WAILEA, MAUI - As the business world of golf changes, so must golf courses change their offerings to the public in order to keep people interested in using their facilities. And that doesn't always mean just offering services dealing strictly with the game itself.
That's the case at the Wailea Blue Course in Maui, where general manager Barry Halle is still offering up some great golf deals. But now, there's more on tap than just golf, although the golf course does still come into play.
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| The Blue's GM, Barry Halle. |
Halle explained that the GolfB.C.-owned course has stepped outside the box to draw non-golfers to his grounds for a Maui-oriented attraction - the beautiful sunsets.
"We have the Sunset Golf Tour," Halle explained, noting this is for anyone that wants a unique, Made-In-Maui evening. "A couple can come out late in the afternoon before sunset. We give them a brochure that highlights some spots on the course to stop where the best views are. As part of the package, if they want, we'll provide them with a bottle of wine, a couple of complimentary wine glasses and they can work their way around to our 17th fairway where they watch the sun go down into the ocean."
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| Sunsets like this are one of the new offerings that the Wailea Blue Golf Course is offering up, for those who are non-golfers. |
As for the golf, well, the course that set the standard for such playgrounds in Maui, still remains a staple for residents and visitors alike. And even though there were some changes a couple of years back, the history of the layout remains much the same.
"We've tried to keep it the classic course it was," Halle said, referring to the pro shop moving and the nines being switched. "We tried to minimize any major changes. People come here year after year and they love our big, wide fairways," along with the big greens, bunkers and holes.
"When the course was first built, it was actually the first thing built in Wailea," so the course architect had lots of room to lay down his work of art. "It was designed with character. The neat thing about it is you don't have to stress the tee shot, you're not going to spray it out of bounds most times," said Halle. "The equalizer for the low handicapper might be the greens. They're not the easiest greens to get used to," with elevation changes and Bermuda grass with its finicky grain.
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| The Blue is an old fashioned sort of course, with large fairways and greens, and yes, large bunkers as well. |
As for drawing players into this course, the Blue does offer some great deals. Halle said there are a couple in particular that will interest Canadians, given the weak state of our dollar.
"One thing we've tried to position the Blue with in the golf market on Maui is it's the course with the best value. We offer a resort golf experience but we do offer value," including early-bird specials each day from 7 to 8:30 a.m. where players can save upwards of $30 per round. As well, the Twilight Rate starts here at noon each day, and there is a Super Twilight rate.
Something else that's new at the Blue is the 9-hole round. That was something that couldn't be offered before because the way the course set up, the clubhouse was only approached at the start and end of a round. That's now a thing of the past however with the new building in play.
Kids are also welcome at the Blue, and receive special attention. "After three o'clock, with an adult, kids are free," Halle pointed out. "And until the run out, we offer junior (rental) sets for free. We try to encourage kids. During the summer we do a family rate," and there is also a 4-passenger golf cart so dad (or mom) can load the kids up for a round while the other parent if off elsewhere taking care of business.
Above all else though Halle stressed, there is one major objective that the Blue, and Wailea Golf, have in mind - customer service.
"First and foremost we're really committed to offering a first-class experience. We want people to come here and just enjoy themselves. We haven't cut back on amenities or the service levels we offer. If anything, we've tried to step it up and yet our rates are pretty much the same. We try to stay on top of trends but the one thing we're very committed to is the golf experience, the experience people get when they come here."
And at the Blue Course, be you a golfer or not, you're sure to enjoy your outing here whether it's in search of birdies, or sunsets, or both.
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