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Kahuku Municipal Golf Course

Municipal Course P.O. Box 417, Kahuku, HI 96731 Tel: (808) 293-5842 Automated tee time number: (808) 296-2000. Architect: Plantation Golf Course Opened: 1937 Holes: 9 Par: 35 Yardage: 2699 Yds. Amenities: Club Rentals, Driving Range, Golf Lessons Green Fees (subject to change) Time/Day Kamaaina Seniors Juniors Non-Resident Weekdays 3.00 1.00 1.00 20.00 Weekends 4.00 3.00 1.50 20.00 Dress Code: Shirt and shoes required

 

Par Yardage Course Rating Slope Men's 70 5398 65.2 111 Ladies' 70 5398 69.0 112

 

Built in 1937

Greens: Bermuda Grass

Fairways: Bermuda Grass

 

The windy, rolling design has four fairways which run parallel to the Pacific - holes number 3, 4, 7 and 8, which also play out as 12, 13, 16 and 18, respectively.

The par-35 course, which measures 2,699 yards from the regular tees, has been regularly upgraded, with improved and enlarged tees, greens, and fairways. These improvements, together with the low green fees (locals pay $10 or less), have sparked a strong increase in play in recent years.

Kahuku has four par-three holes, two par fours, and three par fives, which add up to a men's par-70 (5,398 yards) if the course is played twice. There are no lakes or ponds, and the sand bunkers are small, but there are some very interesting holes on this layout.

The par-five 2nd (which doubles as number 11 out) is a spooky 457-yard hole with two fairway bunkers and trees on the right and out of bounds on the entire left side. The small green is protected by two sand bunkers, trees on two sides - and a cemetary out of bounds on the right!

The shortest par three on the course, the 110-yard 4th (also the 13th out), demands a shot from an elevated tee over the tops of trees in mid-fairway to a blind green that has sand bunkers in front and on both sides.

The dogleg right 552-yard par-five 7th, the longest on the course (and the number-one handicap hole) also plays as number 16 out. This entire fairway runs along the ocean and is subject to heavy crosswinds blowing off the Pacific.

The par-five 9th presents another long fairway at 474 yards. It is a dogleg right, and the golfer is challenged by a very undulating green which sports a tricky slope and bunkers to the right and front sides.

The Kahuku Golf Course is open daily - except on Christmas Day and New Years Day - from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tee time reservations are required only on the weekends. Attire is casual, but shoes and shirts are required.

 

This municipal course is located right next to the beach. It is a good walking course, so seniors who like to walk will enjoy playing here. The course has no water hazards, but there are a few sand bunkers. The terrain does feature some hills that will create uneven lies. This course caters to local residents, who receive steep discounts off the listed non-resident green fees. The automated tee time number for this course is 808-296-2000.

 

Golf Pro Tips to help with your golf game in Hawaii Trade Winds The prevailing trade winds come directly from the northeast or from the direction of Diamond Head. If the winds are coming from the northeast, then the trade winds are blowing. If the wind is coming more from the south, then the Kona winds are blowing. "Kona" means south. The key to playing in the wind effectively is making the right club selection and to try to always make the wind your friend - in other words, don't fight it! Playing into the wind, take plenty of extra club and always swing within yourself. A hard aggressive swing puts more backspin on the ball causing it to fly higher and be more affected by the wind. As the Scot's would say, in the breeze, swing with ease! The same truth holds for down-wind shots - try to estimate the affect of the wind and choose the correct club. A crosswind will always magnify the direction of your ball - a slight fade can turn into a monster slice. So the key to playing into a crosswind is to try to work your ball against the wind. If the wind is a slice wind from left to right, then try to draw or hook your ball into the wind and vice-versa with a wind from right to left. Again, remember that the wind can be a friend if you allow for it!

Sand You will find that most of the Golf Courses here in Hawaii have beach sand. It may play a little different from what you're used to because it tends to be more granular and firmly packed. Luckily, you can avoid the dreaded plugged lie with this type of sand. Since the sand tends to be hard-packed, a sand wedge designed with minimum bounce will work best. A sand wedge with a lot of bounce will tend to deflect or "bounce" off of the firm sand and into the ball resulting in shots that fly over the green rather than land softly on them. If you're not sure of the bounce on your club, check with the Golf Shop. You also will want to avoid opening up the face of your sand wedge a lot since that creates additional bounce on your wedge. Good luck and remember you came to Hawaii to spend time on the sand.

Uneven Lies Swales and hills are a big part of most of the course designs in Hawaii and can make for some uneven lies. Remember to adjust the level of your shoulders to match the level of the slope. You will also need to adjust your balance to match the slope. On downhill lies, it's natural for your weight to be more on your downhill foot. To balance this out, try to place a little more weight on your uphill foot. Then, take a practice swing or two to see where the bottom of your swing is and then try to match your ball position to that bottom point.

Multi-tiered Greens A majority of our greens have multiple tiers. If you've missed the green on your approach, then getting it close to the pin is a real challenge. A high lofted pitch shot has a very small landing area to be successful. I would encourage you to consider chipping the ball with a lower lofted club to deal with these conditions. Keep the ball back in your stance, keep your hands slightly ahead of the ball to deliver a downward strike and always accelerate through the ball.

Reading Greens Most of the greens in Hawaii are Bermuda grass and tend to have "grain" in them. "Grain" means the tendency of the grass to lay over or to grow in a particular direction. A putt that is "down grain" will be faster and run farther than a putt of the same distance "into the grain". The best way to tell which direction the grain is growing is to look at grass on the edge of the cup. The grass will appear to be browner or slightly frayed on the side of the cup that is down grain so putts in that direction will be faster.   Generally speaking, the "grain" tends to grow in the same direction that the prevailing trade winds blow and also the setting sun.

 

 

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