natured Hongo, who clearly is the main man at this incredible, 23-acre practice facility that includes a three- hole walking course and a putting course designed by Hale Irwin. Hongo, who looks like he could be the
twin brother of KJ Choi (“I get that a lot, but I’m Japanese and KJ’s Korean.”), said besides KGA’s incredible practice facility that once was a pineapple plantation, the best thing about taking a lesson from him is you can play Kapalua’s two award-winning golf layouts, the Plantation Course, home to the PGA Tour’s annual Hyundai Tournament of Champions, or the Bay Course. “We do have two great golf courses
to learn on, and we lean on those two courses,” Hongo noted. “In fact, we have a $375 special, where you get three hours of instruction, lunch and your green fee on the Plantation Course. And that’s a deal, because if you played the Plantation Course the green fee alone is $299.” If the truth be told, there’s probably
not a better 1-2 punch in Hawaiian golf than the Plantation and the Bay. The Plantation, with its sweeping fairways, monstrous greens and tenacious
www.azgolf.org
tradewinds, was created by the dynamic duo of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, the latter who lives in Scottsdale. The Bay, which is older and was the design of Arnold Palmer, is almost as compelling, as it brings you right along the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Like the Plantation, the Bay is managed by Troon Golf but is a little more reasonable with a green fee of $219. Yes, golf like everything else in
Kapalua, is super expensive, and that especially includes dining and lodging. For instance, dinner at a top restaurant in Kapalua like the Banyan Tree at the Ritz-Carlton or Cane & Canoe at Montage at Kapalua Bay will run you $50 to $75 per person. The good news is that there also are some reasonable options in nearby Lahaina, like Honu Grill, Mala Ocean Tavern and Aloha Grill, where meals are more like $25 to $50 per person and just as fresh and tasty. And when it comes to “reasonable,” don’t miss Kapalua’s famed Aloha Pineapple Grill that is located on the Bay Course and includes such island treats as the breakfast known as Loco Moco as well as the best pineapple upside-down cake in the world.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua Bay Golf Club is the annual site of the PGA Tour’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Believe it or not, lodging for those
who headquarter in Kapalua is even more insane. The best place to stay by far, or at least according to the travel experts, is Montage at Kapalua Bay, which rolls out the rooms from $1,000 (two bedrooms) to $1,500 (three bedrooms) per night, with a high end of $3,500 to $5,000 a night during tournament week (first week in January). But, hey, where else can you stay and play the game “corn hole” with other guests like Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth, the guy who happens to be the defending TofC champ? At the same time, you can drive 15 minutes to nearby Lahaina and grab an “average room” at a Sheraton or Hyatt for $300 to $500 a night. Kaanapali is located just a few
minutes south of Kapalua off the same Highway 30 that runs along the northwest corner of Maui. Kaanapali was the birthplace of golf in Maui, building its first golf resort in the early 1960s, the Royal Lahaina. Noted architect Robert
FALL 2016 | AZ GOLF Insider | 41
COURTESY TROON GOLF
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
