Experience the Dunes for Yourself

Watch the video below for a highlight reel of our unique and beautiful 18-hole golf course.

123rd U.S. Open Qualifier to be held at The Dunes at Maui Lani

April 26, 2023

The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course in Kahului has been chosen to host local qualifying for the US Open. On Wednesday, April 26, hopefuls from around the state and the country will converge in Kahului in an attempt to earn a spot to compete with the world’s best golfers at this year’s US Open. Golfers who advance through local qualifying at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course will move on to final qualifying at one of 13 locations across the US, Canada and Japan where they will play for a chance to compete in a major championship. The United States Golf Association today announced local and final qualifying sites for the 123rd US Open Championship. The US Open will be contested on The Los Angeles Calif. Country Club’s North Course for the first time from June 15-18, 2023.

Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 44 US states and Canada, will take place between April 17-May 22. Those players who advance out of local qualifying will join a group of locally exempt players in final qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes. The final stage will be held in England (May 16), Japan (May 22) and Canada (June 5) as well as 10 US sites, one on May 22 and nine on June 5. To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.

Online player registration for the 2023 US Open will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at champs.usga.org and will continue through Wednesday, April 12.

The Maui Open

Date TBD

It began in 1952 as the Maui Invitational, and was held at the Maui Country Club. The early years were dominated by Hall of Fame great Jimmy Ukauka, who won the title five years straight (1952–1956), losing his bid for a sixth title to another Hall of Fame legend, Guinea Kop. Since then, winners have included many who would become Hall of Fame inductees, including Ted Makalena, Paul Scodeller, Art Fujita, David Ishii, Allan Yamamoto, Morgan Fottrell, Masa Kaya, Dick McClean, David “Bones” Bettencourt, Lance Suzuki and most recently Brian Sasada. Last year after a few year’s hiatus during the pandemic, Corey Oride from Kauai became the eventual Champion in 2022!

Over the past decade, a younger generation has dominated the tournament. Fifteen-year-old Seabury Hall sophomore Alex Chiarella generated excitement when he emerged as the overnight leader in 2009. The next day, Tadd Fujikawa was the only golfer to break seventy in the final round. The Moanalua High School senior had to choose between tournament competition and his graduation ceremonies. He chose well, walking away with his first Maui Open title. Three years earlier, in 2006, Fujikawa became the youngest golfer ever to qualify for the U.S. Open. He’s now a professional along with Alex Chiarella who competes on the Korn Ferry Tour. Other great Maui Open past champions hoping to return are Sam Cyr, Garrett Okamura and Ryan Acosta.

The Maui Open is an appealing tournament because of our beautiful island home and anyone who wants to compete with great golfers can enter. To play in the championship flight, golfers must have a handicap of 6.2 or less, and amateurs are invited to compete with the pros. There is also an “A” flight, designed for golfers with a handicap of 15.4 or better who will play net competition (actual score less handicap). Each division offers prizes, including cash prizes for the pros, and merchandise for amateurs.

The Open has such a rich, storied past and The Dunes is a perfect match. The Dunes at Maui Lani is built on and around the natural sand dunes of the area, and modeled after the old championship links courses of Scotland and Ireland. Features like pot bunkers and firm greens make the course both unique and challenging. The Dunes also boasts the distinction of being the highest USGA slope-rated golf course on Maui.