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Kapalua Resort is located on the Hawaiian island of Maui, and it provides a vacation experience that very well may lead the pack among many of the nation's most popular resorts.

The Plantation course at Kapalua is where the PGA Tour professionals begin each seaso

n. It hosts the popular Mercedes-Benz Championship in January (which will now be known as the SBS Championship in coming years). The course was designed by golf legend Ben Crenshaw in collaboration with Bill Coore.

If you happen to be the daring golfer who tees it up from the tips, the Plantation course will be over 7,400 yards in length. However, as a resort course, Plantation provides a unique, memorable, and fun experience for golfers of all ages and abilities. The "Championship" tees play at a more manageable 7,200 yards - enough to give even very advanced players a challenge, and the "Regular" tees play at roughly 6,500 yards. These options are complemented by the "Forward" tees at close to 5,600 yards.

Though this is a course built for serious golfers, there are plenty of opportunities to in

dulge in the vacation experience.

The rolling fairways commonly overlook the Pacific Ocean, and you will certainly enjoy the views even if your game isn't holding up. The Plantation course offers what in my opinion is the consummate Hawaiian golf experience - a combination of great golf and the spirit of the island, all in one package.

In addition to the Plantation course, Kapalua also offers the Bay course. This course provides a more laid-back, "resort golf" feel that less experienced golfers may enjoy more than the extremely challenging Plantation layout.

The Bay course was designed by the Arnold Palmer, who in my opinion is the unchallenged master of creating fantastic resort courses. The "Championship" tees are only 6,600 yards, and the "Forward" tees provide a little over 5,100 yards of golf. The "Regular" tees, at around 6,000 yards, may provid

e a better experience for the intermediate golfer looking for a fun day of golf than the Bay's big brother would provide.

As noted, Kapalua is not only the home of several fantastic golf courses. It is also a gorgeous resort that will fill your vacation with endless entertainment. Kapalua Bay was actually ranked as "America's Best Beach," which says a lot considering how stiff the competition is.

On the resort, you can also enjoy access to a zipline, rock climbing, a pineapple plantation tour, as well as many other activities. A first-rate spa, not surprisingly, is also located on site.

In essence, Kapalua Bay is unique in providing its guests with virtually everything they would want to do on their ideal Hawaiian vacation within the confines of the resort.

Whether you are a zealous golfer or the wife of one, Kapalua Golf Resort will give any guest a memorable experience. The golf courses are superb, and the amenities the resort offers are unparalleled. Certainly, Kapalua Plantation is a "must play" if you are in the area.

For more information, make sure to check out the resort's website. You can learn more about scheduling a trip or getting a tee time at one of the resort's courses.