Tee-Off From Your Maui Vacation Rental For The Golfing Adventure of Your Dreams!

The southwest side is the driest coastline on Maui -- Arizona by the sea. Rain rarely falls, and temperatures stick around 85°F (29°C) year-round. On former scrubland from Maalaea to Makena, where cacti once grew wild and cows grazed, are now four distinct areas -- Maalaea, Kihei, Wailea, and Makena. Wailea condos are your gateway to one of the top golf destinations in the world. Wailea boasts three separate and highly acclaimed courses: the Gold Course, Emerald Course and Blue Course. All three courses are gorgeous and challenging. They have been written up in all major golf and leisure travel publications, including Golf Digest and Conde Nast Traveler. Two pro shops and excellent practice facilities are also on the grounds. Greens fees start at $115 per person. Check the Web site or call for reservations. It is recommended that you call as far in advance as possible; 30-days notice is required during peak season.

But a Maui vacation rental elsewhere on the amazing island of Maui also affords access to great golfing adventures. Elleair Maui Golf Club sits in the foothills of Haleakala, just high enough to afford spectacular ocean vistas from every hole. This is a course for golfers who love the views as much as the fairways and greens. It's very forgiving. Just one caveat: Go in the morning. Not only is it cooler, but, more important, it's also less windy. In the afternoon the winds bluster down Haleakala with great gusto. This is a fun course to play, with some challenging holes. The par-5 - 2nd hole is a virtual minefield of bunkers, and the par-5 - 8th hole shoots over a swale and then uphill. Facilities include a clubhouse, driving range, putting green, pro shop, and lessons.

Kaanapali Courses - Both courses at Kaanapali offer a challenge to all golfers, from high handicappers to near-pros. The par-72 - 6,305-yard North Course is a true Robert Trent Jones, Sr., design: an abundance of wide bunkers; several long, stretched-out tees; and the largest, most contoured greens on Maui. The tricky 18th hole (par 4 - 435 yd.) has a water hazard on the approach to the green. The par-72 - 6,250-yard South Course is an Arthur Jack Snyder design; although shorter than the North Course, it requires more accuracy on the narrow, hilly fairways. It also has a water hazard on its final hole, so don't tally up your score card until you sink the final putt. Facilities include a driving range, putting course, and clubhouse with dining. You'll have a better chance of getting a tee time on weekdays.

Makena Courses - Here you'll find 36 holes of "Mr. Hawaii Golf" -- Robert Trent Jones, Jr. -- at its best. Add to that spectacular views: Molokini islet looms in the background, humpback whales gambol offshore in winter, and the tropical sunsets are spectacular. The par-72 - 6,876-yard South Course has a couple of holes you'll never forget. The view from the par-4 - 15th hole, which shoots from an elevated tee 183 yards downhill to the Pacific, is magnificent. The 16th hole has a two-tiered green that's blind from the tee 383 yards away (that is, if you make it past the gully off the fairway). The par-72 - 6,823-yard North Course is more difficult and more spectacular. The 13th hole, located partway up the mountain, has a view that makes most golfers stop and stare. The next hole is even more memorable: a 200-foot drop between tee and green. Facilities include a clubhouse, a driving range, two putting greens, a pro shop, lockers, and lessons. Beware of weekend crowds.

Pukalani Country Club is a cool, par-72 - 6,962-yard course at 1,100 feet which offers a break from the resorts' high greens fees, and it's really fun to play. The 3rd hole offers golfers two different options: a tough (especially into the wind) iron shot from the tee, across a gully to the green; or a shot down the side of the gully across a second green into sand traps below. Most people choose to shoot down the side of the gully; it's actually easier than shooting across a ravine. High handicappers will love this course, and more experienced players can make it more challenging by playing from the back tees. Facilities include club and shoe rentals, practice areas, lockers, a pro shop, and a restaurant.

Waiehu Municipal Golf Course is a public, oceanside, par-72 golf course. Playing it is like playing two different courses: The first 9 holes, built in 1930, are set along the dramatic coastline, while the back 9 holes, added in 1966, head toward the mountains. It's a fun course that probably won't challenge your handicap. The only hazard here is the wind, which can rip off the ocean and play havoc with your ball. The only hole that can raise your blood pressure is the 511-yard, par-5, 4th hole, which is very narrow and very long. Facilities include a snack bar, driving range, practice greens, golf-club rental, and clubhouse. Because this is a public course, the greens fees are low -- but getting a tee time is tough.

So when you are planning a Hawaii vacation rental to make your golfing dreams come true, think of spectacular Maui!