Kapalua -The Plantation Course: A Pictorial!!! (all 18 posted)

[Kyle Henderson]

My pleasure, Brian!

Russell, that may be one of their intended purposes. But from what I saw, those trees are almost only found along the roads and rarely perpendicular to the trade winds.

[Kyle Henderson]

9th hole: 521 yards. Par 5.

The 9th is an atypical Coore/Crensaw offering. While the wind is hurting from the right, many players will elect to club down from the tee so as not to run through the fairway – it ends ~ 290 yards from the tips and just 213 yards from the white tees.


From the end of the fairway, the approach is 215 yards in length and slightly uphill into the wind. Drives that run through into the depression will shorten the approach but leave a shot that is still lengthy and that must climb even more steeply


With severe trouble right and the wind blowing against them, many players will miss short or left (or both) and face troublesome recovery prospects to a semi-blind or disadvantageously-sloped green.

[Kyle Henderson]

10th hole: 354 yards. Par 4.

After a lengthy cart ride, this directional pole provides little reassurance in picking a line for the blind tee shot.


Once over the crest, the fairway is seen pouring everything left.


The only bunker on this hole is a good 30-40 yards short of the green, but any approach that misses left will be quickly swept away by the wind and slope. Never aim at this flag position as the green will also help the ball left


Recoveries from the green’s high side appear straightforward, but require a delicate stroke.

[Sean Leary]

As much as I hate agreeing with Becker (although not as much as agreeing with Garland), I agree with him 100 percent on 6, especially if the pin is right.

[jonathan_becker]

As much as I hate agreeing with Becker (although not as much as agreeing with Garland), I agree with him 100 percent on 6, especially if the pin is right.

Wow!  That just made my day, Leary.     Finally, someone else around here with some sense.   

Regarding #9 with the prevailing wind, that has to be the longest 521 yards in golf.

As for #10, the second shot lie is extremely severe, but I don't mind it on such a short hole.  It makes the player use a little creativity.  And even though the views are great throughout the round, 10 starts an incredible stretch of memorable vistas for this portion of the property.

[Kyle Henderson]

11th hole: 164 yards

Featuring a backdrop that few places can exceed, the 11th hole is sure to embed itself in one’s memory banks. Yet, I must admit the view was bittersweet for me in viewing the lovely looking property closer to shore that remains unclaimed for golfers.


As the prevailing wind helps from the right, this green was mercifully left open for running approaches.

[Richard Choi]

Strange, I have almost no recollection of this hole compared to almost all of the holes featured so far. You would think I would remember that vista...

[Matthew Petersen]

Strange, I have almost no recollection of this hole compared to almost all of the holes featured so far. You would think I would remember that vista...

I found it to be a bit of a boring hole with a spectacular view.

I will say that from the tee it feels like you are playing right down to the ocean. You can hear waves crashing and it just feels like you're right there (though if you know the area you know that at the very least the highway must still be between you and the coast). It's not until you're at the green that you can really see the several hundred yards of ground between you and the coast.

[Kyle Henderson]

12th hole: 420 yards. Par 4.

A helping wind and slope render this medium-length par 4 drivable, though the blind target renders driver a risky play.


Slightly shorter tee shots down the right side will leave this simple approach.


Those going to broke should run their drive through the gap just left of this small bunker. A strong drive on the intended line may never be found, as there is no safety margin behind the green.

[Kyle Henderson]

13th hole: 407 yards. Par 4.

Against the hill and wind, this may be the longest 400 yards in a golfer’s lifetime. Drives have a nasty habit of collecting in this left-side fairway bunker, but those able to stay just right of it will enjoy the simplest approach vector.


This view was captured behind the 13th green (with the 13th fairway coming on the left and the 12th going on the right). The recovery shot from here is tougher than it looks, as the slope and wind will sweep all but the most delicate chips well past this day’s pin position.

[Jeff Evagues]

With the normal winds I always considered this the toughest hole on the course.

[Kyle Henderson]

With the normal winds I always considered this the toughest hole on the course.

It's up there, though I still see #15 as the biggest disaster waiting to happen from those with power that tend to spray the ball.

[Kyle Henderson]

14th hole: 305 yards.

Still climbing into the breeze, the 14th is on the short side.  Golfers may elect to carry a portion of the right bunkers to set-up a small pitch for the approach, but bold drives on this line must generally be hit hard and low to make the carry. It should be noted that the white tees, while only 275 yards from the green’s center, are further right and thus require a much more circuitous line from tee-to-green for short-hitters playing to the fairway’s heart.


Viewed from behind, the considerable rise from tee-to-green is readily apparent.

[Matthew Petersen]

14th hole: 305 yards.

Still climbing into the breeze, the 14th is on the short side.  Golfers may elect to carry a portion of the right bunkers to set-up a small pitch for the approach, but bold drives on this line must generally be hit hard and low to make the carry. It should be noted that the white tees, while only 275 yards from the green’s center, are further right and thus require a much more circuitous line from tee-to-green for short-hitters playing to the fairway’s heart.


Viewed from behind, the considerable rise from tee-to-green is readily apparent.

This is just a wonderful hole. as you say, typically into the wind and in the typical stiff wind it's not really reachable for a mortal. But it's still an interesting short 4, with lots to decide about where to lay up and the green is small enough that you would like to get to the most comfortable distance possible.

When the wind lays down, or if you get it behind you, then you really feel tempted to take advantage of this condition and try to drive it. I won't go into the gory personal details, but ... that may not be a great idea.

[Kyle Henderson]

15th hole: 555 yards. Par 5.
The pros always seem to make mincemeat of this one, but those who employ a crooked game will be in danger of posting a card-wrecking number here.

With a wind hurting from the left, players are unwise to try cutting the right-hand corner from the tee. Right = death.


A good drive will offer a relatively flat stance for the second shot, but those unable to reach in two must place their lay-up carefully as the ground drops away quickly before climbing to the green.


I would strongly advise most golfers to avoid leaving themselves with less than a full wedge for the approach, as pitches which lack conviction will roll right back to the same location – this poor lady needed 4 attempts to escape her pictured  position.


This view from behind provides a clearer display of the roller coaster fairway and falsely-fronted green.

[Matthew Petersen]

Love this hole. Again, a wide range is possible. Eagle/birdie? Sure, it's as possible here as anywhere on the course. But so is a big number. Even better is that this isn't just due to the penal nature of the off fairway areas. The hole is plenty wide. It's really the slope around the green that can make your number get big here.

Lots of ways to attack this one, as well. I agree there's no reason to challenge the right side, that's almost an optical illusion. Whether/where to lay up is the big question on your second and has a lot to do with the wind and how you feel about your wedge game. First time I played this hole I figured I was as good at chipping the ball as I was at any full wedge shot so I went for it--ball came up a few feet short of the green and rolled well down the hill. From there I was able to get up and down for birdie. However, I have seen people in the same position take multiple tries to hold the green from there. All about what kind of shots you're comfortable with.

[Kyle Henderson]

16th hole: 365 yards. Par 4.
Flat ground? Adjacent housing lots? Never fear, as a cleverly-bunkered, short par 4 was produced to keep players engaged.

While most will play straight ahead from the tee, there is fairway to be had left of the prominent  bunker complex  for those seeking a better angle to right-side pins.


A conservative tee shot down the right side will yield a short or mid-iron to a seemingly innocuous green site.


Upon closer inspection, a subtle false front just short of this day’s hole location will demand precision.



Thank you for hanging in here with me, Sir Rose!

[jonathan_becker]

I really enjoyed #16.  I would imagine that most players play down the right side, but as the land feeds that way, the approach view isn't near as clear as playing down the left.   Narrowing your focus off this tee matters a lot because you could easily do what my brother did and pipe it dead straight into the furthest center fw bunker on two separate occasions!

[Kyle Henderson]

17th hole: 508 yards. Par 4.

The last two holes drop steeply downhill for the better part of a mile, with a tail wind to boot.


A drives played in line with the green’s right edge will appeal to 1st-timers hoping to shorten the approach but, almost believably, the greatest concern should be keeping the drive short of the intervening ravine  -- it's 400 yards the tips, 350ish from the whites, and potentially playing ~100(?) yards shorter.


Weak players are afforded the option of circling around the ravine in reaching the green.


The leftward slope of the run-up to the green (and the tailwind) suggests a running hook, but the green’s center will hold a decently-struck mid-iron.


This photograph = golf porn. The pictured ravine= lost ball.


The green viewed from starboard.


A sense of the green’s ample surface area and slope is provided by the tiny-looking flagstick.


That’s a pretty hole. I need a nap after that one.

[jonathan_becker]

It's hard to imagine a more beautiful spot on a golf course than the 17th hole.  Great photos, Kyle.

[Mark Provenzano]

15th hole: 555 yards. Par 5.
The pros always seem to make mincemeat of this one, but those who employ a crooked game will be in danger of posting a card-wrecking number here.

With a wind hurting from the left, players are unwise to try cutting the right-hand corner from the tee. Right = death.

Right = death...unless you manage to catch that highway-grade guardrail just right.  You've never heard a stranger (or more welcome) sound on a golf course than my ball off the tee catching that rail flush. I still made bogey though.

[Kyle Henderson]

18th hole: 663 yards (!!!). Par 5.

Aside from the trees, clubhouse and carts (and sometimes corporate tents), the view is truly one to be savored on the last tee box. As at the penultimate hole, tee shots here will carry forever down the hill while riding the wind. The fairway width may not match that of the Old Course, but it is more than ample.


While a drive down the right edge may get a bigger kick forward, generally the fairway sweeps balls left.


With a nice, long rollout, any decent drive that stays right of the gunch could bring the green into range.


With a helping right-to-left stance, breeze and approach, a running hook is the shot de jour.


For those unable to reach in two, this ticklish downhill chip/pitch requires delicate judgment and execution to salvage birdie hopes.


This long last look up the ski slope will certainly leave one pining for another eagle try, but the snorkels and bikinis a few hundred yards away may delay repeat play.


Hawaiians truly enjoy an embarrassment of riches.