+GOLD & SILVER GOLF MEMBERSHIPS+THE 19TH HOLES+
WaikoloaGolf Vol. 1, Issue 1
At Waikoloa Beach Resort
Inside
Vol. 1, Issue 1
Volume 1, Issue 1 • 2008-9. Š Waikoloa Beach Resort. 600 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, Hawai‘i 96738. (808) 886-1001. Reproduction in whole or in part of any material in this publication without the written permission of Waikoloa Beach Resort is expressly prohibited. Printed and produced in Hawai‘i by Review Publications (www.ReviewPubs.com).
waikoloagolf.com
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A WEE BIT OF SCOTLAND THE VENERABLE KINGS’ COURSE
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THE BEACH COURSE:
A BEGUILING HAVEN OF COASTAL GOLF
JOURNAL
A WEE BIT OF SCOTLAND
THE 19TH HOLES
Guest perks, resort accolades membership offerings, and so much more at Waikoloa.
The Kings’ Course is a beautiful, natural links with an abundance of risk/reward holes that are cleverly integrated into its design.
Two after-golf venues you won’t want to miss—even if you don’t play golf!
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FIRST TEE
ON TOUR
A BEGUILING HAVEN OF COASTAL GOLF
Waikoloa PGA TOUR player Parker McLachlin’s aloha message.
Waikoloa’s affiliation with the professional TOURs is part of a long and storied tradition.
Sea mist wafts as Hawai‘i’s most scintillating par five approaches the crashing sea.
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HOT SHOTS
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“No. 12 is one of the most beautiful par fives anywhere. Anytime you are close to the ocean, it is thrilling—but that’s not what makes it interesting alone— it is the strategy of the hole that encompasses its setting and the winds offshore.� —Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
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The Waikoloa Beach Course / Hole No. 12 / “Hemolele� (Perfection) / Par 5 / Yardages: 502/479/419 / Photo: Brian Walters
Golf Membership Benefits: $MVC $PODJFSHF 4FSWJDFT XJMM FOBCMF .FNCFST UP BSSBOHF GPS B WBSJFUZ PG QFSTPOBM TFSWJDFT JODMVEJOH BTTJTUBODF XJUI … 5FF UJNF SFTFSWBUJPOT … &WFOU SFHJTUSBUJPO … "SSBOHJOH GPS PUIFS SFTPSU SFMBUFE BDUJWJUJFT Immediate Family Privileges: " .FNCFS IJT PS IFS TQPVTF BOE UIFJS DIJMESFO BHF BOE VOEFS BSF FOUJUMFE UP .FNCFS CFOF²UT XJUIPVU IBWJOH UP QBZ BEEJUJPOBM .FNCFSTIJQ EVFT
No Assessments: .FNCFST BSF OPU TVCKFDU UP FJUIFS PQFSBUJOH PS DBQJUBM BTTFTTNFOUT Other Benefits: … &YDMVTJWF TPDJBM BOE BDUJWJUJFT DBMFOEBS … $PNQMJNFOUBSZ CBH TUPSBHF BU ,JOHT $MVCIPVTF … $PNQMJNFOUBSZ VTF PG UIF ,JOHT $PVSTF QSBDUJDF GBDJMJUJFT Gold: 8BJLPMPB #FBDI 3FTPSU 1SPQFSUZ 0XOFST JOWJUFE UP KPJO CZ 8BJLPMPB %FWFMPQNFOU $PNQBOZ .FNCFSTIJQ CFOF²UT FYUFOE UP JNNFEJBUF GBNJMZ BOE $MVC HPMG SBUFT FYUFOE UP PWFSOJHIU HVFTU PDDVQBOUT PG UIF .FNCFST EXFMMJOH VOJU Silver: 1SJWBUF JOEJWJEVBMT JOWJUFE CZ B .FNCFS BOE BQQSPWFE CZ 8BJLPMPB %FWFMPQNFOU $PNQBOZ .FNCFSTIJQ CFOF²UT FYUFOE UP JNNFEJBUF GBNJMZ
Preferred Pricing: .FNCFST SFDFJWF QSFGFSSFE HPMG QSJDJOH BOE PUIFS EJTDPVOUT Â… .FNCFST SFDFJWF TQFDJBM HPMG SBUF BU UIF ,JOHTÂŤ $PVSTF Â… .FNCFST SFDFJWF TQFDJBM HPMG SBUF BU UIF #FBDI $PVSTF Â… .FNCFS EJTDPVOU PO NFSDIBOEJTF BU ,JOHTÂŤ BOE #FBDI HPMG TIPQT Â… .FNCFS EJTDPVOU PO GPPE BOE CFWFSBHF BU ,JOHTÂŤ (SJMMF Â… .FNCFS EJTDPVOU PO HPMG MFTTPOT Â… 0UIFS SFTPSU EJTDPVOUT Accompanied Guest Privileges: "DDPNQBOJFE HVFTUT PG .FNCFS JO .FNCFS GPVSTPNF NBZ QMBZ HPMG BU UIF .FNCFSÂŤT SBUF
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Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 5
First Tee
Journal
Aloha On behalf of the Waikoloa Beach Resort, I’d like to take this opportunity to personally welcome you to the pages of our inaugural issue of the Waikoloa Golf Magazine. Waikoloa holds a special place in my heart and has been the site of many of my greatest memories—including my Beach Course record score of 59—shot while I was competing here during my college days at U.C.L.A. As I was born and raised here in Hawai‘i, I have visited and played at Waikoloa since I was 10 years old. I know my way around the islands and consider my perspective on resort golf to be fairly well-rounded. I honestly believe that Waikoloa is the premiere beach resort in all of Hawai‘i, and I am thrilled to be on the PGA TOUR representing the resort, its residents, and its guests. This first issue of the Waikoloa Golf Magazine is packed full of exciting information about Waikoloa golf. You’ll discover our two fine golf courses: the Kings’—much like a Scottish links; and the Beach—winding its way to the seashore. In each case, the greatest challenge lies in deciding which course to play most often! The national media apparently agrees: Condé Nast Traveler, GOLFWEEK, Golf Digest, GOLF magazine, and Golf for Women have all lavished our courses with praise, awards, and countless distinctions for decades. You will find that the finest traditions of the game are present at Waikoloa. From our great golf to our heartfelt hospitality, you are special to us, and we want you to feel at home today and always. I hope you enjoy this issue of the Waikoloa Golf Magazine, and I look forward to seeing you out on the links soon.
medal play... WAIKOLOA SCORES GOLF Magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary of golf resort rankings with the help of some 8,000 of its own readers. Resorts from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico were considered in the highly touted contest. In all, only 45 resorts were distinguished in 2008 as Silver Medalists—Waikoloa Beach Resort is among the stellar few.
in your bag PLAYER’S PERKS High standards are par for the course at Waikoloa, and when golfers tee it up they get something other than the standard water station on the 10th tee. For starters, every golfer receives their own personalized metal bag tag with the distinguished resort’s logo cast as its centerpiece. Before, and just as importantly, after one’s round of golf is unlimited complimentary use of the resort’s impressive practice facilities. Yep, the balls are included at no charge. As for the water—that’s included too. Only it comes in a bottle—just for you.
Parker McLachlin PGA Touring Professional Waikoloa Beach Resort Photo: Courtesy of Waikoloa.
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Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 7
Journal golf memberships A WAIKOLOA INVITATION Designed to enhance the quality of life and enjoyment of the Waikoloa Beach Resort, the Kings’ Club is the resort’s social hub, offering an array of exclusive benefits that bring golfers together in the spirit of good fellowship and the storied traditions of the game. Gold and Silver memberships extend to entire families and offer Club Concierge services, preferred pricing of green fees at both the Beach and Kings’ Courses, as well as a slew of other privileges. For information about joining, call (808) 886-1001.
Photo: Courtesy of Waikoloa.
Kings’ Clubhouse
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newswire: PARKER SCORES BIG IN RENO-TAHOE
Photo: Max Wanger
“Inspired by a reference to the Royal and Ancient traditions...” architect T.E. Garduque explains: “The rotunda is a key design element and pivot point separating the functions, while presenting an immediate view upon arrival. It also served as a long-range landmark,” Garduque notes. “Originally, the upper level of the rotunda was schemed for CBS TV cameras for the final approach. It was also to function as a private party venue and/or lounge. One of my memories of the project was setting the finish elevation for floor levels. Back in the day, there was nothing but lava, and we did not have 3D computers,” he recalled. “So we hired a cherry picker and crane to lift us up in the air to see what the long range views would be like. By seat of the pants, the elevation was established, along with the concept of burying the cart barn, adds Garduque. “In fact the grey color of the clubhouse is called ‘St. Andrew’s Grey’ by the original paint company. While the architecture does not mimic the Royal and Ancient, it strives to present a regal and stately posture.”
haberdashery Waikoloa PGA TOUR playing representative, Parker McLachlin, shot 18-under par 270 (68-6266-74) at the 2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open to claim his first career PGA Tour victory. “It was such great satisfaction,” McLachlin explains. “It’s definitely a relief getting that first win, but it wasn’t easy. I’ve always been told that the first one is usually the hardest. So to win by seven strokes was pretty special to me,” Parker said. McLachlin shot a course-tying and personal single-round record 62 during the second round, which gave him the lead. For the victory, McLachlin earned a $540,000 winner’s share of the tournament’s $3 million purse in his best TOUR season so far. “It didn’t surprise me a bit to see him rise to the occasion,” said Scott Head, PGA, who is Parker’s swing coach and Waikoloa Beach Resort’s director of golf said. “I joined him right after Tahoe, and I was so impressed with how his ball striking has improved.” With the victory, Parker is now a member of the PGA TOUR for life.
WAIKOLOA STYLE The Waikoloa Beach Resort Kings’ and Beach Courses have expansive pro shops offering the sophistication and selection suitable for one accustomed to the very best in terms of quality and value. Whether one is three feet tall or seven, Waikoloa’s pro shop staff stand ready to outfit virtually anyone from head to toe with the finest name brand lines of apparel, equipment, footwear, and accessories—all bearing the distinctive and recognizable Waikoloa Beach Resort logo.
Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 9
PGA Tour
Waikoloa:
On Tour
Photo: Courtesy of Waikoloa.
Photo: Courtesy of Waikoloa.
LPGA Tour (Top) Waikoloa Golf Resort has enjoyed a long affiliation with LPGA TOUR player Cindy Rarick. (Bottom) Annika Sorenstam receives the champion’s check from Waikoloa Beach Resort president, Thos Rohr, during the LPGA Takefuji Classic, held at Waikoloa. 10 / waikoloagolf.com / 808.886.7888
A PGA TOUR sensation, Parker McLachlin, continues a 27-year-old Waikoloa golf tradition on TOUR. “Now on the first tee, from Waikoloa Beach Resort in Hawai‘i, Parker McLachlin!”—Honorary starter, 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. When it comes to golf—at every level—be it junior golf for the kids on the Big Island, or the stiff competition to be found on the PGA TOUR—Waikoloa’s got it covered— in spades. It all stems from the resort’s president, Thos Rohr— whose affections for the game, astute skill in the business of golf, and his lifelong friendships with its most elite players, made him a natural (and master) at the game of golf monopoly. It would ultimately mean big things for Hawai‘i’s Kohala coast. And it all started in 1990, when Mr. Rohr opened the critically acclaimed Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish-designed Kings’ Course to complement the ever-enjoyable Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Beach Course. Shortly thereafter, his good friend Peter Jacobsen joined the Waikoloa Beach Resort team as its PGA TOUR representative, and in doing so, simultaneously forged a resort bond with golf’s greatest players that has never been broken. Soon afterward, Cindy Rarick signed on as the resort’s LPGA TOUR representative to further Waikoloa’s reach to golf enthusiasts throughout the world. Then came the made-for-TV events with star-studded PGA TOUR players (The Waikoloa Tie-Breaker) and LPGA TOUR events (The Takefuji Classic and LPGA Match Play Championship). Nowadays Waikoloa’s connection with the game’s greats includes representation on the PGA TOUR, with Oahu-born Parker McLachlin—who in his second season on TOUR claimed his first victory at the 2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. Parker has enjoyed a long-time love affair with the resort, frequently visiting the golf courses from the tender age of 10: “Waikoloa holds a special place in my heart and has been the site of many great memories, including my course record of 59 on the Beach Course. I always long to get back to Waikoloa for a little relaxation and a lot of golf when I’m away from TOUR. I’m thrilled to be on the PGA TOUR representing the resort, its residents, and its guests.” Even the resort’s Director of Golf, Scott Head, has a TOUR connection: he’s Parker’s coach! “It is a pretty
Photo: Brian Walters
amazing connection. Parker and I sometimes talk about how special it is that both he and I can share our love of the game together here at Waikoloa. I knew him when he was a young junior golfer clinging to a dream to play with the big boys on TOUR. And now here we are doing junior clinics together at Waikoloa, and he is a PGA TOUR winner. It is almost surreal.” Parker feels a need to give back to the young people who he is in a positive position to influence. Hence: The Junior Clinics at Waikoloa. “I’m out there living my dream. It has been a tough journey, but I am so blessed to be given the opportunity. I want to inspire the next generation of young people in Hawai‘i to believe that if they dream big enough, work hard, and believe in themselves, they can accomplish a lot too. Just look at me.”
And many will look for many years to come at McLachlin on TOUR. Scott thinks the sky’s the limit for McLachlin to enjoy a long, illustrious career. “I feel he’s nowhere near his potential. His ball striking continues to get better and better. He’s really developing one of the best swings on TOUR. Victories including Majors may be part of the picture. Parker will play in 60 or 70 more majors to enjoy what I think will be a very celebrated career.” But winning TOUR events isn’t the only reason why Waikoloa is proud to have Parker represent the resort. Mr. Rohr praises McLachlin: “Both on and off the golf course, Parker McLachlin is a gentleman and conducts himself in the finest traditions of the game of golf,” said Mr. Rohr. “We are very delighted to have Parker carrying the Waikoloa name on the PGA TOUR.”
PGA Tour Waikoloa Beach Resort PGA TOUR representative, Parker McLachlin, tees off during the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, MI, after his first victory on the PGA TOUR at the 2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.
Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 11
Waikoloa Kings’ course
First Tee
A Wee Bit of
Scotland
Photo: Rob Brown
in Paradise A welcoming and hospitable masterpiece in the best traditions of the game.
Hole# 2
Par 5 • 562 | 534 | 496 | 471
(Above) No. 2: Ho‘omanawanui (Patience) tempts the player to go for the green in two, but with a generous amount of room to the right, this hole is more about strategy than strength. (Left) Signature Hole No. 5: Na‘auao (Be Wise) is one of Hawai‘i’s great short par fours. Aiming dead straight at the green with a driver in hand is risky, whereas a two-shot plan will leave a wedge shot into this undulating green with a chance at par or better.
Hole# 5
When (British) Open winner Tom Weiskopf and golf course architect Jay Morrish first laid their eyes on the site of what is now the Waikoloa Kings’ Course they were stunned by what confronted them: endless fields of lava. There were no lochs, no cliffs, no dunes, and no Irish sea—just the wind, the lava, and the desire of Waikoloa to create a welcoming and hospitable masterpiece in the best traditions of the game. Today, what a golfer discovers when he or she tees their ball up on this 18-hole wonder is a wee bit of Scotland in the Hawaiian islands. From the first tee shot on E como mai (Welcome), the curvy, 379-yard par 4 opener, to the final putt on Lanakila Ali‘i (Kings’ Victory), the double-doglegged 501-yard par 5 finishing hole, golfers are treated a mixture of holes based on playability, shot values, and variety. Like working with a blank canvas, Weiskopf and Moorish were free to use their experience and artistry to carve out a links the way they envisioned it: as a test of golf that would inspire both the strong and the meek, just as one will find on most of the better courses of the British Isles. For those who are lucky enough to tee it up on the Waikoloa Kings’ Course, at least a few times,
Par 4 • 327 | 293 | 277 | 256
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Photos by Brian Walters
they are almost transported to a land where curving slashes of emerald fairway wind through shaggy, golden, rumpled dunesland formed by nature. It gets the adrenaline flowing and conjures up memories of Bobby Jones at St. Andrews, and Tom Watson at Carnoustie. The Waikoloa Kings’ Course does that to people. It has that Scottish look, but best of all, it is in Hawai‘i. Ranked among GOLFWEEK’s Top 100 Resort Courses in America, and as one of the top two new resorts in America by GOLF magazine, the Waikoloa Kings’ Course is “much like Augusta National,” according to its creator, Tom Weiskopf, because it is “a second shot course.” Meaning: that the emphasis is on the approach. Despite this, you will find that you have ample room to work the ball, and if you can place your tee shots effectively, then your second shot will offer up even better scoring opportunities. The Kings’ Course meanders through rich black lava fields and outcroppings, and showcases an abundance of colorful Hawaiian flora. Mauna Kea looms in the distance like a giant windbreak. Its four sets of tees range in length from 5,459 yards to 7,074 yards, making the designs inherent in each hole a different test depending on which tee is chosen. Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 13
Waikoloa Kings’ course
Hole# 7
Par 3 • 184 | 164 | 155 | 102
Photo: Rob Brown
(Above) Hole No. 7: Laki maika‘i (Good Luck) is a demanding par three with prevailing trade winds coming from the golfer’s left toward the water. A generous area short of the green allows you to keep it dry and take your chances at getting up-and-down for your par.
The Kings’ 18 unique holes are routed imaginatively, if not audaciously, but the four par 3s and par 5s are evenly distributed among the two nines: two of each going out, and two of each coming in. Two recognizable Scottish features about the Kings’ design are its double green—shared by Makani o Waikoloa (Wind of Waikoloa), the 232-yard par 3 third, and Kao ‘aim au ‘u (Grazing Goats), the 465-yard par 4 sixth—and the two driveable par 4s. Imagine the temptation of standing on Ke one o Waikoloa (Waikoloa Sands), the 277-yard par 4 fifth, from the resort tee, with driver in hand, and the wind at the back. Or on N¯a hiku (Big Dipper), a 287-yard par 4 from the resort tees. There’s an eagle lurking out there… how tempting. Yet on both holes, trouble looms along the left, where a double-cross can turn eagle or birdie into a double or more! Challenging the golfer with a thought-provoking decision on each shot is the hallmark of a fine golf course, and the Kings’ delivers an intellectual match on virtually every hole. Such is the brilliance of the Kings’ design. “Design aficionados really appreciate the Kings’ Course because of its many subtle14 / waikoloagolf.com / 808.886.7888
Photo: Rob Brown
(Below): Hole No. 18: Lanakila Ali‘i (King’s Victory), is one of Hawai‘i’s great finishing holes. Reachable in two, the elevated green is small, and heavily guarded; a perfect end to a sensational day of golf.
ties,” says Scott Head, director of golf at Waikoloa. “The green complexes are brilliant and match up perfectly to the length and design concept of the holes.” Scott points out that while fairway corridors are wide, several hazards and pot bunkers reward the thoughtful golfer who places hole strategy at a premium. “Shot emphasis is placed on the approach shot because of the design of the greens and green surrounds and bunkers,” he says. “That’s why, ideally, golfers should strategically place their tee shots to take advantage of these fine greens.” The Kings’ Course runs in the four main directions of the cardinal points of the compass, and when the wind is up, whipping in off the white-flecked sea, sometimes headon, other times off the port bow, one is totally exposed to its force and its vagaries. Compelled as we are to launch our shot, no matter how skillfully struck, and watch it sail weightlessly floating as it seeks to find the fairway or the green, we can be assured of one thing: a day of golf on the Waikoloa Kings’ Course is indeed idyllic.
Waikoloa Kings’ Course by the Numbers The Waikoloa Kings’ Course was designed by the team of (British) Open winner Tom Weiskopf and his partner, architect Jay Morrish. Year opened: 1990 Par: 72 Greens: Tifdwarf Fairways: Tifton 328 Water hazards: Six lakes Bunkers: 83 PGA Staff: Yes Golf instruction: Yes Full practice facility: Yes Shoe rentals: Yes Premium rental clubs: Yes Fully-stocked proshop: Yes Event coordination: Yes Dressing area/shower: Yes Bar/lounge: Yes Restaurant: Yes Rating/Slope: Kings: 73.4/135 Championship: 71.4/128 Resort: 68.6/124 Forward: 66.5/116 Course yardages:
Hole# 16
Kings: 7,074
Par 4 • 442 | 414 | 366 | 334
Championship: 6,594 Resort: 6,010
(Above): Hole #16: E holomua (go forward) is a demanding 442-yard par four requiring a long and accurate drive bordered by an intimidating water feature.
Forward: 5,459 Hole# 18
Par 5 • 501 | 474 | 447 | 395
Tee times: (808) 886-7888
Photo: Rob Brown
Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 15
Waikoloa Beach Course
Waikoloa Beach
A beguiling haven
of coastal golf.
The entire sweep of the proud Waikoloa Beach Golf Course cascades wildly through darkbrown lava flows down to the rugged cliffs of the Kohala Coast beach. There is an alluring naturalness to the Beach Course, a truly elemental quality, that all adds up to a marvelous, grand golf experience. Opened in 1981, the course is a creation of the ubiquitous Robert Trent Jones, Jr., whose reputation for fiercely protecting Old Man Par from the minions is legendary. But here, Jones ever so slightly softens his touch, allowing the novice and intermediate golfer an occasional peek at glory. In place of a cunning, haunting design, Jones crafted 18 holes to accentuate the site’s breathtaking beauty—using a wee smidgen of wickedness in the process. The result is first-rate golf by even the strictest standards, with altogether good holes and better holes. The Waikoloa Beach Course overlooks the entire world of Hawai‘i: the immense, snow-capped Mauna Kea; the crescent white sandy beaches that dot its rugged, cliffed coast; the surrounding petroglyph carvings and archeological sites; the seasonal humpback whales that breach in ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay; and the endless, panoramic ocean vistas that abound. It is the grandeur of the total experience that is most often stamped forever into one’s memory. “Grand” is a fitting description for what Jones cre-
ated for the Waikoloa Beach Course golfer. Playing to a par of 70, three sets of tees allow the course to be set up to play at any length from 6,566 or 5,958 down to 5,122 yards. There are five par threes, three par fives, and the rest all two-shotters. Heading out and coming in—on both nines—Jones routes the holes in the direction of all the cardinal points. Neither a fade nor a draw is favored. There is something here for everyone, and if you make the right tee selection, the round will be immensely enjoyable. A fine test of golf too: Jones uses forced carries over water on four of the first seven holes to issue his sternest warnings to those larcenous souls who would steal a stroke from par on the Waikoloa Beach Course, given the chance. His first announcement of the rigors of the examination comes on the 390-yard par four 2nd, known as Lokowai (Pond), where Jones uses his wry wit (and water) to imperil the shot—sometimes more than one shot—to create an ‘even match.’ He repeats his water trickery on three out of the next four holes: No. 4, a 157-yarder known as Ka loko O Moke (Moke’s Pond); No. 6, the 388-yard par four, aptly named Na Ki‘i pohaku (Petroglyphs) for the ancient carvings surrounding holes six though eight; and No. 7, a 205-yarder known as Koa (Courage)—where our mettle is finally measured. The final two holes on the front nine fea-
(Opposite page) Signature hole No. 12: Hemolele, (Perfection), is coastal golf of supreme naturalness. Exhilarating—from pinnacle tee straight out to sea. (Below) No. 4: Ka loko O Moke (Moke’s Pond) is a 157-yard par 3 that features a carry from tee-to-green over, you guessed it: Moke’s Pond!
Hole# 12
Par 5 • 502 | 479 | 419
There is an alluring naturalness to the Beach Course, a truly elemental quality, that all adds up to a marvelous, grand golf experience.
Hole# 4
Photo: Brian Walters
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Par 3 • 157 | 120 | 84
Photo: Brian Walters
Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 17
Waikoloa Beach Course
Hole# 18
Par 4 • 416 | 374 | 309
E ‘A ‘a (Challenging) is the Beach Course’s testy finisher. It is a 416-yard par 4 dogleg left with a fairway bunker lurking about 275-yards out from the tee. A smart play is a hybrid or 3-metal to the center of the fairway. Choose your club carefully on the approach, as the green is 41-yards deep.
ture 15 bunkers collectively and are designed to reward the golfer who can move the ball left-to-right off the tee. No. 8 dares the golfer to fade a full-blooded tee shot over a sandy chasm to cut the corner where the fairway doglegs 90-degrees to the right. The hole, which is called E Maka‘ala, meaning risk/reward, zig-zags its way to a tightly bunkered green on a low plateau. The 586-yard par five 9th, Ke ana (Lava Chimney), also swings to the right, where luxurious resort condominums overlook the fairway from the right, and Kings’ Lake looms along the left. The wide but shallow green is guarded right, left, and toward the rear. The second nine has a trio of par threes: holes 11, 13, and 17—with appealing tee shots ranging from 177 to 163 to 152 respectively. All three greens are flanked by large bunkers left and right and are encircled by rough grasses to ensnare the errant stroke. Of all of the two-shotters heading in, only Mau‘u ala (Fountain Grass Way), a majestic 377-yard emerald ribbon ensconced in a golden long rough to throttle the off-line stroke, is straight. All of the others swoop in either direction, doglegging to and fro, where velvety green complexes of all shapes, sizes, and undulations await the meek and the mighty. There are two par fives on the second nine. Hale o ka Makani (House of the Wind) is 541-yard 15th that swerves toward the right, where two bunkers lurk in the distance, awaiting the errant long ball. Two more sandy bunkers are perched left and right of the green, which has a steep fall-off toward the front and back. But where the story actually begins is on No. 12. No. 12 is called Hemolele (Perfection)—and for all the right reasons. It is unquestionably one of the game’s most theatrical moments. It is the icon of the Waikoloa Beach Course. Everything your delighted eye embraces on this majestic hole
Photo: Brian Walters
Here it is spectacular golf, literally golf as a spectacle, and it is ours to savor!
Waikoloa Beach Course by the Numbers The Waikoloa Beach Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Year opened: 1981 Par: 70 Greens: 328 bermudagrass Fairways: Common bermudagrass Water hazards: Comes into play on five holes. No. 12 plays along the ocean coming into play on the second and third shots. Bunkers: 76 PGA Staff: Yes Golf instruction: Yes Full practice facility: Yes Shoe rentals: Yes Premium rental clubs: Yes Fully-stocked proshop: Yes
Photo: Brian Walters
Photo: Brian Walters
Event coordination: Yes Bar/lounge: Yes Hole# 10
Restaurant: Yes
Par 4 • 397 | 364 | 325
Hole No. 10: Ka nami o Pele, meaning ‘Pele’s Beauty,’ features a 30-foot wall of black a‘a lava along the right side of the fairway, where a unique lava ampitheatre surrounding the green awaits.
Rating/Slope: Championship: 71.6/134
Hole No. 9: Ke ana (Lava Chimney) with its rambling waterfalls and swaying palms in the foreground.
Hole# 9
18 / waikoloagolf.com / 808.886.6060
Par 5 • 586 | 558 | 459
lies ahead: on your right, the frothing combers of the Pacific Ocean breaking upon a broad scimitar of lava cliffs; dead ahead, a sash of tumbling green fairway darts around the corner, with two clover bunkers at its flanks; on your left, rich dark lava and stands of palm trees abound. This is a golf hole as sublime and memorable as any. No higher compliment can be paid. All of 502 yards separates tee from green, with Hemolele daring us to bite off a sizeable chunk of lava in the elbow of the dogleg if we are to have any hope of reaching the green in two. It is coastal golf of supreme naturalness.
Exhilarating—from pinnacle tee straight out to sea. Here it is spectacular golf, literally golf as a spectacle, and it is ours to savor. As you walk off the 13th tee on Mauka (Mountain Pond), with the sea at your back, you may think to yourself that: “Yes, this is marvelous golf, and there is more to come, perhaps never again to be quite so spellbinding but still challenging and grand much of the way.” You’ve found your home. The Waikoloa Beach Course: a beguiling haven of coastal golf. E como mai (Welcome) to golf in one of the world’s most stunning settings: Waikoloa.
Resort: 68.7/124 Forward: 70.0/118 Course yardages: Championship: 6,566 Resort: 5,958 Forward: 5,122 Tee times: (808) 886-6060
Waikoloa Golf Magazine / 19
THE 19TH HOLES
The Kings’ Grille & Beach Grill
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IT’S WHERE TO GO BEFORE AND AFTER GOLF
“No. 12 is one of the most beautiful par fives anywhere. Anytime you are close to the ocean, it is thrilling—but that’s not what makes it interesting alone— it is the strategy of the hole that encompasses its setting and the winds offshore.� —Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
The Waikoloa Beach Course / Hole No. 12 / “Hemolele� (Perfection) / Par 5 / Yardages: 502/479/419 / Photo: Brian Walters 20 / waikoloagolf.com / 808.886.7888
Photos: Michael Dandon
Waikoloa has not one but two 19th holes: there is the Scottish-themed Kings’ Grille—the perfect solution for a quick lunch or for post-round pupus and libations in a casual yet elegant setting overlooking the 18th hole of the championship Kings’ Course; and there is the Beach Grill, where convenience meets quality at the edge of the Beach Course’s verdant fairways. The Kings’ Grille also provides a unique venue for that special event, luncheon, post-tournament awards banquet, meeting or private party. The Kings’ Grille Library provides an intimate setting as well.
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