Arg's Travel Log

[Dancin]

It's a shame Makena went very expensive private. That course is much more interesting than everything at Wailea. Too bad you don't have a member who could get you on.

[Argonne69]

5 minutes ago, Dancin said:

It's a shame Makena went very expensive private. That course is much more interesting than everything at Wailea. Too bad you don't have a member who could get you on.

 

Yeah. My Chicago playing partner has been coming to Wailea for 20+ years. He said he used to play Makena every visit until it went private. 

 

[carrera]

Agree - I liked the Makena courses.  Great spot if you were staying down in the Wailea area.

[Mullenboy]

11 hours ago, carrera said:

Agree - I liked the Makena courses.  Great spot if you were staying down in the Wailea area.

Yes - very fun - someone get Arg a contact.  🙂

Edited November 6, 2024 by Mullenboy

[tw422]

You guys are a tough crowd to please. 😆  I guess if you are comparing Maui golf to the likes of Bandon, Kiawah and Pebble then yeah, I agree, they don't compare but they are still really good courses and the price is what it is.  Depends on what you think makes a great course - is it truly just (mainly) architecture?  Or is the whole experience?  Resort courses are always going to have the Goldilocks effect to keep everyone happy.  But if you are paying $200+ you expect good conditions and great views.  Is Kapalua worth 2x the Wailea courses?  Debatable, but then again you're paying that for Pebble and Kiawah so price again should not be a factor in terms of quality of the course.  I think there is an unconscious bias built in when something is more expensive.  Arg's played so many courses that it's no surprise that he has a high bar and 5-6 cows is reasonable and pretty accurate (IMO).  I  really liked the Wailea courses but they don't stack up to the best I've every played (i.e. like Merion East).  Hey, they all can't be 8-9 cows otherwise your rating system loses all credibility!  

Edited November 6, 2024 by tw422

[Argonne69]

Enjoyable morning. Got lucky with a trip up to Haleakala. One needs a reservation to enter the park to see the sunrise, but it looked like the summit was clouded in when I arrived 20 minutes after sunrise. There was a break in the clouds, so I was able to snap a few good photos. I saw the sunrise here back in 1994, so I didn't feel like battling the crowds and traffic. My drive up and down was very peaceful on a nearly empty road. Very windy and cold up there. Temp was probably in the upper 30s. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/k97e4q4ebsyeh3fstf84c/AB1Qd4AOHyucx2ETC6nC6Ik?rlkey=o8jfdcjavvp91xoememaglw9s&st=fuii8zv0&dl=0

 

Edited November 6, 2024 by Argonne69

[ZephyrS4]

Great pics! Went to the top of Mauna Kea once….another world. Weird being in those temps in Hawaii….

[Argonne69]

29 minutes ago, ZephyrS4 said:

Great pics! Went to the top of Mauna Kea once….another world. Weird being in those temps in Hawaii….

 

Yeah, did that in 2004. Big, big temperature difference between the beach and the summit. 

 

[ZephyrS4]

The stars at night up there are something else!

[aloha b.]

29 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Yeah, did that in 2004. Big, big temperature difference between the beach and the summit. 

 

I used to win bets, when I said that it snows on the Big Island. People didn't believe me, so we'd bet and they'd lose after checking Google. 😉

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, ZephyrS4 said:

The stars at night up there are something else!

 

When I went there for the sunrise we arrived in the dark. I thought I was pretty good at astronomy, but there were so many stars that I couldn't even pick out the Big Dipper or Little Dipper knowing which way was north. Lol. 

 

[ZephyrS4]

Seeing the Milky Way is pretty cool…..grew up with a cabin an hour south of Tahoe…..same thing up there.

[imkirby34]

All the family trips to Maui as a child and I didn't make it up to Haleakala until my 40th birthday...and I had the shingles.  Ugh.  LOL.

[Argonne69]

A very enjoyable late morning round at The King Kamehameha Golf Club. Nice to walk 18 after riding for the past two days. They were also kind enough to send me out 35 minutes early, allowing me to jump in front of a pair of foursomes. Basically had the course to myself until my final shot into the 18th. The winds were quite strong. Played two to three clubs. Nice looking parkland layout cut into the side of the mountain. There is one hole that plays downhill, but otherwise it plays perpendicular to the slope. Quite surprised that there was still a good amount of elevation change. The front was a little too much back and forth, but the back had a slightly better mix. According to the attendant, the course is struggling with only 40 rounds on average most of the year. I thought it was a member owned, but it's privately owned by an individual. Fairway bunkering was quite light. Greenside was pretty good. Water in play on five holes. Eight holes with gentle left/right movement. 

 

Minus the wind, it was very easy off the tee with the light bunkering. Minor misses easily caught the generous rough. Big misses would find an adjacent fairway on the big, contiguous piece of the property. Approaches were pretty tough. Start with the wind, throw in a few elevated, small greens, and top it off with solid bunkering and the GIRs were hard to come by. Greens had a good amount of contouring and slope. Putting was anything but easy. Up and downs were also tough. Tricky greens and plenty of uneven lies in the rough with bunkers to carry. 

 

Par 3s were decent, but rather forgettable. Needed a short one, as they played mid iron to fairway wood. Par 5s were very good. The 8th was reachable, but not much risk. The 11th was a very good risk/reward hole with the green tucked behind a pond. The 18th wasn't quite reachable, but the layup was tricky with a pond pinching the fairway. Short 4s were meh. The 12th had decent bunkering, but playing into the wind they were pretty much out of play. 

 

Conditions were a little spotty. Fairways had a few iffy areas. Rough was fine. Bunkers had little sand. The winds probably have a lot to do with that. Greens looked OK, but were dog slow. Wind? Speed was no more than 8. 

 

Played a Blue/White combo at 6370 yds (72.0/129). No issues with the driver unless you consider 200 yd drives into the wind an issue. Lol. Wind played havoc with the iron play. Couldn't get a putt to the hole. One birdie and seven bogies. Highlight of the day was walking a round on an empty course with wonderful views of Haleakala, Kihei, and Kahului. The wind was a pest, but it also helped keep the heat in check. Shot of the day was the teeshot on the par 3 10th. Nice high draw with a choked down hybrid to 6 feet to set up the sole birdie. 

 

Going with a solid 6 cows. Pretty underwhelming off the tee despite the views, but the approaches and greens give it some teeth. Definitely needs more fairway bunkering, a short par 3, and more trouble on the short 4s. A little sand in the bunkers wouldn't hurt. The $295 guest rate was definitely high. With the course supposedly struggling financially, and an open tee sheet, why not drop the guest rate to $175 and open up a few more spots? Can't say it's a must play, but if you find yourself unable to get a tee time at one of the resorts, it's a decent option if you can win the guest play lottery. 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

The King Kamehameha Golf Club, Wailuku, Maui, HI 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go or no-go on the par 5 11th 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jmfcmo7yailpgpq231h1n/AKFYZR49vQQWqqHUYu87F_o?rlkey=l97xctv1rhxzlwxhh8e7kqf6w&st=faccn5cx&dl=0

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Was going to head back to Koholā Brewery for another 3 Philosophers, but I figured I'm in Maui, and need to support the local brewers. Another visit to Maui Brewing Company for a tasty imperial coconut porter. 

 

 

[ZephyrS4]

Nice looking course…..cool clubhouse! Did you go in to check it out?

[Double Mocha Man]

12 minutes ago, ZephyrS4 said:

Nice looking course…..cool clubhouse! Did you go in to check it out?

 

Frank Lloyd Wright designed.

[Argonne69]

52 minutes ago, ZephyrS4 said:

Nice looking course…..cool clubhouse! Did you go in to check it out?

 

Yeah, I checked it out when I went in to pay for the round. Pretty cool. Love the color. Lol. 

 

[Argonne69]

Something a little different again today. Paia Fish Market South Side. Nothing fancy, but food was delicious. Went with the blackened mahi mahi with Cajun rice. Light and very tasty. Rice needed a little more Cajun spice. 

 

 

Going to go for a final dip in the ocean and hotel pool, take a hot shower, and then head back down to the beach for a final sunset before flying back to Oakland early tomorrow. 

 

[JungleJimbo]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Was going to head back to Koholā Brewery for another 3 Philosophers, but I figured I'm in Maui, and need to support the local brewers. Another visit to Maui Brewing Company for a tasty imperial coconut porter. 

 

 

@Argonne69It may be ~5pm in Hawaii where you are ... but these photos of a "tasty Imperial Coconut Porter" are making me thirsty

(and it's only 11am where i am!)

 

[Argonne69]

A pleasant, but subdued sunset tonight. The weather is gorgeous with light winds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/u1ik9lnpv1f31c5fiwqad/AJOIaN9JzqMerGAxNo24EPE?rlkey=gs36ibejgukn52w6l1871tnkz&st=xuh2wx2u&dl=0

 

[aloha b.]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

The King Kamehameha Golf Club, Wailuku, Maui, HI 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go or no-go on the par 5 11th 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jmfcmo7yailpgpq231h1n/AKFYZR49vQQWqqHUYu87F_o?rlkey=l97xctv1rhxzlwxhh8e7kqf6w&st=faccn5cx&dl=0

 

Great pics as usual and you caught Hawaiian Air too!

[aloha b.]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

@Argonne69It may be ~5pm in Hawaii where you are ... but these photos of a "tasty Imperial Coconut Porter" are making me thirsty

(and it's only 11am where i am!)

 

K&L Wines is in my neck of the woods and is the place to buy wine, beer, etc.

[carrera]

11 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Frank Lloyd Wright designed.

Yeah, reminds me a bit of the Marin County Civic Center.  Cool looking building.

[Argonne69]

Curious why there isn't a direct road from Kihei/Wailea to the Kiihani Highway due east? The terrain looks fairly tame. Instead of a couple of miles one has to loop back to Kahului on a 33 mile detour. 

 

[Argonne69]

It's going to be a long travel day, so I figured I'd get some food in me that wasn't the usual muffin. Kihei Cafee serves up a very nice breakfast. The French toast was very good. The thick cut bacon was even better. Don't care for Hawaiian coffee, though. Lol. Nice restaurant with outdoor seating. 

 

One of the better looking food shots I've taken. 

 

 

[Argonne69]

I was on the tram at the airport going from the rental car center to the terminal, and it occurred to me that I've been on the island for 4 days and haven't see a rainbow. I stepped off the tram, turned around, and got a lovely parting gift. Mountains in the background instead of a parking lot would have been nice, but it was a real double beauty. 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Back to the regular routine. Booked a round at the Tony Lema Course at Monarch Bay for tomorrow. 

 

Booked Bay View GC for Sunday after traveling to San Jose on Saturday. Looks like morning tee times are going to be hard to get on Monday and Tuesday. 

 

Been to San Francisco many times. Not sure if I want to make the drive over the Bay Bridge after the round tomorrow for a short visit. 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Argonne69

[imkirby34]

IIRC, Bay View GC is the former Summitpointe GC.  I haven't played there in maybe 20 years.  Hard to imagine that I actually walked 45 holes there on one summer day.  The 3rd time walking up the 2nd hole was not fun.  LOL.  Maybe you'll find more flat lies than I used to when playing there.

 

BTW, on that last night you were at Mana Kai, if you happened to see someone night fishing from shore (might've seen the flashing lure), that was probably my brother.  😆