Scenic and fun Kahili Golf Course is one of Maui's best value rounds

WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii -- Set on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, Kahili Golf Course is considered one of the island's top daily-fee facilities. The course sits just below private King Kamehameha Golf Club, but it features quite different vegetation and scenery. As with all courses on Maui, there are plenty of water views.

It's one of the best non-resort courses on the island and has a green fee that is much lower than its neighboring resorts Wailea, Kapalua and Ka'anapali.

Kahili Golf Course opened in 1991 under different ownership and the name Sandalwood Golf Course. The course was designed by Robin Nelson and Rodney Wright and hugs the mountainside, which means there are few flat lies to be had and many holes have either elevated tees or greens. One of the most stunning tee shots is the par-3 13th hole, which heads sharply downhill from tee to green. There is no accompanying real estate component, so it's a quiet and scenic round.

Other holes are very heavily wooded, especially down the closing stretch of holes such as No. 16 and No. 17, where accuracy is a premium. The course plays just 6,570 yards, but it can play longer on a windy day. Facilities at Kahili include a clubhouse bar and an open-air balcony for dining, plus a driving range and some short game greens.