Golf On The Island Of Maui, Hawaii : A Real Treat
by Scott A. Sumner
www.golfingnews.ca
Each January sitting in our living rooms in Canada with a snowy cold day outside it is fun to turn on our TV sets and see the beautiful setting of the start of the PGA Tour season with the
Mercedes Championship. This year was my time to play that very course, the Kapalua Plantation Course as well at the Kaanapali Golf Resort which hosts the Wendy's seniors Skins Game and the highly ranked Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course.
My first game would be at the Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. This course opened January 15th, 1999 now 10 years ago. It is a links style layout with an Irish flavour. “Some view it as British Open type of course designed by Robin Nelson. The character of the course is there is not one hole identical. They have their own character. One writer who recently played here wrote he used every club in the bag,” said Dean Kawabake Director Of Golf Operations
Dunes. “ We have beautiful par 3 and 4 elevation changes. It’s a golfers golf course with the black tees at 6800 yards, blue 6400 and white 5800. My scores are identical from all tees. Many of the members and locals like to pay skins here. They play match play. Holes 8 , 9 10 11 we call the Aloha corner.”
Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course
Play varies at the Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course because of economy. Last year they did plus 50,000 rounds. They have the players club and last year had 325 members who are 90% residents. Some celebrities like Clint Eastwood, Alice Cooper, Willie Nelson and Joe Torre play here. It is a $112 green fee and with twilight at 2pm $72. The resident rate is $53. The membership fee is $300 and they get a 20% discount with every 7th round free. The course has a real estate development with homes in the $500,000 to $1 million range.
“ Now we get 36 to 38 % of our business as tourism and have a lot of returnees. You need a little bit of local knowledge to play well here. The weather is good all year round but the best time to play is April, May, October and September when it is in the mid to high 80’s with a slight breeze. In the summer it can get to the high 90s with little breeze.” said Kawabata.
Head Golf Professional Sutee Nitakorn of the Kaanapali Golf Course
My next golf course in Hawaii, The Kaanapali Royal course will cost you $190 for your green fee and the Kai $150. “ You can play both for $269 which is nice and reasonable for Hawaii,” according to Head Golf Professional Sutee Nitakorn of the Kaanapali Golf Course. “
You can also rent clubs for $49 where they change their fleet every year. The Kaanapali Golf Course have 90,000 rounds per year of play for both course. The Royal gets more play in a 55 to 45% split. There is not a month that is any less temperate. It an be raining up the road 15 minutes but is sunny here at Kaanapali. Most people are here on vacation and want to play a nice game of golf with great views seeing whales out in the water.”
I really enjoyed the Kaanapali Royal Course. It had perfect greens, spectacular vistas on each hole and my playing partners from Oregon were great company. You have to play this course when on Maui.
My last golf game would be at the world famous Kapalua Plantation course. A fifteen minute drive from Kaanapali Beach this course is the one we watch on TV each year when the Mercedes Championships are held. Kapalua was built in 1991, a Robert Korr and Ben Crenshaw design. “They didn’t move a lot earth but built around the terrain. It was built as a championship course but when the winds lays down it is a bit easier. In the wind you have to know what you are doing,” said Craig Butler, Golf Professional at Kapalua. “ The Bay course is a Palmer design and will hold a LPGA event for the first time this year.” Kapalua is owned by a pineapple company that does resort development and agricultural. They have exclusive
homes in the Plantation Estates gated community. Jim Furyk owns a home here. They have a rock star, Michael Krueger bassist with Nickleback owning a home here where prices range from $10 million and up.
My Day at Kapalua Plantation Course Starts in Colour
“ I like Kapalua because it benefits the players that shape their shots. You can hit a fade one day and draw the next. The wind dictates the shot. The second shot into the greens are harder. If you play a lot you can expect 3.5 to 4 hours for a round but the average round is 4.5 to 5 hours. There is no water but lots of tall grass played as a lateral hazard,” said Butler. “ Our rounds are down to 85 to 90,000 per year. Our standard rate is $298 and after 2 pm $158. The Mercedes Championships started here in 1999 and we have 1 more year on the contract. Hopefully it will stay.”
Beautiful Setting at Kapalua
The wind was blowing at 15 to 20 miles per hour on my day at Kapalua which started under a vivid rainbow. The setting of this course is really spectacular, like a Pebble Beach feel. It is a definite must play and well worth the fairly high green fee. I was happy to shoot 90 on the long layout with fast, large greens.
Be sure to check out these course online at
www.mauilani.com
www.kaanapaligolfresort.com
www.kapalua.com
