Golf doesn’t have to be super expensive!
So, you are going to Maui! So many fun things to do while you are there, and so many of those things are going to cost a few dollars. If you are a golfer, you really need to play some golf while you are in Maui because the grass grows so well in the tropical environment. Because of that, you will find some of the most lush fairways and beautiful greens on the courses in Maui. The greens fees in the islands can be really expensive, though. Hopefully, this article will give you some ideas for how to save a few dollars while still being able to play some golf. Keep in mind that I am going to give you a few ideas, not every idea. I encourage readers to post comments with their ideas on how to save some money on golf.
Club Rental
The first idea I want to give you is to save a few bucks on club rentals. If you are bringing your clubs with you, then this tip will not save you money, but if you are planning to rent, you can very likely save some money by renting from a golf shop, rather than renting from one of the courses. Especially if you plan on playing multiple rounds of golf during your stay. It is a very good idea to shop around a bit to find the best club rental option for you before you arrive. You can probably even reserve your clubs ahead of time. A few of the places you can rent clubs are listed below.
Resort Golf
There are three big golf resorts on Maui: Kapalua, Kaanapali, and Wailea. Kapalua and Kaanapali are located in West Maui (near Lahaina) while Wailea is located in South Maui (near Kihei). Kapalua features the Plantation and Bay courses, Kaanapali features the Royal and Kai courses, while Wailea features the Gold, Emerald, and Blue Course.
I highly recommend the resort courses. I like all of them and, I’ll be honest, the only reason I don’t play the resort courses more often is because of the cost. However, there are some strategies for making the resort courses more affordable.
Twilight Time
Most of the resort courses feature a twilight rate (depending on the season) that will save you a few bucks and some of them offer special rates for Junior golfers that can save you lots of money if you have teenagers who play. However, there are potential downsides to playing at twilight time. First, there is the possibility that you will not be able to finish your round. However, as one who plays twilight quite often, I have only had this happen to me once and in that case, I was able to finish 17 holes after a 3pm tee time. Use your judgement on this. Another concern might be the Maui trade winds. The trade winds usually start to get going in the afternoons. Mornings tend to be less windy. These are only tendencies. The actual winds vary every day.
Golf Packages
You can usually save some money on the resort courses by purchasing a golf package. There are golf packages that you can purchase that provide a discount on multiple rounds of golf. These are offered by the resorts themselves as well as from third party vendors. If you expect to play multiple rounds of golf, you should look into these options. If you expect to play all of your rounds at one resort, then you should definitely look into the packages offered by the resorts.
Local Courses
If you don’t care that much about playing the fancy schmancy resort courses, but love to play golf, then you should take a look at playing some of the local courses as they are priced much more reasonably than the resort courses. Honestly, I have not played all of the public golf courses in Maui, but my wife and I are committed to playing a new course on Maui every time we go, until we have played all of them. So, I will be able to write about more courses in future posts, but for now, I will post about the courses I have played.
Maui Nui
I really like playing Maui Nui. It is reasonably priced, it is a very short drive from either of our properties, and it is a really fun course to play. It has wide, inviting fairways and the greens roll true (but watch out for the grain). You will get some nice ocean views while you play, as well. If you keep your ball out of the trees and avoid the water, you’ll have even more fun.
Another thing that I like about playing here is that it is just a couple of blocks away from Maui Brewing Company (MBC) brewery and restaurant. My wife and I love going to MBC after a round and having a cold brew and a bite to eat, as well.
Pukalani
This course is very reasonably priced and is a favorite of locals. It is a fun, interesting course. It is a little bit of a drive from Kihei as it is located in Makawao (pronounced, ma-kuh-wow), which is “up country”, as the locals call it. Because the altitude is a little higher, the weather tends to be a bit cooler, but the views are fantastic. At the time that I am writing this, the clubhouse and restaurant are in temporary buildings, but for me, that makes it even more authentically “Hawaiian”.
Conclusion:
If you love to play golf, like we do, you can save some money by thinking about what you want to do and experience and planning your rounds ahead of time before you arrive in Maui. I hope you try all of the courses and I hope that all of your shots hit fairways and greens. Enjoy!
