Kapalua: Plantation & Bay Courses
They say that TV doesn’t do justice to how hilly Augusta is. I will tell you though watching the pros at Kapalua you can tell it’s pretty hilly and when you get here, times that by ten. There was a hole on the back where I literally had my back to the hole to putt and still didn’t read enough break. Played here in 2013. Conference golf outing. It was a shotgun start but started on one and glad we did as it is one of the best opening holes in golf. Above is the approach after what was easily a severely downhill-aided 300+ yard drive. Kapalua is a Coore/Crenshaw design that is all about the wow factor – ocean views, dramatic slopes, intriguing holes.
I rank this course among the best I’ve played. It is tough but still fun and no doubt the views and conditioning are second to none. I like playing where the pros do and Kapalua hosts the PGA every January. Plus the hills and slopes are amazing. I’ve played courses that have goofy hills that crest in the middle of a fairway and balls hit on the wrong side of the crest roll into the abyss. Or you get some extreme uphill approach to a green. The integration of the slopes and hills into the design here make the course as they are so unique; they’re not a terribly designed distraction. It is truly a positive, unique golfing experience you will never forget – regardless of the fact that it is in paradise at a four-star hotel resort.
I brought my daughter along and after conference sessions, we were able to tour around Maui. I do recommend sunrise on Haleakala and taking the bike ride down. Food-wise, I can’t suggest much, we had conference dinners the whole time but had a pig roast one night and that was a blast so try and arrange.
Back on the course, beyond the first, the 18th is another you’ll remember and another downhill hole where you will hit the longest drive of your life. There’s a lot of schmoogies to keep your ball out of so if you’re in a slicing mood, I recommend a box of balls before you tee off. You will lose them if you’re not hitting it straight here. Had Johnny Cocktails in our group so I believe the drink of the round was a bloody with a beer floater. Or maybe a screwdriver with a beer floater. Or maybe both.
I also added the Bay Course to this review. While nowhere near the same strata as the Plantation course, it is a nice resort course that features great eye candy on the front, and features a pretty challenging back nine. Four is a favorite, where your tee shot is hit toward the Pacific and approach comes after the hole takes a hard left. Eighteen is a great and tough par five finisher. All in all, very fun to play, decent design, nice eye candy. Of course if you golf and come here and just play the Bay course cause you don’t wanna pony up the upcharge to play Plantation, you’re an idiot. Photos after the roast pig though these are intermixed with Plantation so there may be some Plantation photos in there and vice versa.
Golf Scrapbook 