Have you ever taken a tennis vacation? If you're a tennis enthusiast, and love to be surrounded by spectacular scenery, Kapalua is the place for you. There is a downside to paradise - you can easily become distracted by the sweeping ocean views, which could have an adverse effect on your tennis game. Then again, a few double faults here and there are probably worth the risk to experience the beautiful landscape of Hawaii.

The tennis facilities that make up Kapalua are The Tennis Garden and The Village Tennis Center. The "Garden", opened in 1979, is adjacent to the Kapalua Bay Hotel and has 10 plexipave courts (4 lighted for night use). The courts are situated on a hillside in clusters, each surrounded with beautiful landscaping. The "Village" is the newer of the two facilities, located at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. In contrast to the Garden, the Village is just steps away from the Pacific Ocean, with panoramic views of neighboring islands. The Village also offers 10 plexipave courts (5 lighted for night use), giving the Kapalua tennis facility a total of 20 courts for use by tennis enthusiasts.

Need a match? The Kapalua tennis staff specializes in matchmaking for tennis players. They can arrange for a singles or doubles match, at either the Garden or Village courts. All you have to do is drop by either of the facilities and fill out a registration card indicating your preferences and level of play (based on the NTRP rating categories).

Tennis activities are plentiful at Kapalua, with numerous clinics and events scheduled every day of the week - Stroke of the Day, Mixed Doubles Round Robin, Drop-in Tennis, Ladies Clinic and Men's Clinic. These are offered free or for a minimal fee, and are subject to change, so check with the pro shop when you get there.

Tennis is an activity for the whole family, so bring the kids too. Kapalua has an active tennis program for kids, with junior clinics offered throughout the week for beginners through ranked tournament players.

If that's not enough tennis for you, Kapalua also offers private and group lessons, with video taping, plus ball machine rental and even a hopper of balls. If you neglected to bring your tennis racquets or shoes with you on this vacation, they are available at the pro shop for a small daily rental fee. You will also want to check out the Kapalua logo tennis wear, towels and balls at the pro shop - you'll find some great souvenirs to take home.

Keep in mind that it does rain on this side of the island, so beware if you're traveling during the winter months. The showers will come and go quickly, you can count on that, but the courts dry out very fast. The climate in Hawaii is quite comfortable all year long, and even with the rain, make sure to bring your sunscreen and apply generously.

Kapalua in Maui is one tennis destination you don't want to miss. The Kapalua Bay Hotel, Kapalua Villas and Ritz-Carlton Kapalua are truly world-class destinations. The tennis facilities are consistently ranked among the top tennis destinations in the world. You haven't really played tennis until you experience tennis in paradise.

You can get more information about the tennis program at Kapalua by visiting their website or contacting them via phone or email as follows:
http://www.kapaluamaui.com/activities/tennis/index.html

The Tennis Garden
(808) 669-5677

The Village Tennis Center
(808) 665-0112