Kapalua GR Plantation Course

Lahaina, Maui, HI

www.kapaluamaui.com/kapaluagolf2.html

1991, Ben Crenshaw
Reg Tees: Par 73, 6547, 71.9, 135
'01 Fees: $200 (Check w/ your hotel for discounts, or they also offer a package to play all 3 Kapalua courses for $250)

Fat Guy Review, 2001:  # 31 on Golf Magazine's 2000 Top 100 You Can Play, as well as home of the PGA Mercedes Championships, and now I see why.  This is golf on a grand scale:  big fairways, big bunkers, big greens, big elevation changes, big ocean in the distance, big winds, and 6547, 71.9, 135 just from the Whites.

Consistent 1-2 club trade wind blowing constantly in varying directions across mostly elevated fairways.  Bermuda greens are greased lightning downhill and downgrain, slow coming uphill or against the grain.  Lots of tee carries over huge ravines, pretty much unwalkable.  Great vistas of the ocean and cliffs from almost every hole, although the ocean does not come into play. The wind, "strategy" fairway bunkers, and doglegs tempt you to carve off the edges despite Mall-Of-America-parking-lot-sized-fairways, so it's not hard to lose a ball on some tee shots.  Aprons and collection areas around elevated greens are steep and shaved down, you'll see tentative chips rolling right back towards you.  The turf was soft and chunky when I played it under intermittent showers.  The approach to #17 over a deep ravine to a funneled apron and green with the wind to factor in is one of the funnest shots I've played, and the 18th is one of golf's greatest closing risk/reward holes.  Definitely hit a small bucket first, and bring the A game for this one, 'cause the cold start B game will likely put you in triple digits.  Great quote on Kapalua from T&L Golf:  "Bring your low ball, your lag-putting game, your digital camera, and your Napoleon complex."

Where To Grub & Booze (See also: Dunes @ Maui Lani):  Jameson's Grill & Bar on-premisis, where golfers and locals alike gather to watch the sun melt into the Pacific and toast the lucky stiff who won the winner-take-all Aloha Press, was named as one of Golf Magazine's 2003 "50 Coolest Places In Golf". The Plantation Restaurant on premisis is a nice semi-open air room, and yet another Hawaiian joint where you'll drop $50 on 2 sandwiches and a few drinks for lunch.  Try the 1/2 lb. burger, it was pretty good, as was the crab cake app.  Nice view, but if they offer you a window table, ask for an inner table instead so the bugs and brave beggar sparrows won't drive you nuts.

For other eating on Maui, you gotta try Mama's Fish House, just past a boarded-up bankrupt bar formerly owned by Willie Nelson in the hippie beach town of Paia.  Set in a small bungalo with a spectacular beach-side view under a palm canopy.  Expensive ($120 for 2 w/ drinks & tip) but worth it, great service with nice touches such as complimentary traditional Hawaian app & dessert samplers, and hot almond-scented towel after the meal.  The fish menu tells you the name of the guy who caught it for you, AND WHERE HE CAUGHT IT THAT AFTERNOON!  It doesn't get any fresher than at Mama's.  A Must Try is the Mahi Mahi, served with the lightest macadamia nut breading.  By far the best piece of fish I've ever had.  OR, another Must Eat is Longhi's, a surf bar & grill on Front St in Lahaina, which is a Florida-Keys-kinda-strip on the water near Kanaapali (also the only nightlife outside of resort bars.  Hard Rock Cafe is right across the street, among others).  Ask for a window table when you make the reservation, to watch the sunset.  Outstanding seafood dishes, try the Mahi Mahi or the giant shrimp with linguine in marinara.  Skip the salad and save room for their outstanding desert tray.  Their motto is "What The F*ck" (yes, they sell T-shirts).  OR, Tropica at the Westin Kanaapali is a more modern beachfront open air restaurant, and has a great special, 2 for 1 on top-notch entrees from 17:00-18:30.  OR, for a great weekend breakfast, hit the Rusty Harpoon in Whaler's Village in Kanaapali, and try the outstanding Southwestern eggs with salsa and Benedict sauce over nacho chips, which goes great with multiple TVs, keeping in mind that football starts @ 07:00 over here.  OR at Hyatt Regency Maui, dine at Spats, the hotel's outstanding Italian restaurant reminiscent of New York's Little Italy.