Page 46 - The Golf Guide, Summer 2018

Golf Destination Golf Destination

Ko Olina ∼ The Resorts of Oahu The golf shop offers great rental
clubs, TaylorMade M2s, and has an
Wes Bolyard extensive variety of apparel and
accessories An excellent teaching
staff holds daily clinics at 1:00.
It never ceases to amaze me that the Hawaiian Islands, all 1,500 miles of them, were They provide locker rooms with
formed from one hotspot in the Pacific Ocean. The third oldest island, Oahu, was Jacuzzis, saunas, and showers free
formed almost 4 million years ago Even though only the third largest of the eight
major islands, it has the largest population.
Oahu, a beautiful and historic island,
has grown to become a wonderful Hole 4 Par 3
resort destination On the leeward
(western) side of the island lies Ko to all guests A great driving range
Olina, which means Place of Joy. Part and the golf carts have GPS systems
of an original royal land division, Ko Next door to the golf shop, Roy’s
Olina once served as a sacred area for Restaurant sits above the eighteenth
Hawaiian monarchs and leaders to rest hole giving a nice place to watch
and unwind. Today, the area invites golfers finish the course. Check out Hole 12 Par 3
anyone seeking relaxation to 642 acres their special packages
of sweeping ocean, mountain views, and
a string of jewel-like lagoons connected Opening in 2011, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, is the only Disney Resort
by more than a mile and a half of seaside pathways Ko Olina continues to set new without a theme park. No theme park, no problem as a multitude of activities
standards for luxury vacation resorts with its mix of like-minded resort partners entertain guests. Disney is known for their storytelling, and with many stories to
that include Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa; Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko tell about Hawaii, Aulani makes a perfect match for a Disney resort. The Imagineers
Olina; Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club; and the Beach Villas at Ko Olina of Disney, the ones who create the theme park rides, worked hand in hand with
local artisans and cultural experts to create Aulani. Inspired by the natural wonders
The golf club located right across the street from the Aulani resort also bears and rich traditions of Hawaii, Aulani Resort, the ultimate family getaway, celebrates
the name Ko Olina. Opened in 1990, Ko Olina Golf Club was designed by Ted the beauty, history, and welcoming spirit of the island. Accommodations at Aulani
Robinson, known for golf courses that are playable at every level of golf. The offer both resort rooms and spacious Disney Vacation Club Villas. They occupy
courses, typically open for tee shots, present interesting challenges when hitting two towers (Ewa and Waianae) that
to the green Ted said “Robinson Golf was founded on a belief that every round of rise up into the sky, giving a great
golf, on every golf course you play, should put a smile on your face. My goal is for look over the 21 acres of oceanfront
golfers to see the beauty, feel the character, and the experience the challenge that plus revealing four swimming pools,
is built into every golf course I design.” By choosing the correct tee, you can come a lazy river, Rainbow Reef-snorkeling
off the course feeling fresh and rejuvenated. Most of the greens are raised, multi- lagoon (there are 1,000 fish in the
tiered, receptive to good shots, and well bunkered as long as you try not to shoot snorkeling area) with the Pu’u Kilo
from above the hole. Robinson Golf, also Mountain in the center of all the
very well known for water features on activities. The mountain features two
courses, created at least three signature water slides. Volcanic Vertical’s body
holes (eight, twelve, and eighteen) with slide immediately plunges riders into
water features at Ko Olina. You can total darkness through the center of the
even drive under a waterfall on number mountain. Tubestone Curl, on the other hand, is designed as a one- or two-person
twelve, an extremely beautiful hole with slide that carries riders past the uppermost ridges of Pu‘u Kilo before splashing into
small lakes and nine waterfalls just to the the Waikolohe Stream Look for all the “hidden images” on the mountain Native
left of the tee. You can also see the Large Hawaiian Artist Carl Pao created a pair of bold geometric bas-reliefs that pay
Ladybug logo here that designates this tribute to the genealogy of this particular area of Oahu, Ko Olina, and the district of
course as the home to the LPGA 2012– Ewa. The two exterior facades reference the rising and setting of the sun and moon.
2017 LOTTE Championship presented by (Even though the panels have been appropriately placed facing east and west,
Hershey. Hawaiians traditionally do not recognize North, South, East or West. They reference

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