Teeing Off on Maui

Maui and golf are inseparable—it’s hard to think of the Magic Isle without summoning up images of lush green fairways with dramatic scenic backdrops. Maui has 19 courses, with several ranked near the top worldwide. The island’s resorts are convenient to Maui’s most celebrated courses, making it easy to plan a golf holiday for your clients.

A standout course is the Kapalua Plantation Course, said to have the widest fairways and largest greens on the island. Every January, the Mercedes Championship is played on the Kapalua Plantation Course.

Kaanapali Royal and Kaanapali Kai are a pair of adjacent courses that are a favorite with golfers. Kaanapali Royal, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones, has one of Maui’s few oceanfront holes, while Kaanapali Kai presents less windy conditions.

The Wailea Golf Club presents a trio of scenic courses: the Wailea Blue Course, which has family rates; the Wailea Emerald Course, considered women-friendly; and the award-winning Wailea Gold Course, host of Champions & LPGA Skins Games.

Where to Stay

Maui has scores of hotels, resorts and condos that can be booked in close proximity to golf courses. Maui’s busiest times are the Christmas holidays, President’s Day and Easter. Book six months in advance for these dates.

Outrigger Maui Eldorado has deluxe condos located at the westernmost tip of the island, on the grounds of the Kaanapali Beach Resort. The property has a quiet hillside location, situated along the fairways of the Kaanapali North Golf Course.

All of the condominium units at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado are individually owned, so each unit is unique. All units have a fully equipped kitchen and a washer/dryer. Complimentary wired high-speed Internet access is provided in all units and wireless access is available in the lobby and pool deck.

Studios are approximately 750 square feet, one-bedroom units are 1,200 square feet and two bedrooms are 1,500 square feet. The two-bedroom units are located on the corners of the buildings, so they all feature large covered lanais and living areas with wraparound, floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort also has a selection of one-bedroom units and studio units with the same wraparound windows. The majority of one-bedroom units have one bathroom, although some have two complete bathrooms.

The most requested premium accommodations are units that have been recently renovated. Some have granite and stainless-steel kitchens, travertine bathrooms and upscale decor: two-bedrooms (K113 and B206), one-bedrooms (F201, F202, E202 and L202) and studios (J215, G101, A108 and A110).

The most favored views are those that combine the golf course and the ocean. These are two-bedrooms (J102, J107, J207, K113 and A211), one-bedrooms (A103, A106, A205, C204 and C104) and studios (A107, A108, A109, A110, G110, J122, J218, J119 and J118).
One-bedrooms present the best value, since they’re only a modest increase over the price for a studio.

Steer families toward one of the Outrigger Maui Eldorado’s two-bedroom units. These accommodate up to six people, with two separate bedrooms, a sofa bed in the living room and two bathrooms.

A nice touch is the resort’s exclusive beach cabana—a short walk or shuttle ride from the property’s lobby on North Kaanapali Beach. The cabana has a deck with lounge chairs on the ocean side, and tables and chairs in the shade of its Hawaiian-peaked roof. Guests have access to a full kitchen, beach showers and an attendant who provides beach towels and backrests. Additionally, the cabana is available for a fee for those guests who might wish to have a private party or reception in the evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Outrigger Maui Eldorado does not have any onsite restaurants, but there is a small shopping complex with dining options next to the condo property. Whalers Village, the largest outdoor shopping mall on Maui, is a short drive away.

Outrigger Maui Eldorado’s general manager is Bill Rees ([email protected], 808-667-4210). Agents with questions can reach out to the Outrigger Maui Eldorado’s Front Desk Manager Ruby Balagso ([email protected]) or Assistant Front Office Manager Stephanie Parilla ([email protected]). Both can also be reached at the main number (808-661-0021).

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa offers its guests privileged access to the Wailea Golf Club and its three courses. In addition to courses, the Wailea Golf Club has a 12-acre training facility that consists of two putting and chipping areas, fairway and greenside practice bunkers and a driving range with two sets of tee boxes and three built-in target greens with pins and traps. Golfers may use the training facility to warm up or take lessons from one of Wailea’s PGA professionals.

The resort’s renovated Napua Tower is a private club area. Napua Tower Grand Suites are the most luxurious accommodations at the resort, measuring 5,500 square feet with large lanais that have panoramic views of the Pacific and neighboring Islands of Molokini, Kahoolawe and Lanai.

The resort has 120 connecting and adjoining rooms. Parents whose children spend most of their time in the pools may prefer a ground-floor room in the resort’s Lagoon wing, steps away from the pool area.

Aside from the Grand Suites, the Deluxe Ocean View rooms are considered to have the best views of the Pacific.

This past year, the Grand Wailea introduced private luxury town homes in a newly developed gated community known as Hoolei, adjacent to Grand Wailea Resort. The deluxe three-bedroom, 3½-bath town homes provide access to all the amenities of the resort, including privileged access to Wailea Golf Club.

The resort is a popular choice for families, thanks to its comprehensive children’s club. The Wailea Canyon Activity Pool is also a favorite with kids, featuring nine separate pools, including a “baby beach.”

At 50,000 square feet, the resort’s Spa Grande is the largest spa in Hawaii. There are 40 treatment rooms, as well as the Termé Wailea Hydrotherapy. Prior to treatments, guests relax in the termé. The spa also has a Couples Spa Suites and a Family Spa Suite. Cecilia Hercik is the director of spa sales & operations ([email protected], 808-875-1234, ext. 2497).

The travel agent liaison at the resort is Patrick Ornellas ([email protected], 866-702-9182).

The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui is a luxury all-suite-and-villa oceanfront resort on Polo Beach, about 17 miles from the Kahului Airport. The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui also provides guests with privileged access to the Wailea Golf Club and its courses, as well as easy arrangements at Makena North Course and Makena South Course.

The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui’s Ocean Front Villas numbered 1-21 are very popular. These offer a choice of two or three bedrooms.

Those looking for the best ocean views should book one of the Deluxe Ocean View Suites. These have Pacific views, and on clear days guests can make out the islands of Lanai and Oahu. There are 50 sets of connecting suites. Families would do well to reserve one of the three-bedroom villas; these have two full bathrooms.

The resort’s Spa Kea Lani has nine treatment rooms, as well as an outdoor Spa Cabana located near the adult pool. Agents can book treatments for clients ahead of time by contacting the spa director, Jennifer Buckler ([email protected], 808-875-2220).

In addition to its five restaurants, the resort offers several special dining options. The Twilight Dinner is a personalized four-course meal, including a choice of complementing wines, for up to six guests, served in a private cabana situated near the adult pool and Caffe Ciao Restaurant.

Agents with special requests can reach out to the resort’s director of leisure sales, Aulani Kealoha ([email protected], 808-875-4100, ext. 239).

For Your Cruising Clients

Those who love both cruising and golf have a new vacation option. New departures from American Safari Cruises allow clients to combine a Hawaii cruise with play on top golf courses, including several Maui courses. The new seven-night, inter-island luxury cruises begin December 19 and run through May 9, 2009. Guests can opt to hit the fairways at renowned courses on Maui and Lanai during any departure, and may add on a pre- or post-cruise luxury golf package as well. The 145-foot, 36-guest mega yacht Safari Explorer will sail between the Big Island and Maui, where golfers may play one of Kapalua Resort’s two 18-hole championship courses, the Bay and the Plantation, or try the Royal Kaanapali or Kaanapali Kai. The yacht can accommodate guests’ golf clubs, although golf rates, club rental, transportation, lunch and other charges are additional. American Safari Cruises Hawaii cruises begin at $3,995 per person, double occupancy. A full-yacht charter for up to 36 guests begins at $174,995 and includes fuel, port taxes, crew, food, spirits and all shore excursions. Call 888-862-8881 or visit the website.