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THEN& NOW
An In-Depth Look at Our Rich Golfing History
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
26
THEN & NOW
A brief look at our rich golfing history... from past-to-present. We Mauians love our golf.
1 WAIEHU MUNICIPAL 808.270.7400
G
If walking along Maui’s north shore, with the briny sea mist on your face, while playing golf amidst a bit of ‘old Hawaii’ is your cup of tea, you’re in luck with Waiehu. More holes border the ocean than all of Maui’s courses combined. And this is the most-affordable waterfront game in town to boot!
34
Looking to get great Special Offer alerts by SMS text? and you’re in like flint. Or, call us toll-free at: (866) 319or be forwarded to our cell. We’ll give you the low-dow
FULL REVIEW ON PAGE 85.
2 THE DUNES AT MAUI LANI
RESORT TIMELINES Event highlights, from all three Maui resorts, covering five decades.
808.873.0422
The ancient sand dunes this thoughtful course design are built upon make this outstanding daily fee par 72 such a sleeper that Golf Digest featured it among four of what they called America's "Best-kept Secret Golf Courses." Not long at 6,841-yards, yet it is toughest slope from back tees on all Maui. FULL REVIEW ON PAGE 84.
KA'ANAPALI GOLF
WAIEHU MUNICIPAL THE DUNES AT MAUI LANI
3 WAILEA GOLF CLUB 808.875.7450
Blue is wide open, and classic. Gold - Emerald are newer. Gold is target golf. Emerald is lush, very women-friendly.
KAHILI GOLF COURSE
FULL REVIEW ON PAGES 89-91.
50
4 KAHILI GOLF COURSE 808.242.GOLF
MASS APPEAL The story behind the man who is as infectious as the game itself: Mark Rolfing.
82
Kahili is a daily fee course that has great views and is designed for wind. Above it is a members only club that is quite lavish. Play there as a 'guest for a day' for $170++. Call: (808) 249-0033 to book. FULL REVIEW ON PAGES 86-87.
808.661.3691
West Maui's Kai Course is the shorter, narrower, and easier of the two. The Royal has the ocean hole and is where the pros play. Both courses are very playable and recently had multi-million-dollar updates.
66
MAUI GOLF PEOPLE
Maui Golf
REVIEW
E S TA B L I S H E D 1 99 5
EDITOR & PUBLISHER: John Byrne CO-PUBLISHER: Marie Byrne ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Cynthia MacGregor PHOTOGRAPHER: Jose R. Morales II
WAILEA GOLF COURSE
5 KA'ANAPALI GOLF
FULL REVIEW ON PAGES 96-97.
You rarely see them, if ever. They quietly go about their business. They make golf on Maui better than it could ever be without them.
GOLF MAP
THEN
DEPARTMENTS
04 Aloha Message 17 Journal 84 Where to Play 98 Hot Shots
The Maui Golf Review is published annually. Reproduction without the written permission of Maui Golf Review LLC is prohibited. MMXV, Vol. XX | ©2015 Maui Golf Review LLC 314 Kopiko Street, Wailuku, HI 96793 | (808) 572-7100
CONNECT WITH US mauigolfreview.com facebook.com/mauigolfreview twitter.com/mauigolfreview youtube.com/user/mauigolfreview
DAGAMESHOW.COM HOST DAVE WARD
Kapalua golfer and Bronze Star medal recipient, Dave Ward, survived Vietnam but was almost mortally wounded during spectator action at the John atByrne American Century Championship Edgewood Country Club in Lake Tahoe. jbyrne@mauigolfreview.com Mark Rolfing, Dave's neighbor in Kapalua, had played with Michael Jordan and Tony Romo the day prior, but a last-minute change had Ray Allen in his stead. Rolfing was on the mic covering play-by-play when the superstar basketball player's golf ball struck the unsuspecting Ward in his noggin.
NOW
Don't miss Dave as he gets his revenge on Mark at: dagameshow.com!
THEN
ALOHA MESSAGE Welcome to Maui and the Maui Golf Review. whether you live here full-time, or are only here for a short stay, the golf here on the Valley Isle is as good as it gets anywhere. Maui is famous for its lush golf courses and the champions who have played on them for over 50 years. As a special treat, to commemorate our little 20th anniversary, some friends of ours, including and especially Mark Rolfing, have helped us to compile an account of some of Maui's great golfing moments. Mark, a Kapalua resident and well-known golf personality on TV, personally developed and built the home of Hawaii's premiere PGA Tour events: the Kapalua Plantation course. It all came as a result of Mark's magnetic personality, brains, and ability to play golf. He's parlayed his gifts in unimaginable ways, and we Mauians are fortunate to have him. One person, in particular, who I am pleased to present, is Dave Gleason, who has spent the last 53-years of his life on Maui working to help visiting and resident golfers alike, feel special. Dave has always supported the Maui Golf Review—through thick and thin—enduring my zany ways. Of course, this magazine wouldn't be here were it not for my friend Tom Stehle, as well as Martha Council, owner of the Maui Golf Shop, and her husband Clif, a longtime Maui PGA pro. The two, along with their late dog Einstein, and son and daughter Sean and Eleana, personally helped me get the Maui Golf Review off the ground, when their own little business was just getting started. I would be remiss if I didn't thank Dave and Reneé Ward for their tireless efforts to make DaGameShow.com as cool as it is, among so many other things Dave has done for us personally. But, like anything, there is always more to cover, so, on behalf of Marie and me, please know that we will bring all good stories to light in time. Just consider this a new start in that direction—for our next 20-years.
THEN Einstein....Then.
John Byrne john@mauigolfreview.com
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
Marie Byrne marie@mauigolfreview.com
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GET MORE WHEN YOU PLAY WAILEA There are lots of things to love about playing golf at Wailea, both on and off the course. Here are a few tips for making the most of your time at the award-winning Wailea Gold, Emerald, and Blue: If you haven’t played the beautiful Blue lately, you’re way overdue. Both the course and its original clubhouse near The Shops at Wailea have recently completed an exciting renovation, meaning there’s an all-new experience to discover. Check in for your round at the Blue’s brand new pro shop, now located at 100 Wailea Ike Drive. Wailea Golf Club’s rental club program is a sweet way to test-drive some of the great equipment on the market. Wailea features high quality TaylorMade clubs in their standard rental program, or for some of the hottest new products on the market, check out their premium rental club program. The best place to find the best green fee deals at Wailea is at www.waileagolf.com, where the golf club often posts seasonal and unadvertised specials such as twilight and family rate deals. Their most popular offer is the Seahorse Swing: three days of unlimited golf on the Wailea Gold and/or Emerald at great savings compared to general public green fees. If three days aren’t enough, you can tack on more days at the same daily savings. Other useful things you can find at www.waileagolf.com: FAQs, golf terminology, driving directions, hole-by-hole overviews, course maps, scorecards, plenty of scenic photos, and even information for couples looking for a wedding venue, and groups planners interested in a private golf event.
www.waileagolf.com 8
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
CONNECT TODAY waileagolf @WaileaGolf
If your schedule is tight with limited flexibility for when you can play, be sure to book in advance online. Wailea Golf Club accepts reservations 30 days in advance; 45 days if you book at www.waileagolf.com. Something else worth booking too: a pre- or post-round massage, healing session, or body stretch with the help of a trained therapist, on site at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Clubhouse. Maui Wellness Group offers a range of rejuvenating therapies for golfers including wellness consultations, reflexology, yoga for golfers, and more. Advance reservations required. Call or email for more information: 808-214-9696 or admin@mauiwg.com. This may be a no-brainer, but bring along a camera. Wailea’s fairways were laid out along the foothills of Mt. Haleakala, meaning they’re at a perfect elevation for fantastic vistas of the ocean and island almost everywhere you look. Before or after your round – or even on those in-between days when you don’t play golf – be sure to check out the 19th holes overlooking all three courses, including the fun-loving Mulligan’s on the Blue, where they serve up a healthy dose of “Irish Aloha,” and renowned Hawaii Chef Beverly Gannon’s popular and elegant eatery: Gannon’s, A Pacific View. And, while the Wailea’s clubhouse restaurants are spot-on for frosty post-round libations, don’t overlook their mouth-watering options for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. For more information or to book tee times, call toll free 1-888-328MAUI or visit www.waileagolf.com. MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
9
MANELE GOLF COURSE
The isle of Lanai is a remarkable destination Einstein Council. Then. with two Four Seasons Resort golf courses, both of which, were newly renamed: the Manele Golf Course, and the Koele Golf Course.
T
he Manele Golf Course is open for play for a good portion of 2015, and is expected to be undergoing further modernizations and upgrades possibly in the
fall. Best call them at (808) 565-2222 for their schedule ahead of time. The Koele Golf Course is closed currently for future renovation, but count on it to be sensational sometime in 2016 or thereabouts. For now, all you need is the incredible Jack Nicklausdesigned Manele Golf Course to make your Hawaiian golf experience the pinnacle of your golf adventure. Manele is a premiere oceanfront cliffside links located in one of the most stellar places to tee it up on earth. Enjoy wine and cheese and wall-to-wall ocean views from every hole, as you bask in the exclusive and luxurious surroundings.
The new Manele Golf Course is branded with a new logo too! Be sure to update your wardrobe when you visit. This is one for your bucket-list of golf shirts and caps for sure! But it is the experience at the Manele Golf Course that needs to be explored in detail. This is what you come here to Hawaii for, and Four Seasons Resorts Lanai delivers on all fronts. The buzz is that this is one of the crown jewel golf resorts of the world, so expect the very best. Manele Golf Course is situated along the ocean's cliffs. The isle of Lanai is very serene. Because it has very few inhabitants, and is an Expeditions ferry boat ride, or short flight away, the hustle and bustle gets left behind.
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
CONNECT TODAY FourSeasonsResortsLanai @FSLanai fslanai #fslanai
And the Manele Golf Course leverages that to the fullest. You've got the best in terms of luxurious amenities and six-star services, like ultra-modern GPS-equipped golf carts, the very best all-new shiny Titleist rental clubs, Pro V1 driving range balls, and of course, great friendly service窶馬ot to mention their out-of-this-world 19th hole: VIEWS at Manele, where you can savour island-influenced cuisine while enjoying panoramic ocean vistas and breathtaking fairway views. Ideal for lunch or afternoon refreshments! The team at Manele Golf Course is as good as they come, thanks to the leadership of PGA director of golf, Scott Ashworth, who knows what he's doing and has been in charge of the best resorts (Kauai Lagoons, Kaanapali, etc.) for going on three decades! You should seriously consider the short side-trip to Manele Golf Course and Four Seasons Resorts Manele. You've traveled all the way to be here, so why not take advantage of it and treat yourself like the royalty you are, and experience the best life has to offer? Completely open to the public, the Manele Golf Course is one of the most natural and uncomplicated venues you will ever experience. To book, call them directly at (808) 565-2222, or make your tee time and boat arrangements with Expeditions Maui-Lani Ferry themselves by calling: (808) 661-3756. You are in command! Make the best of your Hawaii vacation by playing on the incredible Manele Golf Course today!
fourseasons.com/manelebay MMXV 窶｢ VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
11
PLAYING THROUGH KAANAPALI “Sneak a peek at the buzz people have generated about Kaanapali. Have you shared your latest Maui golf memories today?
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
13
Be sure to visit Kaanapali's Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages today. All are excellent ways to keep in touch and find their latest and greatest offers, made especially for the Maui golfer on the go! Find them online at: kaanapaligolfcourses.com
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
CONNECT TODAY kaanapaligolf @kaanapaliresort kaanapaligolf kaanapaligolf #kaanapali
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
15
Maui
DISCOUNT GOLF Rounds for all Maui & Lanai
Play Lanai including round trip Expeditions Ferry for only $309 + tax. Our #1 most popular golf package. BOOK IT NOW!!!
Play all of the Maui Courses with one call! Kapalua, Wailea, Makena, Kaanapali, The Dunes, Kahili, Pukalani CC, and Elleair, Just call: 808-875-4653
Clif Council—35 yr. PGA member & 2009 Aloha Section PGA Merchandiser of the Year. For lessons, call 808-264-2350
Maui Golf Shop is #1 for a good reason. Martha Council and Clif Council, PGA, proprietors. Serving Maui for over 20 yrs.
We are your one-stop shop for everything golf and everything to make your vacation memorable… even on a budget! Not only do you pay less for your golf rounds and rental clubs, but we can also book your other activities, enjoy full pro shop service, on-course lessons with the pros. We carry all the latest major brands in clubs, bags, gloves, shoes, and balls. See why we’re your #1 source for fun on Maui. Call and stop in TODAY!
✄ COUPON Rent 1 day, get 1 day free. Rent 3 days, get 4 days free! Clip this coupon and bring it to MAUI GOLF SHOP, 1215 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753 16
MAUI GOLF REVIEW |rental MMXV • VOL. XX Nike, New upgraded fleet including
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Hours: Mon-Fri: 9-6, Sat: 9-5, Sun: 10-4 Newly located at: 1215 S. Kihei Rd in the KIHEI CENTER by LONGS
MAUI GOLF SHOP Wailea Alanui Dr
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Book tee times online at: golf-maui.com or mauigolfshop.com Wailea Golf Club Dr
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Book Maui’s most popular activities You can book some of Maui’s favorite activities when you come to the Maui Golf Shop or with just a phone call. Enjoy Luaus, Snorkeling Trips, Surf Lessons, Helicopter Rides, Dinner/Dancing Cruises, Ocean Rafting, Fishing Trips, and more!
With one phone call we can book all your tee times and activities at discount prices.
875-4653 MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
17
DON’T WAIT. CALL US Toll Free:1-800-981-5512 WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR CALL NOW!!
Preview Maui’s only 18-hole private golf club today!
Before you join Maui’s only 18-hole private golf club, test drive our Guest For A Day offer.
$170 per round Limited tee times available.
The 74,000 sq. ft. clubhouse was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and sits at 750 feet above sea level; set against the backdrop of the Mountains of Haleakala and bi-coastal ocean views.
The King Kamehameha Golf Club For Membership information, please contact Rick Castillo, PGA Director of Golf www.KamehamehaGolf.com
Pro Shop 808.249.0033
2500 Honoapiilani Hwy., Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii 96793
JOURNAL WIRE-TO-WIRE LEADER SHIGEZAWA WINS MAUI OPEN Bradley Shigezawa battled back from a
BRADLEY SHIGEZAWA 2014 Maui Open Champion
rocky road in the middle of his round to reach level par on 18 which, when combined with his 3-under 69 on Saturday, gave him a 141 total and the 2014 title at Maui Open at the Dunes at Maui Lani golf course in Kahului. The Oahu golfer bogeyed two testy holes on the Dunes' front nine: Nos. 8 and 10. ON No. 8, we watched as he left his recovery pitch short after hitting an errant tee shot to the left side of the green. He then reportedly played his second out of "a crack in the ground" on 10. But the pro got over it and managed to eek out the win in the face of a field that failed to mount any real charge. It was Shigezawa's to lose and to his credit he gave up no ground in the end, trying his best to pad his lead but only converting enough birdies to keep him even for the day. It was enough. His closest professional pursuer was 25-year old pro Max Bonk, of Waimea, whose 1-under opening round had him T2 when he, Shigezawa, and James Horton, of Lahaina, teed off. Another Oahu pro, T.J .Kua, was also T2, and in the group ahead when the final round day began. But while Shigezawa's even par 72 forced the field's hand, Bonk's 1-over 73 would ultimately leave Shigezawa plenty of breathing room in the end, with the Big Island pro, Bonk, three back at 71-73-144—a sole secondplace finish. Only UH Hilo senior Dalen Yamauchi would card sub-70 score with an event low of 68 during the final round. In spite of this being one of his best-ever competitive rounds, the Vulcan would have too much ground to make up, after opening with a 77, and would earn sole possession of third place (77-68-145), while Horton's 75 left him five back at 71-75146, and a fourth place finish.
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
19
JOURNAL
AARON WISE
Individual Champion Aaron Wise birdied seven of his opening eight holes carding a final-round score of 6-under-par 65 to help cement his team’s 24-stroke victory at the inaugural, 54-hole, Kaanapali Collegiate Classic Invitational.
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
JOURNAL OREGON DUCKS CRUISE TO VICTORY AT COLLEGE GOLF'S INAUGURAL KAANAPALI COLLEGIATE CLASSIC INVITATIONAL.
M.J. MAGUIRE Individual Runner-up
Former Santiago High School Shark star,
to-wire beginning with an NCAA-record-setting
nation, including the University of Hawaii, with
18-year-old Oregon freshman Aaron Wise, bird-
score of 30-under 254—after a scorcher of an
the University of North Florida Ospreys following
ied seven of his opening eight holes carding
opening Friday that saw a bevy of low numbers,
the Oregon Ducks’ 33-under 819 to take sec-
a final-round score of 6-under-par 65 to help
including a 9-under 62 by another Duck—three-
ond place with a team score of 9-under 843.
cement his team’s 24-stroke victory at the in-
time Montana state champion sophomore
The Georgia Bulldogs, buoyed by top-10 efforts
augural 54-hole Kaanapali Collegiate Classic
Brandon McIver—when the West Maui resort
from Lee McCoy and Nicholas Reach, were
Invitational. He then drained an uphill, into-the-
course was rendered defenseless sans its nor-
third at 4-under 848.
grain birdie putt, after approaching the 440-yard
mal trade winds. Oregon coach Casey Mar-
The UH ‘Bows, who slid from 10th place at
Royal Kaanapali golf course’s 18th green in a
tin’s Ducks followed their historic opener with
the beginning of the day to cede that spot to UC
helping wind with his gap wedge, to break a
a 7-over-par second-round total before seal-
Irvine’s ‘Eaters, finished in 11th place with an
10-under 203 tie with University of North Florida
ing the deal today with a third- and final-round
event aggregrate of 36-over-par 888. Kauai’s
senior MJ Maguire for the individual low medal-
score of 10-under-par, totaling 33-under 819
Justin “Pono” Tokioka fired a final round 3-un-
ist title.
for the event.
der 68 to earn a share of fifth place with Georgia
With four wins this fall season, the unde-
The 2014 Kaanapali Collegiate Classic In-
feated Oregon Ducks led the event from wire-
vitational featured 13 teams from across the
Continued on page 22 MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
21
JOURNAL Bulldog Lee McCoy. The event began with great play and lots of excitement. Brandon McIver of Oregon had two
knew they needed to make birdies to be com-
der par the opening day, including T2 Jonathan
petitive. The guys played great. It is fun to watch
Woo, who led most of the day (-8).
them play so well at Kaanapali.”
The North Florida team was in second place
eagles and five birdies to shoot 62 (-9) in the
Oregon was ranked second in the NCAA
with 269 (-14), and Kansas was hot on their tail
first round. His team shot 254 (-30) to take the
national standings going into the weekend
at 270 (-15). Two of Florida’s players were in
team lead.
tournament. Martin added, “Our strategy going
the top five after the first round (Petronio T2,
Oregon head coach, Casey Martin said,
into the day was to focus on playing well, hit-
Maguire T5).
“There were a lot of low scores out there today
ting the fairways, hitting the correct side of the
Loyola Marymount player Connor Campbell
– this course is designed for playing in the wind,
green, and giving themselves the opportunities
was also T2 with a 63 (-8) including seven bird-
and there isn’t much wind today so the players
to score well.” All five Oregon players shot un-
Continued on page 24
RESULTS Kaanapali Collegiate Classic Invitational ROYAL KAANAPALI GOLF COURSE POS. TEAM/PLAYER FINAL RD1 RD2 RD3 TOTAL 1 Oregon 254 291 274 819 1 Aaron Wise -4 66 72 65 203 3 Brandon McIver -2 62 76 67 205 4 Jonathan Woo -5 63 72 71 206 T11 Hurly Long -1 65 71 75 211 T14 Zach Foushee -3 64 77 71 212 2 North Florida 269 300 274 843 2 MJ Maguire -2 64 72 67 203 7 Joey Petronio -1 63 76 70 209 T21 Austin Padova -4 72 76 67 215 T29 Dillon Woods -5 71 76 72 219 T39 Taylor Hancock -3 71 80 70 221 3 Georgia 275 291 282 848 T5 Lee McCoy -1 66 74 68 208 T8 Nicholas Reach -4 69 72 69 210 T11 Greyson Sigg -3 68 72 71 211 T29 Zach Healy -5 72 73 74 219 T56 Jaime Lopez Rivarola -2 74 76 76 226 4 Kansas 270 301 282 853 16 Ben Welle -2 68 73 72 213 T17 Chase Hanna -1 66 79 69 214 T17 Brock Drogosch -5 66 78 70 214 23 Logan Philley -3 70 74 72 216 T29 Gary Daoust -4 72 76 71 219 5 Clemson 272 297 288 857 T8 Billy Kennerly -3 67 74 69 210 T17 Miller Capps -2 70 71 73 214 T24 Cody Proveaux -1 69 75 73 217 T29 Stephen Behr -5 69 77 73 219 T39 Carson Young -4 67 80 74 221 6 Bowling Green State 282 300 287 869 T8 Brett Rinker -2 71 71 68 210 T17 Jose Narro -1 66 77 71 214 T44 Ryan Triller -5 76 75 72 223 T60 Joe Cooper -3 74 77 76 227 67 Cameron Michalak -4 71 88 76 235
22
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
POS. TEAM/PLAYER FINAL RD1 RD2 RD3 TOTAL 7 Loyola Marymount 278 302 290 870 T11 Braden Baer -4 71 72 68 211 T14 Connor Campbell -1 63 78 71 212 T44 Blake Meek -3 72 77 74 223 T47 Chase Nicolai -2 72 75 77 224 73 Nick Cantlay -5 85 82 79 246 8 Gonzaga 274 305 292 871 T21 James Fahy -1 68 74 73 215 T27 Sean Walsh -2 68 77 73 218 T36 Will Brueckner -4 71 78 71 220 T39 David Ganz -5 68 78 75 221 T47 Brendan Connolly -3 70 76 78 224 9 UNCW 283 301 295 879 T24 Thomas Eldridge -5 68 75 74 217 T29 Patrick Cover -1 69 75 75 219 T36 Ross Robison -3 72 74 74 220 T52 Grant Houser -4 74 77 74 225 T60 David Kostyal -2 75 79 73 227 10 UC Irvine 278 314 290 882 T29 David Kim -3 72 78 69 219 T39 Jacob Schulze -2 69 76 76 221 43 Pete Fernandez -1 69 83 70 222 T47 Bryan Shin -4 68 79 77 224 T63 Jonathan Young -5 73 81 75 229 11 Hawaii 286 302 300 888 T24 Skye Inakoshi -4 69 73 75 217 T36 Brian Lee -1 69 77 74 220 T52 Ryan Kuroiwa -3 77 75 73 225 T56 Scott Yamashita -2 71 77 78 226 72 Adrian Lee -5 83 79 83 245 12 Utah Valley 286 305 302 893 T29 Preston Richards -3 71 74 74 219 T52 Mike Dart -2 73 75 77 225 T56 J.T. Timmons -1 70 80 76 226 65 Blair Bursey -4 77 76 78 231 66 Ariel Elftman-Hanson -5 72 86 75 233 13 CSU-Northridge 287 317 300 904 T47 Michael O'Connor -3 71 75 78 224 T52 Steven Molumby -1 73 81 71 225 T56 Joey Varnam -5 72 78 76 226
JOURNAL
PONO TOKIOKA UH Team
Justin “Pono” Tokioka, of the UH Bows, fired a final round 3-under 68 to earn a share of fifth place with Georgia Bulldog Lee McCoy.
JOURNAL
U.H. BOWS GOLF TEAM
During 2014 Kaanapali Collegiate Classic Invitational
ies, an eagle, and just one bogey.
round, with 72 (+1). Hanson said, “It feels very
UH with a 68 (-3).
Third-ranked national player Lee McCoy of
good to be back at Kaanapali. The course is in
UH coach Ronn Miyashiro commented
Georgia, whose team won the College-Am yes-
great condition and I am happy to be home to
about the event, “Going into the event we knew
terday, was T8 with a 66 (-5) along with Bowling
play.” Hanson has quite an impressive history
that the quality of golf would be top notch, just
Green State player Jose Narro, Kansas players
at Kaanapali.
by the list of participating teams. It definitely
Chase Hanna and Brock Drogosch, and Or-
UH was T11 with 286 (+2). Brian Lee and
showed today in the scores. With no wind,
Skye Inakoshi both shot 69 (-2) and Scott Ya-
the course was out there for the taking. If the
Maui’s own Ariel Elftman-Hanson, a fresh-
mashita was even par at 71. In individual play, it
weather conditions stay the same the rest of the
man at Utah Valley State was T48, after the first
was Justin (Pono) Tokioka of Kauai who led for
weekend, we could see some record numbers
egon player Aaron Wise.
24
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
JOURNAL
in the scoring.” Miyashiro added, “I want to thank Ed Kageyama, Sutee Nitakorn, and the rest of the Kaanapali staff for putting together a first-class college event. The response from everyone has been nothing but positive. As long as the interest is there from the mainland schools, I really hope we can keep doing this year after year.”
UH Bows Golf Team (l-r): Ryan Kuroiwa, Senior, 21; Zach Braunthal, Sophomore, 20; Justin Chu, Junior, 20; Scotty Yamashita, Junior, 20; Brian Lee, Senior, 22; Smart Chaki, Freshman, 18; Pono Tokioka, Sophomore, 19; Skye Inakoshi, Sophomore, 19; Adrian Lee, Freshman, 21.
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
25
JOURNAL 2014 MAUI LADIES OPEN LESTER HAMAI MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Clockwise: Opening prayer; Wilma Vorfeld accepts her Panasonic radio as first prize for her Low Gross B-Flight title; Overall Low Gross champion, Desiree Ting accepts trophy. She equalled Rose Pagan's 77 and won in a playoff. 2014 marked the 41st year of the Maui Ladies
Dot Tam Ho, the Women’s Division of Maui
Open Lester Hamai Memorial Golf Tournament.
Country Club hosts the ladies in one of the Is-
The participants extend a big mahalo to
Established at the Maui Country Club to encour-
land’s best tournaments. Breakfast in the Pro
Hamai Appliance & Servco Foundation, Gwen
age women golfers, the 41st Lester Hamai Me-
Shop is served during check-in, an elaborate
KauhaaPo for handmaking the leis, and the
morial had 54 entrants. The event, sponsored by
awards banquet with gifts for every player, beau-
team at the Maui Country Club for making ev-
Hamai Appliance and by the Servco Foundation,
tiful leis, Hamai’s generous selection of prizes for
eryone feel so comfortable and taking care of
has been a benefit for the Maui County Council
division winners and grand prizes of big-screen
all the details. Congratulations to Dot and the
Boy Scouts of America since its inception.
TVs add to the fun and fellowship of this spe-
Women’s Division members; and mahalo to all
cial day. From the opening prayer to the heartfelt
for their hard work in 2014.
Spearheaded by former Pro Shop Manager
singing of Hawaii Aloha, this tournament rocks!
RESULTS Maui Ladies Open • Lester Hamai Memorial Golf Tournament MAUI COUNTRY CLUB Overall Low gross: Desiree Ting 77 (won playoff) Low net: Bobbi DeLucia 68 Championship Flight Low gross: Rose Pagan 77 Low net: Terri Secor 72, Lisa Judge 74, Mia Hew 74, Mayumi Roggow 76, Amy Yorke 80
26
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
A-Flight Low gross: Jan Teruya 86 Low net: Lynn Rattay 71, Leona Silva 72, Dot Tam Ho 73, Mary Gerassimenko 73, Shirley Nishikawa 73, Jae Thompson 74, Yoshiko Rawson 78, Ethelyn Stisher 78
B-Flight Low gross: Candy Tom 95 Low net: Wilma Vorfeld 69, Laverne Morton 70, Dorothea Engeldorf 71, Rhonda Pang 74, Sharen Sylva 75, Jeong Pomroy 76, Sue Lacombe 76, Claire Pinto 76
Photos courtesy of the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association.
JOURNAL
Champion Malia Nam (Girls 13-18)
Champion Andrew Chin (Boys 15-18)
Champion Acey Yanagishita (Boys 13-14)
HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AT ROYAL KAANAPALI GOLF COURSE Three Oahu junior golfers took home trophies
focus on a short putt to match her birdie. I was
ing an official ruling by the Rules Committee.
for the 2014 Kaanapali Golf Courses Hawaii
only one up at that time, so it was very intense,"
After the ball was confirmed in bounds, Chin hit
State Junior Golf Association (HSJGA) Match
the winner said.
an 8 iron out of deep rough to 12 feet from the
Play Championship: Malia Nam (Girls 13-18),
There were cheers heard on the Kai course
pin. “Winning this hole really helped to keep me
Acey Yanagishita (Boys 13-14), and Andrew
that afternoon when Maui High School’s Jas-
going after I thought I was pretty much dead at
Chin (Boys 15-18).
mine Cabajar made a hole in one on hole #11.
two down,” said Chin.
There was plenty of excitement on the
She said, “I didn’t even see it! They told me it
Acey Yanagishita defeated AJ Teraoka in 19
Kaanapali Kai Course where Malia Nam defend-
went in. I can’t believe it really happened, I was
holes with a par after a close match all day in the
ed her 2013 title with a win over Maui’s Jasmine
so excited!”
Boys 13-14 Division.
Cabajar (2 & 1) in the Girls 13-18 Division.
In the Championship round of the Boys 15-
“A highlight of the day was when we both
18, Andrew Chin came back from two down
had back-to-back birdies. I made a long putt to
on the 16th hole to win the match one up. The
birdie one hole and on the next hole she (Jas-
turning point according to Chin was on hole
mine) made a really long putt—it forced me to
#16. His drive was nearly out of bounds, requir-
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
27
GOLF LINKS AT WAIEHU, NO. 2 Photo courtesy of Henry Yogi
28
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
Then & Now A brief look at our rich golfing history... from past-to-present.
We Mauians do love our golf.
Babe Ruth with Francis H. I‘i Brown, and Henry Rice (right). Photo courtesy of Maui Country Club.
BORNE ON THE FEATHERY BACK OF A SNOW GOOSE.
T
he little white ball we all hold so dear came to Hawaii hitchhiking on the proverbial backs of the Scots. But
unlike the seeds that made our island so green today—borne upon the backs of birds blown here accidentally by the virulent winds eons ago—the introduction of the game of “gawf” by the exploring and enterprising isle transplants from the land of the Gaels was no accident. Yes; ’twas the Scots who introduced the game
to Hawaii on the island of Oahu first.
which was (and is) home to some very big
It was in the late 1800s, and as the “first
ranches. Their owners and managers were
sortie was made by two members of the old
quite busy trying to figure out how best to grow
Scottish Thistle Club of Honolulu: Alexander
those silvery-green things we call pineapples
Garvie, a bookkeeper, and John Cook, a ca-
and, at the same time, tending to their livestock.
shier,” its effect was immediate and contagious. Hawaii was hardly “adrift” from the rest of
Surely, while resting after all of that cattle ranching and pineapple herding, they must have
the world! In short order the first formal golf
plied their mashies from hole to hole across the
course in Hawaii, Moanaloa, was open for play
fertile red Hawaiian soil on fairways groomed
on Oahu, before the turn of the century.
by sheep and goats and with holes situated
RANCH GOLF
upon fenced-in greens. Likely there were many links iterations and starts as the 20th century
Maui, just a 30-minute flight away today,
unfurled itself here on this far-away Pacific out-
wasn’t immune to the plague. The little white
post. Ranchers, Scots, laborers and managers
bug quickly made its way to the Valley Isle,
Continued on page 30 MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
29
riving by boat on the Kilauea, to lay out 18 holes
Continued from page 29
which were to be “plowed and sowed to grass
alike, would find a way to play golf on Maui. The
speedily”.
popularity of the game was in its infancy, and its
“Realization of Maui’s ambition for golf links
growth was borne out of good intentions back
and country club is drawing near,” the story ea-
then, just as it is today.
gerly announced.
One might imagine Maui golf being played
Rice and Bell would take their clubs to the
by David Fleming, and his cohorts, on a hill
area near the “S.E. Kalama place” and play
overlooking Honolua Bay. After a hard day of
what they imagined was the future of golf on
roping the cattle or canning fruit, they'd head
Maui—holes etched out on a site then known
out and smash their featheries along our sea-
as the “corn crib.”
side cliffs.
Maui golfers, as Rice illustrated over 100
LINKS OPEN
years ago, were people of action. We will never know what went on behind the scenes to bring
But, in all likelihood, there might have been
it all about.
another way to imbibe in the game. Perhaps a
Thus, like today, the game’s early advo-
more civilized approach… a leisurely and gen-
cates used any pulpit they could find to assert
teel pastime….
golf’s place. Maui News accounts were chock
“The Golf Links at Kahului presented an animated appearance on Saturday afternoon last, the occasion being the opening of the golf links. "A marquee prettily decorated with flags, served as a rendezvous for the refreshments delicately prepared by the ladies of the club. "The opening “drives” were made by Messrs. Penhallow and Thompson respectively, following which, a bevy of ladies and gentlemen played in doubles and foursomes. "A pleasing feature of the afternoon’s sport was the keenness and adaptability evinced by the players nothwithstanding the condition of the links which are not conducive to the showing of one’s best form,” the Maui News reported on March 2, 1912. That Golf Links at Kahului must've been a sight. But it didn't last, and would eventually be repurposed, likely for some pasture or coral. Many golf courses come and go. Golf is an ever-evolving process... a reflection of life itself. And so it wasn't long before that old links was replaced with something more lasting.
MEN OF ACTION
full of editorials advocating the Rice-like visions,
Henry "Pop" Rice
of that era, on behalf of the game: “Possibly there may be found a pastime
It took a concerted, rigorous, non-stop ef-
which gives to folk of all ages more healthful
fort and an investment of time and money to
outdoor enjoyment than golf but to date that
build awareness and a consensus to accom-
game has not been found. Without belittling
plish the feat of building a lasting golf venue
tennis or any other out of door sports golf has
for Maui back then. In many ways, this require-
its advantage over all of them, perhaps not for
ment—to never give up and push ever-harder—
all but taking all in all for there are many persons
still remains true today. Golf needed good men,
who can indulge in the ancient Scottish game
and women, of action and resolve. It needed
for whom other games are too violent. It has a
them then, and it needs them now.
fascination and gives a satisfaction that is hard
One driving force behind the expansion of
to explain and is only really understood when
Maui’s golf world was a man regarded by many
one takes it up. So, for many persons on Maui
as “Mr. Golf of Maui” and the “Father of Maui
it is unfortunate that there are no links and the
Country Club.” This prominent agriculturalist,
effort to secure a course is well worthwhile,” one
rancher, political leader, territorial senator, Maui
writer reported, back on February 1, 1924.
mayor, and County of Maui Board of Supervi-
“However, there is a considerable class on
sors chairman and executive officer was none
Maui that would benefit much if there were a
other than Harold Waterhouse “Pop” Rice.
course at their disposal. To get those persons
Rice was a man of action. When it came
together and cooperating for their own good, is
to moving Maui golf’s agenda—from the stone
what is necessary to put the Valley Isle on a par
ages into the new millennium of the 1900s—it
with the sister Islands in this one respect.
was he who took it upon himself to get it done
MAUI COUNTRY CLUB
and done right.
Early Maui golfers had much ado in their
Rice made headlines for golf. On November
While Rice was working on Maui’s first last-
hearts and minds, and in spite of any setbacks,
3, 1922, a story in the Semi-Weekly Maui News,
ing golf venue, what is now the site of the front
like a core closure here or there, they refused to
entitled: “Maui Golf And Country Club Project
nine at the Waiehu golf course was a “a couple
let the game lose an inch of ground.
Is Taking On Shape”, noted Rice’s early efforts:
holes, maybe six” that the future members made
Today, we think austerity is hard, such as
“Expert Brought Over From Honolulu and Ten-
good use of. But difficult access to the Waihee
having to live with one scoop of rice, but in
tative Course Laid Out; Plowing and Grassing
layout was too much, so they ‘moved’ to Pau-
those days getting any kind of money what-
to Start Soon.”
wela Lighthouse in Haiku, where a nine-hole
soever, for a golf course on Maui or anywhere
The report went on to describe, in further
course was built by the managers of Hawaiian
else, from public or private sources, was a ma-
detail, how Rice had brought then-Honolulu
Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S). Rice,
jor undertaking.
Country Club “pro” Alexander Bell to Maui, ar-
then part of a hui that had bought a 2,000 acre
30
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
MAUI COUNTRY CLUB Hole No. 9
pineapple plantation from the Doles, called the Haiku Company, was certainly in the thick of it all. But Pauwela was still too far out of the way. So, at some point an executive committee had been formed, comprising David Rattray, W.A. Baldwin, Harry Duncan, Jim Fantom, and Roswell Howe. Things were arranged with HC&S financially, and the committee ultimately had the solution in hand by Sunday, July 3, 1927, when they unveiled the 3,413-yard Maui Country Club—Maui’s most-lasting golf venue. History has a funny way of being rewritten, and while it is clear that Alex Bell and William McKewan were surely involved in the club’s original design, it was Jim Kelley who did the actual plowing and sowing.
golfer in the world" by "Ripley’s Believe It or
"A WONDERFUL GOLF COURSE, A VANTAGE POINT FROM WHICH TO GAZE UPON AS BEAUTIFUL A SCENIC PANORAMA AS EVER FELL WITHIN THE VISION OF MAN…."
“A wonderful golf course, a vantage point
Not"—came back from a sojourn in California to win the 1930 Territorial Hawaiian Open (now known as the SONY Open in Hawaii), at the now very elitist Maui Country Club. It was the first of three times the event would be held there. That year, Chung would beat a young host professional named Art Bell, who happened to be the son of Alex.
GOLF FOR EVERYONE Maui’s hunger for golf was growing. The average worker didn't have enough position to join the prestigious Maui Country Club, and so the people of action came though, and plans for a second nine-hole golf course were approved in 1926 by Gov. Wallace R. Farrington.
from which to gaze upon as beautiful a sce-
view of those traveling along the country road
It was designed and the links at Waiehu
nic panorama as ever fell within the vision of
towards Paia. Velvety greens and fees, rolling,
were built by county engineers, under the lead-
man…” a news writer, who played the links with
springy fairways are the order now; the fruit of
ership of the old County Board of Supervisors,
Kelley on May 14, 1927, wrote so eloquently.
earnest labor, the reward of visionaries who said
including longtime local politicians Eddie Tam
a good golf course could be built.”
and then-Chairman Sam Kalama in 1930. It
“It was hard to believe that less than eight months ago most of it was a huge red dirt ex-
Soon after Black Tuesday, when the stock
was then, and remains now, Maui’s only sea-
panse over which the sweeping trade winds
market had crashed in 1929, two-time Manoa
side treasure—exclusively made for the working
carried clouds of sand and then mingled them
Cup (Hawaiian Amateur) champion Charley
class golfer.
with a flurry of red dust as they blotted out the
Chung—once named the "greatest Chinese Continued on page 33 MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
31
Then & Now WILLIE GOO
Six-time Maui Amateur Metal Play champion, and inaugural 1952 Maui Open winner.
FRANCIS H. I‘I BROWN The year he won the 1930 California State Championship.
32
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
tournament had just crowned a new champion. His name was Willie Goo. “I won that in 1934… I think. It was my first trophy,” Goo recalls. By then, Goo, a humble caddie, was styling with his own golf bag full of real equipment! “I had wooden clubs… a driver, a brassie, and a spoon. My iron… they used to call it a mashie… all wooden shafts,” he recalled. Over the remainder of the 1930s, Goo would continue to improve his caddie swing.
THE WAR The forties brought wartime when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Golfers and non-golfers alike joined the cause. Goo enlisted immediately and eventually became part of the 100th Infantry Battalion, where he was seriously wounded in Anzio, Italy, while attacking a machine gun nest. Goo’s injuries were considerable. His German doctor, named “Thompson,” was particularly instrumental in putting the former Waiehu caddie back together:
Waihee's Willie Goo won the inaugural caddie tournament at Waiehu in 1934, the inaugural Maui Invitational Open in 1952, and a record six Maui Amateurs.
One such boy, Willie Goo, was a caddie there. “I made 25 cents a round,” the now 94-year-old Maui golf legend explains. “I would caddie after school and used to fool around,” Goo says, explaining how he took up the game in the 1920s. Across from the house where Goo grew up and still lives today is Waihee Elementary School. But in that era it didn’t exist. “Over here,” he pointed, waving his arm at the school, “this ground, they used to have this tree. You know that round thing (macadamia fruit), on what they call a tree, so I used to use that as my golf ball,” Goo said. “You know a guava tree?” he asked. “I used to use parts of the tree, you know. Was like a golf club. So, I was hitting that. You see I was fascinated with that. I liked to see the ball going in the air. I was just fooling around, you see. No golf course, no golf balls, no golf clubs, nothing like that. Just the guava stick,” he grinned.
Continued on page 34
THE CHAMPIONS Many isle championship records, from the 1920s through the 1950s, are sketchy. Golf was just beginning to evolve here, but isle legends did exist. One, in particular, was Francis H. I‘i Brown. Brown, a renowned and gifted athlete, loved boating and fishing, but it was his skill as a golfer that was legendary. (He once held the course record at the Old Course at St. Andrews, after carding a 62 in a practice round prior to the 1924 British Amateur.) At one point he was the concurrent amateur champion of Hawaii, Japan and California. We’ll never know how much golf Brown played at the Maui Country Club, or Waiehu for that matter. But he was a presence here. Just three years after Brown won the 1930 California State Championship, another moment in golf history would take place at Maui’s Waiehu golf links, where its first-ever caddie
Willie Goo's 1934 Waiehu Caddy Tournament Trophy MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
33
Photo by Wayne Tanaka. Courtesy of Gail Tanaka.
Territorial Hawaiian Open champ, Herman Coelho, (l) watches his putt drop.
“I remember… all I wanted to
tie and ultimately, Willie Goo, the cad-
know from the doctor was: ‘Can
die, would prevail over his fellow com-
I ever play golf again?’ But, I don’t
petitor, James Tokunaga. One shot
think he knew what golf was,” Goo
behind the two was pro Bill Tokunaga.
recalled. Goo would return home a
The Maui Open event was so im-
decorated hero, and in time, make
mediately popular that by its second
Maui golf history again.
year all of the great neighbor-island
The war’s aftermath brought
pros were invading the Valley Isle
an explosion of baby boomers who
each year to have at it. One of them
ushered in the 1950s. It had been
was Jimmy Ukauka, an Oahu pro from
20-years since Waiehu had opened,
the Kaneohe Clipper Course, who
and Maui’s core golfing community
cemented a newfound nickname for
was growing.
himself in the history books: Mr. Maui
THE MAUI OPEN By 1950, Maui golf was growing fast. Numerous golf clubs had formed, and
1959 Maui Open champ, and legendary Hawaii golfer, Guinea Kop, helps out juniors at the annual Ice Cream Soda Pop event, in his honor.
The Maui Invitational Open was, at this point, increasing in size and prestige. Maui golf fans would line the fairways in huge galleries to
pros and amateurs alike were battling it out on the Valley Isle’s two courses.
Open—and for good reason…
He put a plan into action, and in 1952, the
watch Hawaii’s best players battle it
The once-caucasian-only Maui Country
Maui Golf Association (MGA)—led by Kushi,
out. Jimmy Ukauka, who had dominated the
Club was beginning to loosen its policies, and
who was its president at the time, staged "the
fledgling Maui Invitational Open Golf Tourna-
Dr. Harold Kushi was among the first Japanese-
biggest little tournament in the Hawaiian is-
ment, won it six consecutive times from 1953
lands," billed as the Maui Invita-
to 1958. Over time, the Maui Open would see
Americans to become a member. Kushi, another ardent Maui golf supporter,
numerous starts and stops, but always, there
tional Open. Held in Oc-
decided the island
tober
needed a champi-
the
onship of its own after
Country
Mauiian Herman Coelho would make history winning the third and final Territorial Hawaiian Open to be held on Maui, at the Country Club, in 1950.
34
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
at Maui
Club, the inaugural event
is a person of action daring enough to face whatever obstacles are presented for the betterment golf.
TELEVISED GOLF In 1960, the sands of time were changing
two
and Maui was evolving with the times. There
pros and 87 ama-
was a post-war shift from sugar and pineapple
had
just
teurs. Two Maui amateurs would play to a
to a newer, more promising crop: tourists. Commercial aviation, with WWII’s break-
Photo by Wayne Tanaka. Courtesy of Gail Tanaka.
Bob Charles and Dave Regan battle it out on the Royal Kaanapali Golf Course, in 1963, on Shell's Wonderful World of Golf on ABC.
through military aircraft development, brought newer, larger, more economical commercial
TV coverage of golf was still in its infancy, and so too was Maui and Kaanapali.
ert, will soon be dotted with some of the world's foremost golfing spas. Until recently only a man
aircraft online and at a rapid rate. The end re-
The resort's owners, American Factors,
who hated pineapple corporations would bet
sult was lower airfares and a greater capacity to
Ltd. led by Henry Walker and George Sumner,
that golf and tourists who play it could become
move visitors here.
the latter being the driving force behind the re-
this faraway state's biggest industry. But a com-
sort's creation.
bination of superb climate, the native enthusiasm
Hawaii was ripe for tourism, and Kaanapali led the way as Hawaii’s first golf resort. The year
To spur more awareness for Kaanapali, the
for the game and a rich flow of dollars from real
was 1963, and the first-ever televised golf event
executives arranged yet another event, with
estate developers who hold golf and gold in
in the Hawaiian islands: Shell's Wonderful World
hopes that it would attract even more attention
about equal esteem is transforming the islands,”
of Golf, on ABC. Airing in livingrooms across the
and build greater awareness.
said Gwilym Brown, of Sports Illustrated.
country, the match-play event featured pro Dave
“The Royal Kaanapali course is a sound
What was billed as “the first truly major
Regan, from the USA, and Bob Charles of New
one, long, tough and designed by Robert Trent
sports event to be played in Hawaii”: the 1964
Zealand. Regan took the early lead with a birdie
Jones. What is more, the course is a kind of
Canada Cup and International Golf Champion-
on the first hole, which is the downhill par 4 16th
preview of Hawaii's golf future. The islands, a
ship Matches at the Royal Lahaina Beach Hotel,
today, but Charles was unflinched and would go
mixture of thick jungle, wide stretches of plain,
Cottage Colony and Golf Club—took place and
on to shoot a 6-under 66 to win the event.
still-frothing volcanoes and lava-studded des-
was a resounding success.
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
35
Then & Now CHAMPIONSHIP LEGACY Yet, before that all happened, Brown, in his 1963 Sports Illustrated article about the impending Canada Cup at Kaanapali, noted that mainland perceptions of Hawaii were that the 50th state was “geographically and psychologically” “adrift” from the rest of the United States. “Mainlanders," he said, "see it only through an exotic haze of coconut palms, ukuleles and swiveling hula skirts.” If that was indeed the perception, then Kaanapali was doing it right! Kaanapali saw the benefits of televised golf from the very beginning, and made the advertising investment in tourism. Any misperceptions about Hawaii would quickly change, with Kaanapali hosting 33 countries the resort planted itself into living rooms around the world. It would help lay the groundwork for an eventual tourism boom for Maui. In 1962, Bing Crosby hit the ceremonial first tee shot as his foursome led the charge when the resort opened. In 1963, Bob Charles won there on ABC-TV, and in 1964 Jack and Arnie were shooting 65s and breaking the course records while battling Argentina, their closest pursuer by 11-shots, to win the event for their fifth straight title. The success of the event would set forth a continuing legacy of televised Hawaiian championships. Isle golf legend, Francis Brown, was at Kaanapali that week in 1964, and what he saw inspired him to work with New York golf promoter Ed Carter to get Chinn Ho's Makaha Country Club, and Hawaiian Airlines, to underwrite the Hawaii Open's entree onto the PGA Tour in 1965. Kaanapali's championship legacy, and that of Maui's overall, was just beginning, as our timelines reveal how things went down, then and now.
Photos by Wayne Tanaka. Courtesy of Gail Tanaka. 36
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ & DAVID JIMINEZ Canada Cup, Hole No. 1, Royal Kaanapali G.C., 1964.
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
37
Then & Now "Where the world comes to play." Our timeline to memorable golf in paradise at Kaanapali Golf Courses.
1961
ROBERT TRENT JONES, SR. Jones, shown here supervising the course’s construction in 1961, designed only two courses here in the State of Hawaii: Royal Kaanapali Golf Course, and Mauna Kea Golf Club, on the Big Island.
1963
DUEL IN THE SUN US pro Dave Regan, and New Zealander Bob Charles, duel it out on Royal Kaanapali's 18th hole during the first nationally televised Kaanapali event: Shell's Wonderful World of Golf. Charles prevailed. Photos (above) by Wayne Tanaka. Courtesy of Gail Tanaka.
1959
1965
1962
ROYAL OPENS Bing leads the first foursome down No.1 as he christens play on Kaanapali’s Royal Course in 1962.
1964
GOING ROYAL It was on June 3, 1964, and on page 28 of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, news broke announcing that the Royal Lahaina Golf Course was now the Royal Kaanapali Golf Course. Its new logo debuted at that time.
COMING OF AGE Kaanapali celebrates the Canada Cup, hosting the best players in the world teamed up as twosomes and representing 33 nations. Jack and Arnie would win the team event. Then place first and second, repectively, in the indiviual honors, with matching courserecord 65s. The remarkable Honolulu pro, Ted Makalena, tied for third with golf legend Gary Player (far-right).
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
1970
HAWAIIAN SANCTUARY At the same time golf was ablaze, the endemic Hawaiian Coot (pictured left, as it floats about in the brackish water along the Royal's 18th fairway) was added to the endangered species list in 1970. Fortunately, the Coot will always find a safe-sanctuary at Kaanapali Golf Courses—a trusted and safe haven for the rare bird.
1970
1975
1970S
BOOMING 70S The ’70s were a go-go era in more ways than one! For Maui golf, and especially for Kaanapali Golf Courses: resort golf in Hawaii was firmly established in the traveling golfer's mind as a must-go-to hoilday choice. Mainland golf pros flocked to Hawaii knowing very best, and mostinnovative, resorts were expanding. Maui Golf Shop owner and longtime PGA pro, Clif Council (pictured) was among the lucky ones to establish a foothold here and stay.
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
39
Then & Now
1983
KATHY WHITWORTH Kathy Whitworth birdied the final two holes, sinking a 30-foot putt on the final hole, to win the $200,000 Women's Kemper Open by one stroke over Dale Eggeling.
1976
JACK SNYDER In 1976, longtime Royal Kaanapali Golf Course course superintendent, and golf course architect, Arthur Jack Snyder, transformed the 9-hole Kaanapali Kai Course into the 18-hole, 6,400 yard design that would one day host the 12 ladies of Big Break Kaanapali. (Photo courtesy of his friend and colleague, course designer Forrest Richardson.)
1975
1982
AMY ALCOTT Amy Alcott birdied the 17th hole and finished with a two-under-par 70 and a one-stroke victory over JoAnne Carner in the $175,000 inaugural Women's Kemper Open golf tournament.
JAN STEPHENSON That year, a record spectator crowd of over 5,000 Maui residents, and many island visitors, witnessed Jan Stephenson hit the first-ever LPGA Maui tee-shot in an authentic ti-leaf skirt.
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1984
BETSY KING Betsy King, a non-winner in seven years on the L.P.G.A. tour but always among the leaders in earnings, captured her first title of the year when she held off Tatsuko Ohsako of Japan to win the $200,000 women's Kemper Open by three shots.
1990
1988
DON BIES
BOB CHARLES
Don Bies bested Don January, draining a 25foot birdie putt on 18, and then repeated as champion in 1989 after carding a bogey-free second-round 64.
Bob Charles returns to Kaanapali 27-years later to win again. The 3rd round winds showed the world just how difficult isle golf could be with a scoring average of 79.205 that year!
1985
1990
1991
1987
1985
JANE BLALOCK Jane Blalock, winless since 1980, rolled in a 15-foot par putt on the final hole to win the $300,000 Women's Kemper Open in the spring of 1985.
'SARGE' ORVILLE MOODY
JIM COLBERT
Mark Rolfing, whose fall Kapalua event helped put his resort, and Maui, on the map with televised golf programming in November, brought the Senior PGA Tour to the Royal Kaanapali Course where the 1987 inaugural Kaanapali Classic featured the “Good ‘Ol Boys of Golf,” including Arnold Palmer, Don January, Billy Casper, and Chi Chi Rodriguez. The winner of the Senior Tour's “Boot Camp” that year was Orville “Sarge” Moody, the 1968 U.S. Open champion.
Jim Colbert cards a record-breaking 11-under opening round of 61 en route to winning in 1991.
1989
LEE TREVINO Lee Trevino hit his inaugural shot (heard around the world) on the Senior PGA Tour at Kaanapali in December of 1989. He trailed Don Bies by six at the conclusion of the weathershortened event.
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Then & Now 2008
PETER & FUZZY
1994
BOB MURPHY Bob Murphy donate $3,000— of his first place prize money—to Hale Makua, Maui’s senior citizen healthcare center.
1992
TOMMY AARON Tommy Aaron breaks a 20-year drought nailing his first victory, at Royal Kaanapali, since the 1972 Masters.
Fuzzy Zoeller and Peter Jacobsen rallied to win the first-ever Champions Skins Game, at Royal Kaanapali Golf Course, winning six skins and $320,000.00. The star that week was Arnold Palmer, who played Kaanapali's holes like he was about to shoot the course record just as he did 44-years earlier.
1997
HALE IRWIN Hale Irwin wins the Kaanapali Classic in 1997 and again in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005.
1990
1995
2007
BOB CHARLES
1993
GEORGE ARCHER
Left-handed golfer Bob Charles wins in Kaanapali yet again. By now, the 60-year-old New Zealander has played at Kaanapali over four decades. Charles fires a 15-underpar 198. He defends his title to win a record third title in 1996.
George Archer drains a 25-foot putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Stockton and Trevino in 1993.
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KAANAPALI GOLF COURSES
1998
JAY SIGEL Sigel ties Jim Colbert's course-record of 61 during the opening round, and leads wire-to-wire for the victory in 1998.
In 2007, Billy Casper Golf, management company for Kaanapali Golf Courses, unveils a new, properly punctuated logo, as a part of a major updating of the brand. The golf courses, pro shop, driving range, carts, uniforms, and facilities are all vastly improved—ready to satisfy visitor demands for decades to come.
2008
ROBIN NELSON As part of Kaanapali’s transformation, isle course architect Robin Nelson performs a “gentle nip and tuck” when updating the famed Royal Kaanapali Course, which is an original Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design. Nelson revives its bunkers, runway tees, and amazing greens. The end result is: improved playability and new life injected into Jones’ classic design. Nelson then tackles the Kai Course, revamping it in every way. All-new tees, redesigned green complexes, and reshaped/resanded bunkers, as well as new, hybrid-bermuda grass on the tees, fairways, and roughs, with putting surfaces featuring TifEagle bermudagrass.
2011
DUO'S DUO
Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson pair up to win back-to-back Champions Tour Skins victories at Royal Kaanapali in 2010 and 2011.
2011
2011
BIG BREAK
2009
FUZZY ZOELLER Fuzzy Zoeller and Ben Crenshaw win the Champions Tour Skins Game, racking up 13 skins to earn $530,000 in 2009.
Maui gets a shot in the arm with an incredible amount of TV exposure when the Golf Channel broadcasts Big Break Kaanapali nationally for much of 2011. Champion Kim Welch, pictured, would get plenty of help from her caddie: GM, Ed Kageyama, a PGA pro.
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Then & Now Continued from page 44
WAILEA LEGACY As Maui rolls into the 1970s, its evolution as an unspoiled, yet glamorous destination is beginning to morph into that of something more. Elmer Cravalho, Maui’s longtime mayor from 1969 to 1979, is responsible for Maui’s surge in development, politically muscling the building out of the waterline from Wailuku to Wailea, which enables the development of Kihei. With South and West Maui both in the works, Maui is beginning to grow up. The island’s citizenry is becoming more prosperous as a result of the impact of affordable air transportation, the extensive marketing of tourism, and the expanded capacity to meet demand too. This strategic shift, from an agricultural based economy to one of tourism, closes the local job gap created by the mechanization of the sugar industry. Golf benefits from this transformation. Mayor Cravalho pushes hard to close the deal and make Wailea a true reality in the late 1960s. Golf in the City of Flowers, as it was first named, comes to fruition. “At Wailea Golf Courses,” Blue and Emerald course designer Arthur "Jack" Snyder writes, “the views are so vast that they are apt to overpower anything we design,” he said. “When I looked over the expansive views, it became apparent that we would need to compensate, so to speak, for the tremendous impact of the scale of the ocean view. We decided to make the greens a little larger and the fairways somewhat wider than might normally be built.”
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ARTHUR JACK SNYDER
Pictured (r) while surveying work on Wailea Blue golf course in 1970.
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Then & Now Home of the storied Wailea Gold, Emerald, and Blue golf courses. Our timeline of memorable golf in paradise continues at the Wailea Golf Club.
1990
WOMEN'S KEMPER OPEN
1971
BLUE OPENS Opens the front nine of the Wailea Blue Golf Course on Christmas Day, honoring the day with a luau celebration. The 1,500-acre resort, with golf course and 300-room luxury hotel, was estimated to cost "between $15 and $18 million to develop".
1970
Beth Daniel birdies the final two holes and wins the Women's Kemper Open in Wailea. It would be her sixth victory in 11 starts.
1978
1990
1991
DEB RICHARD WAILEA CHAMPION Deb Richard beats Cindy Rarick on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff after her sand wedge approach left her six-feet for birdie which she converted.
1970
BREAKING GROUND Then Kaanapali golf course superintendent, Arthur "Jack" Snyder, is hired to do the job of routing the Wailea Blue course. He personally mans the D-4 bulldozer, when the course breaks ground.
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1978
ORANGE OPENS Maui's 8th golf course, the 50th course to be built in the 50th state, Wailea Orange, opens on Febraury 1, 1978. The name "Orange" comes from the Wailea's new symbol of an orange sun over the blue sea.
2004
WATSON EDGES TREVINO
1994
"Arnold [Palmer] was the star of the two days," said Watson, who wanted to talk more about his childhood hero than himself after winning the Champions Skins Game in Wailea. Watson took the final five skins with a par on the third hole of a playoff when Trevino three-putted from 25 feet for bogey. Watson, the 2003 Champions Tour player of the year, finished with $400,000 and 10 skins.
2005
COMING OF AGE
JACK NICKLAUS
Wailea hires Robert Trent Jones II to convert Snyder's original Orange course into the new 36-hole Gold and Emerald Golf Courses you can play today. Wailea erects their new club's landmark clubhouse that year.
Returning from a long layoff following back surgery, Nicklaus wins 11 straight skins and a career-high $340,000 in a runaway victory over Craig Stadler at Wailea.
2005
2007
2006
FLOYD & QUIGLEY Raymond Floyd and Dana Quigley win the final Champions Skins Game, played at Wailea's Gold Course, with 10 skins and a record $510,000 to beat defending champion Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in the alternate-shot event.
1992
COE'S WAILEA VICTORY Dawn Coe, a Canadian golf Hall of Famer, wins the final Women's Kemper Open at Wailea.
2003
TREVINO PREVAILS AT WAILEA Lee Trevino wins the Champions Skins Game, at Wailea's Gold Course, holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole to finish with six skins and $240,000.
2007
NICKLAUS & WATSON The team of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson earned seven skins and $260,000 on the back nine of the Wailea Gold Course to edge Gary Player and Hay Haas in the Champions Skins Game.
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Then & Now KAPALUA CROWN Colin Cameron, Kapalua resort's visionary founder, spent 20-years doing early studies, making plans, and recruiting a small army of talented individuals to "set the tone and the direction for Kapalua", which he was proud of saying, was "an uncompromising commitment to quality." Cameron believed man's "improvements in facilities are one thing; improvements on nature are harder—if not impossible." Thus, he ensured that his resort's buildings and grounds were designed to blend into their setting, "rather than dominate". His prime example was the Kapalua Bay Hotel, made in a style that was often referred to as "disappearing architecture." Kapalua made its entree into golf with the help of the legendary Arnold Palmer, who has left an indelible mark on the Valley Isle in countlesss ways. The resort, which celebrates 40-years since the days when Palmer and his co-deigner, Frank Duane, weaved the Bay course's holes up and over pineapple fields down to the crashing sea. The No. 4 and 5 holes at Kapalua's Bay course are as memorable as it gets. And, Kapalua Golf continues to maintain its place on on the leaderboard with continuous updating and their long tradition of sweating the details. Soon after the Bay course opened, Kapalua would continue its growth opening the Village, once again with Palmer's help. A young Mark Rolfing was on board by now, and the campy patrician resort (and Maui) would make history, as you will see right now....
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ISUZU KAPALUA INTERNATIONAL
NBC network contract, major new (Isuzu) sponsor, a half-million-dollar purse.... Maui hits the big time, in no small part thanks to Mark Rolfing, shown (second from right) presenting the winner's check to 1985 champion Mark O'Meara.
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Then & Now Kapalua is the pinnacle of championship golf in Hawaii. Our timeline to memorable golf in paradise continues at the Kapalua Golf Resort.
1982
KAPALUA OPEN
1979
Brainchild of Mark Rolfing, the inaugural and unofficial PGA tour event is kicked off in November at the Bay course. It is the first postseason event of its kind and draws top touring pros and celebrities, as well as TV viewers. Pearl Country Club (Oahu) pro David Ishii wins first place check of $15,000.
GOLF PARTY What began as Da Game, becomes the Kapalua Golf Party in 1978. Here, Arnold Palmer, with Dr. Harold Kushi to his right, hosts a group during the resort's 1979 Golf Party.
1970
1980
1980
VILLAGE OPENS Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay complete the design and construction of the par-71, 6,632yard golf course with stellar views and lots of hilly, rolling terrain meandering over the pineapple hills.
1975
BAY OPENS Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane complete the Bay, known for its breathtaking 5th hole, the only hole to play over the ocean on Maui.
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1983
KAPALUA INTERNATIONAL The fall event provides viewers with 'counter-programming' giving those who prefer golf over college football something to watch. Ratings soar. Event's first-place money grows exponentially— nearly-seven fold— as Greg Norman wins a check for $100,000 while the event airs internationally on ESPN.
1989
1994
CRENSHAW'S CHIP
FRED COUPLES
Kapalua co-owner and Plantaion course developer Mark Rolfing hires Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore after Crenshaw convinces him over a picnic lunch with a bag of Maui chips.
Couples wins back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994.
1998
1987
USGA WOMEN'S
WORLD CUP
Amy Spooner, 21, of Margate, Fla., won two of the first four holes on the back nine and hung on to beat Natalie Wong, 21, of Montebello, Calif., 2 and 1, in the final of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship at Kapalua's Bay Course.
The World Cup, dormant the year prior, is brought by Rolfing to Kapalua, where it solves the venue problem and tacks on more worldwide television exposure for Maui and Kapalua. Nissan and Kirin Beer are the title sponsors.
1990
1985
2015
1997
ISUZU
NBC joins ESPN as the event's network broadcaster while Isuzu becomes the title sponsor, increasing the now-extremely popular event's purse to $500,000. That week, Rolfing is invited into the NBC booth to be interviewed by Vin Scully and Lee Trevino. He is asked for his insights on a ruling, and after a second visit to the booth the next day, is offered a job as an analyst. Mark O'Meara would win.
1991
PLANTATION OPENS
Lincoln-Mercury is new title sponsor as event is played at the newly-opened Plantation course for the first time. Mike Hulburt wins.
2007
LOVE FINALE
LPGA CLASSIC
An emotional victory that year for Davis Love, and all of Kapalua, as the 16th year of the event marks its last.
Champion Morgan Pressel sank a 15foot putt for birdie on the final hole for a three-under 69, edging out Suzann Pettersen by a stroke and securing her first Tour victory of that season, finishing at eight-under 280 and earning $225,000.
1999
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS PGA Tour moves Tournament of Champions to Kapalua, to help kick off their season every January.
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M A RINKG ROLF
Mass
Appeal The story behind the man who is as infectious as the game itself: Mark Rolfing. Interview by Dave Ward
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LORD BYRON NELSON
Mark, with Phil Mickelson, interviews golf legend Byron Nelson.
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HAWAIIAN OPEN
Friend Doug Stacy mans the bag for Mark in 1976.
I GOT A LITTLE TOO FAR AHEAD OF MYSELF, THINKING THAT ‘I WAS GOING TO BE THE NEXT JACK NICKLAUS.’ I KINDA PACKED IN MY WHOLE EDUCATION FOR CHASING THIS LITTLE WHITE BALL AROUND THE TOUR FOR THREE YEARS, WHICH I DIDN'T DO VERY WELL, FORTUNATELY, LOOKING BACK….” HE SAYS, SMILING.
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Mass Appeal THE PLAYER In our recent interview, Da Game Show host Dave Ward asked Mark Rolfing how he ended up on Maui 40 years ago… “Well you have to have a lot of good luck, first of all Dave,” the Hawaii golf Hall of Famer began. “It’s interesting when I look back on my time on Maui. I’m sitting here right now, in a golf cart, by the practice putting green on The Bay Course and I can see the roof of the first apartment I lived in on this island, which was over in Napili Sands on the far side of the fifteen hole here. That was early in 1976. I had been a political science major in college and intended to go to law school. I have a masters degree, if you can image that, but I started playing really good golf in college and got derailed… won a couple of tournaments and got way to big for my britches,” the popular NBC golf analyst explained. Dave chimed in with a question: “You had a famous roommate who was…?” Mark replied: “Dan Quayle, vice president of the United States. What’s amazing about that now, and I see him a lot and we still play together, is all of a sudden when he became VP his college career was a lot better than mine! And I kept telling people: ‘Take a look at the records, and let’s see exactly what happened here. And the further he gets away from playing college back then, the better he gets.’ So he went into politics and did pretty well for himself, obviously, but I got sidetracked by golf, Dave.” Rolfing continued, “And I got a little too far ahead of myself, thinking that ‘I was going to be the next Jack Nicklaus.’ I kinda packed in my whole education for chasing this little white ball around the tour for three years, which I didn't do very well, fortunately, looking back….” he says, smiling. Dave pressed on how he had gotten here: “What happened was I played in the Hawaiian Open, in 1975, and that was the first time I’d ever been to Hawaii, and I kinda fell in love with it and I remember thinking: ‘Wow! This is exactly
Continued on page 57
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Mark, pictured 2nd from right, with his De Pauw golf team after winning the 1971 Indiana Collegiate Conference Championship. what I had imagined… I had grown up in Chi-
estingly enough, I fell in love with the island so
at the Bay Course, chatting on Da Game Show.
cago and now I was hearing ukuleles and Elvis
quick that I knew that I really liked it here and so
“So, you go from this,” he points at the NBC
Presley and it was just soooo perfect,” Rolfing
did Debi. So I went into the pro shop at Kaana-
logo on Rolfing’s shirt, “to…?”
explained.
pali. I hadn't applied at Kapalua yet. I went into
“I actually got hired as an assistant pro, and
“After that year, when I had a really bad sea-
the pro shop there and asked if there were any
gradually became the head pro and then the di-
son, I had to go back to the PGA Tour Q-school
openings, and the answer was ‘no’. But they
rector of golf. I started working my way up in the
again, and I missed qualifying. I couldn't figure
said ‘there is a new course that just opened up
organization, Kapalua Land Company owned
what I was gonna do, so decided to come back
the road about 10 minutes, you should go up
everything at the time and that's who I worked
to Hawaii. I met this lovely girl named Debi, in
there and ask them’. So I left the parking lot at
for,” he said.
California, who came with me and we were fly-
Kaanapali, got a job interview at Kapalua, and the
ing to Honolulu… ‘gonna go right back to the
next thing I was hired to wash the golf carts.”
“The great thing about golf is you know you meet so many great people and important peo-
Sheraton Waikiki and spend a week there’. The
Dave Ward was still interviewing Rolfing.
ple and so many interesting people. For me, no
flight attendant talked us literally into coming to
“Were you getting paid big bucks for your ad-
matter that I couldn't beat anyone on the PGA
Maui. I had no intention of coming to this island.
vanced degree,” Ward asks, grinning.
tour, I was still the best player on this island
We went straight to Hana, where we stayed in
Rolfing replied, “No I think it was $4.75 an
a house. Then we rented a car and drove up
hour, or something like that. It was pretty good,”
‘cause there weren’t very many players here at
to this side of the island. We had no idea what
his smile broadening. “I did manage to crash a
So, when Arnold Palmer started coming out
was here and there wasn’t much at Kapalua.
cart on my first day of work. I was so nervous. I
to design the second course at Kapalua, when
The Bay Course had just opened, there was a
was taking it into the cart barn back there,” he
the President of the United States came, or
little temporary building over in the village which
motioned toward the barn, “to be washed in the
Jackie Stewart—or when any of those people
was a pro shop,” he said.
that time.
back. I was not paying attention and I hit the
came—they would take me right out of the shop
“Neither one of us had a whole lot of money
corner of the bumper on another cart. Then the
and have me play golf with these guys. And
at the time, so Debi ended up taking a job—as
back of the cart swung around and hit another.
slowly I started meeting people, and it really was
a cocktail waitress at the Sheraton Maui—and I
I had a three-cart crash my first day at work!
because of my ability to play golf—and I had no
got a job washing golf carts at Kapalua. Inter-
Dave Ward was still sitting with Mark Rolfing
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M A RINKG ROLF
ARNOLD PALMER & DEBI ROLFING Chumming around at Kapalua.
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designs on becoming a marketing guy, or
could host a big championship."
television announcer or anything like that….
Rolfing begins to explain to Ward how
It all happened because I was in the right
and why he chose Ben Crenshaw and Bill
place. Maui—Kapalua in particular—at the
Coore to design the Plantation Course:
right time. I just got real lucky,” Rolfing noted.
“This was Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore’s
Our Da Game Show chat with Mark
first course. They’re now the number one
Rolfing continued: “How did you man-
architects in golf, and have more top 20
age to bring professional golf to Maui?”
courses than… they are really, really good.
Ward asked.
But this was their first one. I was pretty close
“I had become the director of market-
with Ben. I had played a lot of golf with him,
ing and recreation for Kapalua in the early
and I needed someone who I knew was going
1980’s. I had played a couple more times
to be on this island a lot, building that course.
in the Hawaiian Open and I started realiz-
Because it was a severe piece of land, it had
ing the most famous golf course in Hawaii
elements and conditions that—sitting in an
was Waialae Country Club, which was
around
office in Florida—you would never be able to
private and nobody could play it. So, I started
here—that we could actually have a tour-
figure out how to draw a golf hole here. And
thinking: ‘If I’m in charge of marketing at Ka-
nament, and Arnold Palmer would come and
even though I took a little bit of a chance with
palua Resort, and we’re having trouble getting
play—but I knew a lot guys who play… from
Ben maybe… it worked out great, because he
people to play golf out here’—we’re at the end
having played myself. And we put it together
kept fine-tuning that thing until he got it exactly
of the road, or whatever reasons there were—
and it worked,” Rolfing said.
the way we wanted it before we opened it, and
‘maybe if we had a tournament… maybe we
Dave Ward is still seated next to Rolfing at
ever since then, we’ve tweaked it quite a bit. It
could make this course as famous as Waialae
the Bay Course. The answer to Dave’s original
was a great decision. He literally drove the Sand
Country Club’.
question about the event follows:
Pro, and did the final grading on every one of
Rolfing continued his answer to Dave Ward’s
“And so that event was played at the Bay
those eighteen greens up there.”
question: “And, so that basically was the prem-
Course for about five years, and became so big,
Rolfing added, “He’s a visual kinda of guy.
ise that started the Kapalua International in
so fast… network television, and all the best play-
He’s a lot like me. And I’ll never forget the way
1982. Back then, because I had relationships
ers in the world playing, that it basically outgrew
I was convinced Ben Crenshaw was the right
with people, I could go to Arnold Palmer and
the facility. Not so much the golf course itself, but
guy…. He called me up and he said: ‘What
say: ‘Hey, we are having a tournament, will you
the limited facilities. So my real motivation in go-
are doing?’ It was about 11:00 in the morn-
come out and play?’ And he said, ‘Sure. I’d do
ing up to the Plantation, which was nothing but
ing. ‘Let’s have lunch at the Honalua store. I’m
that for you.’ Of course… nobody believed me
pineapple fields, was to create a facility which
Continued on page 60
"
HE STARTED LEAFING THROUGH THIS BAG AND PULLED OUT ONE OF THESE CHIPS AND HE SAID, ‘THERE’S THE THIRD GREEN.’ AND I’LL BE DARNED… THAT IS THE THIRD GREEN. THAT’S WHEN I KNEW HE WAS THE RIGHT GUY."
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M A RINKG ROLF
up here. Can we have lunch?’ And so I said ‘Sure.’ And I came up and I had lunch with him and Bill Coore. He bought a big bag of Maui potato chips and we were having trouble trying to figure out the third hole on the Plantation and he took out that bag of Maui chips and he emptied them out on the picnic table, up on the Plantation. He started leafing through this bag and pulled out one of these chips and he said, ‘There’s the third green.’ And I’ll be darned… that is the third green. That’s when I knew he was the right guy. That’s the story." Rolfing adds,“In the early years when were doing the post season event before the Tournament of Champions, we actually played the Bay and the Plantation, but now just because the PGA Tour has gotten so big, it’s the only facility on Maui or any neighbor island that could host an event that big. Dave asked, “How did you get the PGA Tour to bring Tournament of the Champions to Maui?" “Actually,” Mark replied, “they convinced me. Believe it or not, we were having the postseason event, Kapalua International. LincolnMercury was the sponsor for a long period of time, and that was still being played all the way into 1997. It was the PGA Tour that came to us and said: ‘We would really like to have an official money event at Kapalua. It’s a great site. We want to start the season in Hawaii. What do you think about Tournament of Champions?” Rolfing was looking at Ward thoughtfully, “And frankly Dave, I was not totally sold on the idea at first. It turned out to be a great idea, but what we had going was pretty good. We really liked it. I was worried, you know, about how to pull off an official money event. It was going to be a new sponsor. It was going to be painful ‘cause they’re going to eliminate Lincoln-Mercury, who had been a good partner of ours, and replace them with their com-
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TIGER WOODS
Mark interviewing Tiger.
petitor, Mercedes…. That was not an easy con-
take a job somewhere else, that to be here for a
here on the eighteen hole. The announcers
versation. But it worked and the tournament is
just one week a year and meet Jack Nicklaus…
were Vin Scully and Lee Trevino. That was pret-
going strong now. I think as the world of golf
in the end it’s going to be a great thing…. The
ty cool, I couldn’t believe I was up there.
changes that tournament is going to have to
tournament has done a lot for this resort, not
You have to remember that back then there
change some, but it has been very effective for
just in terms of how many television viewers
was no Gary McCord, no David Feherty and no
Kapalua,” he said.
watch it on TV, it’s done way more than that,"
Mark Rolfing. When you came up for an inter-
Rolfing told Ward.
view they asked you what holes you birdied,
“I think, if you look at the Kapalua brand, the facilities here are not that different than they were for all the 40 years I was here, other than
"Mark, I still need to know: How did you get from Kapalua to announcing on NBC Sports?
what clubs you hit, and that was it, see you later. So as I’m up there Peter Jacobsen is out
the Plantation being developed. Just the fact
Mark replied, "I wake up every morning and
on the sixteen hole and we’re on live TV and
that this has become the home of the PGA Tour
have for 27 years now and ask myself the same
he has hit his ball into the hazard in the center
out here, it changed everybody’s viewpoint, it
question. It started right out there on the six-
of the fairway. I said: 'That is a lateral hazard,
changed everything,” Rolfing notes.
teenth hole is basically what happened. It was
which gives you another option. He can go to
Then adds, “We're still at the end of the road.
1985, the Kapalua International. I was playing
the other side of the creek and drop the ball in
And the wind still does blow, but, it’s a totally
in the tournament still back then, even though
the fairway.' It didn’t even cross my mind about
different mindset. All of the people, the years
I was running it and putting it together. I hap-
what Trevino would think of me saying that. We
invested in the tournament, and all the years
pened to play a good round on Friday, they
here… so many of the pros realize rather than
brought me up into the announce booth, right
Continued on page 62
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
61
M A RINKG ROLF
and I’m in there for half-
And he is so right. I think about that, 'til this
an-hour the next day.
day, when I get into situations. Especially if I’m
Now, I’m telling stories
out with Feherty.... How can you not start acting
just like I am with you,
like him? It’s almost impossible. I try to be true
talking about the course or
to myself, and just be me, and it's worked.
what Arnold and I did out
Johnny Miller and I have worked together
here ten years before. We
since 1991. That’s 23-years, and we haven’t
went through the whole
killed each other yet. He didn’t talk to me for
weekend, I did it everyday
about 20 minutes, on the air at the Players a cou-
during that round.
ple of years ago.... I was with Tiger’s group, and
So who was waiting at the bottom of the steps on the last day?
I was listening to Tiger talk to his playing
producer was, and said:
competitor... I was ok with it. And Johnny kept
'Do you want to go to
saying: 'It's not right.' hole,
the World Cup in Palm
just don’t feel good about this drop that Tiger
Springs, California, as an
made.' Live on the air.
it happened. You know he gave
and Johnny says: 'I just gotta say: I
And I said: 'Johnny, let it go.' I don’t think I heard back from him for the rest of the show.... That’s Johnny, and I love him.
me the greatest advice,
He has the best eye of any golf analyst I’ve
I’ll never forget it. When
ever worked with, but he doesn’t have a filter
I got to Palm Springs,
between his brain and his mouth, which gets
I was scared to death.
him into trouble sometimes. He’s one of the few
I knew nothing about
people that viewers are gonna tune-in to listen to.
television. I don’t think I
They’re not going to tune-in to listen to Mark Rolf-
ever had a microphone
ing, but they’ll tune-in to listen to Johnny Miller."
on. And he said to me: 'I
62
A half-hour later and we were on the 16th
and be on ESPN for
announcer?' That’s how
Enjoying a fun moment with Mark.
particularly like where he had taken his drop.
The
work for me next week,
FRED COUPLES
Tiger hit a ball in the water, and Johnny didn’t
"What is your impression of golfers today?"
went through 10 or 15 minutes of this scenario,
want you to think about
Dave Ward asked.
trying to figure it out and engaging in a conver-
one thing, no matter what: However long your
"Well, there’s a couple problems. The first
sation about this ruling, and this drop, and my
career goes, Mark, I want you to think about
problem is so many of the young players that
understanding of the course.
one thing and that is always be you. Just be you.
are coming out now are so robotic. You're not
When I left, Mr. Don Ohmeyer, who was the
Don’t ever try to be something you're not. Don’t try
interested in watching them play, and neither is
legendary producer back in the day, and ended
and be a jokester if you're not a jokester. You
anybody else, and that’s part of what they are
up doing Monday Night Football, he called me
are the common man.'
being taught.
at home that night and said: 'You were phenom-
And that’s what worried me.... 'Why would peo-
They are being taught, and prepared, for
enal in there today. How would you like to come
ple listen to my analysis as a club pro from Maui?'
PGA tour play—to go into a zone and not ac-
up and do a little guest segment tomorrow?' And
I asked him that, and he said: People will lis-
knowledge what is going on around them—filter
I said, 'No matter what I shoot on the course?'
ten to you if they believe you, and your going to
And he said, 'No matter what you shoot.' So I
be able to make them believe you if you're you.
said 'okay' and sure enough I shot 76 the next
If you try to be something else, then they’re not
day and back up to the announcer booth I go
going to believe you.'
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
out anything bad and everything is positive. It’s truly changed the dynamic of the game. You don’t have any characters anymore. The other problem is: the equipment has
MA
K ROLFIR NG
become so good that it's leveled the
you came up here early and you were a
playing field; which means you don’t
decent player and if you wanted to meet
get guys that are necessarily the most
some nice guys and play golf, all you had
talented guy, or talented shotmaker,
to do was go see Al Vida in that cart barn
and they come out and play and be
and put your name up there and be here
really dynamic and dominate the game
at 12:30 and pretty soon there's 30, 40
and make you to want to watch.
guys doing this.
You know how many guys are put-
We actually bought and sold a hotel
ting great with this thick grip?" Mark
from a guy that played in Da Game. It
points at Dave Ward's putter. "It has
was unbelievable. It was so much a part
turned bad putters into good putters.
of the fabric of this resort. I will always
I’m not saying it’s bad. I think it’s great
look at the institution of Da Game and
for the average player, but in terms of
think about what it did for this place.
separating the true stars—at the high-
Dave asked, “Who are the top profes-
est level—these, the 60° wedges, and
sional golfers that you met over the years
these forgiving thin-faced drivers...I think the playing field has been lev-
On the set with Johnny Miller.
here that meant something to you or that you really have fond memories of?"
players—that you don’t even know—how are
"Arnold Palmer is number one. Matter
I’m not saying Keegan Bradley wouldn’t have
you gonna cause a viewer, in the audience, to
of fact, he’s number one and two, three, four, five
won a major. I’m not sure he would have won a
either root for him or against him? It’s gonna be
all the way down to a million. Arnold has had such
major like that without anchoring a putter.
extremely difficult. So, I think any of this rooting
an impact on me personally, and my career, that
Golf needs to have a rooting interest, if you
is good. That’s why I love the Ryder Cup. It's
it’s really hard for me to put it into words. I never
think about the other successful sports, Dave,
totally different. It's wild, it's crazy, it's a hard
met anybody in my life like Arnold Palmer. I'll tell
take a look at the NFL... anybody who is watch-
place to announce golf, it's partisan, it's all for—
you what’s interesting is: he’s 85-years-old now,
ing an NFL game is rooting!
or all against—depending on which country
and I still think Arnold Palmer is the most popular
They're either rooting for their favorite team...
your playing in. But man... that is good. That
golfer on this planet. I truly believe that.
or they're rooting because they made a bet on
is why that event, which has gone from being
I don't get to spend that much time with him. I
the game... or they’re rooting for a variety of rea-
maybe the 10th, or 11th, or 12th-best tourna-
had lunch with him at the U.S. Open, at Pinehurst.
sons...it's their hometown... you name it.
ment in the world, I think it’s number two now. If
I watch him walk around and everything he does
Same thing with NASCAR... they root for a driv-
you took a poll among all these people listening
to me embodies what a golf professional should
er because they hate another driver, so they root
to us they would tell you it’s the second most-
do... even including signing his autograph.
against that guy and for the other guy.
popular tournament in golf... after the Masters.
eled…especially with anchored putting.
In golf, we never had much of that. It started with Nicklaus and Palmer, and people hated 'fat Jack', in the beginning, and despised the fact
"Tell me a little history of Da Game and how it got started, Mark?" Dave asked. "It’s so near and dear to my heart, and it has
I learned to sign my autograph from him. I remember him telling me: 'Someday, you're gonna be famous. I don't ever want to see you scribble your name.'
been... for 40-years. It’s not as big a part of my
I said: 'Nobody’s ever, ever gonna ask me
But that was the only situation we had in my en-
life now, as it was back then, but if I take a look
for my autograph,' and he said: 'You wait and
tire playing career that we had a love-hate relation-
at all the great things that have happened around
see.' To this day, I watch him sign autographs,
ship. You gotta have that in sport to have interest.
Kapalua, and all the great things that happened
and they're perfect. I watch him shake people's
Even when Tiger went through his hard times, and
to me, Da Game had a lot to do with it.
hands, and look people in the eye, and be gen-
that he was unseating Arnold Palmer.
people starting rooting against him, for the overall
It was as much a part of the Kapalua institu-
good of the game it wasn’t that bad because we
tion as the Kapalua International was. I still, to
were still creating a rooting interest.
this day, tell the stories about when that thing
I had a group of guys that I played some
started, and what it was like. The fact that, if
with and that became the little Kapalua group
In today's world, when you talk about these
uinely concerned about them. I love the guy so much.... So he’s number one.
Continued on page 64 MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
63
M A RINKG ROLF
(L-R) Robin Love, Davis Love, Debi Rolfing, Mark Rolfing, Drew Love and Lexie Love.
of national professionals. That helped me
gonna play so that the TV would tele-
Mike Jones today, who is my guy here at
out. Davis Love became one of my best
vise it, but you had to convince Davis
Kapalua, and I love him to death, and he
friends in the world. Fred Couples, most
and Freddie to play because they were
does a great job.
of the guys that were part of the original
gonna be on TV, and then you had to
The job that he plays in the world of
Kapalua International group that won the
get a sponsor to get them to pay Fred
golf is just as important as the job that
tournaments here, but also helped me
and Davis to play and you have all these
Rory McIlroy plays, 'cause Mike Jones
organize things, and helped me get ev-
things and you had to pull them all in at
is the heart and soul of the club profes-
erything together.
the same time. And so I had a group of
sional, and Rory McIlroy is the best player
guys that really helped me in that regard,
in the world, but Rory McIlroy wouldn't be
they would be right at the top of my list.
that without Mike Jones, and Mike Jones
Starting a tournament is like throwing a net, in Hawaii, which is difficult to do. If you throw a net out there on the water,
But then I go to the complete other
and you got the net out there in perfect
end of the spectrum: Craig Williamson
position, but you pull in one side of your
was director of golf here when I first
net too fast... all your fish are gone.
started, and got me going. I think about
Yes, Davis Love and Fred Couples are
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
him all the time and then I think about
wouldn’t be that without Rory McIlroy." Dave knew he had time for only one more question with Mark....
Have you missed Maui golfer Dave Ward take on your favorite Valley Isle golfers? Episode 23: Mark Rolfing
Episode 19: Clif Council
Episode 20: Oliver Saquet
Episode 18: Ron Huffman
Episode 16: David Havens
Episode 21: Rick Castillo
Then tune in now! Watch every show on our website, and interact with Dave on facebook.com/dagameshow. Even submit the name of your favorite Maui golfer to appear. Go to: dagameshow.com or facebook.com/dagameshow today! To watch Da Game Show 24/7, go to: www.dagameshow.com
M A RINKG ROLF
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
MA
K ROLFIR NG
"
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?"
That answer might take up your entire book! But let me take a stab at it…. There is no doubt that tourism in general, is booming on Maui right now but golf is not enjoying the same run-up in revenues that the hotels are. The hotels, other rental properties and most of the activities are doing very well, but the golf courses are stuck in the revenue doldrums. That has to change for Maui to continue to be a leader in the golf marketplace. Here are five things that I believe will be critical for the Maui golf marketing and operating plan over the next decade:
1 2 3 4 5
It is essential for all the golf course operators and marketers, on Maui (and Lanai) to come together and work as a group. Each individual property will benefit from having an association with Maui golf as a whole. All boats will rise with the tide. Maui’s wonderful array of golf facilities needs to continue to be upgraded. As you’ve seen with our historical perspective, many of Maui’s best courses have been here for quite some time. With very stiff competition from new and spectacular golf destinations around the globe sprouting up all the time, Maui’s facilities will need to keep pace. Maui needs to engage in an ultra-aggressive golf marketing campaign. This program must be all inclusive. Including advertising, public relations, promotions, special events, social-media and sales. A cohesive and comprehensive effort like this has been lacking for some time now. Maui must make a big investment in our junior golfers, an area that, alarmingly, is not growing. Providing instruction, access to our facilities and competitive opportunities for our young golfers is critical. They are the future…not only as customers, but as being part of the backbone of the industry. We must aggressively address the three fundamental issues that face the game today. A. It costs too much; B. It takes too long to play; C. The game is too difficult.
"Throughout the 40 years of my career here on Maui, I have been extremely proud to watch Maui grow into one of the most attractive and sought after golf destinations anywhere in the world. I don't want to see that change now...." —Mark Rolfing MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
67
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GOLF
PEOPL
THEN
E
MAUI GOLF PEOPLE: THEN & NOW
DAVID H. GLEASON
Selflessly worked to better the golf industry on Maui for 53 years. Dave shares what it was like on Maui when he first came here, and recalls what the Wailea Orange Course was like before it became part of the Gold and Emerald Courses we play today.
When I got there, there was only gravel in
on our payments we kept eating.
front of the trailer. It was very temporary. Noth-
Wailea was a must-play for a lot of
ing in Wailea was constructed, no roads, not
the golfers on Maui, so I had an oppor-
even in Kihei.
tunity to meet a lot of people I would
In 1972, I remember the Maui Lu, Kihei Kai Nani, and Hale Pau Hana. They were the only
ordinarily not have met had I not been in the golf business.
condominiums on the road at the time. The Blue was just opened and I met Fran
We finished the Wailea Golf Clubhouse and then Jack Sny-
Cipro, on vacation. We had had about two or
der
three rounds of golf when I was there and he
Orange Course.
designed
and
built
the
said, 'Do you want to come work for me? I can
He was criticized for leaving a lot
get you $500 a month if you can work for me.'
of kiawe. It was an interesting course. it
I replied, 'I don't know if I can survive on $500
was one of those courses that under-
a month.'
standing to hit the correct club off the
I went back to San Francisco. I was work-
tee mattered. You would normally want
ing as a carpenter when Fran called and said,
to hit the driver. You’d want to play the
'I can already get you a raise, I have gotten you
contours.
up to $600 a month.'
It didn’t go over all that well with the
So I said, 'Okay. I’ll give it a try.' So I came
tourists because they were only going
back and I was staying at Kihei Kai Nani. There
to play once or twice and wouldn't get
was no clubhouse. The temporary clubhouse
to know the course, so they would get
was on the 14th hole.
into a lot of trouble. It was a fun course. I
Terri, my wife now, we met when I was at
enjoyed it. It was well received and I do
Wailea. She was working for Dickie Furtado at
think it was a more difficult course for
the Wailea Steakhouse. We shopped at Aze-
a tourist than from a local perspective.
kas, and we survived by Mr. Azeka letting us sign for our groceries, and as long we kept up
NOW MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
69
F GOOL PLE PE
MAUI GOLF PEOPLE: THEN & NOW THEN
It was 1978, I was hired as a mechanic's helper for the golf carts at $3.10 an hour, and I thought I had died and had gone to heaven. My fondest memory was playing with George & Barbara Bush.
RUSTY HATHAWAY An Alaska transplant who has lived the dream.
NOW 70
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
GO
P E O PLL F E
RICK CASTILLO, PGA
24+ years at Wailea, and 10 at The King Kamehamhea Golf Club and Kahili Golf Course.
The old Orange course was the 50th golf course in the 50th state ever built. Eighteen was famous because they had a lava outcropping right in the center of the green. It was a very narrow green, with a lot of rock formation in the middle. MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
71
F GOOL PLE PE
THEN
MAUI GOLF PEOPLE: THEN & NOW
HENRY YOGI, PGA Teaching Profeessional
Back in 1965 I became one of the early Asian professionals to be accepted in PGA. In a short time I’ll be a member of the PGA for 50 years. Most people leave after 20, 30. Maybe 40 years. That’s quite an accomplishment. NOW
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
GO
P E O PLL F E
CLIF & MARTHA COUNCIL, PGA Co-owners, Maui Golf Shop
THEN
Maui Golf in the early 1970s was Waiehu Muni for most of the
Hana Hwy., and have opened four different locations since
locals and not much different from now. There was only one
the first in Kahului, then to Kihei, back to Dairy Rd., and now
resort course then, Kaanapali Royal, which opened in the
in Kihei again in the Longs Center. One of my most memo-
late 1960s but we didn't play there as it was a hotel course.
rable golf course experiences at Kaanapali was the day Lee
Old pictures showed it as very open areas of palm trees and
Trevino called me at the shop and wanted to play with all the
sand traps above the resort with vast vistas of the West
us assistants at 1pm. We had a six-some and watched the
Maui mountains, Molokai and Lanai in the ocean's areas. I
best round of golf I've seen, Trevino shot a 64 that day and
remember flying into the old Kaanapali airport on the small
I shot 72 and felt like a 80. I've had a nice career in golf and
planes, when I lived on the West side. Martha and I started
enjoyed the game and made a life in golf on Maui. Aloha.
a small golf and repair shop in 1990, Maui Parbusters on
NOW MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
73
F GOOL L P E PE
MAUI GOLF PEOPLE: THEN & NOW
DICK MCCLEAN
Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer and five-time Maui Open champion.
THEN
Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer and five-time Maui Open champion, Dick McClean, made it though Q-School and spent 1977 on Tour. He is a celebrated golfing icon here in the islands, and was playing the 218-yard par three No. 2 hole with Mark Rolfing on the Plantation Course’s opening day. “I hadn’t played in two weeks. I think it was Mark, Gary Planos, Marty Keiter, and me. We were playing into a big Kona, so I hit a driver, that’s how hard it was blowing.” McClean made a 1. “Two weeks later,” McClean continues, “NBC came over to survey the course for their broadcast. There were five of us: Johnny Miller, Bob Trumpy, Marty Keiter… I got up to the tee and hit a 2-iron and it went right in again." McClean made a 1. Again. Double-ace.
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
NOW
GOLF
PEOPL
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We didn’t have much players in the Maui Open, only maybe one or two pros... had good amateurs too. We got maybe a 100 entrants. I played pretty good. The way I feel, is it's how you handle yourself... it's all in the mind. Mentally me... I’m not scared of nobody, you know what I mean? THEN
NOW
WEE WILLIE GOO
All-time Maui Amateur (6) winner, and inaugural 1952 Maui Open champion.
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
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F GOOL L P E PE
MAUI GOLF PEOPLE: THEN & NOW
AL VIDA, A.K.A. SILKY Longtime manager of Da Game at Kapalua.
I managed Da Game from the cart barn and had people coming from everywhere to play. I remember Charlie Pride once said: "I’m an 8," but he couldn’t break 90. We had to say ‘sorry Charlie’. Tim Conway was at the pro shop and a lady asked him about products, so he started acting like a sales person. Everybody laughed.
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
GOLF
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THEN
DOUGLAS STACY, A.K.A. SLEAZY
Built and leased Kapalua Shops, ran Village Course, ran Honolua Store, washed carts, and caddied for Mark Rolfing for 15 years.
Kapalua was the greatest time of my life! Great jobs, and most importantly great friends! It was socially intoxicating, if you know what I mean! The stories I have would be classified and only shared over an adult beverage or two! NOW
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
77
ED KAGEYAMA PGA General Manager
“Ed Kageyama has done a tremendous job transforming Kaanapali, and his ability to innovate represents the best of what Billy Casper Golf achieves at our courses,” says Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG. “It’s a privilege for Billy Casper Golf that Ed leads one of the portfolio’s crown-jewel properties, and the Golf Inc. recognition makes it even more rewarding.” The soft-spoken 22-year veteran of Hawaii’s golf industry is one of the state’s leading PGA members—having just been named the Aloha Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Golf Inc. describes such innovative people as Ed as having “creative minds," and being "risk takers and cutting-edge heroes who improve the golf industry through new ideas, fearless moxie, and a love of the game.” That's some pretty impressive stuff, but then when we look at what he has done, who are we to argue? People are the one resource Ed Kageyama hasn't replaced in Kaanapali. The transformation has brought back the sparkle in the resort's 36-holes. His "Golf My Way" program lets you play your 18 holes whenever you can fit it in (nine holes before dinner, four holes after a swim, another five before brunch). Kaanapali's "FIT Club" lets you walk and play after work, everyday, so you get exercise and stay close to the game. He pioneered the "Kids Play for Free" program in the early 2000s, and took it a step further with their Keiki tees—from 100- to 150-yards out—on every Kaanapali golf hole to encourage more family play. It's worked and no one else is doing it, so yeah, we'd say Ed Kageyama is pretty darn innovative.
"Our staff... our guests... are all a part of a special ohana."
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
Meet Kaanapali There's more to Kaanapali than beautiful golf holes, lush fairways, and gorgeous views.
It's the people who really make the place.
PABLO MALACAS VICTOR SARIBAY Guest Services
Pablo (l), has been working at Kaanapali Golf Courses for 24 years. When he's not helping guests before, during, and after their rounds he is sleeping or spending time with his wife. His buddy Victor, the 'new guy' at only 21-years here, the answer is almost the same: "I sleep," he says, "and I fish." When prodded if it's big game he's after he shakes his head and says "no, just the small kine, you know?" He uses a net... old school way.
DANNY RIVERA Driving Range
When nine-year veteran staffer Danny isn't meeting and greeting guests at the Kaanapali Golf Courses' driving range, he's finetuning his handicap out on the links. The former six-handicapper says he's mellowed with age and is now about a 13, citing his injuries sustained while practicing endlessly on the driving range mats as his reason for the elevated handicap.
"I don't need to practice anymore. I just go out and hit 'em."
LLOYD CABANILLA Course Maintenance
For the past eight years, Lloyd has worked at Kaanapali Golf Courses as part of their exceptional course maintenance team, specializing in fertilizing and tending to the resort's velvety green fairways, tees, and greens on his motorized sprayer. When he isn't manning the heavy equipment and buffing out the courses at Kaanapali, he can be found surfing right here at Kaanapali beach, or diving up north for fish around Kapalua.
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
79
"I LIKE WHATEVER HAS TO DO WITH THE BEACH."
LONO CABANILLA Cart Mechanic
Lono has been Kaanapali's cart mechanic for four years. While
off-duty he enjoys quality time with his son, family, and girlfriend. Or is swimming, diving, and body-boarding at his favorite beach: Olowalu.
MARILYN JENKS Accounting
For the past seven years, Marilyn has been at Kaanapali working in the accounting department adjacent to the Pro Shop. When the thoughtful number-cruncher is off the clock, she can be found enjoying Airport Beach, with her husband and friends, or snorkeling underwater looking at all of Maui's beautiful tropical fish.
DAVID HAVENS
PGA Director of Instruction 2014 Aloha Section PGA Teacher of the Year David Havens is a devoted family man and the main golf instructor at Kaanapali Golf Courses. He's also the force behind spareforchange.org, a local charity he started to help disadvantaged kids find their way into the game. His slogan says it all: "Growing the game of golf. One recycled club at a time."
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
MARK RINEN Golf Cart Attendant
Mark is one of the nicest, and shyest guys you will ever meet, and he has one of the toughest and least-noticed jobs: making sure your golf cart is shiny and new each time you play at Kaanapali! When Mark is off, he loves to shoreline fish and do a little overnight casting. Ulua brah!
ELINE MERVIS Pro Shop & Starter
When Eline isn't making Kaanapali Golf Course guests feel important and special, the 17-handicapper and first-year resort staffer is out teeing it up with her husband and their friends. When asked if she is a member of any of Maui's many golf clubs, she replied with a smile: "No, no, just my husband and I and a lot of other friends all together."
JODI FITKIN
SUTEE NITAKORN
LIke her good friend Marilyn Jenks, Jodi too spends her days toiling away at the ledgers ensuring that every penny earned is accounted for. And, like Marilyn, she too has been with the golf courses for seven years. When asked what she does while off-duty, her response was immediate: "I like to spend time with my animals and my husband," she told us.
"Day in and day out I wear a few different hats from managing daily operations to organizing golf events to teaching the occasional golf lesson. My job is very gratifying, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything! Outside of work, I enjoy staying active most days (with an occasional lazy day). My activities include working out with the 'Hyatt 5:30 crew,' I get up every weekday at 5:30 a.m. to work out different body parts each day (I help teach the class). Running, I recently ran the Maui Half-Marathon and look forward to doing more. Yoga, I am a novice who enjoys a good stretch and spiritual mindset (it’s great for golf). I also enjoy anything that gets the blood flowing like hiking and SUP.
Accounting
MELXOR GANOOT Course Maintenance
Melxor has been taking care of Kaanapali's two golf courses for years. From tees to greens, the soft-spoken West Maui resident plies his trade with pride. During his free time he enjoys relaxing at home and spending time with his wife and three wonderful chirldren.
PGA Head Pro
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81
DALE TROY
Pro Shop & Starter Formerly a Navy dentist, Dale is nicknamed 'Doc,' and his ever-smiling presence at Kaanapali Golf Courses makes him very popular. Over the years, guests have come to rely on the Seahawk fan's magnetic personality and sense of humor. When he isn't cracking a funny joke, he enjoys walking his dog and spending his downtime with his wife and visiting their daughter in Seattle.
"I like to see our guests smiling, which is easy to do here."
TOM BROOKS Starter
For the past two years, Tom has been the starter at Kaanapali Golf Courses. When Tom is done assisting his guests with everything they need to know about the Royal and Kai Courses before they head out, Tom golfs with his co-worker and wife Kathy, and enjoys fine art (he even does a little oil paiting on the side).
KATHY BROOKS Pro Shop
For the past six years, Kathy has enjoyed helping guests in the clubhouse Pro Shop at Kaanapali Golf Courses. She's been known to play a mean game of golf, so don't let her warm, friendly aloha smile trick you into one of those aloha presses. She's also into home improvement, so don't forget to compare notes if you're renovating!
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TODD MADDEN Director of Golf
When Todd isn't overseeing the merchandising and operations, or helping his team, he enjoys the good life here on Maui. "What I really really love to do is go hiking up at Iao Valley. It's a little slice of Hana," he explains. "When the whales are in season, I enjoy watching them off my lanai in Maalaea, or watching the surfers at Freight Trains," he says. "That's why I live on Maui."
"When the whales are in season, I enjoy watching them off my lanai..." MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
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WAIEHU MUNICIPAL 808.270.7400
Maui’s true working man’s links set on Maui’s North shore. Built in 1930, it has withstood the test of time. A classic seaside adventure. Don’t miss it. FULL REVIEW ON PAGE 97.
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THE DUNES AT MAUI LANI 808.873.0422
Maui’s great linksland course set on ancient dunes. Holes weave through and undulating terrain makes for outstanding shot-making. A true player’s course. FULL REVIEW ON PAGE 90.
KAPALUA GOLF COURSES
3
WAILEA GOLF CLUB 808.875.7450
Blue is wide open, and classic. Gold - Emerald are newer. Gold is target golf. FULL REVIEW ON PAGES 92-94.
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THE KING KAMEHAMEHA GOLF CLUB
WAIEHU MUNICIPAL
KAANAPALI GOLF COURSES EXPEDITIONS FERRY TO MANELE GOLF COURSE
KING KAMEHAMEHA GOLF CLUB
808.249.0033
Stunning Ted Robinson Sr. and Jr. design set in Waikapu hills. Incredible clubhouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Be a ‘guest for a day.’ FULL REVIEW ON PAGE 88.
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KAHILI GOLF COURSE 808.242.GOLF
Great views, super conditons and stellar layout with value-pricing to boot, Kahili is a must-play. FULL REVIEW ON PAGE 89.
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KAANAPALI GOLF COURSES 808.661.3691
Maui’s original golf resort is as pristine and inviting as it was when Big struck his ceremonial tee shot here in 1962. Enjoy historic golf in paradise. FULL84REVIEW PAGES 84-85. | MMXV • VOL. XX MAUION GOLF REVIEW
KAHILI GOLF COURSE
GOLF MAP WHERE TO PLAY This map is a quick reference for the isle of Maui. Our course reviews follow on the next page. Feel free to call us if you need advice or help. (808) 572-7100.
MAUI COUNTRY CLUB
THE DUNES AT MAUI LANI
PUKALANI COUNTRY CLUB
MAUI NUI
WAILEA GOLF CLUB
MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
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KAANAPALI KAI GOLF COURSE HIGHLIGHTS The shorter, friendlier course in Ka‘anapali. Just as well groomed as the Royal but recent renovations, particularly the greens and the addition of many new bunkers add to the challenge. The par 3s on this course are flat out tough! The third hole plays 235 yds. from the tips! I love the 18th hole...big time risk/reward scenario. If you are brave enough to attack the short dogleg left, a birdie is a very reasonable expectation. Careless play will result in a watery grave for your ball and your score. MORE DETAILS The Kai is Maui's 2nd easiest course for scratch golfers playing from the tips. Bogey golfers tend to struggle more than their female counterparts and scratch competitors, because the Kai is actually tighter and is thus ranked by the USGA as the 4th toughest on Maui from the Sand (white) tees. Lady golfers who play the red (Hibiscus) tees will love the Kai, as it is Maui's easiest golf course for them. Topography is the same as the Royal: hillside and rolling. Roll helps on level and downhill holes, given the firm fairways, and the course plays shorter. Elevation can make fairway and green targets a little smaller, and winds as well as contours befuddle your efforts to keep your ball on the short grass. Roughs are made for recovery. No real sharp doglegs on the Kai, and the fairway bunkers are mostly visual hole framers. Lies in the fairways are almost always even, and you have only a few holes where your stance may be off kilter. The greens are medium-to-large. AMENITIES Top-of-the-line logowear and golf accessories await you in Kaanapali's pro shop located in the resort's easy-access golf course clubhouse. Lit driving range with Aloha Section PGA 2014 Teacher of the Year pro David Havens on hand to help with your game, roomy lockerrooms with showers, on-course beverage service and Roy's Restaurant, a Hawaiian favorite, is Kaanapali's 19th hole.
John Byrne
2290 Kaanapali Parkway, Lahaina, Hawaii PHONE: (808) 661-3691 WEBSITE: kaanapaligolfresort.com GREENS: TifEagle FAIRWAYS: Tifton 328 ARCHITECT: Jack Snyder/Robin Nelson GENERAL MANAGER: Ed Kageyama, PGA DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Todd Madden HEAD PRO: Sutee Nitakorn, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Craig Trenholme
Tees
Rating/Slope
Yardage
Lava
70.7/135 (76.6/130-W)
6,388
Sand
69.0/130 (74.4/125-W)
6,010
Fern
67.1/126 (71.9/120-W)
5,563
HIbiscus 62.2/109 (66.2/112-W)
4,522
ROYAL KAANAPALI GOLF COURSE John Byrne
HIGHLIGHTS One of the oldest and nicest courses on the island. The Royal can play long and tough, especially in the afternoon if the wind is up. I really like the greens, which are substantial, but you rarely get a straight putt, so be prepared for the dreaded "3 Jack" ( i.e. 3-putt). I love No. 5 because the green is oceanside and you get a great view of the sunbathers (if you catch my drift). The Champions Tour has been playing their annual Skins Game there, so you know the course is something special. MORE DETAILS Scratch golfers will quickly find the Royal is Maui's third toughest from the tips. From its Keo Makamae tees (whites), the course plays to Maui's median slope of 128. That means half the courses are harder, and the other half are easier. The Royal ranks as the 5th most challenging course on Maui, for ladies who are bogey golfers playing from the red (Pu Kokoo) tees. The Royal features unique runway tees that point in the direction of your line. Roll is prevalant as most tee shots play level or downhill. Topographically, the course is set along a hillside, where it ascends and descends in a rolling, winding hole routing. O.B. comes into play often along the course parimeters, and there are some trees framing the holes. Fairways are wide and generous targets, and roughs are easily recovered from. Trade winds are a big factor in the design. The green sizes are large, hold well, and undulate a lot. Hole locations behind bunkers and on tiers add to the challenge. Greenside bunkers can have high lips. Water comes into play at the finish. Not an intimidating course, but it has plenty of bite. AMENITIES Top-of-the-line logowear and golf accessories await you in Kaanapali's pro shop located in the resort's easy-access golf course clubhouse. Lit driving range with Aloha Section PGA 2014 Teacher of the Year pro David Havens on hand to help with your game, roomy lockerrooms with showers, on-course beverage service and Roy's Restaurant, a Hawaiian favorite, is Kaanapali's 19th hole.
2290 Kaanapali Parkway, Lahaina, Hawaii PHONE: (808) 661-3691 WEBSITE: kaanapaligolfresort.com GREENS: TifEagle FAIRWAYS: Tifton 328 ARCHITECT: Robert Trent Jones Sr. GENERAL MANAGER: Ed Kageyama, PGA DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Todd Madden HEAD PRO: Sutee Nitakorn, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Craig Trenholme
Tee
Rating/Slope
Yardage
Uliuli
74.2/131 (79.6/145-W)
6,700
Keo Makamae 72.1/128 (77.2/139-W)
6,267
Kula
70.0/125 (74.8/134-W)
5,839
Pu Kokoo
65.5/121 (70.1/123-W)
5,016
MANELE GOLF COURSE HIGHLIGHTS This golf course is in my top five of all time (and I mean anywhere!). There are so many unique and challenging holes, and the views are flat-out unbelievable! One such hole is No. 17, a par 4, at 444 yards.... Big dogleg right with a 200-plus-yard-carry over the ocean; the more of the dogleg you want to cut off, the more of the ocean you need to carry. Safest bet is to putt your ball down the cart path to the other side (otherwise you will be standing on this tee box all day long...or until you run out of balls!). MORE DETAILS For scratch golfers the challenge of the Manele Golf Course comes into play when the forced carries over the ocean on the 12th and 17th holes make your knuckles white. If those holes don't get you, the killer views will. Despite its length, the roll is more than ample given the many elevation changes, and how the design makes use of winds that are gusty and often stronger as the day warms up. Because the holes here don't run parallel like on more crowded venues, fairway targets seem to get smaller as visually it seems like the bail-out zones are no mas. Jack just gives you a lot of ocean, kiawe, and lava to hunt in for your ball when you go astray. In truth, most of the fairways are wide and manageable targets. Roughs are cut short and allow for recovery. Two out of three sharp doglegs actually play to a draw, and the greens are big targets with bunkers that allow for tough hole placements. The topography is very hilly for a seaside course, so be prepared for a ride. The greens hold and are not too steep in undulation, but grainy. AMENITIES Manele Golf Course is a part of the Four Seasons Lanai Manele Bay Hotel. You can expect only the best: from all-new Titleist rentals and Pro V1 range balls, to GPS-carts and a killer 19th hole restaurant om the cliffs of the sea called Views, this incredible facility is only equalled by the stellar service that Four Seasons is known for worldwide. Expeditions MauiLanai Ferry provides easy and regular round-trip access to the golf course and resort.
One Manele Bay Road, Lanai City, Hawaii HOTEL PHONE: (808) 565-2222 FERRY PACKAGES: (808) 661-3756 E-MAIL: scott.ashworth@fourseasons.com WEBSITE: fourseasons.com/lanai YEAR BUILT: 1993 GREENS: Paspalum FAIRWAYS: Paspalum ARCHITECT: Jack Nicklaus DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Scott Ashworth, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Sheril Shimizu
Tees
Rating/Slope
Nicklaus
73.7/135 7,039
Yardage
Gold
72.1/130 6,684
Blue
70.4/126 6,310
White
68.3/123 (73.2/129-W) 5,874
Red
64.6/115 (68.8/119-W) 5,024
MAUI GOLF REVIEW
PLAY THE
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“MANELE GOLF COURSE” OR THE
with one of Expeditions eco-friendly, USCG certified, daily cruises. Snorkel, Hike, Drive, Golf or just Lounge on Lana‘i with Expeditions!
“KOELE GOLF COURSE”* ON LANA‘I
Golf Packages include roundtrip transportation from Lahaina on Expeditions, ground transportation on Lana‘i and golf at either course.
Departs for Lana‘i at:
6:45am 12:45pm
Departs for Lahaina at:
9:15am 3:15pm 5:45pm
8:00am 2:00pm
10:30am 4:30pm 6:45pm
808-661-3756 • go-lanai.com Ma‘alaea route temporarily suspended • *Koele Golf Course closed for renovations
THE KING KAMEHAMEHA GOLF CLUB HIGHLIGHTS The only private course on Maui, and it is everything you'd expect a private course to be: immaculate conditioned golf course, spectacular clubhouse and amenities, professional, friendly, and courteous staff. Part of the challenge of this course is the location (see Kahili but higher up the hillside). The greens are half the challenge; the wind is the rest. Greens are small by Maui standards, requiring well-placed second shots. Most holes are either straight into the wind or with the wind. Long par 4s like the 15th are driver, wedge; short par 4s like No. 2 are driver and everything you've got in your bag! MORE DETAILS For the scratch golfer who plays here from the tips, look out: this has Maui's highest USGA Course Rating at 75.7. Bogey golfers who play the Ke‘oke‘o (white) tees will fare far better with Maui's 5th-to-last USGA Slope Rating. Forward-thinking golfers who play the red (Ula‘ula) tees will find it is tough, as Maui's 3rd highest slope. Not overly long, but the 214yard average par 3 length ranks No.1. Most holes are level or actually play downhill and feature lots of roll. The normally stiff trade winds are a big factor. The fairways are large targets, and roughs are cut reasonably short, but not the shortest by any means. The course features many doglegs as holes hug the terrain, which tends to be hilly and features numerous elevated greens. Bunkers in fairways and by greens are deep, with often high lips. The stance and lie in the fairways is usually level. The green sizes are big and as targets are very manageable, but fast and undulating. Holes are often cut on ledges or behind forboding bunkers, demanding accuracy off the tee. Water comes into play on five holes. AMENITIES Luxurous clubhouse originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Mariyln Monroe. Lavish locker facilties, fine restaurant, driving range with grass tees and target greens, practice putting green with bunker, pro shop, on-course restrooms and water.
2500 Honoapiilani Hwy., Wailuku, Maui PHONE: (808) 249-0033 E-MAIL: info@kamehamehagolf.com WEBSITE: kamehamehagolf.com YEAR BUILT: 1991, 2005 GREENS: TiftEagle FAIRWAYS: Tifton 328 ARCHITECT: Ted Robinson Sr. & Jr. DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Rick Castillo, PGA HEAD GOLF PRO: Frank Luchowski, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Ikaiaka Bechert TEES
RATING/SLOPE
Ele‘Ele (Black)
75.9/139
YARDAGE
7,060
‘Polu (Blue)
73.5/132
6,584
Ke‘oKe‘o (White) 71.5/129 (76.2/135-W) 6,110 Ulu‘ula (Red)
71.4/125
5,254
KAHILI GOLF COURSE John Byrne
HIGHLIGHTS Another one of Maui's many unique, affordable, challenging public courses. Another wind course (as most are on Maui) cut out of the Central Maui hillside. It gives you a lot of sloping fairways and a constant 10-15 mile/hour wind that will absolutely play havoc with your shots. All of the par 5s are reachable in two if you are bold and precise enough with fairway woods. Depending on the wind conditions, the downhill, par 3, 13th hole can play anywhere from sand wedge to 5 iron—good luck figuring that out! MORE DETAILS For scratch golfers, playing from the tips is a breeze at only 6,500 yards, which is why it is rated as the island's 5th easiest. Bogey golfers playing from the 'whites' are experiencing the Maui median USGA Slope Rating; the course is halfway between the most and least difficult we have. Not so for lady bogey golfers who play the red tees: it is the 2nd most difficult for them on Maui. Length is short, and it effectively plays that way. Roll is ample with many downhill tee shots. Elevation changes and strong winds are regular staples, and while the fairways seem wide, there is minimal rough to save your ball from running into a kiawe, which borders the entire course. Holes are designed with wind in mind. The topography is very hilly, and an uneven lie or stance is likely on nearly half the holes. Bunkers in fairways are less penal obstacles on the par 4s than they are on the par 5s. The greens are smaller targets than usual and deep bunkers guard them. Water comes into play on two holes. Putting is straightforward in that there are no extremes.
12500 Honoapiilani Hwy., Wailuku, Maui PHONE: (808) 242-4653 E-MAIL: info@kahiligolf.com WEBSITE: kahiligolf.com YEAR BUILT: 1991 GREENS: Tifton 328 FAIRWAYS: TifEagle ARCHITECT: Robin Nelson DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Rick Castillo, PGA HEAD GOLF PRO: Frank Luchowski, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Chris Mamuad
Tee
Rating/Slope
Blue
72.3/135
Yardage
White
70.0/128 (75.5/134-W) 6,029
Red
66.4/119 (71.4/126-W) 4,948
6,554
AMENITIES Kahili's beautiful pro shop shows off stellar views while providing guests with bountiful choices when it comes to gifts and other golfing necessities. Chef Eddie Munoz offers daily fresh fish, lunch specials, and Japanese specialties along with a wide variety of sandwiches and salads, homemade soups, and one of Maui's best burgers. Other facilities include: grass teed range with target greens, practice bunker and pitching green, putting green, and on-course beverage service. MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
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THE DUNES AT MAUI LANI HIGHLIGHTS A public course with the "wow" factor....The wow being..."Wow, I can't believe how tough that course is!" The first three holes lull you to sleep in thinking that this course is a breeze, but then hold on to your hat! Elevation changes, contoured fairways, water, slick greens, and the wind will challenge every shot. The par 5 4th hole, the par 4 10th and the par 5 18th are some of the toughest holes on the island. I dare you to two-putt the 4th hole—it's not called the "Augusta Green" for nothing. MORE DETAILS Scratch golfers playing from the tips are in store for a lot of fun as this has Maui's second highest USGA Course Rating. From the Black tees, bogey golfers who boldly go where no bogey golfer should ever go (on this course) will find the cards are stacked against them as the Dunes also has the highest USGA slope rating of all the courses on Maui. Moving back to the Blue (whites comparatively speaking) the bogey golfer is still going to have his hands full: from these tees it's also Maui's toughest venue. But forward-thinking golfers who play the Red tees (men or women) will experience a different Dunes: one that is easier on the ego, with Slope Ratings near the bottom of the charts. The Dunes doesn't play long. Even when the wind kicks it doesn't play long. There's plenty of roll, and all tee shots play level or downhill. Winds can blow, making the somewhat narrow fairways seem tighter. Roughs are not penal, but bunkers are, and are aplenty. The one sharp dogleg favors the fade. Topography is hilly as the course is built on dunes formed by the receding seas eons ago.
1333 Maui Lani Pkwy, Kahului, Maui PHONE: (808) 873-0422 WEBSITE: dunesatmauilani.com YEAR BUILT: 1999 HIGHLIGHTS GREENS: Tifdwarf FAIRWAYS: Tifton 419 ARCHITECT: Robin Nelson GENERAL MANAGER: Russell Dooge HEAD GOLF PRO: Garrett Okamura, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Brian Kaulupali
MORE DETAILS
TEES
RATING/SLOPE
YARDAGE
Black
74.1/141
6,841
Blue
72.4/133
6,413
White
70.0/126
5,833
Red
64.9/113 (70.0/120-W)
4,768
AMENITIES Café O'Lei Restaurant is a Central Maui favorite, with a busy lunch menu offering up a quality menu that always features a fresh catch of the day, soup, great salad, and other popular specials. The Dunes' grass teed lit range with target greens, practice bunker and pitching green is also very popular with a four-acre teeing area! On-course beverage service. 92
MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
AMENITIES
Linksland Golf: The Dunes at Maui Lani
Golf the way it was meant to be played at a price that was meant to be paid
FINE DINING AT THE DUNES
The Dunes Pro Shop offers a wonderful panoramic view of the course as golfers await their tee times, as well as a great way to spend those moments before teeing off – shopping for oneself, or someone back home. Visit our Website to Book Tee Times Online www.dunesatmauilani.com or Call our Pro Shop at (808) 873-0422 Located upon the sandy dunes of Central Maui. 1333 Mauilani Pkwy,Kahului, Maui, Hawaii 96732
WAILEA GOLD COURSE HIGHLIGHTS Resort golf at its finest, with a twist. The twist being the rolling, undulating fairways that add to the challenge of this course. If you don't like to contend with the elements...then play golf in Wailea. However, you will have no one to blame but yourself if the course takes you to your knees. The views on this course are spectacular and its condition impeccable. Look out for the lava rock waste areas. If your ball goes in and you find it, it will look like it came out of a Vegematic! MORE DETAILS For scratch golfers the Gold is Maui's second longest course from the tips. Bogey golfers aren't as affected by the yardage, as the Gold is ranked 8th from the 'whites.' Forward-thinking golfers who play the Gold's red tees will find it is 4th in length on Maui. Roll is a factor and is often offset by elevation, and winds are (for the most part) barely noticeable. But despite its length, the Gold doesn't play as long as windier courses. Keeping the ball in play is essential on the Gold, as lava and kiawe trees border all fairways, which are wide and manageable targets. Roughs are cut short and allow for recovery. The few sharp doglegs on the Gold favor mostly the draw. Topography is hilly on the Gold. You can hit the fairways, and when you are precise, you will have an even lie or stance. The green sizes are mostly large and undulating but hold well. Hole locations can impact putting here. The Gold has the most bunkers (93) of any isle venue. While this may sound horrible, the Gold is not a very hard golf course by any means. Water comes into play only once, and can be avoided altogether. AMENITIES Wailea's award-winning pro shop is a shopper's paradise, and the Club's famed plantationstyle open-air clubhouse is home to Gannon's Restaurant, a stylish indoor/outdoor eatery with amazing views, and the popular Red bar. Other facilities include: Grass teed range with target greens, practice bunker and pitching green, enormous multi-level putting green, and the icing on the cake: Hawaii's only David Leadbetter Golf Academy with top PGA pros Eddie 94 Reneé MAUI GOLF MMXV • VOL. XX beverage service awaits. and Lee inREVIEW charge. |Also, on-course
100 Wailea Golf Club Drive, Wailea, Maui PHONE: (808) 875-7450 E-MAIL: info@waileagolf.com WEBSITE: waileagolf.com YEAR BUILT: 1994 GREENS: Tifdwarf FAIRWAYS: Tifton 328 ARCHITECT: Robert Trent Jones II HEAD GOLF PRO: Rusty Hathaway, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Michael Atwood TEES
RATING/SLOPE
YARDAGE
Gold
74.5/138
7,078
Blue
72.1/136
6,653
White
70.0/130 (75.5/136-W)
6,152
Red
65.7/120 (70.6/122-W)
5,442
WAILEA EMERALD COURSE HIGHLIGHTS An easier version of the Gold with all the same great qualities. The higher handicapper will appreciate the shorter length and the sloping fairways that will forgive your errant tee shots. Three of the par 3s on this course are less than 120 yards from the white tees but require a precise short iron to have a chance at birdie. I also like finishing a round on a high note...The 18th hole is a friendly par 5 that should end your day with a smile. MORE DETAILS Jones pads the three-shot par 5s with extra yardage and shortened the average lengths of the par 4s and 3s. Then he made virtually every tee shot play either downhill or level. The result is a course that is easier but still offers plenty of variety and length. Scratch golfers will find the Emerald is Maui's 6th most playable venue for them—an ego-booster for sure. Bogey golfers will love it even more, as the USGA slope rating team here in Hawaii ranks this course as the 4th easiest here. From the forward tees the Emerald is the 2nd easiest on Maui. Tee shots get plenty of roll. There is little if any wind. Keeping the ball in play is easier because many fairways run parallel and are wide. Roughs are cut short and allow for recovery. Few sharp doglegs exist. Topography is hilly and felt mostly on the approach. The green sizes are varied and hold well. Most are average in size and accept running shots.
100 Wailea Golf Club Drive, Wailea, Maui PHONE: (808) 875-7450 E-MAIL: info@waileagolf.com WEBSITE: waileagolf.com YEAR BUILT: 1994 GREENS: Tifdwarf FAIRWAYS: Tifton 328 ARCHITECT: Robert Trent Jones II HEAD GOLF PRO: Rusty Hathaway, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Michael Atwood
TEES
RATING/SLOPE
YARDAGE
Emerald 72.8/135
6,825
Blue
70.8/130
6,407
White
68.5/120 (73.9/126-W)
5,873
Red
65.5/118 (70.5/120-W)
5,268
AMENITIES Wailea's award-winning pro shop is a shopper's paradise, and the Club's famed plantationstyle open-air clubhouse is home to Gannon's Restaurant, a stylish indoor/outdoor eatery with amazing views, and the popular Red bar. Other facilities include: Grass teed range with target greens, practice bunker and pitching green, enormous multi-level putting green, and the icing on the cake: Hawaii's only David Leadbetter Golf Academy, with top PGA pros Eddie and Reneé Lee in charge. Also, on-course beverage service awaits. MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
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WAILEA BLUE COURSE HIGHLIGHTS The first course built in Wailea, not overly fancy or resortish (a new word) but fun and challenging nonetheless. Fairways are wide, and there is little trouble off the tees, which is a good thing. Hole No. 8 is one of my favorites—420 yards, trees left, bunker right, second shot to a long elevated green—4 is a real good score here. I really like the friendly, local atmosphere of this course. MORE DETAILS For scratch golfers Wailea Blue is Maui’s 4th easiest from the tips. Bogey golfers playing from their Wipe Out Whites will score better here than even on the Emerald, with the USGA rating it as Maui’s 3rd easiest. Forward-thinking golfers who play the Shore Break Gold tees will find it is also Maui’s 3rd easiest, and for ladies it is just a paltry two-tenths of a shot stronger than the Emerald. The Blue Course also features a short 9-hole route, utilizing the front nine with shortened tees, for a quick and easy way to hit the links without spending much time, called: The Blue Wave. There are about as many uphill shots as there are downhill ones. Roll is a little less extreme, but several holes do have slopes that run away from where you want to be. Roughs are cut short and allow for recovery, although many greens are narrow targets and can be tricky to hit or hold from the short side. The few sharp doglegs favor mostly the draw, although a fade is the shot off several tees. The Blue’s topography is hilly with fairways often lower than the tees and greens, except on two of the reachable par 5s. AMENITIES The Wailea Blue Course features an all-new clubhouse facility just footsteps away from the famed Shops at Wailea. Golfers (and golf widows) are in the center of it all, with a stellar lineup of 19th holes and everything under the sun at your disposal. Manoli's Pizza Company, a new pro shop, and many new amenities await golfers who wisely choose Wailea Blue. 96
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100 Wailea Ike Drive, Wailea, Maui PHONE: (808) 879-2530 E-MAIL: info@waileagolf.com WEBSITE: waileagolf.com YEAR BUILT: 1971 GREENS: Tifton 328 FAIRWAYS: Bermuda ARCHITECT: Arthur Jack Snyder GENERAL MANAGER: Barry Helle HEAD GOLF PRO: Brenda Rego, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Steve Olsen
TEES
RATING/SLOPE
YARDAGE
Tsunami Black
71.6/129
6,545
Wipe Out White
69.9/125 (75.8/130-W) 6,173
Shore Break Gold
64.6/113 (69.4/117-W) 5,037
The Blue Wave
29.2/97 (29.3/90-W)
1,617
PLANTATION COURSE AT KAPALUA 2000 Plantation Club Drive, Lahaina, Maui PHONE: 877-KAPALUA E-MAIL: kapalua@troongolf.com WEBSITE: golfatkapalua.com
What strikes you about this course is its length, elevation changes, width of the fairways, size of the greens, and the views! What will test your skills are the wind, slope of the greens, and ability to hit every club in your bag. A great challenge and a true test of golf. You can tame this beast on a calm day, but when the elements are up, even the pros go nuts!
BAY COURSE AT KAPALUA 300 Kapalua Drive PHONE: 877-KAPALUA E-MAIL: kapalua@troongolf.com WEBSITE: golfatkapalua.com
Friendly resort course with little rough to contend with. The Bay is fairly wide open, which adds to the enjoyment for the high handicapper. However, even the experienced golfer needs to survive Kapalua's version of Amen Corner (i.e., Nos. 3, 4, 5). The ocean views on 4 and 5 are the island's best... but if you get too wrapped up in the scenery you"ll be posting triple bogeys. All the greens have been recently redone and putt smooth and firm.
MAUI COUNTRY CLUB 48 Nonohe Street, Spreckelsville, Maui PHONE: (808) 877-7893 E-MAIL: mark@mauicountryclub.org WEBSITE: mauicountryclub.memberstatements.com A nine-hole par 36, this is Maui's first golf course and home to many exciting championships since it was founded in 1927. Visitors are welcome, as are residents. Two loops, from different tees, is how 18-holes are played. There are three sets of tee offering many options and allowances for skill variations. The sea is literally on the other side of a small grove of trees, so trade winds pick up as the day goes on, making for a good test. This golf course hosted the Territorial Hawaiian Open, now known as the SONY Open in Hawaii, three times. It is a storied venue with a friendly membership base, and the fees are surprisingly low. Definitely worth checking out! MMXV • VOL. XX | MAUI GOLF REVIEW
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PUKALANI COUNTRY CLUB 360 Pukalani Street, Pukalani, Maui PHONE: (808) 572-1314 WEBSITE: pukalanigolf.com
When you want to get away from the tourists, go upcountry and play the public course at Pukalani. I like this course because it is so old school: nothing fancy, nothing tricky or contrived. Something that you immediately notice that is different upcountry are the fairways and rough—all kikuyu—which is a lot spongier than Bermuda grasses; so the ball sits up nicely for you when you miss the fairways. This course can be a load from the back tees with many of the par 4s (particularly on the back 9) well in excess of 400 yards
MAUI NUI GOLF CLUB 1345 Piilani Highway, Kihei, Maui PHONE: (808) 874-0777 WEBSITE: mauinuigolfclub.com
The 18-hole 6,801-yard par-71 was designed by Canadian course architect Bill Newis. Its holes feature wide fairways, with a good mixture of long and short par-4s. While the course is designed with the prevailing winds in mind, with risk/reward holes everywhere, straight hitters will be rewarded on some of the tighter driving holes, which offer few options for bailing out. This Kihei golf course is a local favorite because it is affordable and challenging enough for most.
The combination of world class instruction and scenic vistas make every golf lesson at David Leadbetter's Golf Academy in Wailea a Maui memory that will last a lifetime. Mahalo! Renee and Eddie Lee To reserve your session call:
(808) 250-8150 renee.lee@davidleadbetter.com
WAIEHU GOLF COURSE HIGHLIGHTS The Royal and Ancient at St. Andrews has nothing on this course. Waiehu is the oldest public course on Maui, and it's the best value (and the only course where you don't have to take a cart!). There are more ocean holes on Waiehu than any other course on the island. Truly unique in its layout, the front 9 is links style along the ocean, while the back nine takes you up into the rolling hillside. When the wind off the ocean is howling, the par 3, 5th hole and par 4 6th hole are as tough as anything at Pebble Beach. MORE DETAILS For scratch golfers Waiehu is a breeze and has been the site of the Men's USGA Publinx Qualifier on many occasions. This is the easiest course on Maui for bogey golfers. Ladies will find more challenge here than on four other Maui courses. Wind is a big factor but doesn't hurt too much because it comes in from the side, and most of the course's holes route parallel to the sea. The front plays mostly level with the exception of one par 3, which plays downhill. The back rolls more with holes playing in the direction of all four cardinal points of the compass—a hallmark of a good layout. Waiehu is the only course with only three par 4s on its front nine. The fairways are wide and easy-to-hit targets. Roughs are cut very short. The few doglegs favor a fade. The fairways provide for an even lie or stance on all but two or three holes. The green sizes are small and protected by shallow bunkers. There is only one fairway bunker on the entire golf course. Water comes into play on barely two holes. This is all about golfing by the sea. AMENITIES There is ample parking, Café O’Lei restaurant, a lit driving range, practice putting green with bunker, a pro shop, and on-course restrooms and water.
200 Halewaiu Road, Wailuku, Maui PHONE: (808) 270-7400 WEBSITE: co.maui.hi.us
YEAR BUILT: 1927 GREENS: Tifdwarf FAIRWAYS: Bermuda ARCHITECT: County Engineers HEAD GOLF PRO: Art Rego, PGA SUPERINTENDENT: Doug Myers
TEES
RATING/SLOPE
YARDAGE
White
70.5/117 (76.2/130-W)
6,330
Red
71.4/118 (66.4/111-M)
5,478
PRO BONO NOW
Manning the fort at the 2014 Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions—at the beautiful Wailea Golf Club's Emerald Course— was (l-r) top: Rick Castillo, Charlie King, Rusty Hathaway, Claude Brousseau, Mike Jones, By David Havens, PGA David Havens, Eddie Lee, Ben Hongo, Re2014 Aloha Section PGA nee Lee; bottom: Lauren Yama, Kathy Teacher of the Year Torchiana, and Mary Bea Porter-King. Waiehu Golf v14n2:Layout 1 9/20/08 6:24 PM
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Hole #6 by Randy Hufford and Michael Gilbert
Oceanfront holes. Stunning views. Maui’s Best Golfing Bargain. Waiehu is a hidden treasure where you can play golf along the oceanfront 7 days a week. In fact, Waiehu has more seaside holes than any other golf course on Maui. It is also the most affordable game in town. Sound enticing? It is. Visitor Rate
55*
$
(18 holes • cart extra)
Waiehu Municipal G.C. TEE-TIMES: 808-270-7400 *Price is subject to change Walking allowed.
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MAUI GOLF REVIEW | MMXV • VOL. XX
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Kahili Golf Course
Private18-hole championship course with ocean views. Guest for a Day
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808.249.0033
www.KamehamehaGolf.com
Public 18-hole course surrounded by Maui’s natural beauty.
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