Makena North had a different look than the Wailea courses. There were fewer palm trees, especially once you got away from the clubhouse, and more natural vegetation as the course climbed up the side of Haleakala.
4/23: Arriving in Maui
4/24: Wailea Old Blue
4/25: Snorkel Trip
4/27: Makena North
4/28: Pineapple Tour
4/29: Wailea Emerald
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On Sunday, I booked my tee time for April 27. Originally, I was going to play the Kapalua Bay course. I was told that the course wasn't in normal conditions and had some transition grass. I didn't quite understand what this meant, and with the very high rates of the course I decided to change my tee time to Makena North. Not only was it a lot less expensive than Kapalua, it was a lot closer as well. (As a side note, I did see the Kapalua course on April 28 and it looked fine to me.)
The Makena North course was in good shape. The greens had just been aerated, and while they were rolling a little slower than I like, they were rolling true. I was very pleased with changing my tee time to this course. It was the most scenic of the courses that I played. And I would say it was the most challenging as well, especially on holes like the par 4 sixth hole which featured a double fairway with a gorge running down the middle of the hole. Decision making was as important as executing the shot.
It was a round of steaks. I hit the ball very solid for the first seven holes, hit a rough patch during the middle holes, and scrambled well on the final holes. I parred five of the first six holes, unable to make a putt for birdie but very satisfied with the results. I struggled with the driver during the second nine, popping a couple drives up. I also hit one into the gorge protecting the par three 12th hole, resulting in a triple bogey.
Every stroke was worth it, as the views were spectacular, especially on the 14th tee (the high spot on the course, this par five drops about 400 feet from tee to green). I carded an 89, my best round of the week.
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The six hole forces some decisions to be made. A gorge running the length of the hole creates a double fairway. You eventually must cross the gorge to make the green; the only decision is when to cross it. Playing uphill, my sky caddie read 180 off the tee to cross the gorge on the left, opening up the green for the second shot. I made the fairway, but I chunked my second shot while trying to play safe for the center of the green.
The pin was tucked back right, which brought the gorge back into play as well as a bunker short of the pin. I measured my third shot at 80 yards, and I hit a perfect sand wedge right at the pin, over the bunker, and stopping about 8 feet from the hole. I made the putt to save par.
Here are the results. I played from the resort tees. The par 72 course measures 6151 yards with a rating/slope of 70.1/131.
