Exotic Locales Offer Up Outstanding Holes
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2024-08-05
By Gord Montgomery, Senior Writer, Inside Golf
Like most Canadians, the warmth of the southern US, Mexico, and the islands of Hawaii call to us in the dead of winter. To that end, it’s always tough to decide where to go and where to tee it up on a winter getaway.
Our friends at C&R PR out of Los Angeles have a few unique holes at some great destinations to whet your appetite for the upcoming winter... Or maybe even a summertime break from the norm.
To begin with, let’s head to a spot close to this writer’s heart, the Hawaiian Islands, where you can tee it up on a track where the Champions Tour makes a regular stop.
The Hualālai Golf Course at Hualālai Resort at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
You’ll find two incomparable, award-winning golf courses that elevate the property to the status of one of the most elite golf resorts in the world. The Hualālai Golf Course is the first Jack Nicklaus Signature design on Hawaii Island and home to the prestigious, annual PGA TOUR Champions tournament Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai. The par-72 layout weaves through the Big Island’s natural lava fields of Ka‘ūpūlehu, taking full advantage of spectacular ocean views and dramatic shoreline vistas.
The par-3 17th hole is known to be short yet difficult. Playing towards the ocean, players are met with a grand view of the Pacific Ocean just beyond the putting green and the challenge—and visual appeal—of being surrounded by well-placed sand bunkers and naturally formed lava rocks.
For those of us who live in western Canada or even on the west coast, a spot in Oregon could be just the break you need to relax in the summer months.
The Tom Fazio Championship Course at Juniper Preserve in Bend, OR, is home to an exclusive, one-of-a-kind course designed by Tom Fazio. The Cascade Mountain range forms the Pacific Ring of Fire, a ring of mountains and volcanoes that horseshoe around the Pacific Ocean.
Juniper Preserve (Photo Courtesy Of C&R PR)
Fazio used the fascinating, petrified landscape to create a dramatic signature golf course. The course blends the challenge of championship golf with the inherent aesthetics of the natural terrain. Ancient lava rocks, stunning water features, and dramatic juniper trees punctuate rolling fairways and sculpted greens. It is also home to one of the most unique holes in the world: a par-3 8th hole that includes a 45-foot canyon and an exposed lava tube, which was discovered during construction.
El Camaleón Golf Course In Mayakoba (Photo Courtesy Of C&R PR)
For those of you taking a longer winter break, maybe heading to the El Camaleón layout in Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, is a great spot to settle down.
A Greg Norman-designed masterpiece, the 18-hole professional golf course captures spectacular views in every direction and blends through the diverse ecosystems of Mayakoba, including tropical jungle, dense mangroves, freshwater canals, and pristine Riviera Maya oceanfront.
When players reach hole 7, they will find a fairway cave nicknamed “the Devil’s Mouth,” a natural cenote highlighting the Riviera Maya’s natural beauty. The Devil’s Mouth encompasses about 600 square feet of fairway, approximately 320-330 yards from the tee box.
Los Caballeros (Photo Courtesy Of C&R PR)
Another great wintertime spot to hang out in the cooler months in Canada is Arizona. While there are an unbelievable amount of courses in this state, the Los Caballeros at Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, AZ, should be a must-play.
Located in the Sonoran Desert, the 16th hole at Los Caballeros encompasses everything that Rancho de los Caballeros is about, from great views of Vulture Mountain to demanding desert terrain. The tee shot is demanding, with desert down the left side and a large pond on the right side in the landing area. The 16th green also is in line with the ranch’s horse run, where the horses go right beside the green as they head out to pasture.
* With files from C&R PR.