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Royal Treatment

A renovated Kaanapali golf resort is set to host some of the biggest names in golf.

By Southland Golf MagazinePublished: May, 2007

There is certainly no shortage of top-notch golf to enjoy on the Hawaiian Islands. Here’s a look at five courses you may want to check out on your next trip.

Kaanapali Golf Resort

Kaanapali Beach Resort Association recently announced that the Royal Kaanapali Course will become the new host course for the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game.

The event, which enjoyed its 20th anniversary in January, will take place February 23-24, 2008 and air on ESPN.

The three-year agreement with owners Trans World International keeps the event on Maui and means the Champions Tour will continue to have a presence on Maui to complement events on the Big Island and Oahu. Royal Kaanapali takes over from Wailea Golf Club’s Gold Course, which hosted the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game the last seven years.

That tradition spotlighted the stunning Robert Trent Jones-designed course with the LPGA’s Kemper Open and the Champ-ions Tour’s Kaanapali Classic, played at Royal Kaanapali from 1987 to 2000.

The course also hosted the Canada Cup and Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.

While Royal Kaanapali is no stranger to high-profile golf, the arrival of the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game will showcase a recent multi-million dollar renovation to the golf resort. Golf course architect Robin Nelson, who has worked on more than 30 courses across the state, supervised the renovation.

When defending champions Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson return to Maui to defend their title against three other teams, they’ll do so on Kaanapali’s 6,700-yard course.

“We are excited to host the 2008 Wendy’s Champions Skins Game,” said Ed Kageyama, general manager of the Kaanapali Golf Resort. “We have more than 45 years of celebrated tournament history and we look forward to carrying on the tradition of championship golf at our facility and showcasing the newly renovated Royal Kaanapali Course in a professional event like this.”

Call (866) 454-GOLF or visit kaanapaligolfresort.com.

Puakea Golf Course

Kauai’s Puakea Golf Course beat stiff competition for fourth place on Hawaii Magazine’s best courses list. It’s all the more noteworthy considering three other Garden Island courses are among Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 100 Golf Resorts of 2006.

Puakea recently renovated its bunkers and is in the process of adding landscaping and flowering fruit trees along several holes on the course. This is an ongoing project to add to the beauty of the land to which Puakea was built and exemplifies the roots and history of its owners, Grove Farm Company.

Puakea’s stellar reputation is as impressive as its outstanding “Juniors Play Free Program.” Any junior (ages 7–18) accompanied by a paying adult plays free Monday through Friday from June 1 through August 31, 2007. This offers a fun, healthy activity for vacationing families this summer.

Set at the base of Mount Ha’upu, rounds on the par-71, 7,000-yard routing are exhilarating. Playing through deep ravines, Puakea crosses mountain-fed streams treating golfers to stunning beauty. With four sets of tees, the course is suitable for all levels of play.

Showcasing Kauai’s magic, Puakea’s natural beauty, casual charm and friendly staff offer a unique golfing experience.

Call (866) 773-5554 or visit puakeagolf.com.

The Dunes at Maui Lani

Located in the heart of Central Maui’s isthmus, The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course is renowned for the tremendous challenges of its 18 revered holes, as well as its friendly and courteous staff.

The by-product of a warm, ohana-style work environment, The Dunes is currently ranked among the state’s top employers (Hawaii Business, April 2007).

For the past three years, GolfWeek magazine has ranked The Dunes among Hawaii’s top 10 courses, and Travel + Leisure Golf writer Don Chapman calls it: “A Maui Must — Beyond Kapalua and Wailea, another paradise found.”

“Each of our talented employees genuinely cares for their fellow workers, and customers can sense it,” says general manager Dave Gleason.

A round of golf at what Golf Digest describes as “one of the five best-kept secret courses in America,” is special. Golf at The Dunes is played in a unique setting — it is unlike any other course in Hawaii — with holes routed up, down, over, and around million-year-old alluvial sand dunes.

The Dunes covers all the bases. Its carts have on-board GPS. Its driving range is lit at night, and its tees cover over two acres of tif-419 turf grass, all pointing toward Robin Nelson’s cleverly designed target greens. The pro shop is packed with the latest in high-end logo wear. Its restaurant, The Dunes, is managed by one of Maui’s most celebrated culinary staffs. From its veranda, The Dunes’ plantation-style clubhouse commands stunning views of the 18th hole, and the scenic West Maui Mountains. It even offers a glimpse of the Iao Valley area.

Call (808) 873-0422 or visit dunesatmauilani.com.

Kahili Golf Course

Uniquely positioned on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, this world-class layout features stunning views of majestic Haleakala and the sapphire Pacific.

Carved out of the foothills of the scenic West Maui Mountains, the design of Kahili Golf Course takes advantage of the local terrain and Hawaiian tradewinds to create a unique golf experience.

A popular choice of both visiting and local golfers, Kahili Golf Course plays host to numerous Maui and statewide tournaments throughout the year, including the 2007 Kahili Maui Open Golf Championships set for June 1-3, 2007.

In addition, Nahele Banquet Room at Kahili Golf Course is an ideal location for weddings, reunions, business meetings and seminars.

Call (808) 242-4653 or visit kahiligolf.com.

Coral Creek Golf Club

Coral Creek Golf Course is among the newest, most heralded and long-awaited additions to Hawaii.

Adding to the beauty of the islands, Coral Creek offers golfers one of the most unique and beautiful pieces of land on the island.

From bag drop to country club service, golfers will find every detail has been taken care of to provide a most enjoyable visit.

Combined with a world-class layout, Coral Creek is considered one of the finest golf experiences in the world. Few courses in Hawaii can compare to the beauty, challenge and experience of Coral Creek Golf Course.

Nestled along the Ewa Plain, the par-72, 6,870-yard golf course provides a challenging test to all golfers. The course was designed to expose natural coral rock formations in cliff-like structures, which adds to the beauty of the terrain.

In addition, award-winning chef Fred DeAngelo of the famed Turtle Bay Resort restaurant Ola, is the new chef at Coral Creek Golf Course’s restaurant. DeAngelo has created a casual, yet upscale, steakhouse menu and will be incorporating all-natural angus beef from the famed North Shore Cattle Company in Oahu.

Call (808) 441-4653 or visit coralcreekgolfhawaii.com.