The more forgiving companion to the Gold, the Emerald features wider fairways and dramatic tropical landscaping with ocean views from every hole in South Maui.
The Emerald Course is the other half of Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s 1994 work at Wailea, and it takes a deliberately different approach to the same stretch of Haleakala's western slope. Where the Gold Course retains the volcanic landscape as a design element and a hazard, the Emerald softens the terrain with tropical landscaping, wider fairways, and more generous landing areas. The result is a course that appeals to resort golfers who want to enjoy the setting without being tested by it.
That description should not be mistaken for a lack of quality. At 6,825 yards from the back tees with a slope of 135, the Emerald Course is a well-constructed resort layout that offers strategic options on most holes. The wider fairways create genuine choices between conservative and aggressive lines, and the green complexes, while less severe than the Gold, reward precise approach play with birdie opportunities. The course is consistently rated among the best women-friendly courses in Hawaii, a distinction that reflects the accessibility of the design rather than any limitation in its challenge.
The tropical landscaping is the Emerald's distinguishing visual feature. Flowering trees, ornamental plantings, and maintained gardens line the fairways and frame the tee boxes, creating a more curated aesthetic than the raw volcanic character of the Gold. The ocean views remain constant across all 18 holes, with the same panorama of the Pacific and the offshore islands that the Gold Course offers. The difference is in the foreground: where the Gold features dark lava and native scrub, the Emerald features color and cultivation.
The playing conditions match the Gold Course standard. Both courses share the Wailea maintenance program, which means consistent turf quality, reliable bunker conditions, and greens that roll at comparable speeds. The trade winds affect the Emerald in the same patterns as the Gold, though the wider fairways provide slightly more margin for wind-affected shots.
Green fees of $199 to $285 are identical to the Gold Course, and the choice between them is a matter of preference rather than value. The mid-handicap resort golfer who wants to enjoy the Hawaiian setting at a comfortable pace will find the Emerald more rewarding. The low-handicap golfer seeking a genuine challenge will prefer the Gold. For groups with mixed abilities, the Emerald is the better choice, as it allows everyone in the foursome to have a good day without forcing the higher-handicap players to spend the round searching for balls in lava fields.
Arnold Palmer's 1975 design features the iconic 17th hole playing over the ocean, with whale-watching opportunities from the fairways in winter.
Home of the PGA Tour's The Sentry, this Coore & Crenshaw renovation plays across volcanic ridgelines above the Pacific with elevation changes that reward strategic positioning over brute force.
Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s 1964 design pioneered destination golf in Hawaii and remains a formidable test across rugged lava terrain with panoramic ocean and mountain views.
Six oceanfront holes through ancient lava fields along the Kohala Coast make this one of the most visually dramatic resort courses in the United States.
The more demanding of the two Wailea RTJ Jr. courses, the Gold plays through natural lava outcroppings with ocean views from every hole on the slopes of Haleakala.