Sunday, October 14, 2001
Kapolei: A good The Kapolei Golf Course is one of designer Ted Robinson's finest creations.
place to finish
The par-4 No. 18 measures 415
yards but can play longer if
the tradewinds blowBy Randy Cadiente
rcadiente@starbulletin.comLocated 24 miles west of Waikiki in Oahu's second city, the par-72 layout -- home to the LPGAHawaiian Ladies Open since 1996 -- features 72 bunkers, five strategically placed lakes, elevated greens and undulated fairways.
From the gold tees, the course plays to 7,001 yards.
But it's only 6,586 yards from the black tees and a reasonable 6,136 yards from the white tees.
For the faint of heart, it's 5,490 yards from the red tees.
Golfers will get a sense of the length of the course on the par-5 opening hole. From the red tees, it measures an innocent 498 yards.
But go all the way back to the gold tees and it's 562 yards.
And that's not the only par-5 that measures more than 500 yards from the gold.
The No. 7 is 586 yards and the 14th and 17th are 526 yards each.
The main attraction of the scenic layout, however, is No. 18, a tough par-4 no matter what tee you hit from.
It measures 415 yards from the gold tee and can play even longer if the tradewinds kick up. There are two fairway bunkers on the left and a lake 250 yards from the tee.
"If you're a long hitter, you can reach it," said golf operations manager Lesly Ann Komoda.
"And the two fairway bunkers? That will only come into play if you play from the back tees."
A cascading waterfall to the left of a two-tier green and a fountain in the middle of the lake fronting the green add a nice touch to the finishing hole.
"The best way to play it?" Komoda said.
"Don't play golf at all," she joked.
Off the tee, the ultimate shot is on the right side of the fairway, Komoda said. By doing that, you take the water out of play on your second shot.
"If it's Kona wind, 18 will play downwind and make it a little easier," she said.
Golfers will have to guard against missing the green on the right with their second shot. Do so and you might find yourself in one of two greenside bunkers.
"It's a good finishing hole," Komoda said.
"So as long as you can hit a good tee shot, you get on the green, two-putt and get off the green."
Green fees are $50 ($55 on weekends) for kamaaina, $70 for non-resident mainland visitors ($90 on weekends) and $130 for non-resident international players ($150 on weekends). There are also lower prices for twilight play.
The price, however, is well worth it.
Call 674-2227 for tee times.
Editor's note: The Star-Bulletin features signature holes for courses throughout Hawaii on Sundays.