Golf on Maui, Hawaii

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Visitors to Maui, Hawaii’s “Magic Isle” return time and again captivated by the beauty of this tropical paradise. The catch phrase “Maui no ka oi”, meaning, “Maui is the best” can arguably be assigned to the fantastic golf offerings on this second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Beginning in West Maui a collection of some of the best known courses in all the archipelago are found at Kapalua and Kaanapali. The Plantation Course at Kapalua is the crown jewel of Maui’s courses. This Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore design is the home of the PGA Tour’s annual Tournament of Champions. While the 7,400 yards plus length is enough to grab any golfer’s attention the incredible scenery provides its own challenge as it distracts the golfers from the task at hand with expansive ocean vistas that includes regularly breaching Humpback Whales during winter months. The sister Bay Course, an Arnold Palmer layout, requires forced carries over crashing surf among its generous offering of photo opportunities. The Kapalua facilities are among the finest in Hawaii with a world renowned practice area that serves 3 courses, including the private Village Course. 36 additional holes of Championship golf awaits just down the road in Kaanapali, perhaps the most popular area for visitors to Maui. The Royal Kaanapali is considered one of Hawaii’s best layouts having served as the location for LPGA and Champion’s Tour contests. The adjacent Kaanapali Kai course is a user-friendly routing with expansive views of the Molokai Channel and other nearby islands. Central Maui provides a number of quality courses, including some at bargain prices. The Dunes at Maui Lani is a Hawaiian version of a Scottish Links course taking advantage of the natural rolling topography. The King Kamehameha Golf Club presents unmatched views of the Haleakala Volcano and South Maui shoreline alongside a distinctly memorable clubhouse that was originally built as a home intended for Marilyn Monroe. Although it’s a private club the course is open for non-members under a “Member for a Day” program. Almost next door is found Kahili Golf Course boasting its own collection of holes with unmatched views. The Maui golf course with the highest elevation in the “Up Country” is known as Pukalani Country Club boasting spectacular views from its hillside perch. Waiehu Golf Course, one of the 2 best municipal courses in Hawaii, routes 3 holes along a white sandy beach and although one of the busier golf courses on Maui offers great golf at greatly reduced rates. As the visiting golfer works their way toward the sunny South side of the island the resort area of Wailea provides 3 layouts that rival any collection of courses in Hawaii for beauty and playability. Known as the “Gold”, “Emerald” and “Old Blue”, this 54 hole cornucopia of golf provides 3 distinctly different experiences although one thing they hold in common is unforgettable views from nearly every tee box, green and fairway. The facilities that support the Wailea courses are among the finest in Hawaii. Just down the road, Makena Golf Course is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. offering that considers itself a memorable nature walk while a challenging test of golf. The course winds its way through lava flows, stream beds and natural terrain providing some incredible ocean and mountain views. Indigenous bird species and other wildlife thrive in the unspoiled environment. The course has earned awards from Conde Nast for its design. Ellear Maui Golf Club sits along the highway that connects East and West Maui rewarding players with its own version of scenic golf with views out to the dormant Molikini crater, an atoll that doubles as a must-visit snorkeling and diving location. “Maui no ka oi” rings in the memory banks of all that have chosen to visit while the golfing experiences on this unforgettable Hawaiian Island certainly live up to the catch phrase. Include the dream to Play Golf on Maui on your bucket list and your trip of a lifetime to Hawaii will create your own lasting memories of this island paradise.

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