In The Wood
YOU'D THINK most people who come to Hawaii to play golf would want to play at Waialae, home of the Sony Open, right? Wrong. They want to attack Koolau, the toughest golf course in all America, if not the world. Koolau beats foursome
into utter silenceKeith Tanaka, who runs Roots and Relics, one of the busiest golf shops in town, says visitors who come into his Queen Street shop immediately ask how they can get to Koolau so they can try to tame the monster.
Don Ho loves Koolau and plays there often. He plays in two tournaments I hold annually: The Brita Wood Memorial and The Mini-Benny Birthday Tourney for Wobbly Golfers and Worthy Women. Don suggested I hold one of the tourneys at Koolau. I gave him a blank look. Then I explained that the first time Frank "Steiny" Steinmiller, Corky Trinidad, Tim Smythe and I played Koolau, the monster pummeled us, kicked us, chewed us up and spat us out.
Cumulatively, we took hundreds of strokes. We were totally destroyed. We each must have lost at least a dozen balls in the lush, heavy greenery and deep, wide gullies on the beautiful layout under the majestic Koolau mountain range.
On one hole, Steiny found himself in a deep trap and could not get out. He flailed away at that ball so many times I thought he was killing a snake. In utter disgust, he threw the club a great distance.It was the first time I ever saw Steiny, my athletic friend from seventh grade who caddied at Ala Wai as a kid and later carried a 6 handicap, throw a club.
When the round was over, we did not have a beverage and talk story as we usually do. We were so beat and demoralized that we did not speak. We staggered to our cars, put our clubs in the trunks and drove away without a word ...
TURTLE BAY RESORT should have two 18-hole, par-72 golf courses open by the end of September, according to sales and marketing chief Toshiko Wight. The Links at Kuilima remains open while Turtle Bay's 9-hole course is being expanded to 18 holes.
The pro shop will also be renovated. Dennis Rose is director of golf at Kuilima.
HONOLULU MAGAZINE'S fourth annual Hale Aina golf tourney will be held at the Hawaii Prince course April 30. The event is a benefit for the Hale Aina Ohana, which supports the UH Community College Culinary Arts programs throughout the state.
There is always plenty of food and prizes at these tournaments. Entry fee is $200. Call 524-7400 for info.
Ben Wood, who played his first round of golf at Ala Wai
50 years ago, vows to learn how to play the game well even if
it takes another 50 years. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com.