Hawaii golf courses
have solid showing in
magazine’s Top 100

SEVEN Hawaii golf courses have made Golf Magazine's biennial "Top 100 You Can Play" list in the September issue, due to hit newsstands today.

California's 12 courses include perennially top-ranked Pebble Beach and leads the contest among the states. Then again California is a lot bigger than Hawaii and Florida, tied for second place.

The winners were selected from among 400 daily fee, resort and semi-private courses, voted on by a panel of PGA directors, regional golf association directors, golf writers and other members of the golf industry. Golfers who have played more than 20 courses on a preliminary list were also invited to vote at www.golfonline.com.

Hawaii's top entry on the list is the Plantation course at Kapalua, Maui, ranking No. 14, up from No. 19 two years ago and No. 31 in 2000.

"We're pleased we're going in the right direction," said Marty Keiter, vice president of golf and tennis operations for Kapalua Land Co. He's also the son of sportscaster Les Keiter.

"We're not going to sit on our laurels. We're redoing the bunkers and they'll be ready for the Mercedes Championship" in January. "We're also excited to be the No. 1-ranked golf course in Hawaii," Keiter said.

The Challenge at Manele on Lanai has maintained its No. 16 ranking for the past two surveys, moving up from No. 19 in 2000.

At No. 20 is the Prince course at Kauai's Princeville Golf Club, a rank it has maintained since 2002.

"I really think it is a testament to the pro shop and the staff that works there, to our Director of Golf Gail Lee ... I also think it has a lot to do with the maintenance of the Prince golf course," said Stephanie Kaluahine Reid, director of public relations for Princeville Resort.

The Prince course had been ranked No. 16 in 2000, but every two years, new courses get added by judges and readers, shifting the rankings.

Hawaii's last entry in the top 25 is the golf course at the Mauna Kea Resort. It moved up to No. 24 from No. 27 two years ago -- it had been ranked No. 17 in 2000.

"We're excited about moving up on the list ... and we still feel we can do better," said Brad Baptist, head professional for the resort. With standard greens fees between $135 and $200, Baptist was surprised to hear that the perennial No. 1 course, California's Pebble Beach, charges $395 to $420.

"I didn't know it was that high," he said.

And it's not even in Hawaii.

The list's remaining Hawaii courses are No. 78, Kauai Lagoons, down from No. 74; No. 84 Hualalai, down from 77; and at No. 97, the north course at Mauna Lani, down from 86.