Maui, Hawaii – Golfweek and Golf Digest, two of the sports preeminent authorities on golf course architecture, have each once again recognized Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course among the top golf courses in the world in their annual and biennial rankings.
Golfweek’s team of 850 course evaluators named the iconic Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design No. 20 on their ranking of the ‘Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play in the U.S.’; No. 39 in their grading of the ‘Top 200 Modern Courses’ (courses built in or after 1960); and the No. 2 ‘Best Golf Course You Can Play in Hawaii.’ Golfweek has been revealing their 2023 course ratings in recent weeks on Golfweek.com.
In addition, Golf Digest’s newly released ranking of ‘America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses’ has the Plantation Course at No. 23 Kapalua, while their biennial ‘Best in State’ ranking, which includes both public and private golf facilities, had the Plantation Course as the Aloha State’s No. 3 golf course, and Kapalua Golf’s Bay Course as No. 17. Golf Digest’s Best-in-State rankings are based on more than 80,000 evaluations over a 10-year cycle by their 1,900 low-handicap panelists, who assess candidate courses based on the following criteria: Shot Options, Challenge, Design Variety, Conditioning, Aesthetics, Character and Fun. Golf Digest has been publishing their Best-in-State rankings every other year since 1977, making this the 24th edition.
The Plantation Course first opened for play in 1992 and has been rated among the world’s best golf courses ever since. Designed on a grand scale, the 7,596-yard, par 73 Plantation Course plays along the slopes of the West Maui Mountains boasting dramatic ocean views from virtually every hole.
The perennial Top 100 Course and annual host of the PGA TOUR’s Sentry Tournament of Champions underwent a well-documented restoration in 2019, which focused on recapturing the essence and playing characteristics of the (then) nearly three decade-old course. During the 2019 restoration/refinement project, enhancements were made to the Plantation Course, including new bunkers; new Celebration Bermuda Turf on tees, fairways and roughs; and rebuilt and resurfaced green complexes. The overall Plantation Course layout and routing remained the same. Since the 2019 restoration, additional projects have been completed to produce what Coore and Crenshaw originally planned during their 2019 refinement of the Plantation Course – namely to make the golf course firmer to get more ball roll. Through drainage and top dressing projects, as well as enhanced maintenance practices, the golf course continues to “firm-up.”
Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course and Bay Course are open year-round to resort guests and daily-fee play. For more information on Kapalua Golf, visit www.GolfAtKapalua.com or call 1-877-KAPALUA.
Kapalua Plantation #18 (photo credit – Dave Sansom)
About Kapalua Golf & Tennis
Managed by Troon, Kapalua Golf & Tennis features two 18-hole golf courses (The Plantation and The Bay). Kapalua’s Plantation Course is ranked No. 23 on “America’s Top 100 Public Courses” list by Golf Digest and is the host site of the PGA TOUR’s annual Sentry Tournament of Champions for the past 25 years. Celebrating its 48th anniversary in 2023, The Bay Course has long been dubbed as “Hawaii’s favorite resort course.” Its breathtaking par-three 17th hole is the only hole to play over the ocean on Maui. Kapalua Golf Academy is Hawaii’s most comprehensive practice facility, offering individual lessons, Trackman analysis, custom club fitting, group lessons and on-course playing lessons. The Kapalua Tennis Garden is located in the splendid natural setting of Kapalua Resort and now features four dedicated pickleball courts.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 825-plus locations, including 825-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses around the globe. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf and ICON Management. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
