[ad_1]
Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks
TravelGolf
Opinions and proposals are unbiased and merchandise are independently chosen. Postmedia could earn an affiliate fee from purchases made by way of hyperlinks on this web page.
Article content material
As I sit down to put in writing a characteristic on Hawaii’s Massive Island, I determine I’ll flip on Golf Channel’s broadcast of the Mitsubishi Electrical Championship at Hualalai, one of many eye-popping programs that I’d hit throughout my very own go to a couple of weeks prior.
You understand, for inspiration.
Article content material
That was two hours in the past. Since then, I’ve watched lots of golf — reliving my very own spherical because the PGA Tour Champions professionals make it look approach too simple — and am nonetheless gazing a largely clean display screen on my laptop computer.
Commercial 2
Article content material
I smile as smooth-swinging Ernie Els smashes a shot over a wall of black lava rock on the seventh gap at Hualalai, which encompasses a skinny chute of fairway between the type of jagged surroundings that’s distinguished throughout this island.
I’m admittedly a bit jealous when the legendary Bernhard Langer stuffs his tee-shot on No. 17, a signature Par-3 that performs alongside the Pacific Ocean, leaving a tap-in for birdie. I wound up with a unique form — a sq. relatively than a circle — on my scorecard.
I’m not complaining when the cameras lower away from Vijay Singh, one other multi-time main winner and World Golf Corridor of Fame inductee, to deal with a whale that’s splashing round within the water.
And I nod in settlement at any time when one of many commentators refers to this place as “paradise.” Each aerial glimpse confirms it, exhibiting off not solely a stunning golf course but additionally the 4 Seasons Resort Hualalai, a luxurious retreat that boasts practically a kilometre of white-sand beachfront alongside the Kona-Kohala Coast and serves as home-base for the senior sharpshooters throughout match week.
It’s no surprise lots of the PGA Tour Champions stars arrive early for his or her start-of-season showdown on the island of Hawaii, most also known as Massive Island. It’s no shock that some prolong their stays for a bit of further Aloha spirit.
Commercial 3
Article content material
As resort common supervisor Charlie Parker proudly reported: “The professionals share that their time at Hualalai is a spotlight of their calendar.”
As quickly as you arrive at this oceanside escape, you perceive why. Just a few years again, throughout Jim Furyk’s match debut, he admitted that he wasn’t certain Hualalai might reside as much as the hype. It did.
“This resort is superb,” Furyk gushed. “I’ve heard a lot about it from the tour, from the gamers. It was constructed up, so I used to be sort of a bit of apprehensive it might by no means be capable to meet expectations, nevertheless it’s lovely.”
The Nicklaus Signature Course at Hualalai, which has now hosted the Mitsubishi Electrical Championship for 28 straight years, is a personal observe however accessible to visitors on the 4 Seasons. From the 18th inexperienced, you might be again to your room and switching from soft-spikes to flip-flops inside about two minutes of sinking your remaining putt. If there’s a delay in attending to the pool, it’s solely as a result of the property map reveals there are eight to select from. The headliner is King’s Pond, a swimmable saltwater aquarium that’s stocked with over 1,000 tropical fish and a noticed eagle ray named Kainalu. There can’t be many different resorts on this planet with 5 marine biologists on workers.
Midday Information Roundup
Article content material
Commercial 4
Article content material
Throughout a stay-and-play earlier this winter at Hualalai, our lanai neglected King’s Pond. Past that, we have been gazing on the Pacific.
As I watched the printed of the Mitsubishi Electrical Championship, I questioned who is perhaps staying in my room. Fred {Couples}? Canada’s Mike Weir, who by some means managed to ace No. 17 in a depraved wind throughout a pro-am spherical? Perhaps Miguel Angel Jimenez was smoking stogies on my lanai? If it was Steven Alker, he’ll seemingly be requesting those self same digs in 2025 after he cruised to a four-shot victory with mind-boggling three-round rating of 25-under-par.
“We continuously get nice suggestions from the PGA Tour Champions of this being the favorite occasion for these gamers that qualify for it,” stated Brendan Moynahan, the longtime director of golf at 4 Seasons Resort Hualalai. “They’re simply so blissful to be right here. It’s all the time such a terrific week. They know easy methods to flip it on. After they shoot the gun off to exit and play, they’re targeted on that. However through the week, they’re very relaxed. I might say Hawaii tends to calm down folks, and they’re very snug and really relaxed till the bell goes off and so they get into work mode.
Commercial 5
Article content material
“And for lots of those gents, they’ve been right here so many instances that the workers has constructed relationships with them. We’ve got gotten to know them through the years. I’ve lots of relationships with the gamers, nevertheless it’s not simply me, it’s everyone … There are housekeepers, there are bartenders, there are servers which have those self same relationships with the fellows who’ve returned 12 months after 12 months. And that’s a terrific energy of this place. We attempt to get to know you and we attempt to get to know what you want, after which we attempt to do no matter we will to ensure your keep is great.”
***
Massive Island seems to be lovely on TV, one thing that has been true because the days of standard-definition footage.
You may keep in mind marvelling on the views of the South Course at Mauna Lani, web site of the Senior Skins Recreation from 1990-2000. That annual exhibition, broadcast on the most effective days on the sports activities calendar, introduced among the marquee names in golf — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Participant, Lee Trevino and others — to this eye-pleasing setup.
“That was an enormous aspect to what has been Mauna Lani’s success through the years is being hooked up to the skins sport,” stated Ross Birch, common supervisor of this 36-hole hangout, with either side open the divot-digging public. “There’s lots of our owners that can remind us, ‘Keep in mind on this gap, what Jack did right here or what Arnie did?’ There’s nonetheless that nostalgia that goes together with it. And for our resort visitors, as nicely. Somebody staying on the resort (Auberge Resorts Assortment at Mauna Lani) could come over and say, ‘Hey, I can keep in mind as a child watching this on TV proper earlier than the Tremendous Bowl yearly.’ ”
Commercial 6
Article content material
Whereas Mauna Lani’s North Course encompasses a one-of-a-kind Par-3 that’s set within the base of a lava bowl, it’s apparent why they have been so desperate to showcase the South.
Right here’s about the one sort of golf tip that I’m certified to supply — don’t burn by way of your iPhone battery as you snap images of No. 7, a 214-yard knee-knocker that’s particularly daunting if the coastal breeze has the palm bushes swaying sideways.
Birch recollects this dialog throughout a spherical with a visiting author final winter.
“Once we acquired to No. 7, he was simply in awe and amazed at the fantastic thing about that gap, proper subsequent to the Pacific Ocean,” Birch relayed. “And I stated, ‘Yeah, that is lovely, however simply wait till we get to No. 15.’ And he was like, ‘Wait, there’s one thing higher than this?!?’ ”
Certainly, there’s.
The tees on this eye-popping project are surrounded by volcanic rock. Between there and the inexperienced, it’s all ocean. A worm-burner received’t work.
“I feel No. 15 on the South Course is probably going probably the most photographed Par-3 within the state of Hawaii,” Birch beamed.
I actually was snapping away, attempting to click on on the proper second so I’d catch the waves crashing excessive in opposition to the rugged shoreline. Whereas a two-putt par wouldn’t be ok to win any skins in opposition to the perfect within the enterprise, I’m glad that I didn’t make a large number of this memorable check.
Commercial 7
Article content material
***
Any listing of Hawaii’s top-ranked programs consists of a number of choices on Massive Island. The entire well-known fairways — one other star attraction is Mauna Kea, the place one can find framed scorecards from Nicklaus, Palmer and Participant on the clubhouse wall — are inside a few 30-minute drive of Kona Worldwide Airport.
You’ll need to depart time for suntanning and snorkelling, maybe for a hike by way of the lava rock or for a day-trip to Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park, however don’t depart your golf golf equipment again residence.
As a result of for those who suppose these programs look good on TV, wait till you see ’em for your self.
Since there’s a beachfront strolling path that winds proper previous the 18th tee-box at Hualalai, you is perhaps greeted by a gallery. I sized up a fairway that snakes left round a large sand-trap, tried to neglect in regards to the onlookers and pale a drive to what appeared like a super spot. Happy as punch, I used to be a bit of disillusioned that I didn’t hear any ooohs and ahhhs from the gang. That’s after I realized that no one had been paying consideration. They have been staring out on the Pacific as an alternative. Can’t say I blame them.
Commercial 8
Article content material
“There are a number of nice golf programs right here on Massive Island, and so they take nice benefit of the ocean views,” Moynahan stated. “Proper now, now we have the whales leaping up and down. They all the time come this time of 12 months and hang around, which is all the time good. Mid-day, there’s often one or two turtles taking a nap on the seashore by the seventeenth tee-box right here. It’s nice.
“This place is extra than simply golf, however the golf is spectacular.”
“And naturally, the climate is a large issue,” Birch added. “We’ve got among the finest climate on the planet right here on the island, particularly throughout these chilly instances on the mainland.”
Which is why I’m watching golf on TV, pondering I’d relatively be again on Hawaii’s Massive Island.
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
HIT THE LINKS
4 Seasons Resort Hualalai
Hualalai Golf
Mauna Lani
Hawaii’s Massive Island
Article content material
Share this text in your social community
[ad_2]
Source link
