Golf In Ireland — It's A Different Game Folks

Golf in Ireland — It’s a totally different game folks

PART 1 of 2

By Gord Montgomery

NORTH IRELAND — It’s surprising how different the game of golf is in other parts of the world. Take Northern Ireland for example. Sure the game is the same in that you still have to get the ball from Point A to Point B, and then into that tiny little hole in the ground. But at the same time, the routing to the finish line, especially in the links style of the game, is so convoluted in spots that you wonder how the game you know is even related to this style.

Yes, links golf is a unique challenge. Here, shots three feet off the ground stand a somewhat better chance of getting where you want quicker than those big, magnificently high shots common in North America. It’s not uncommon to see someone pull their putter out for a shot from 80 yards off the green, and all your wedges, save the sand one, are at best extra luggage.

Also, don’t go traipsing off to this golfing wonderland expecting to see well manicured lawns and pretty flowers. Don’t expect beautiful, towering trees or short rough alongside pristine fairways. Or for that matter, even great sunny weather. No, what you’re in for in Ireland is what the true golf game is all about — tangly, club-snagging rough; bunkers deep enough to require a safety harness in order to get in, and out; very few, if any, trees; and fairways with a different feel to them than the lush lawns we’re used to in North America.

One of the things you learn here, and learn quickly, is that range finders are a rather mute subject. After all, given the somewhat divot-resistance of the turf especially with wedge shots and the small, firm greens, exact yardages are at best a guesstimate. What you need here, more than anything, is a good short game comprised of all manner of bump-and-run shots. Those also help when the wind is gusting in off the water. Remember, these are fairways you can stroke a putt down for 50 or 60 yards before ever getting to the actual putting surface but which are difficult to lob a wedge into the green from.

And oh yeah. Don’t forget about the famous Irish weather. Above all else, make sure you’re ready for the elements. It’s windy. It’s wet. And it’s wild. But that, simply, is what golf in the Emerald Isle is all about After all, you’re about to be surrounded by historic golf courses that both embrace you with their wide open vistas and then rebuff you with their huge, intimidating bunker complexes and gorse thick enough to lose a sheep in for a month at a time.

Simply put, this beatific spot in the golf kingdom is second to none and the challenges the courses present are ones you’ll store away forever.

When you consider many of the top-rated layouts in Ireland were designed in the late 1800s, with horse and plough, these works are simply amazing. They’re carved out of the land in a way where the ground is the master of its own domain. What Mother Earth gave the architects, they took and those suggestions have more than stood the test of time.

Annesley Links

With over 300 courses across Ireland, you must note that not all the good courses come up in conversations, for whatever reason. One track that’s a true delight is Annesley Links, the little sister to a big name, Royal County Down. That being said, the ‘tiny’ tyke more than holds her own on the wind-swept sand dunes in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. While playing to only 4,594 yards from the Medal Tees, Annesley Links plays second fiddle to no one, even the larger, more infamous Championship Links right beside it.

We used Annesley as a warm-up to more than anything avoid jet lag by hitting the hay upon arrival in Ireland. What we got was a great wake-up call. Despite the descriptor “Wee Links” used by locals this loop illustrates what awaits you down the line. The longest hole here is a mere 400 yards, yet given the wind and the terrain, it can seem like 4,000 yards if you go even a little offline.

While a newer offering than the Championship Links, Annesley sits among the same great visuals. The intimidating sand dunes, said to be over 5,000 years old, bring on calf-burning agony the next day should you need to wander into them after a wayward volley. The Murlough Nature Reserve provides the stunning, dune-covered landscape and this little beauty is a great way to kick off what’s most certainly a memorable journey.

Royal County Down

Founded in 1888 as a 9-hole venue, this well known layout has the touches of the famed Old Tom Morris upon it. He was invited over from Scotland to advise on the construction of the second nine and it, as well as the front half, live up to what one expects to find in true links golf. The turf is firm and rolling, the bunkers are small, but deep and devious, and the greens are large with undulation that test the mettle of the very best short-stick men in the world.

This stretch of grass, heather and gorse is set off by an astounding view of the Mountains of Mourne. The most notable of holes on the front may well be the 9th, a stunning par-4 where players launch their tee shot from an elevated box, across a gorge, onto a fairway that lies 60 feet below the teeing area. Landing in the short grass here is only half the battle on this 427-yard test — your approach into the elevated green is also one where composure is of the utmost importance as you seek par. With the  Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in the background, this is a photo op you don’t want to miss.

Playing this course is challenge enough, but we played it in a driving rainstorm that, according to my caddie for the day, Andy Kidd,“was a true taste of Irish golf.” The dunes here are imposing, as is the rough, and if you amble away from the landing areas you’re going to pay a price — sometimes in lost balls, other times in unbelievably sore leg muscles the next day. And a word of advice — if you hit a ball into the gorse, leave it in the gorse. That stuff is nasty!

Over its decades of existence, Royal County Downs has hosted any number of high-end tourneys, beginning in 1893 when the second Irish Open Amateur Championship and continuing on from there. And if you’re wondering how hard a course like this can be, remember that Rory McIlroy once took a ’10’ on the par 3, 144-yard 7th hole in the Irish Open and missed the cut. I think I did him one better though, losing two balls in the tangle of gorse below the teeing ground, after trying to keep my shot low into the gusting wind!

A word of advice here:  Make absolutely sure you play the right tees at Royal County Down. We played the Yellow Blocks at 6,600-plus yards and given the sideways rain and 40mph winds, that proved to be a bit much. Well, a lot much!

Even so, this is a great way to experience links golf on a great layout, and this round served to whet our appetite for what lay ahead, despite what the scorecards read at the end of the day.

Bedding down

While Royal County Down does’t partner up with the hotel right in its backyard, there’s no doubt you’ll want to experience the hospitality and comfort of the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa. This is a beautiful facility with rooms far larger than one expects in Europe and it includes all the amenities one could ever hope for, no matter what part of the world you’re in.

This home to luxury holds 180 rooms, including 100 new Executive and Resort rooms and six magnificent suites, many of which have stunning panoramic views over the Mountains of Mourne and the County Down coastline. All the rooms are finished in tasteful, traditional styles with every modern comfort. Add this to the spa facilities and proximity to one of the world’s finest golf courses and you have a holiday destination capable of proudly taking stage with the world’s best resorts.

Each room consists of a huge bathroom, complete with a soaker tub and separate shower and thick, fluffy towels. As for the main room, there is a comfortable conversation area with a sofa and chairs which provides wonderful views of the garden area and Royal County Down GC, or spectacular seascape vistas. The beds are second to none meaning you awake each day feeling refreshed and ready to head out on yet another Irish adventure, be it golf, hiking, or simply sightseeing in the pretty little seaside town of Newcastle.

The Spa at Slieve Donard plays second fiddle to none. It is situated over two floors, with stunning views across the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains and includes a 20 metre swimming pool as well as what’s known as a vitality pool. There are also a range of heat experiences and a high tech fitness studio.

At the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa the food experiences focus on using the finest fresh local seasonal produce to create an array of delicious menus. Breakfast, dinner, Afternoon Tea and Sunday Lunch are served in the famous Oak Restaurant, with its charming beams and fabulous central fireplace. The hotel boasts an extensive range of dining and socializing options including, Chaplin’s Bar and the Lighthouse Lounge.

Needless to say, after a day of walking one of the two golf courses, shopping in town, or hiking in the nearby mountains, the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa is a great choice to spend the night, recharging your inner battery for the next day’s Northern Ireland adventure.

In Part 2 of his Irish Adventure, writer Gord Montgomery heads to three more phenomenal links golf courses including Ardglass, Royal Portrush and Portstewart, plus he sets up camp in the fantastic Bushmills Inn, voted as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the UK in both 2016 and 2017.

The Wigwam offers guests everything they could want in a holiday spot

PHOENIX, Arizona (Gord Montgomery/iG) — If you’re looking for a relaxing warm weather spot to settle down for a bit this winter that offers great recreational amenities, food, and entertainment options as well as some amazing history, than look no further then the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park.

The sprawling 440 acre site, located just west of Phoenix, is one great spot to settle in and enjoy the fine things in life including three great golf courses, nine excellent tennis courts, three swimming pools, fine and casual dining, a superb spa and of all things, a beer donkey!

The Original Building Constructed By The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Is Still Standing, And Still In Use Today At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

Now in its 85th year, the Wigwam is designated as a Historic Hotel of America and rightfully so. Saved from bankruptcy by its present ownership group, this famed resort complex was originally founded by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, who made use of the cotton in the area to extend the life of their tires. The original building from way back when is still standing, and is used today as the main office building of the resort.

The Wigwam Kept A Lot Of Its History Over The Years, Including A Large Number Of Wonderful Photos, Such As This One Showing Workers Picking Cotton Which Was At One Time Grown On The Land Where The Resort Now Sits. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

In all there are 331 rooms  here, spread out over the landscape in one- and two-storey buildings. All the rooms are spacious and offer patios and decks to enjoy the fine outdoor weather. There are also 70 luxurious suites and two presidential suites, the Oraibi and the Bacabi. The Oraibi Suite offers 5,000 square feet, including a parlour-style sitting room and patio lounge and a private bedroom that can accommodate up to 40 people for a party and sleeps eight. The Bacabi Suite spans 3,500 square feet with separate bedroom suite with private entrance, sitting area and patio and sleeps up to six, making both of these great spots to set up camp for a family gathering or a buddy sports junket.
The other, smaller scale rooms run from 480-square feet up to 1,000-square feet in the one- and two-bedroom suites. All are decorated in a southwestern motif and are spotlessly clean.

With Three 18-Hole Golf Courses On The Property, Everyone Should Certainly Get Their Fair Share Of Playing While Staying At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

As for the golf here, well, it is truly like nowhere else in the valley. The Gold Course, designed originally by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., is the granddaddy of them all and is a 7,400 yard parkland style layout, something not seen on a regular basis in the desert. There are two other courses on site and guests at the Wigwam have the ability to play two other local tracks, including the Arizona Biltmore Country Club.

A Locally Grown Orange Is Always High On The List Of Fresh Farm To Table Cuisine That Is Highlighted In The Restaurants At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

When hunger strikes and you go looking for a great venue, you know you’re in the right spot when you come upon local residents showing up at the resort for a meal. That’s the case virtually every night at Litchfield’s, a top-end fine dining establishment where the menu features farm-to-table cuisine emphasizing fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as locally produced meats, cheeses, wines and other delicacies. For more casual fare, there are two other great spots on the grounds, Red’s, which is a sports oriented establishment and the Wigwam Bar, a spot not only to savour great food but a place to meet old, or new, friends in a casual indoor/outdoor setting.
And if you’re a sports fan, be it football, hockey or baseball, the Wigwam is the place you want to settle down, be it for a weekend or a week or two. The resort is only minutes away from the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, and several Major League Baseball teams who show up for Spring Training. Teams that work out, and play here during the Cactus League season include the Cleveland Indians, the LA Dodgers, the Chicago Whitesox, the Seattle Mariners, the Kansas City Royals (whose upper management at one time stayed at the Wigwam), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and if you want to venture a bit further east, the always popular Chicago Cubs, among others.

One Of The Three Swimming Pools On The Grounds At The Wigwam Where There Is Plenty Of Room To Lay Back And Enjoy The Warm Arizona Sun. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

So whether you’re looking to get away for a while to simply relax by the pool in the sun to escape the northern cold, or you want to golf or play tennis until your arms ache, eat exquisite meals, enjoy professional sports or just explore the area, then you want to explore the possibility of staying at one great, and historic, area resort, the Wigwam.
For more on the Wigwam Resort, go to their website at wigwamarizona.com.

Troon North Moonument Course Back In Business After Restoration Project

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

SCOTTSDALE, AZ. — After a four-month restoration project by Tom Lehman, which focused on the greens and bunkering, the high regarded Troon North Monument Golf Course, located in Scottsdale, AZ., is again open for business.

The redesign was actually a step back in time, if you will, as the green complexes were restored to their former size and shape when this track was first constructed by Tom Weiskopf. To ensure he stuck faithfully to that original design, Lehman and his work crew utilized the same GPS coordinates as Weiskopf .

The putting surfaces were re-sodded with creeping A4 bent grass and the fringe areas were redone using TifGrand semi-dwarf Bermuda grass. What came from that are large greens that run extremely well with subtle breaks throughout the surfaces.

Both the greens and bunkers on the Monument Course at Troon North have been taken back to their original Tom Weiskopf specs, after restoration by Tom Lehman.

The second part of the upgrades were to the bunkers and that included updating the drainage in all greenside and fairway traps, new bunker liners and new Pioneer bunker sand.

The renovations at Monument are the first major changes to the award-winning course in a decade.

“We are committed to providing our guests with the finest course conditions on the planet at our flagship facility,” said Dana Garmany, the chairman and CEO of Troon, in a news article. “Through these green and bunker enhancements on Monument, we are proactively improving and reinvesting in one of the top daily-fee courses in the nation.”

The Monument’s sister course, Pinnacle, will also undergo a facelift in the spring and summer of 2018, meaning the two will retain their place in the upper echelons of public golf courses not only in Arizona but in the USA.

Troon North’s Monument course is ranked number 58 on GOLF Magazine's ranking of the 2016/2017 "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States.” In addition, GOLF Magazine named Monument the  No. 4 golf course in Arizona in their ranking of "Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona,” which is just part of the long list of accolades it, and Pinnacle, have earned over the last few years.

*With file from morningread.com

Mom's Suggestion Pays Off In Big Way For Headcover CEO

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

PHOENIX, AZ. — Don’t ever let anyone tell you that parents don’t know what they’re talking about. Just ask Jane Spicer.

As a teen, Spicer was into making hand puppets with the hankering to own her own car.  Through some wise advise from her mother, she got that vehicle … along with a company that is renowned throughout the golf world for making the most popular headcovers.

Long before that type of golf gear was popular, Spicer took the bull by the horns — and yes, she probably has crafted more than one of those animals — during the 38 years Daphne’s Headcovers has been in business.

“Headcovers just didn’t exist and I was making puppets, and my mom, Daphne, the company’s namesake, had a customer suggest we make head covers. My mom bribed me and said, “I’ll tell you what. If you sell enough of these I’ll buy you a car. I was almost 16, so I made some samples and went out and gave a bunch of bad sales pitches and Daphne’s Headcovers was born.”

While the idea has become so popular that two high echelon pros use them — Dustin Johnson has a black lab on his driver and Lydia Ko has the Snowman on hers. But back when she was starting out, sales weren’t all that easy, Spicer noted. And in 2017, Daphne’s teamed up with one of the biggest hitters ever on the PGA TOUR, when she teamed up with John Daly who stated, “So, make sure when you cover  up that hot driver, make sure it’s a ‘Grip It and Rip It’ John Daly Lion Headcover by Daphne’s!”

“We really had to work at it. I’d sale I was a sales rep, and as a 16-year-old sales rep, they wouldn’t let me in the golf shop. Then I’d say I was selling animal headcovers  and they’d go, ‘What? What’s that?’

“But, it was a slow and steady growth and now we’re in over 75 countries,” with all a menagerie that includes cats, penguins, moose, tigers, lions , well you name a species and Daphne’s has likely created some version of it. In fact, the company presently has 75 different designs on hand and turns out a new one each and every year.

What is perhaps a popular sales idea, besides the cuteness of these headcovers, is that they all carry an unbeatable guarantee.

“We are the only head cover company in the world with a lifetime guarantee,” said Spicer, who acts as the company CEO. “Our quality remains our passion.”

Besides driver covers, Daphne’s also has sleeves for fairway woods and hybrids and they’re available at a number of golfing outlets or through the company’s website at daphnesheadcovers.com.

The company is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ., with a factories in China and Indonesia.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail a tribute to Canadian architect Thompson

By Gord Montgomery - INSIDE GOLF

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA — Even though the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is miles south of the 49th Parallel, there are hints of Canadiana spread out all over this world famous destination. After all, the man that created the Trail was tutored by the best known architect to ever come from the Great White North.

Among many others, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was a disciple of Stanley Thompson’s back in the day. As such, it’s easy to see that the Canadian’s ideas, and philosophies on building outstanding golf courses with exceptional playability and sight lines, took root with the famed American designer.

As for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2017, it stretches through greater Alabama. The Trail itself boasts 26 different courses at 11 sites, running from Hampton Cove in the north down to Magnolia Grove in the southern part of the state. The Trail’s terrain varies from location to location, from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the flatlands of the Gulf of Mexico in the south. All the courses are within an easy drive of each other, making them accessible and well worth the travel time to play.

Following in his mentor’s footsteps, Jones was of the mind that a score of par should be a challenge to one’s game and skill, or as he put it, “not easy to come by.” At the same time, if that number escapes you, holes are set up so that a bogey isn’t all that hard to come by.

Another key element of his teacher’s lessons are the visuals presented at the courses he built. Whether you’re looking from tee to green, or in the reverse direction, the lines are true and it’s easy to see the obstacles that lay in front of you, or those that you’ve managed to avoid on your way to the putting surface.

The Beginnings

Interestingly enough, Jones wasn’t the first designer approached about constructing a golf trail through Alabama in hopes of encouraging tourism. Big names like Nicklaus and Palmer turned aside the chance to put their names on this golfing paradise and eventually Jones was lured out of retirement to create this ever-lasting legacy to his, and his mentor’s, name.

Since the inception of the Trail, tourism has boomed in Alabama, exactly what the visionaries hoped for when this idea first arose. It’s said that the state’s visitor numbers have risen sharply from 2 million a year to over 8 million now, thanks in large part to the Trail and its unique, fun, and gorgeous offerings. While the Trail wasn’t created to make money, the latest stats available suggest there are more than 500,000 rounds played on it each year, making for a huge economic spinoff not only for the courses but the area’s hotels, restaurants, craft breweries and businesses.

In constructing the Trail, Jones adhered to what Thompson preached: 1) unforgettable views; 2) natural features such as rivers, lakes, trees, good soil; and, 3) environment.
He also followed, at least for the most part, the best way to lay out a course as seen by his Canadian mentor — an easy, aesthetic start with a long, strong finish.

While Thompson felt there shouldn’t be any par 3 holes before the 4th or 5th assignments of the day or after the 16th hole, Jones did step outside the parameters here, at on at least a couple of his designs. At The Shoals, The Schoolmaster has a beautiful little short hole up second on the scorecard while Fighting Joe wraps up its demands with par 3s on both nine and 18 .

But when you look at what he created, not only for golfers but for the State of Alabama, Jones can certainly be forgiven for those small flaws!

Kananaskis Country's Mt. Lorette As Good As New

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

KANANASKIS COUNTRY — To hear Bob Paley tell the tale, the expected closure of the Kananaskis Country Golf Course back in 2013 wasn’t expected to be all that long. Little did he know the trouble that was tumbling down the mountainside.

Paley, the had pro at the gorgeous mountainside tracks in Alberta, explained that on June 20, 2013, he received a phone call from the courses’ GM, Darren Robinson, about some rain that was falling.

“He told me, “I think we’re going to be closed for a couple of weeks,” Paley told a group of specially invited guests who were involved in one of a dozen Sneak Peek events surrounding the reopening of the Mt. Loretta course.

That “couple of weeks,” turned into a much longer spell but now 18 of the 36 heavenly holes have been restored after a hellacious four years of planning, work stoppages due to a change in provincial government, and more bad weather. While Lorette is back in tip-top shape and ready for the general public to return next spring, the Mt. Kidd course is still in the rebuild stage. It too though will be open for play in 2018.

Golfers from Alberta, and the rest of the world, will soon be flocking back through the gates at the beautiful Kananaskis Country Golf Course to play Mt. Lorette in the spring, and Mt. Kidd in June or July.

This all started when the tiny Evan Thomas Creek roiled over its banks, joining the Kananaskis River and running rampant over the pristine golf playpens built back in the early 1980s by the Conservative Government with money from the Heritage Trust Fund.

Robinson, often choked up by his recollections of those tumultuous times, noted that “two to three thousand trees,” along with boulders and silt were spilled across the two courses. In the end, days of heavy rain falling on a huge snowpack in the mountains resulted in 32 of the 36 holes being partially or fully destroyed.

The GM called in Gary Browning, a Calgary golf course architect who had lost out on the original design to the famed Robert Trent Jones, to assess the damages. Browning reassured Robinson that he could handle the task of a clean-up/rebuild, though he admitted quietly the task did appear overwhelming, a thought he wasn’t sharing with anyone else.

While it looks anything but intimidating here, the Kananaskis River along with the Evan Thomas, caused massive damage to the Rocky Mountain beauties when the overflowed their banks in June 2013.

To speed up the recovery of the area, 625,000 square feet of Alberta-grown sod was put down on the fairways. The sand for the spectacular bunker complexes around Lorette was brought in from Golden, B.C., and the grass for the greens, which were in unbelievable condition for the third week of September, was grown in Abbotsford, B.C.

Mt. Lorette did have a few minor tweaks done as it was restored, including the moving of the green on Hole 14, a par five. The putting surface was shifted away from the river and a wildlife corridor and while that took away a beautiful sightline from the previous layout, the new green still makes a par on this hole a great score.

Another change that may not even be noticeable to some is the change to the green complex on No. 18. A false front has been added on this par 4, making the approach shot a little tougher as anything that land short ends up stopping in its tracks instead of trundling up to the green.

But all in all, the restoration here is spectacular and now the course goes to sleep for the winter. But be assured, when Mt. Lorette opens in the spring and Mt. Kidd joins the party in late June or July, the Kananaskis Country Golf Course will be everything it ever was previously —  even if it did take a bit longer than a couple of weeks to reopen.

While no rates or online booking dates have yet been set for the 2018 season, they will be announced in the coming weeks and everyone will be made aware of those. Or as Paley put it, “That will be the worst kept secret of the year!”

The view from the 18th tee box at Mt. Lorette is sure to stick with you as you wrap up a great round of golf at Kananaskis.

The Ka'anapali Alii is a condo unit that's a cut above in Maui

By Gord Montgomery (iG)
LAHAINA, MAUI - If you're looking for luxury as well as ocean access on Ka'anapali Beach in Maui, then you need go no farther than the Alii condo resort.

Nestled up tight to the beautiful blue Pacific, the Ka’anapali Alii has everything families or golfing buddies could want for comfort, convenience and amenities.

In an area of the world where it seems every resort amenity comes at a cost, the Alii is different. The 263 1- and 2-bedroom units boast free Internet, free parking, no daily resort fee and maybe best of all, sun, sand and surf that cost you nothing to enjoy.

The fully furnished units here range in size from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet with two bathrooms, a separate dining area and spacious lanais to enjoy the sun and the outstanding ocean and courtyard views. As well, there are three clay-based tennis courts with a pro on staff for those looking to play a few sets or pick up a few pointers. And if you're into golf, you are only minutes away from the famed Ka'anapali pair of the Royal and Kai courses.

The wonderful courtyard grounds here include a heated swimming pool, aa quiet pool, a kids' pool and two hot tubs. Also on the grounds is a great outdoor grilling area, where guests/owners are free to whip up a feast for their family and friends. Or, if needed, there is a grill master now on site to lend a hand with those big cooking jobs. As well, there is an herb garden right beside the grills, meaning that whatever spicing up you feel your meal needs, it's close at hand.

Top all that off with a state of the art fitness centre to maybe work off any excess indulging you do, and a spa to aid in working out the stressers of everyday life and you know you've found a special spot in paradise.

The friendliness of everyone encamped at the Kaanapali Alii is noticeable, especially in the common areas around the pools, bar-b-que and pavilion areas on the spacious grounds. Several owners mentioned that as a key selling point for them and visitors are always made to feel welcome, with the first question often asked around the grilling area is, "Where are you from and how long are you here?" leading to lengthy conversations about the weather back home - and usually how much snow they just received there - as well as things to do on this beautiful island.

Another nice benefit of staying at the Alii is the fact they partner with a group of hotels and restaurants along the beautiful Ocean Walk immediately in front of this property, to provide charge accounts to your condo. The Kaanapali Alii doesn't have an eating establishment of its own, but that's of little consequence given the partnerships established with such places at the Lahaina Grill, the Ka'anapali Golf Course, The Westin, the Marriott's restaurants and bars and their health club and the Maui Sheraton which both feature fine dining choices.

Also close by is Whaler's Village, featuring a unique variety of upscale botique shops featuring not only local clothing and jewelry designs but artwork and great eating spots. The good news is it is a quick five-minute walk along the famed Ka'anaplie Beach.

So, if you want luxury and a spot right in the heart of one of the most vibrant parts of Maui, you need look no farther than the Ka'anapali Alii for all those special touches that makes a vacation here an extra special time.

For more on the Alii and rates, call them toll-free at 1-888-722-6284 or their website is at kaanapalialii.com.