Maui Vacation Rental
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Maui Things To DoGolfMany visitors leave Maui knowing only one aspect of the island - its golf courses. Many simply can't tear themselves away from the fabulous fairways and greens for other island activities, opting instead to play 36 holes a day.The best courses are on the western and sourthen shores with the major resort hotels. One reason is that the sun shines most of the time in these areas so rain is not a factor when planning golf outings. No matter which side, however, Maui's steady sea breeze can be a factor. Golfers often simultaneously praise and curse the tradewinds, which can be refreshing, while also sending good golf shots sailing errantly out of play. The two Royal Kaanapali courses and the Wailea Golf Course are usually the calmest, but are also the hottest. Wind is not the only challenge. Design, in most cases, has [roduced not only incredibly beautiful courses, but difficult courses as well. The Island's natural attributes have been worked into many course designs. The Kapulua Golf Club Bay Course, designed by Arnold Palmer, and the Royal Kaanapali golf courses, use the Pacific Ocean as one large natural water hazard and the roughs are often sugar cane fields or rocky lava formations. Local golfers use the windward courses heavily. Golfing is especially inexpensive at Maui's only municipal course - Waiehu - where players wind through beaches and mountains near the pcituresque village of Waihee. It is also inexpensive at the Pukalani Country Club in Uncountry Maui, where you can beat the heat of the other golf courses. For avid golfers, many resorts offer special packages that feature free golfing and lodging for what amounts to just the price of a room. And for those who enjoy the fame as a spectator, the pros visit Maui regularly to compete in big annual tournaments that attract worldwide sports attention. International golf tournaments abound on Maui, attracting professionals, celebrities, amateurs, duffers and fans by the planeload to compete on some of the best, most beautiful courses in the world, and to view the top pros in action. Four of the best courses on the island - the courses at Makena, Wailea, Kaanapali and Kapalua - handle most of the high-powered, big-money golfing tournaments that are played on Maui. TennisTennis seems like a sport ready-made for Maui. Take lots of sun, especially on the west and south sides, temper the heat with gently ocean breezes and there you have it - perfect playing conditions.Sure, it does rain on occasion, but how long after it stops do the courts remain wet? And, yes, the ocean breezes do turn blustery at times, but good players need a bit of that thrown in just for the challenge. So it is that many good courts, both public and commercial, have been built all over the island. Most are hard-surfaced, though there are three grass courts amont the 14 at "Wimbledon West", the Wailea Resort's commercial tennis center. There are grass courts at the Hana Ball Park as well and those are available free for public enjoyment. The Kaanapali resort area is another hotbed of tennis activity on Maui. The Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch, for example, has 11 courts, tennis clinics and tournaments. And just up the road, the Kapalua Tennis Gardens also offers outstanding facilities. For those who prefer to play during the evening hours, many public and commercial courts are equipped with lights. A host of hotels and vacation condominiums offer tennis facilities for guests. Some even market rooms around use of the courts. Several of the large resorts and hotels allow non-guests use of tennis facilities for a fee. The commercial courts are often accompanied by clubhouses, pro shops, snack bars and other amenities. Lessons are often available, as well as niceties such as ball machines, video analysis and stadium courts. If you left your equipment at home, racquets are available for rent at most pro shops. All public courts are free and most are well maintained and quite serviceable for tennis enjoyment. A good one to try might be the normally uncrowded public court in Haliimaile, below Pukalani in the Upcountry area. |