|
Golf in Hawaii: The
Charms of Paradise
by Grady
Timmons
So well have Hawaii's exotic charms been
promoted that long before visitors 
arrive, an image of gently swaying palm trees
lining a soft sand crescent of secluded coast is
securely imprinted on the mind. Unfortunately, the
real Hawaii can be quite different from this
imagined ideal. However, the good news is that
paradise is far from lost; it's simply been
relocated to the less-populated neighboring
islands. The even better news is that these same
less-trodden islands, with their unsurpassed beauty
and famed natural settings, are exactly where
you'll find the best golf.
Consider Kauai, the Garden Island, where golf
can be played to the same backdrop that Hollywood
used to film South Pacific. Or Maui, the Valley
Island, where superlative vistas greet the golfer
at almost every tee. Lanai, once called the
Pineapple Island, is now home to two stunning
resort courses; one 
built atop cliffs overlooking the sea, the other
set against a vivid backdrop of forest green hills
and steep valley gorges. Or take Hawaii, the title
island, where fairways follow the contours of
ancient flows while high above, snow-capped
volcanic peaks crest at almost 14,000 feet.
Just as the charms of paradise are many, so too
are the differences in playing golf in a tropical
setting. First-time golfers to the islands should
be forewarned about putting on Bermuda greens,
which are grainier than traditional bent-grass
greens and more difficult to read.
Newcomers should also be cautioned about
unforgiving winds, which can blow between 15 and 35
miles per hour and exaggerate even the slightest
mistake. The winds also partly account for the fact
that, throughout Hawaii, fairways are wide and
forgiving. Wander off one, however, and there may
be no rough to speak of, only lava rock.
Lastly, Hawaii has many magnificent holes that
play alongside or across the ocean. However, while
the mesmerizing sweep of the Pacific may be
beautiful to behold, golfers should learn to take
it for what it is: the world's largest water
hazard.
The
Price of Paradise
Hawaii offers some of the best golf in the
world, but bargain hunters beware: Golf in paradise
is not cheap, particularly if you want to play the
island's well-known resort courses. Hawaii claims
seven of the top 18 resorts in America selected by
Golf Magazine, and in most cases, you can only play
these layouts for $100 or less as a resort guest.
However, smart golfers can cut costs by taking
advantage of mid-day or twilight rates, by signing
up for golf packages or by visiting the islands
during the off-season. Military personnel can play
six fine 18-hole layouts on Oahu, and there is a
wide assortment of less costly municipal, daily
fee, and semi-private courses. A general guide to
what you can expect to pay for a round of golf is
listed below:
|
Resort
Daily Fee
Municipal
Semi-Private
Private
(guest or reciprocal
arrangement)
Military
|
$100 to $175
$35 to $135
+
$35 to $60
$35 to $135
+
$50 to $100
$30 to $50
|
|
