Uncategorized

This #TipTuesday brings you an insider’s look at how to play the second hole at Puakea Golf Course from golf writer Mike Dauplaise of Prime Golf Destinations. How would you play it? (Image courtesy of Mike Dauplaise)

Puakea Golf Course
No.2 – Par 5
(558/530/476/426)

This relatively easy Par-5 plays straight downwind, with a few bunkers the only obstacles between you and a legitimate scoring opportunity. A large cross bunker cuts into the landing area from the left, but longer hitters can carry it and set up a chance at reaching the green in two. A series of three bunkers runs up the right side of the landing area, leaving a narrow strip of safety between them and the cross bunker.

The real challenge comes with the approach shot as a bunker guards the left side of the green which slopes significantly left to right and away from the fairway. The optimal approach angle from the right brings a bunker into play that sits about 75 yards short of the green. There is a closely mown area beyond that bunker and below the level of the green that presents multiple options for a recovery shot, as seen in the photo.

Even with a wedge in your hand, approach shots from the left side are difficult to hold because of the slope of the green and following wind. This is a good opportunity to post a good score and get into the rhythm of your round.

No. 15 – Par 4

(473/418/399/332)

This hole, created during a 2011 renovation, tempts you to play down the left side of the fairway the first time you see it. Then, when you arrive at the landing area, you find out that might not have been the best choice after all.

A bunker on the left side of the wide fairway and another right down the middle make it appear the direct route to the green down that left side is the optimal on this slight dogleg left hole. However, the fairway slopes sharply downhill at this point and hides the fact that a gorge cuts into the fairway very quickly down the left side.

Architect Jack Nicklaus has left you ample room up the right side, away from the ocean bluffs and the trouble that lurks just over the hill. Take what The Bear gives you and aim right of the bunker that sits in the visual middle of the fairway. Little bad can happen over there, and you approach shot won’t be appreciable longer anyway. Some players even choose to go with less than driver on days when the trade winds are helping. Distance isn’t an issue (except from the tips), and in fact longer tee shots can produce an awkward, downhill stance for your approach.

Regardless of where your drive ends up, the approach shot must carry that gorge and a collection of fronting bunkers to find the safety of a wide green framed by the Timbers Resort and Hualani’s Restaurant, named for the always-cordial Hualani Duncan, Golf Sales Manager. The back-to-front slope of the green makes chips from behind very difficult.

For the first time, the 38th annual Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational (March 17–19) – the University of Hawai‘i’s storied women’s golf tournament – will move from O‘ahu to Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i’s “Garden Isle” will host 15 teams from 12 states on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala.

Teams participating include Arizona State, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai‘i, Long Beach State, Mercer, Morehead State, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rutgers, Sacramento State, San Francisco, Texas State, Tulane and Washington. 10 teams are ranked in this week’s NCAA Division I Top 100 (per SCOREBOARD), led by No. 19 Arizona State and No. 29 North Carolina. Last week, the Sun Devils were red-hot against a deep field, defeating 11 of the top 25 teams in the country to win the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina). In October 2023, the Tar Heels won the inaugural St. Andrews Links Collegiate on the famed Old Course. Their victory in last month’s UCF Challenge (Orlando, Florida) over an 18-team field was their second team championship in as many starts. Two-time defending champion Sacramento State seeks their third straight Dr. Donnis Thompson Intercollegiate title. The Hornets will fly high to Kaua‘i after capturing last month’s Causeway Invitational (Sacramento, California).

FUN INDIVIDUAL FACTS:
Washington senior Camille Boyd is projected to be the top-ranked player at Hōkūala. The two-time collegiate winner will arrive on Kaua‘i after tying for first place in last week’s Juli Inkster Meadow Club Intercollegiate (Fairfax, California). Boyd’s Huskie teammate, senior Stefanie Deng, won the Lady Bulldog Invitational (Athens, Georgia) in January. Arizona State’s Ashley Menne, a three-time Arizona Women’s Amateur Champion, aims to cap off her senior season with a historic feat: becoming just the fourth four-time All-American in program history.Twin sisters Jasmine and Janae Leovao will tee it up for Long Beach State. Jasmine earned 2022-23 Big West Freshman of the Year honors after qualifying for last year’s NCAA postseason. O‘ahu native and Hawai‘i Pacific University junior transfer, Kellie Yamane, will look to lead the Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine in her home state.

Hawaiʻi junior Kellie Yamane follows through on her approach shot during the first round of the Pac-12 Preview on Feb. 19, 2024, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. (Photo by Hawaiʻi Athletics)

TOURNAMENT FACTS

Dates: March 17–19, 2024
Venue: Ocean Course at Hōkūala
Location: Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i
Yardage (Par): 5,929 (72)
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Tee Times: 9:00 a.m. HST shotgun start each day
Live Scoring: SMART Golf
Host: Hawai‘i
Defending Team Champion: Sacramento State (882)
Defending Individual Champion: Angelina Kim, Long Beach State (218)

VENUE

The Ocean Course at Hōkūala is part of Timbers Kaua‘i, a beautiful 450-acre resort property surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Kalapaki Bay and Hā‘upu Mountain Range.

EVENT HISTORY

In 1999, the Rainbow Wahine Invitational was re-named in honor of the University of Hawai‘i’s first women’s athletic director, Dr. Donnis Thompson, who was introduced into Hawai‘i’s Sports Circle of Honor in 1988 for her numerous contributions to UH Athletics. Notable individual champions include Annika Sorenstam (Arizona, 1991 and ’92), Janice Moodie (San Jose State, 1994 and ’97), Krissie Register (Arizona, 1996 and ’99) and Kim Welch (Washington State, 1994 and ’95). Of the 32 individual medalists, five have successfully defended their titles the following year.

Tournament attendance is free for walking spectators. Parking is available on-site. The Ocean Course at Hōkūala is a five-minute drive from Lihue Airport (LIH).

“To win any golf tournament is special. Then to defend a title successfully is very gratifying. I try to not think about defending and just focus on doing my best each round,” noted World Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational winner, Annika Sorenstam.

“The beauty of the surroundings is something that I have always remembered. It is hard not to be grateful when you’re playing in Hawai‘i,” reflected Sorenstam on her time in the Aloha State.

This #TipTuesday brings you an insider’s tip on how to play the 11th hole at Wailua Golf Course from golf writer Mike Dauplaise of Prime Golf Destinations. How would you play it? (Image courtesy of Mike Dauplaise)

No. 11 – Par 4
(370/356/316)

Ponds bordering both sides of the fairway provide all the incentive you need to give the short dogleg-left hole the respect it deserves. What it lacks in length, No. 11 at Wailua makes up for with the need for pinpoint accuracy.

The pond on the right is short and shouldn’t be an issue for most players. It’s the pond on the left that does the most damage, even though it does you no good to hug the left side of the fairway. Many players won’t need a driver to reach the apex of the dogleg. However, a large tree that blocks the front left of the green makes going through the fairway into the right rough the safer miss.

From the right side of the fairway, it’s only a short iron onto a small green guarded by two bunkers and that tree. The wind blows from the right and slightly into your face off the tee, and directly across from the right on the approach. The green is slightly elevated, making recovery shots a little more difficult.

This #TipTuesday brings you an insider’s look at how to play the short but challenging third hole at Poipu Bay Golf Course from golf writer Mike Dauplaise of Prime Golf Destinations.

How would you play it? (Image courtesy of Mike Dauplaise)

Poipu Bay Golf Course
No.3 – Par 3
(209/185/163/145)

This solid par-3 plays from a slightly elevated tee into a quartering wind from the left. A large bunker short and right of the green catches its share of shots, especially for pin locations in the back portion of the green. However, there is plenty of room to miss anywhere else.

The green is deep and curls around that bunker, visually encouraging a left-to-right shot shape that the wind will do its best to overcook. The third wraps up an opening stretch of holes that includes a par 4 (No. 1), a par 5 (No. 2), and a par 3. The hole ranks as the most difficult par-3 on the course, although you might get an argument from the eleventh.

Today’s #TipTuesday features the par-3 seventh hole at Princeville Makai Golf Club from golf writer Mike Dauplaise of Prime Golf Destinations. How would you play it? (Image courtesy of Mike Dauplaise)

Princeville Makai Golf Club

Par 3

(213/173/155/120)

It’s not too often that the drop zone on a par-3 generates nearly as much anxiety as the shot you faced back on the tee, but that certainly is the case with one of the most photographed holes in the world. The combination of ocean, sunshine, and the pyramid-shaped formation in the background on the far right, commonly known as Bali Hai (Makana Mountain), makes No.7 at Princeville Makai simply breathtaking.

Even if you’re playing from one of the forward tees, take a moment after you putt out on No. 6 to check out the view from the back tees. The 213 yards of full carry over an ocean gorge is awesome. If you’re there during whale season (roughly November through early May), you may get lucky enough to catch the far-off splash of a breach.

This hole is incredible even from the forward tees and drop zone, where there is no forced carry.

However, the gorge comes into play on the right and the expanse of ocean behind the green still causes

your grip to squeeze a little tighter.

The trade winds generally blow from the left, and architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. provides plenty of room left of the green to play it safe. Bunkers frame much of the green’s perimeter except for an opening from the left for run-up shots.

The green is wide, but shallow from the men’s tees; long and narrow from the red tees and drop zone. The wind and ocean influence putts to roll out toward the right side of the green.

KAUA’I AND GO GOLF KAUA’I COURSES FEATURED ON NEW EPISODE OF BREAKING PAR TELEVISION SHOW 

Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i (November 7, 2023) – The Kaua‘i community and its spectacular collection of golf courses will be featured on “Breaking Par,” a golf and golf-lifestyle focused television show that airs nationally on regional sports networks, including Bally Sports. Premiering November 7, Breaking Par’s Kaua‘i episode can be watched across multiple regional sports networks through December 31 and viewed anytime on the @BreakingParTV YouTube channel and on www.GoGolfKauai.com/BreakingPar

While filming the show, the Breaking Par crew enjoyed a multitude of Kaua‘i experiences, from cruising the beautiful Nāpali Coast and visiting community art festivals to taking part in a beach clean-up program at Lydgate Beach Park and learning ‘mālama ‘āina,’  which means: take care of the land, and it takes care of you. They also experienced five of Kaua‘i’s best golf courses, including local favorites Puakea and Wailua Golf Courses, as well as the oceanfront splendor of The Ocean Course at Hōkūala, Poipu Bay Golf Course and Princeville Makai Golf Club. The show also highlights popular lodging options, including the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay and Timbers Kaua‘i – Ocean Club & Residences, island dining destinations such as Duke’s, Mamahune’s Tiki Bar and farm-to-table experiences at Timbers Resort, and many other island stops along the way.

“It is wonderful to have Breaking Par showcase our island, our people, our community and spread the spirit of Aloha and Mālama Kaua‘i,” said Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau. “We welcome golfers to our amazing golf courses, and look forward to educating visitors on the importance of caring for and protecting our beautiful island.”

Breaking Par, which is owned, produced and distributed by Elevated Media Partners, is an Emmy-nominated golf television show airing 300-plus times per month in more than 100 million households across multiple regional sports networks including Bally Sports. 

“Kaua‘i is a place that dances on the edge of reality and dreams,” said Ryan Johnson, executive producer of Breaking Par. “This is the most jam-packed episode we’ve ever filmed. More than just golf, Kaua‘i is a bucket list destination for outdoor enthusiasts and the making of this episode was an adventure we’ll never forget.”

Nicknamed the Garden Island for its lush tropical foliage, waterfalls and ever-present Pacific Ocean scenery, Kaua‘i boasts numerous daily-fee and resort golf courses. The destination is perennially recognized for its beaches, award-winning golf courses, ideal playing weather and stunning natural beauty. For more information on Kaua‘i golf, visit www.gogolfKauai.com.

About The Go Golf Kaua‘i Courses

• The Ocean Course at Hōkūala  – The Ocean Course at Hōkūala is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that boasts the longest stretch of oceanfront holes in all of Hawai‘i. The picture-perfect course winds its way through papaya and guava groves to dramatic seaside cliffs. A 2016 renovation added sparkling white sand to all the bunkers, framing holes to be even more spectacular than before. The Ocean Course at Hōkūala has been rated as Hawai‘i’s Best Golf Course by the World Golf Awards 2018 – 2020.

• Po‘ipū Bay Golf Course – Po‘ipū Bay Golf Course was designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr and is set between lush mountains and rugged ocean bluffs. The course incorporates more than 30 acres of colorfully landscaped tropical plants and flowers, making it one of Hawai‘i’s most beautiful courses. Po‘ipū Bay hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006.

• Princeville Makai Golf Club – Princeville Makai Golf Club opened in 1971 as the first solo effort of Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The course was completely renovated in 2009, introducing spectacular new Seashore Paspalum turf grass on all fairways and greens. Princeville Makai features surreal vistas of Mt. Makana (aka Bali Hai) and Hanalei Bay, including the signature par-3, 7^th hole that offers a 213-yard shot over scenic cliffs.

• Puakea Golf Course – Designed by architect Robin Nelson, Puakea is a spectacular layout built along massive ravines and lush tropical undulating terrain, with the backdrop being used for the Jurassic Park series. Named one of the top courses in Hawai‘i by Sports Illustrated, Golf Advisor and Golfweek, the dramatic 18-hole golf course is also known for its high-quality, “Kaua‘i-style” customer service.  Puakea was rated “Best of Kaua‘i” by Garden Island Newspaper from 2013 – 2019.

• Wailua Golf Course – Wailua Golf Course offers classic, golden-era seaside golf holes just a few steps from the Pacific Ocean. First built as a 9-hole course in the 1930’s, and expanded to 18 holes in 1961, Wailua has hosted three USGA Amateur and three US Public Links Championships. This wonderful municipal layout was designed by Toyo Shirai and features stunning mountain views along the Royal Coconut Coast.

Media Contact:
Rob Myers
602.317.6131
rmyers@troon.com