The Wendy's Champions Skins Games Series at Wailea

WAILEA GOLD COURSE
Wailea Gold Course - Wailea's Rugged Beauty

The par-72 Wailea Gold is the most challenging of Wailea's trio, with a rugged and masterful design that takes advantage of the terrain's natural undulations. Created by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Gold was lauded by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest as one of the country's ten best new resort courses when it opened in 1994. It has also been honored by the Maui Historical Society for its preservation of prehistoric lava rock walls during construction, and hailed as one of the world's best designed courses by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler in the magazine's first golf resorts poll.

At more than 7,000 yards from its back tees, the Gold tends to favor long hitters, but to be played well, strategy and finesse are key.

"The Gold's been called a 'thinking player's course,'" said Rusty Hathaway, Wailea Golf Club's head professional. "You've got to club yourself right, know your distances and factor in elevation changes on the course. But at the same time, the course gives you some options, and that's one reason it's so much fun to play."

Gold #6 is a prime example. At 241 yards from the white tees, this short and tightly bunkered hole was designed to be a drivable par 4. Players with a good tee shot can reach the green, and maybe even hope for an eagle. But a safe play for par would be to lay up with an iron for a short approach shot over the bunkers.

On the par-4 ninth hole, club selection is critical. Measuring 310 yards from the white tees, #9 demands that golfers carry a large lava rock outcropping. A good tee shot will set up a short iron second shot to a shallow green that's ringed by bunkers. Accuracy is everything here.

Gold #7 is the most difficult of Wailea's 54. Consider: 544 yards from the white tees, double dogleg, sloping uphill with a prevailing cross wind, strategically situated bunkers and an undulating green. "This is a true par-5," says Hathaway. "If you make par, you feel like you scored an eagle because it's such a great, challenging hole."

For more information about the Wailea Golf Club, visit http://waileagolf.com. Tee times can be made up to 30 days in advance by calling 1-888-328-MAUI (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada) or locally 808-875-7450.