LANAI GOLF ADVENTURE

LANAI GOLF ADVENTURE

LANAI, HAWAII

Boarded an early morning flight on Island Air to fly to the Island of Lanai.  Lanai is a quick 25 minute flight from Honolulu but it is worlds apart when it comes to Island living.  With only three hotels and 3,000 residents, Lanai is and Island gem that takes you back in time.  There are no traffic lights or supermarkets.  No chain stores or high rise buildings.  Just simple little homes on tree lined streets where driving 30 miles per hour would be considered speeding.  When you arrive at the one building Lanai airport you immediately realize that this is not Oahu, Maui, Kauai or the Big Island.  This is Lanai and it has a feeling all to itself.  The Island was recently purchased by Oracle Billionaire Larry Ellison.  Ellison is already investing money in the two major hotels, harbor and infrastructure.  Hopefully he won't do too much to change the look and feel of the Island because it is perfect the way it is.  Two perfect things on Lanai are its two golf courses.  The Challenge at Manele and The Experience at Koele.  These two courses are drastically different in climate, topography and feel.  Manele is an ocean course with spectacular views of the cliffs and ocean.  The Koele course is inland and takes you deep into the forest where you feel like you are in a different State.  I love the Koele course.  The trees are beautiful and light mist that fills the air is a nice change from the daily warmth and sunshine on Oahu.  We played Manele Bay in the morning.  After 18 holes at Manele we grabbed a ride over to the Koele course.  Manele Bay was bright and sunny.  When we arrived at Koele it was at least 10 degrees cooler, dark and misty.  What a contrast in just minutes.  We loved it and dawned our light jackets to play another 18 holes.  As we approached the first green a herd of deer ran across the green.  Must have been eight of them.  As they ran through the mist and back into the forest we all just stood there with broad smiles.  How lucky were we to enjoy this day in Hawaii.   We played 18 holes at Koele and then walked over to the Lodge and enjoyed a cool drink along with some appetizers.  Flew back to Honolulu at 7:30 pm and was in bed by 9:30.  Does not get much better than this!

PAR 3 AT MANELE BAY

ISLAND AIR GETS YOU TO LANAI QUICKLY AND COMFORTABLY

MORNING ON MANELE BAY

THE CHALLENGE AT MANELE BAY IS BEAUTIFUL

EACH HOLE BRINGS SPECTACULAR NEW VIEWS

LARGE BEAUTIFUL GREEN ON THE EDGE OF LANAI

COASTLINE VIEW OF LANAI FROM GREEN

PRETTY NICE DAY IN FEBRUARY ON THE ISLAND OF LANAI

MANELE BAY IS AWESOME!

17TH HOLE AT MANELE BAY - MUST CLEAR THE WATER TO FAIRWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE

NOT A BAD PLACE TO SPEND A FEW HOURS

MANELE BAY CLUBHOUSE AS YOU COME OFF THE 18TH HOLE

SAME DAY WE DROVE TO LODGE AT KOELE AND PLAYED THE EXPERIENCE AT KOELE.
THE COURSE AND SURROUNDINGS ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN MANELE BAY

TEE OFF FROM HERE TO FAIRWAY BELOW - ONE OF HAWAII'S GREATEST GOLF HOLES

KOELE IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN MANELE BAY - YOU GOTTA PLAY BOTH COURSES!

FROM THE OCEAN VIEWS AND CLIFFS AT MANELE TO THE BEAUTIFUL WOODS AT KOELE

KOELE IS LIKE BEING ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISLAND

KOELE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE COURSES IN HAWAII

AMAZING VIEWS, WILDLIFE AND WATER

DOES NOT GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS ON LANAI

LOVE THE TREES AND WATER AT KOELE

9TH HOLE ISLAND GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL AND FUN

FINISH YOUR ROUND AND HEAD OVER TO THE LODGE AT KOELE FOR COCKTAILS OR DINNER