Hawaii: World Class Golf For Women
There are some unique and subtle nuances to consider when golfing in Hawaii – such as prevailing trade winds (usually from the northwest), heat, humidity, and salt air. Although the weather is generally stable, the summer months can be warm and dry, and the winter months can be chilly and wet.
However, the Islands have experienced wetter summer months, and drier winter months. Visiting golfers usually don’t mind though, because playing on the hottest, driest day in paradise – especially during the blustery winter season on the Mainland – is better than playing in a nasty snowstorm with freezing temperatures. Just remember that even in Hawaii, proper attire is required at the courses. And be sure to check on changes relating to fees and other issues, including state taxes.
Ko Olina Golf Club, Oahu
Ko Olina Golf Club, located in a secluded 640-acre oceanfront Ko Olina Resort, hosted the Hawaiian Ladies Open from 1990 to 1995. This is a challenging 18-hole championship course with exceptional water features on many holes, and no parallel fairways. The course, designed by Ted Robinson, provides large landing areas and moderate length for resort play that can be played as a true championship course from back tees.
Signature holes are Hole No. 8 – Par 3, Hole No. 12 – Par 3, and Hole No. 18 – Par 4. At Hole No. 8, a waterfall and lake front the left side of the 195-yard Par 3. There’s a steep, two-tiered green guarded by a long bunker on the right side.
Carts travel under a cascading waterfall on the way to this challenging Par 3 guarded by a pot bunker on the left, and a large bunker on the right, at Hole No. 12. Hole No. 18, a spectacular Par 4, 428-yard finishing hole, begins with seven pools on the right side of the fairway, which slip across to a large lake and waterfall guarding the left side of the elevated green.
Rentals are available. Green fee, including cart rental, is $145. The Pro Link hands-free system is available on all club golf carts at the course. The system’s benefits are numerous. For example, course information (as golfers approach the hole, a full layout of the hole, along with hazards) is displayed.
Yardage is presented as golfers play the course, as well as a display of contour information and distance to the green. Golfers are able to send and receive messages between cart and clubhouse, as well as receive updated information about conditions, weather and emergencies.
The hands-free system is used by few other courses in Hawaii. Golf Digest has recognized the course as one of America’s Top 75 Resort Courses. For more information, call 808-676-5300 and/or go to www.koolinagolfclub.com.
The Palmer Course/The Turtle Bay Country Club Course, Oahu
The Palmer Course at the Turtle Bay Resort is rated one of the Top 10 New Courses by Golf Magazine, and ranked fourth among Best New Resort Courses by Golf Digest. This 18-hole championship course features stern challenge to the best players in the world, but there are five sets of tees on each hole, and in some cases, six sets of tees – which ensures that golfers of all skill levels can enjoy the course. Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay designed the course.
There are no trees or shrubs on the front nine holes. Instead, the front nine are punctuated with sand, water, wind and undulating terrain. In contrast, the back nine holes are punctuated with a forest of ironwood pines. The signature hole is the 17th hole, with at least nine craggy bunkers surrounding the landing area, and extending to the green. It’s interesting to note that the 17th green sits atop a plateau 100 feet from the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
The length of the course is 4,851 yards to 7,199 yards. The course rating is 64.3 to 75.0. The USGA slope rating is 121 to 141.
The Turtle Bay Country Club Course is a regulation length, 9-hole course with two sets of tee markers. Golfers can play the red tees first and the white tees second, enabling them to enjoy 18 holes of golf.
This course has hosted the LPGA Tour’s Hawaiian Open and was the site of the first PGA Senior Skins Game. It’s the only George Fazio course in Hawaii. Golfers are treated to generous fairways, deep bunkers, and beautifully sculpted greens. The back nine holes are scheduled to reopen in early 2002. For more information, call 800-203-3650 and/or go to www.turtlebayresort.com.
Wailea Golf Club, Maui
When the LPGA Women’s Kemper Open was played at the Wailea Blue Course a few years ago, tournament officials informed some of the competitors that they were taking too much time to play. No wonder, because it was discovered later that the pros were at the 16th hole gawking at whales.
The Wailea Golf Club offers golfers three layouts – the Wailea Gold Course, the Wailea Emerald Course, and the Wailea Blue Course. A guest study showed that 70 percent of Wailea’s golfers are repeat guests, and 97 percent felt the club met or exceeded expectations. The PGA Senior Skins Game plays at the Gold Course each January.
The 6,758-yard Wailea Blue Course, designed by Arthur Jack Snyder, treats golfers to cooling fountains, serene lakes, exotic blossoms and coral sand bunkers. The course has 74 bunkers and four lakes.
Hole No. 4, a Par 5 hole, is 463 yards from the white tees and rated the most challenging on the course. Golfers face a blind drive over a dramatic slope that obscures the green and most of the fairway.
It’s recommended that golfers favor the right side of the fairway, as the ball tends to bounce left. The top of the slope treats golfers to a spectacular view of Maalaea Bay and the West Maui Mountains.
Golfers seem to favor the 14th hole, which is a Par 5 that is relatively straight with a deep green, open in front. Lush landscaping, tropical blossoms, lovely hues and delicious fragrances greet golfers’ senses at the Par 72, 6,825-yard Wailea Emerald Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. It has 83 bunkers and a lake.
The course was designed to accommodate players of all skill levels. Golf for Women Magazine granted the course a Top Fairways Award for America’s most women-friendly golf clubs.
Hole No. 6 is a Par 4 downhill dogleg, 390 yards from the white tees. The landing area for the tee shot is ample, but the green falls off sharply in all directions into grass bunkers. If the approach shot is off the mark, players are faced with a tricky pitch shot.
Hole No. 11 is 535 yards from the white tees (the longest hole on the course) and usually hits into the wind, making it a challenge to reach the green. An unusual feature of the course (at least for Hawaii) is the double green shared by Hole No. 10 and Hole No. 17. Double greens are common in Scotland. For more information, call 800-332-1614 or 888-328-6284 (tee times). Additional information is available at www.waileagolf.com.
Puakea Golf Course, Kauai
Puakea Golf Course is for golfers of all skill levels. The course is straightforward, from the forward tees to the middle tees, and there are no blind shots. Since opening in 1997, Puakea has received excellent reviews for its challenging design, as well as amenities and quality Kauai-style guest service.
Visiting golfers may find it interesting that the course is next to the site where Jurassic Park was filmed. Puakea was named one of the Top 10 Best 9-Hole Golf Courses in the U.S. by Sports Illustrated.
For more information, call Puakea at 808-245-8756 and/or go to www.puakeagolf.com.
Waikoloa Beach Course, Waikoloa King’s Course, Big Island
Opened in 1981 by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Beach Course was carved from a lava flow. The Par 70 6,507-yard course features numerous white sand bunkers, brilliant water features and magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean on the 502-yard Hole No. 12. The Beach Course’s slope is 133 and the rating is 71.5.
The Par 72, 7,074-yard King’s Course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, and features links-style golf fashioned over an ancient lava flow. Players are challenged by wide undulating fairways, multiple tee placements, pot bunkers and a mix of green complexes – including a Scottish-inspired double green at Hole No. 3 and Hole No. 6. The slope is 133 and the rating is 73.9.
Both courses have garnered numerous awards, including the Silver Medal Resort Award, from Golf Magazine, and Top Two New Resort Courses in America, from Golf Digest. Green fee, cart, practice range, yardage guide and metal bag tag is $195 for 18 holes, and $110 for 9 holes (public). The twilight rate is $110. For more information, call 808-886-7888 (King’s Course) or 808-886-6060 (Beach Course) and/or go to www.waikoloagolf.com.
For information on golfing for women visiting Hawaii, contact the Hawaii State Women’s Golf Association in Honolulu at 808-589-2046.
