KOHALA COAST, HAWAII – Upon my untimely demise, my ashes will be
sprinkled off the edge of the third green at Mauna Kea Golf Course
and into the Pacific Ocean.
Fitting finish.
The request is written in my will, and my daughter is obligated to
deliver the urn to the Big Island and send the ashes into the deep
blue sea, where I can rest eternally with Davy Jones and dozens of
my golf balls.
Aloha.
Ashes to ashes, 210 yards to the pin.
The Prince Resorts’ “99 Holes of Golf” deal is to live for.
If you want to vacation in Hawaii, experience the restful lifestyle
and paradise tradition on three of the islands, check in at
world-class resorts, play extraordinary golf courses and try to hit
your ball onto the green at the most picturesque and difficult par
3 in America, stick with me, boys and girls. I’ve got your trip
right here.
I’ve been trekking to Hawaii regularly (on my own ticket) and
playing the lush, scenic golf courses for more than 20 years. So,
people always are asking me where they should go and where they
should stay and where they should play.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and its adjacent famous golf course on the
northwest Kohala coast of the island of Hawaii always has been my
first choice.
The two Makena courses, part of the Maui Prince Hotel near Wailea
on the southern tip, are my favorite underappreciated golf
adventures on Maui.
Then, I stayed at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel on the Big Island,
which shares oceanfront with the Mauna Kea resort, toured the
adjoining Arnold Palmer-designed Hapuna links course and fell in
love with both.
Also, during a working holiday to the island of Oahu (home of
Honolulu) I stayed at the high-rise Hawaii Prince Hotel on
legendary Waikiki Beach. And I played its Hawaii Prince Golf
Course, which is about 40 minutes away in the sunny Ewa Valley,
with views of the Waianae Mountains.
Is this heaven? No, this is Hawaii, and these are your tee times.
My friend Gil and I planned a golfing escape in Hawaii, and I was
thoroughly undecided – totally confused – about where to take him.
Mauna Kea. Makena. Big Island. Maui. On line, I discovered “99
Holes of Golf,” which seemed somewhat better than “99 Bottles of
Beer on the Wall.”
And after we finished – and Gil took my picture at the spot where
my ashes will be dumped into the trade winds – I told him we should
let everyone else in on this incredible vacation.
The package includes two nights on Oahu at the Hawaii Prince and 27
holes of golf at the Hawaii Prince Golf Course; three nights on
Maui at the Maui Prince and 36 holes at Makena’s north and south
courses; and three nights on Hawaii at Mauna Kea or the Hapuna
Beach Prince and 18 holes at the Mauna Kea Golf Course and 18 more
at Hapuna Golf Course.
If I count correctly, that’s eight nights and 99 holes of golf.
Plus, you get cart fees and a custom travel bag and, of course, a
golf cap.
Be sure to watch “Caddyshack” before you leave Colorado. And take
a lesson.
The weather, the courses, the ambiance and the breezes off the
oceans are perfect.
If only my game were.
Real gluttons for golf punishment – as Gil and I are – can get in
another half-dozen rounds during the vacation. We sneaked off to
Kapalua on Maui and Mauna Lani on Hawaii’s Kona Coast.
Practically every major course on all the islands has a special
half-price rate if you’re willing to tee off after 3 p.m. and don’t
mind coming up the 18th fairway as the sun sets in the distance.
Is that any good, or what?
Golf makes you hungry and thirsty. We ate about 50 bags of the
unique Hawaiian potato chips, about 100 jars of macadamia nuts and
three dozen lobsters and the occasional mahi-mahi and ono and ahi
dinners. And several pineapple pizzas.
Golf also makes you too tired to party at night – except for maybe
the rare luau and that “all you can eat seafood buffet” on the
beach at Mauna Kea that I save room for every year.
A couple of years ago at Augusta National Golf Course, during the
prestigious Masters Tournament, I followed Arnold Palmer on one of
his last rounds in a major tournament and walked with Ed Seay, the
legendary player’s partner in their golf course architecture firm.
During our leisure stroll Seay and I talked about several of the
hundreds of courses he and Palmer had designed in Japan (their
first joint venture), Colorado and Hawaii.
Seay said a couple of their favorites anywhere were the Hawaii
Prince and Hapuna. I had played the latter before; on this trip I
played the former, too. I’m no golf design expert, but I do know
beauty and toughness. And I agree with Seay and Palmer.
Hawaii Prince is characterized by giant palms, several lakes and
fairways as narrow as your thumbnail.
The concluding holes on each nine require navigating water, water,
everywhere, but not a drop to drink.
Back at the hotel, we’re discussing some serious views of all of
Waikiki Beach, Mokolii Island (Chinaman’s Hat), Diamond Head
(dormant) Crater and whales – who have not come to the Hawaiian
Archipelago to play golf.
Hop over to Maui after a couple of nights and 27 holes, and check
into the Maui Prince Hotel at the very end of the Wailea Resort
area on the southern tip of the garden isle.
This is one nice resort with a great beach for sunning and running,
and the friendliest staff I’ve ever met in Hawaii. One of the
bellmen invited Gil and me to join him at a local pub for “lava
flows,” a drink you’ll have to see and taste to believe, and
Hawaiian music standards. No “Tiny Bubbles” allowed.
I explained to the table that on another trip I heard on the radio
that “Sue Nami” was coming to Maui that day. I thought she was a
female version of entertainer Don Ho until a friend pointed out
that “tsunami” was a massive, destructive wave caused by an
underwater earthquake. Oh. (The tsunami never reached shore.)
Years ago Makena’s 18 holes were supplemented by another 18. Good
idea. Too many people come to Maui to play golf and don’t know that
they’re missing the 36 at Makena. For instance, the 14th hole on
the north course is the second-longest in Hawaii – 620 yards. And
there’s no altitude to help the ball fly farther. Both courses wind
through the kiawe trees and back and forth to the beach. The par 3
15th on the South Course sails toward the Pacific, and the water
comes into play on every shot at No. 16.
We sneaked out an extra day and played with the director of golf,
Kirk Nelson, who loves to vacation in Colorado. Go figure. All he
did was throw a little 67 at the course. Tough life.
“We still have the best-kept secret in the islands,” Nelson said.
“And the best-kept course in the islands.”
We had to be dragged screaming from the Maui Prince.
But we stopped screaming when we got to the Big Island and the
Hapuna Prince Hotel.
I’ve stayed several times at the Mauna Kea Hotel, which sets the
standard for resorts in Hawaii. But the Hapuna Prince –
particularly the beachfront suites – challenge the venerable Mauna
Kea for quality and class. (Both are owned now by the Prince
Resorts.) If you’re looking for noise and lights, stay somewhere
else. If you’re searching for incredible rooms, exquisite food,
wonderful service and GOLF, this is the place.
Palmer and Seay carved a Scottish-like links course out of the
contours above the sea on the Big Island. The mammoth clubhouse is
more Beaver Creek, though, than British Isles. The Pacific is
beneath you; Mauna Kea, the mountain (where there is skiing), is
above you.
This was voted one of the top 50 resort courses in America. Yes.
I once ordered room service breakfast at Mauna Kea Resort, and it
arrived with a toaster. I said to the general manager of the
property: “What if a lot of people order breakfast?” He replied:
“We have a toaster for each room.” Nice touch.
The beaches at the Hapuna Prince and Mauna Kea are two of the best
in the island – truly – and the resorts have six of the best
restaurants in the islands.
And Mauna Kea has the best golf course in Hawaii. It is annually
named among the greatest courses in the world. Golf architect
Robert Jones Sr. sculptured Mauna Kea from lava rocks – and created
an ocean view from every hole. Nice touch.
I was asked on a television show if I preferred the par 3 12th hole
at Augusta National or No. 17 at Pebble Beach.
“The third at Mauna Kea,” I replied.
The 180-, 200- or 210-yard (pick your distance and poison) tee shot
is totally over a precipice. The green is bigger than many ranches,
and the entire hole is framed by blue water, green grass and black
encrusted lava.
Be still my backswing.
“Now I understand,” said Gil. It was all he needed to say. He
knew why my ashes would return someday.
Gil’s first 4 iron from the back tees cut into the wind and
discovered the green. He made a par 3. I stuck yet another ball in
the Pacific Ocean and accepted a double-bogey, then reluctantly
moved on.
Just before this amazing trip ends for me and Gil, there is time to
stand on the green, stare and savor the moment, our trip and the
third hole at Mauna Kea.
This is where so many golf balls go to a watery grave.
As will I. Happily ever after.
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If you go
Getting there: United Airlines flies non-stop to Kona, on the
Island of Hawaii, on Saturdays, and to Honolulu daily. Connecting
flights to Maui on United are through Los Angeles and San
Francisco.
American Airlines flies from Denver to Honolulu and to Maui via
Dallas or Los Angeles. Delta Airlines flies from Denver to Honolulu
via Salt Lake City.
Golf package: The 99 Holes of Golf package costs $2,410 plus tax
for a single golfer or $2,980 plus tax for two golfers, through
Dec. 15. Guests can select the preferred order of hotels based on
availability, totaling eight nights. Travel to Hawaii or between
islands is not included in the price.
Information: www.princeresortshawaii.com or call 800-774-6234.
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99 holes of golf
OAHU
Hawaii Prince Hotel, Waikiki: two nights
Hawaii Prince Golf Course: Located in the Ewa Valley, about 40
minutes west of the Waikiki Beach hotel. Opened in July 1992; 27
holes; designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay
MAUI
Maui Prince Hotel: three nights
Makena North Golf Course: Opened in 1981; 18 holes; designed by
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Makena South Golf Course: Opened in 1992; 18 holes; designed by
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
HAWAII
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, the Big Island
of Hawaii: three nights
Mauna Kea Golf Course: Opened in December 1964; 18 holes; designed
by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Hapuna Golf Course: Opened in September 1992; 18 holes; designed by
Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay
