commit to your swing. Indecision is your enemy here. More balls end up in the ocean from hesitant, decelerating swings than from bad club selection. Take an extra moment to enjoy the view, take a deep breath, and make a confident, committed swing through the ball. Whether it's good or bad, this is a shot you will remember forever.
Playing a "bucket list" course like Makena can come with high expectations, but the challenges of wind and elevation can quickly lead to frustration if you’re not in the right mindset.
To conquer Makena, you must respect its natural defenses. Play smart shots that account for the ever-present trade winds, trust the invisible break of the "mauka-makai" green readings, and maintain a patient, appreciative mindset. Plan your way around the course by favoring placement over power.
When facing an unfamiliar and challenging course like Makena, having expert advice in your pocket can make all the difference. That's why we created Caddie AI. On tough holes, you can get instant-course-management strategies suited for your game. If you find yourself with a difficult stance in the lava rock or nestled in thick, tropical rough, just take a picture of your lie, my app will analyze the situation and give you the smartest play. It replaces uncertainty with confidence, allowing you to focus on simply hitting great shots and enjoying this spectacular golf experience.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
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