Coring at Kapalua (Now a discussion of which courses I should play!)

[Scott Warren]

My wife & I are heading to Hawaii on a spontaneous trip with the kids and the place my wife chose for us to stay on Maui is, as luck would have it, not far from Kapalua.


However, Kapalua website lists coring for Plantation course as March 30 and we are there first/second week of April.


Can anyone advise what I should expect? Light/heavy coring? Greens covered in sand?


I'll play regardless, just want to manage my expectations.

[Mark Kiely]

Why not just call them and ask? Regardless, enjoy!

[Scott Warren]

Why not just call them and ask? Regardless, enjoy!

I saw there was a reply and thought "oh good, someone was able to help me".


Sadly, not...


I did consider calling but imagined the person in the pro shop who answered may not know off the top of their head what kind of coring was planned or be able/willing to predict what state the greens would be in 10 or 11 days later.


I did tweet at them asking so they'd be able to reply with whatever they were able to tell me with some time to ask the right person on staff.

[Greg Tallman]

Barring something unusual the greens should back to normal in a bit under 2 weeks. Our practice here in Cabo is to provide compensation for roughly two weeks following the practice. By the end of that period the guests are playing on nearly perfect greens and getting a nice little bonus. This is following a large core (5/8" tynes) aerification. 

From the Kapalua website:

2017 Aeration Schedule (Subject to change without notice)
                                                                                                 
The Bay Course                                 
 May 9 - 12 (Tues - Friday)         
 October 3 – 6 (Tues - Friday)
                                               
The Plantation Course                       
 March 30 – April 2 (Thurs-Sun)   
 May 23 – 26 (Tues-Fri)
 September 5 – 8 (Tues-Fri)

 Projected aeration recovery times are roughly about 3-4 weeks for The Bay Course and
 about two weeks for The Plantation Course.

[Ira Fishman]

If you can steal away for another round, suggest checking out Kahili. True public course that is about a third the cost of Kapalua.  Conditions not manicured Hawaiian resort, but an enjoyable layout.

[Scott Warren]

Thanks Greg. Really appreciate it.


Ira -- Thanks. I'll check it out. I'm thinking of a second round somewhere on Maui but not sure where. Wailea Gold looks good but I'm not sure if it's folly to drive there from Kaanapali. I may just play Plantation twice.

[Craig Sweet]

If I was going to Hawaii right now, I wouldn't worry about "coring"....I'd only worry about sun screen. 

[William_G]

Thanks Greg. Really appreciate it.


Ira -- Thanks. I'll check it out. I'm thinking of a second round somewhere on Maui but not sure where. Wailea Gold looks good but I'm not sure if it's folly to drive there from Kaanapali. I may just play Plantation twice.

Manele Bay on Lanai is worth it

Love the The Plantation House restaurant in the Clubhouse at Kapalua....

[Tommy Williamsen]

Wailea Gold is excellent and demanding. Wailea Emerald is good and a little nicer to your scorecard. Manele might be my favorite course in Hawaii but I will second a vote for Kahili. It is a real sleeper. The setting is stunning and the course very good. Too many folks bypass it. Up the hill from there is King Kamehameha which is stunning with bicoastal views and a killer layout. You can't miss.

[Mark Kiely]

Why not just call them and ask? Regardless, enjoy!

I saw there was a reply and thought "oh good, someone was able to help me".


Sadly, not...


I did consider calling but imagined the person in the pro shop who answered may not know off the top of their head what kind of coring was planned or be able/willing to predict what state the greens would be in 10 or 11 days later.

I hope you didn't think I was trying to be difficult. I just can't see why anyone on here would know specifics about their plans, unless someone here works there. Aeration/sanding isn't always done using the same size tines or to the same extent every time, is it? A phone call would take about 60 seconds, and from my experience, pro shop staff members are usually dialed in to the maintenance plans pretty well, especially if you tell them that's the explicit reason for your call.

[Scott Warren]

Thanks for the course recommendations, all. I agree Manele Bay looks like a fantastic day out, but the time involved in getting there and back from Maui leaving my wife with a nearly-three-year-old and a six-month-old for a full day probably rules it out this time. If Hawaii is as good as everyone always tells us, then I am sure we will be back and the Maneles, Naneas etc will be more of a focus! The flight times and time difference make it a really attractive destination from the east coast of Australia.

Mark -- In a decade on GCA, I've never ceased to be amazed by the depth and specificity of knowledge the DG's contributors have. Someone knowing the coring plans of Kapalua wouldn't even be top 10% most amazing display of knowledge! You'll be pleased to know, though, that I bit the bullet and called them and the lady I spoke with was able to reiterate what was on the website! I did discover that they core the entire golf course, not just the greens. Can't say I've come across that before!

[Tim Leahy]

My friend who lives there swears by the Dunes at Mauilani.

[Jeff Evagues]

I prefer the Dunes over Kahili as well.

[Scott Warren]

Gents -- The Dunes looks great, definitely one I am looking at.


I can reasonably play three games in two weeks.


I would like to see Waialae & must see Kapalua Plantation. That leaves one. I suggest that:


1. Wailea is too far.
2. The Kaanapali courses don't look that appetising.
3. That leaves Kapalua Bay, Kahili, The Dunes & King Kama on Maui or Mid-Pacific on Oahu. We'll see.

[Brad Tufts]

Plantation is a given, even if cored really, and you will be there at the back end of the recovery.

I played the Bay for the first time this past November, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Can't say much for the value though as it's pricey and not the Plantation.

I enjoyed the Dunes at ML in one play about 10-15 years ago...it's a locals kind of place, which is generally a good thing in Hawaii.  I have not played Kahili or King Kamehameha.  Kaanapali is not that great, but rather convenient to the resort areas around Lahaina.  My advice there is to eat at Roy's in their clubhouse, but skip the golf!

We spent a week on Maui in November in a rented house about a half-mile from the center of Lahaina, and we had my 4 yr old and 5-month old in tow, along with five other family members in my parents' generation.

Non-golf stuff:  My 4-yr old loved the yellow submarine thing (it stays on the surface, but you sit under the water)...my wife and I are scuba divers, and it was really fun showing her some of the stuff we see when we dive...they have a couple divers that bring stuff up to the windows like sea urchins, an octopus, etc. so the kids can see up close.  Super-touristy, but fun nonetheless...takes like 45mins, maybe $30/pp, and there are coupons everywhere.

Baby Beach just north of Lahaina is PERFECT for the little ones...barely any surf (almost zero), great views of Lanai, and great reefs complete with turtles if you want to snorkel.

Restaurants:  So many great ones, you can't go too wrong.  Roy's is great, and sort of a Hawaii institution.  Mama's Fish House is 1h15m from Lahaina back past the airport in Paia, but one of the best restaurants I've ever been to.  The Sea House (near Kapalua) is rather traditional but very good.  My wife and I splurged at the Lahaina Grill (more of a fine-dining experience), which was excellent.  The Paia Fish Market across from the Banyan Tree in Lahaina is a great lunch spot with huge portions.  If you make the drive up to Haleakala...we did, was 45 degrees and blowing 60mph at the top above 10K feet of elevation...a good and unique lunch spot on the way down (or up) is the Kula Lodge.  They specialize in brick-oven pizza, and have some neat gardens, a small art gallery, and a solid souvenir shop across the parking lot.

Let me know if you have questions, and skip Bubba Gump and Cheeseburger in Paradise!

[Matthew Petersen]

The Bay is a nice spot and has a few fun holes, but nothing great. But if it's close to where you are staying, that's quite appealing. Neither of the Kaanapali courses are worth the cost.

[Scott Warren]

Brad -- those tips are brilliant. Thank you very much. The trip is very much built around making sure the near-3yo has a good time, because if she does so will we!

[Mark Kiely]

I agree with tons of what Brad said.


GOLF: Plantation for sure. The only real vivid memories I have of the Bay Course are the one and a half holes on the ocean. Too bad Village closed. I loved the aesthetic of all the Cook Pines on it. I enjoyed Dunes at Maui Lani, although it was a long time ago and I seem to remember it being a little funky. Not sure if it was "good funky" or "bad funky," so I guess I need a return trip. Definitely do not waste your time or money playing Ka'anapali.


KID STUFF: For your 3yo, there's a park practically right on the beach in Honokowai with swings and a little playground, aptly named Honokowai Beach Park. If you're staying in a condo or a place with a kitchen, schedule a visit in conjunction with the Honokowai Farmers Market right across the street, where you can stock up on local produce. (Only open certain days/hours each week.)


You're likely to see giant sea turtles all over that region where you're staying, but if you want a sure thing, take your daughter to Honokeana Cove, where they are almost always visible from shore.


I was going to suggest the Sugar Cane Train as well for your 3yo, but I just checked and apparently it's been closed for some time, with plans to reopen this year. If it happens to open, I bet your daughter would enjoy it.


I recall Lahaina Cannery Mall (the Safeway center right off the highway) having all sorts of (touristy) kid-friendly activities, like ice sculpting contests and free hula dancing lessons.


FOOD: I second Mama's Fish House as one of my favorite restaurants anywhere, but might not be too enjoyable with a 3yo in tow.

[Brad Tufts]

I second Honokeana Cove...we stayed in a condo (while I was in college in 2000) over Christmas right at HC.  There is a family of turtles that hang out under a big rock right in the middle of the cove about 25 feet down.  With a good breath, you can go down and check them out, or just wait till they are done holding their breath and come to the surface....people don't seem to bother them as long as you don't feel the need to pat them like a puppy.

Back to golf, there were some cool things they had done to the Plantation since my last visit like 10 years ago...cleaned out the jungle short right of #1 green, removed trees around #6 and #7 creating a different look.  The tee shot on #7 with the trees cleared from the ravine's edge was a TOTALLY different look, as I never remember thinking about the ravine off the tee before.  I think they re-did the tees on #8 also.  The back nine was pretty close to what I remember.  All greens have been re-grassed in the last few years too, but that was not really noticeable.

[Brad Treadwell]

We played King Kamehameha a couple years ago and really enjoyed it.  It is technically private but they were taking some outside play via their website.  It was very quiet out there...nice views...enjoyable course...etc.  I was unimpressed with Wailea Gold and the Bay Course.  Plantation is of course the gem and I'd play there the day of punch over most other places on Maui.  Manele is beuatiful but will take up the entire day. 


+1 on Mama's Fish House.  Best dining experience on the island.  We like to go over for lunch.  Make a reservation, bring your wallet, and save room for the Kuau Pie.


Have a great trip!


Brad

[William_G]

yes Mama's Fish House  , we have their recipe book here in our library

Plantation House restaurant at Kapalua must be somewhere no ne goes but me, LOL

[mike_beene]

The way I have done it is to only leave the Plantation Course area if it is raining. Then I drive over to Walea and prefer the gold. I have never been rained on there. The drive is long and not easy to me. I would play Plantation twice and skip Bay.Definitely skip Kanapoli