No. 11 at Mauna Kea
In the early 1960s, hotelier Laurence S. Rockefeller chose this then-remote corner of paradise on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii for what was to become a revolutionary type of resort.
Rockefeller stood on a lava field with Robert Trent Jones Sr. and asked the renowned golf course architect if it would be possible to build a course on the blackened terrain—something which had never been done before.
Jones reached down and picked up two pieces of lava. He pounded them together, and when they crumbled, he knew the lava could be crushed to form a perfect base and provide drainage for a golf course.
The classic course that Jones created measures a challenging 7,114 yards from the back tees, but with four tee boxes resort guests can find the perfect yardage for a rewarding experience.
Rockefeller had crushed coral brought from nearby Kawaihae Harbor and dirt was trucked in from the more fertile areas around Honokaa. The black lava fields were transformed into lush carpets of green.
But this was not "Field of Dreams," and Rockefeller knew he had to get the word out, or more precisely, the picture out to the people before they would come.
So Rockefeller arranged for an episode of the hit television golf show, "Big Three Golf," featuring legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, to be taped at Mauna Kea.
The legend of Mauna Kea was born before a captive television audience and soon the guests were coming from the Mainland by the planeload to see the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and three majestic volcanoes—Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
When Rockefeller asked Jones if he could build the course, they were standing on the future site of the famed No. 3 hole at Mauna Kea, a par 3 that measured 250 yards across a picturesque cove to the wide, narrow green.
There was a brisk wind blowing into the faces of the golfers that day when the Big Three played for television and all hit driver, with only Palmer reaching the green.
These days, the fourth hole plays somewhat easier for Mauna Kea guests, at a maximum of 210 yards, but don't be short or left or your ball is in the Pacific. And be sure to visit the spot of that famous tee box, which is now a picnic area, with a plaque in the ground to commemorate the Big Three match.
Hawaii golf expert Mark Rolfing claims Mauna Kea has the best set of par-3 holes in the islands. Scenic No. 11 plays 247 yards directly downhill to the water.
Nicklaus and Palmer showed on their first trip around Mauna Kea, which has been ranked as the best course in Hawaii and one of the 10 best in the world, that the back nine might be a bit easier. Both shot 5-under par 31 on the back, a record that still stands.
Mauna Kea and its sister property, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel next door, offer another amenity that Rockefeller had in mind when he was planning the ultimate all-inclusive golf resort so many years ago.
You can walk from your hotel to the course in a matter of minutes. If you are staying at Mauna Kea, a shuttle whisks you to the Hapuna Course, again in only minutes, and vice-versa.
That's another part of the concept that when you stay at a destination golf resort, you don't have to leave the property for anything.
And this is where it all started.
Rees Jones oversaw a renovation of his father's famous course in 2008, with bunkers restored to their original configurations, greens and tee boxes rebuilt, and 200 yards added in an effort to bring the classic course up-to-date.
Mauna Lani Golf Club
OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA
Hualalai Golf Club
WHERE TO STAY: The Mauna Kea and Hapuna are two of several magnificent resorts on the Kohala Coast. Don't miss Mauna Kea's Tuesday night luau, which features authentic Hawaiian food, dances and music. After dinner, take a walk down to Manta Ray Pointe at the Mauna Kea, where floodlights reveal the manta rays at play in the surf.
The Fairmont Orchid is an AAA Four-Diamond resort nestled on 32 acres of oceanfront property within the 3,200-acre Mauna Lani Resort community, with spectacular views of the Big Island's five mountains, including Mauna Kea—the world's tallest peak when measured from its base on the floor of the Pacific.
Right next door is the Mauna Lani Resort and its famous beachside bungalows. Others resorts nearby include Waikoloa and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
Fairmont Orchid Hawaii