Hawaii has been experiencing a warm weathered and big waved winter season. With there really only being two seasons in Hawaii (summer and winter) many people decide it’s best to travel here during the months of November to April when the average daytime temperature is 78º (25.6º C).
Who wouldn’t want to spend their holiday vacation somewhere where the weather is this warm and the waves are as big as ever. With the ability to golf all day on lush ocean courses while witnessing Hawaii’s popular big waves, it’s a no brainer.
This year we have definitely not seen any shortage of big waves. Last week the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was held at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu for the first time since 2009. Waves were reaching 60 feet last Thursday afternoon, the biggest of the event's 31-year history. John John Florence came out the victor by besting a field full of some of the sport’s biggest names including Greg Long, Kelly Slater and Shane Dorian, all the while over 25,000 fans lined up along the shore to cheer them on.
John John had this to say about the final day of the contest, "I was riding my bike down here this morning in the dark, and just the energy of how many people were parked all the way down the street blew me away. I've lived here my whole life, and I've never seen it like that. Walking down the beach with people screaming, the energy was so crazy. I've never been a part of an event like this. It's definitely the highlight of my life." Thursday afternoon John John became the youngest ever to win the “Eddie” which isn’t that surprising considering he’s been attending the contest since he was 12 years old.
The North Shore of Oahu wasn’t the only place where the waves were firing. The same day of the Big Wave Invitational the newly reopened Kona Country Club Ocean Course on the Big Island of Hawaii saw its share of enormous waves.
It was a great day for golf and a spectacular site as the waves crashed up against the rocks, spilling over and onto some tee boxes and fairways. Walkers and joggers alike had to take extra precaution along the coast as they snapped pictures to avoid being splashed by the colossal ocean mist. My personal favorite and most eye-catching vista came on one of the courses signature holes, the par 4 13th, by the well-known blowhole which that day was spouting water over 20 feet high.
Today I am pleased to announce the reopening of the much awaited Kona Country Club Ocean Course in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Kona C.C. first began renovating its “makai” course in May of 2013, making improvements such as updated bunkers, repaved cart paths, leveled fairways, improved tee boxes and new landscaping all throughout the course. I had the privilege of touring the course last week and conditions were terrific. As if the gorgeous mountain views and holes bordering the Pacific Ocean weren’t already enough, the greens and fairways are currently in the best shape I’ve ever seen them.
Kona Country Club will also be welcoming a new General Manager, Lee Kagawa, who was formerly the General Manager of Makalei Golf Club. If you happen to see Lee be sure and give him a warm aloha!
For more information about Kona C.C. or rates please click below.
53-year-old Duffy Waldorf shot a 6 under 66 to finish at 18 under par at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai Golf Club. Not only was it Waldorf’s first appearance here, but he managed to play all 54 holes without a single bogey.
It was an incredible week with a stellar field. Veteran Tom Watson made headlines Friday afternoon after bettering his age of 66, shooting 7 under 65 to be two behind Waldorf going into final round Saturday.
In fact, a total of 9 players were within 3 shots of the lead entering the final round.
The entire field seemed to be playing exceptional golf, but Tom Lehman and Duffy Waldorf’s match was one for the books. Both players amazingly kept their composure all the way into the final holes. It started with a clutch putt made by Lehman to save par on the 15th hole to keep his 1-shot lead over Duffy. Waldorf however didn’t falter and dropped a nice looking birdie putt on No. 16 which would result in a tie. Waldorf had a small error when he overshot the 17th green, but Lehman only had the advantage for a couple of minutes before Waldorf made his clutch 7 footer again tying Lehman heading into 18.
The two hit beautiful approaches into the green, landing 25 and 30 feet away. Duffy, being away, managed to drain his long putt to put the pressure on Lehman. Lehman couldn’t comply as his ball stopped just a few inches short of the hole. Lehman closed with a solid 66, but couldn’t match the play by Duffy Waldorf.
"I knew I was playing well, but this is a strong field," Waldorf said. "Even starting the day, I'm like, 'If I play well there's a good chance I won't win.' So I really didn't feel any pressure out there that I had a chance to win or was going to do well, just wanted to play as good a round as I could."
This is Waldorf’s second victory in his last three starts, winning the Toshiba Classic last November, his first senior title.
If you and your family are planning a golf trip to the islands or would like to learn more about courses in Hawaii. . .
The 2016 Mitsubishi Electric Championship begins today and will run until January 23, with a distinctive Saturday finish. The Championship will be held at the Jack Nicklaus designed Hualālai Golf Club on the Big Island of Hawai‘i for the 20th consecutive year, the second longest of any event at a single course on the PGA TOUR Champions.
Defending champion Miguel Ángel Jiménez will be teeing it up this afternoon along with other notables such as: Freddie Couples, Paul Goydos, Bernhard Langer, Corey Pavin and Vijay Singh, just to name a few.
Broadcast coverage will start this afternoon on Golf Channel at 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Hawaii Time) and continue each day at 2:00 p.m. until Final Round Saturday.
About the course:
The course is located in Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii, situated in stunning black lava fields along the Big Island’s Kohala Coast. The Nicklaus course contains a variety of ocean views including from the course’s signature 17th hole which practically touches the sea. The Hualālai Golf Course is a semi-private course and is reserved exclusively for resort guests…
…So for other exquisite Big Island courses and lava golf click the link below!
