MORE MAUI-LICIOUS GOLF
Snagging a round on the Plantation Course is priority one for most Maui golfers, but don’t overlook Arnold Palmer’s Bay Course, a much more family-friendly (and casual golfer-friendly) option for folks who still want the ocean views (No. 17 is a sea-sprayed gem) and a lovely trek among tree-lined hills that’s within walking distance of both big resorts. It’s also the venue for the Kapalua Golf Academy headed by Ben Hongo, one of only two active PGA Master Professionals in the 50th state. A more spectacular practice range, you’ll never find.
A 10-minute drive away is the venerable Kaanapali Beach Resorts area, with its two classic island layouts.
Authored by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1962, Royal Kaanapali is a wide-open, relatively flat affair of swaying palms and million-dollar views. With nine holes closer to the Pacific and nine up the hill, it’s the former host course for the Champions Tour’s GTE Kaanapali Classic and the two-man-team Senior Skins Game.
The Kai Course, designed by Jack Snyder in 1976 and freshened by the late Robin Nelson in 2005, moves inland toward the West Maui Mountains – with yet more killer views of the coast and sea – but it’s the lower holes, nearer the hotels, that show the most personality, including some cool drives into and approaches through fairly tightly treed corridors.
Though there are a couple worthwhile courses near Kahului Airport – The Dunes at Maui Lani (which is partially built on actual dunes) the private-but-accessible King Kamehameha, with its sprawling Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired clubhouse – Wailea Resort on the island’s south side, in the rain shadow of hulking, cloud-wreathed Haleakala.
Three courses by Robert Trent Jones II make up the resort complex’s offerings. While the Gold Course is probably the more famous and frequented thanks to its own Champions Skins Game pedigree, and the Old Blue conjures images of old-school island golf, it’s the Emerald that merits must-play honors, especially for couples as it’s noted as one of the islands’ most women-friendly courses. The course starts with a bang, a straightaway par 4 playing straight toward the ocean; its generous fairways then wind up and down gentle slopes, through groves of manicured trees and across a few water hazards to a rousing final stretch, including the short-and-sweet par 4 17th and stately par 5 finisher.
After such a pleasing, scenic, classic Maui round, there’s just one thing to do: Head for Gannon’s Restaurant in the clubhouse and order some Volcano Fries, perhaps a Salmon Stack Salad and Maui-Style Poke Bowl or Fish Tacos, washed down with a Maui Brewing Company IPA.
STRAIGHT TO PARADISE
This ain’t your daddy’s Maui – no need to make a Honolulu hop to get there. Alaska, American, Hawaiian, Southwest and United airlines offer direct flights to Kahului from several mainland airports, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento.
