I will be in Maui for about a week during July.  I will be there with some friends, one of whom is getting married.  There will be plenty to celebrate, and I'm not inclined to take my clubs unless there are suggestions for must-play courses.  Is there any reason to schlepp my clubs cross country?

I was there in 2003 on my honeymoon and I didn't take my clubs (for obvious reasons).  But I did play Kapalua Plantation and I'm glad I did and I rented clubs.  It's definitely worth it to play there, but why not rent instead of lugging your sticks all the way over there?  I can't say if the other courses at Kapalua are worth it since I didn't play the others.  I'm sure others on this site can give you input on those.
I stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea and from what I heard, at least one of the courses in Wailea is worth playing.  I think a senior event is played there.
OT-If you get a chance, do the Maui Downhill bike ride down Haleakala.  Awesome, gravity-assisted trip down the volcano.

If that is the case--I'd go out of my way for a course the caliber of the Plantation. (The other two courses at Kapalua are fine, but not worth giving up a single round on C&C's course.)

Like Pete, I honeymooned in Maui. Didn't do the Haleakala bike ride, but we did drive to the top of the volcano (10,000 feet, bring a sweater) and then hiked way down into the crater. That was great, but the hike back up....wasn't.

Even better is setting out early in the day to drive the Hana highway. (It's very popular with tourists--best to get through Kahului before 9 AM or so.) The "highway" is about 50 miles long, but will take you half the day to drive. The rainforest out there is absurdly beautiful--by the end of the day you'll be driving right past idyllic waterfalls plunging ten stories, because you'll already have seen several dozen of them. The locals set up little shacks along the roadway selling the most amazing banana bread and fish tacos imaginable. In Hana Town, Hamoa Beach is  perfect for body surfing. Sure, it's touristy, but the Hana Road has countless treasures, great and small.  

Absolutely, take your clubs and play the Plantation course.  Wailea is good but I think Makena's are even better.  But take the ferry to Lanai and play the Challenge at Manele Bay.  It makes for a great day.

Regarding the Road to Hana, don't drive it yourself.  Take a tour van.  The hairpin turns are crazy, sometimes in spots where the road is about a car length wide and on the edge of a cliff a thousand feet above the ocean and rocks.  You're going to be concentrating so much on the driving, you won't enjoy the ride.  Plus, the tour van drivers give you the running narrative, complete with corny jokes and info on who owns what piece of unbelievable property.
Also, the highest rated Luau in Hawaii is the Old Lahaina Luau, right where you're staying.  A little pricey, but definitely worth it.  

JAL,

   I second the sentiment to bring your clubs(Kapalua Plantation, Makena North & Wailea Gold are the island's best 18's by far), but differ on a few Maui experiences. I assume you will be there in the next few months and therefore privy to the big wind/wave season. The Island's Northshore (from Hana to through to Kahului is perhaps the "Pine Valley" of wind/wave sports.

   At Hookipa's public park (set on a bluff over Eastern side of the reef break) you will witness the world's very best Wind & Kite Surfers skying off of clean reef-breaking wave sets that hammer the island every day starting about 10-11am. Go into the quaint town of Paia and grab a "shave" (ice-made flavored drinks from coffee-to any fruit) and head down to the beach to watch these spectacular athletes throw themselves 20-30 feet up in the air and land with ulitmate precision. Slightly further west of Hookipa is the friendly beach of Sprecklesville where even more wind and kite surfers play the wind and waves. As someone who used to sail & kite here, it is really and easily the very best site in the world to participate and spectate at.

  As for the drive to Hana, it is a slog, albeit a beautiful one and the idea of others driving is wise. Given that it does take nearly a full day, I'd recommend either the ferry to Lanai (for wonderfully beautiful and solid golf) or the Haleakala Bike Ride. Both are way more fun.

   Lahaina (an old Hawaiian Whaling & Fishing village) is very touristy and overdeveloped. So is Kannapali. A better experience would be had by heading out to Kihei, Paia, or anywhere "Upcountry, (Kula or Makawao)" (the hills) for food and sights.

   The restaurants are plentiful, but my all-time favorite is easily the Hannimaille General Store in Makawao for upscale and the Paia Fish Mkt. for downscale. Both serve lunch or dinner and are not to be missed.

   Sorry to babble, but I used to go to Maui every year for nearly a decade (to surf, etc) and simply love everyhting about the island. IM me if you want more.

   

Even better is setting out early in the day to drive the Hana highway. (It's very popular with tourists--best to get through Kahului before 9 AM or so.) The "highway" is about 50 miles long, but will take you half the day to drive. The rainforest out there is absurdly beautiful--by the end of the day you'll be driving right past idyllic waterfalls plunging ten stories, because you'll already have seen several dozen of them.

Seconded.  And don't miss the bamboo forest; it is one of the most sublime places I have ever been in my life.  The bamboo must be 100 feet tall, and so thick that you will think you are lost.

http://www.pbase.com/klspalding/image/13709012

I will be in Maui for about a week during July.  I will be there with some friends, one of whom is getting married.  There will be plenty to celebrate, and I'm not inclined to take my clubs unless there are suggestions for must-play courses.  Is there any reason to schlepp my clubs cross country?

Take the clubs and play Kapalua Plantation and Wailea Gold.  Royal Kanapali is also not bad.
Best
Dave

I went to Maui for 8 days this past Christmas break and had the time of my life. Took my clubs and played golf once at Makena North...enjoyed playing golf, just to say I did it, but I'm not sure it was worth the hassle of lugging the sticks around...If I went back, I would not take them and would rent if I decided to play golf (would play Plantation course for sure, but they were preparing for the Mercedes when I was there).

Without a doubt, the Road to Hana was the best thing we did while there. DO NOT take a tour bus unless you want to feel rushed through things and only make predetermined stops. We did an hour or so worth of research and talked to a few locals and saw so many hidden beauties that the tour busses drove right past. Take your time, make a day of it, and enjoy the natural beauty of the island...a can't miss! We also did the Haleakala bike ride...what a blast! But if you're not up for the whole bike tour, try to at least get up real early one morning and drive to the top of the volcano for the sunrise (it is quite cold up there at 10,000 feet). Definitely take your time, relax, check out the beaches, and enjoy the island...I had the time of my life.

-Nate (The Gecko)

BTW, the great thing about the Plantation Course is getting the trade winds one day and a Kona wind the next, it's an incredible difference.

Add me to on the Kapaula Plantation's a must play bandwagon.  Just one tip:  don't even try to walk, if that's your thing.  Golf is meant to be fun, not a survival test.

 

Jason - wow - your Dad was right - carts on path only would be absolutely exhausting, more so than walking most likely.  Some of those fairways are HUGE....

If you get that rule, run, don't walk to another course.  It's not THAT great.

Lots of great advice above!!!

Steve Lapper got it right...go to the Hali'imaile General Store (Check it out! Restaurant Webiste )  The day my wife and I went the waitress began to tell us that day's specials, and that one of them was not available yet because the boat had not brought in today's catch...now THAT'S FRESH!!!

As for a sunrise/bike tour down Haleakala...absolutely go for it!  Also, do it during the first few days of your trip if you can, so that getting up at 3am is not such a big deal to your body time.  We went up with the Haleakala Bike Co...they took us to a "separate" lookout point just outside the state park entrance which was much more secluded and it was awe-inspriring!  We were then given mountain bikes (instead of beach cruisers) and were allowed to glide down the volcano at our lesiure without the tour groups...we much more relaxing and fun!  We also stopped at Kula Lodge on the way down for brunch...a GREAT little diversion from our ride and the food was quite good.  Give it a try!

A snorkeling trip out to Molokini Creator is another fun thing to do.  You leave from Lahaina Harbor and snorkeling in the cone of a dormant volcano...they may also take you over to "turtle town" near the coast where Wailea is located...awesome experience to swim with sea turtles.

As for golf...bring your own sticks, play Kapalua Plantation and any of the courses at Makena and Wailea...you will NOT be dissapointed.

Have a great time JAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!