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Golf is trying to take a page from the Whole Foods playbook and convince us golfers that "earth-friendly courses" with worse conditions and higher green fees are the noble, righteous play.
Full story | Also: Defending men-only golf
Can life get better than be able to play golf in Maui overlooking the Pacific Ocean? Actually, it can if you add wine, cheese and a luxurious atmosphere. Such is the way you will be treated at the Kaanapali Golf Courses, which is bathing golfers in luxury with its 'Wine and Nine' promotion, allowing golfers a leisurely stroll through the scenic golfing property, all the while enjoying some of life's finer things.
Over the past few years, Kauai has been building its profile as one of the best islands for golf in Hawaii, Senior Writer Chris Baldwin reports. Kauai has three golf resorts in Golf Digest's ranking of the top 75 in North America and new developments are solidifying its status as a golf destination. And though it's too early for Kauai to change its nickname from the Garden Isle to the Golf Isle, the island is quickly rising in the ranks of high-end American golf hot spots.
When most folks think of Maui golf, Kapalua comes to mind. They picture the pros teeing off in the Mercedes Championship, fighting sharp tradewinds and changing weather conditions. But golfers would be wise to consider another venue when picking their Maui vacation spot: Wailea. In the southwest corner of Maui lies a threesome of courses -- the Blue, Gold and Emerald -- that have all of the advantages of Kapalua with few of the negatives.
Hawaii course guide >>
Flying in to the Kona Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, you’re apt to notice one thing: lava. It's everywhere, an entire coastline of inky black rock. You'll wonder how anyone could have chosen to build a resort on this stark moonscape. The Mauna Lani Resort, however, is an oasis of palms and kiawe. And the emerald green of Mauna Lani's two golf courses, the North and the South, offer a classic taste of Big Island golf.
It took a Rockefeller to have the vision to build a world-class resort on a lava field, and that's what Laurance Rockefeller did to create the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort. Years later, Arnold Palmer helped design the golf course, which is a sister to the tougher Mauna Kea course and has been ranked by Golf for Women as a "top-100 women-friendly course." And while play at Hapuna is pleasant, there are still plenty of challenges.
Nestled in the northwest region of the West Maui mountains lies the golf triumvirate known as Kapalua. While not packed with golf options like other areas in Hawaii, Kapalua offers three courses that all fall under "must-play." Most famous for the Plantation Course - home of the PGA Tour's Mercedes Championship -- Kapalua is also home to two other courses, the Bay and the Village, and golfers from duffer to pro are singing their praises.
Maui and the Big Island may get all the press for their fine golf courses, but Kauai has closed the gap and may have passed the two popular islands. Condé Nast Traveler readers recently named three of Kauai's courses among their "Top 100 Golf Resorts" so the secret is out. "Here, you can get away and have top-quality golf. You just can't get that feeling at other places," said Princeville head pro Steve Murphy.
More Hawaii golf course reviews >>
Also: Princeville tough and stunning
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