Recently I played Luana Hills Golf course Auloa Rd, Kailua, HI. It is located off the Kalanianaole Highway about 30 minutes out of Honolulu. I believe the back nine is one of the most breathtaking golf courses in all of Hawaii if not the world. But don’t let the beauty fool you because it is very tricky. A lot of the holes are short but you better lay up or bring a lot of balls because it will get ugly. You have to see it to believe it. I paid 85.00 with a coupon that I got on line. What is your most beautiful course?

That's definitely an intriguing title. My mind starting wondering if it was ugly because of volcanic activity. I have always wanted to go to Hawaii and to be able to play there would be icing on the cake. Is the golf course on a resort that you can actually stay at? If I go, I would like to spend at least a week. It would be wonderful way to spend a vacation.

I have been to Hawaii a lot over the last four years my daughter just graduated from Chaminade University.” Very proud.” So I have been playing all the courses I can. I found Luana Hills to be the most beautiful. It is a Perry O. Dye course and he and his family have a reputation for building ecological courses carved into extraordinary places. What makes this one so special is it is one of the hardest courses to play at any price. Yet it is affordable. It is not a resort and is located half way between Honolulu and North Shore so not a tourist place. If I have only stayed near the college on Waikiki beach so do not know much about accommodations in that area. You need a car or cab to get there as they do not allow clubs on the bus system.

I played Koo Lau there and it was TOUGH but had some nice views.

Two of the most difficult courses in the US (according to one of the golf magazine toughest courses you can play lists) are in my neck of the woods and I like to play them a few times a year: Tobacco Road and Tot Hill Farm. TRoad is built from an old sand quarry so there are NO bunkers on the course, only enormous waste areas which you can ground your clubs in. Tot Hill has tremendous elevation changes and is very beautiful.

I looked them up and they do look tough. I do not remember who rated the Luana Hills course but I read it was one of the toughest. It is one of those courses that is not that long but unless you have good ball flight control you are not going to hit the par fours in regulation. There are a lot of blind shots, Doglegs and greens protected with water, traps and trees. One of the par fours has a pariscope to check the fairway below and then you have to sound a horn before hitting. I have not been to NC yet but I plan to. My son and I did a 30 day golf trip from DC to Boston. Now that was a vacation. We want to do the Trent Jones courses next time. The course in Durham was on my sons list. Have you played there?

Congratulations Tony on your daughter's graduation. That is a very big accomplishment. She probably couldn't have picked a more beautiful location to go to college. I can't think of a better location to go outside and study. I love being in the outdoors and Hawaii is at the top of my list, for places I want to go.

So, I take it after reading this thread; that the Luana Hills Golf course is not for the newbie to golf? I guess that I will have to wait until I have been in the game for awhile, to give a try. Oh well, maybe if I get a chance to go to Hawaii; I can go watch the pros. Maybe one of you guys will be there, showing the rest of us how it is done.

Birdie, you may want to wait a little before you tackle one of the courses on the list. But also make sure you choose the correct tee box. I wish more courses would ditch the whole blue/white/red concept and just post the handicap rating for the tee box. Some are starting to do that, and say if you are a 0-6 handicap, play the back tee, 7-14 play the middle, etc. That way people wouldn't get hung up on "I gotta play the blues man...."

Here's the list I saw ( http://www.golfdigest.com/rankings/courses/toughest/2007/americastoughest_0703 ) . I've played #3, #7, and #10, #32,#37 .

Pro, which Durham course? I've only played a few down that way, and have not played the Duke University course yet but hope too soon.

Thanks Birdie,
Yea I am very proud of her. She is at UC Davis doing an internship this summer. So she will only be an hour away from me. She has earned a full ride to Brown University in Rhode Island and will be studying neurosurgery (pediatrics). I can not express the amount of joy that gives me.

I would agree with you about waiting to tackle such a difficult course. I found that when I was learning to golf I learned more and enjoyed the process more by playing executive courses where the majority of the holes were a par three. It allows you to focus on hitting just a few of the clubs in your bag in the beginning and allows you to be successful. For me that was an important part of learning to love the sport. Executive courses are 9 hole courses with a lower degree of difficulty and they cost less than a full round. Try working on one aspect of your game and then play like you practice.

srushing....
You obviously have an appetite for some "tough" courses...
# of yours are Mike Stranz designs...
You can play 2 more between Richmond, Va and Williamsburg, Va
Royal New Kent #16 on your attached list and Stonehouse both were listed in the top 100 in the past...Royal New Kent, as I said, is still # 16 on your list...You would love them both...

srushing,

I was lucky enough to be invited to pay a private course in San Francisco yesterday. I grew up in the City but did not know it existed until yesterday. I don't know if it is on your list but it is the toughest track I have played. The design uses the natural contour of the hills to create dog legs that often leave you blind to what lies ahead. It was not a long course but very challenging. If it is not in the top 100 is should be. I am not real familiar with Tillinghast courses but one of the guys we played with told me he is big on the east coast.

Self, yes "I like Mike..." His courses are unique but fun...so when I'm up that way I'll take a look at it.

ProV, blind shots = very challenging especially the first time. That's like Tot Hill. Once you know the course you could score much better, but that first few times, augghhh!
Scott.

tony, I'm curious, what was the course in San Fran? My teacher was head pro at Burlingame long ago.

My congrats, too, for your daughter. Very cool. I visited Hawaii once, and my thought was, "How could anyone ever have career ambitions, in a place as beautiful as this, when every minute the outside would be calling?"

Laney,
I'm originally from Hawaii (Honolulu). Leaving Hawaii was one of the most difficult decision I have ever made in my life. I never wanted to leave. But, reality kicked in, and the job market was outside of the state. Even now, jobs are scarce throughout the state, with 100 applicants per job opening. My hopes are to move back to Hawaii to have my parents help raise our newborn, but that hope is no where in sight.

Doc, keep your dream, and I'm adding my mental support. It's a true paradise. Maybe a switch to the resort business?

Tony, this advice looks like something that I should listen to but can you explain how to find an executive course? In my case, it makes perfect sense to be able to start with fewer clubs.

Ballchaser, if you search for golf clubs in your neck of the woods...if the par is 54 you'll know you've found one! also the total yards for the course would likely be under 4,000
Try googling "executive golf course (your state)"

Ballchaser I tried to google executive golf course and that is a good way to do it just add the city to your search. Some of the exec's are 9 and some are 18 holes but they all have more par 3's than par 4's and usually do not have any par 5's. Good luck.

The course is the San Francisco Golf Club. It is near Brotherhood way and Junipro Sera Blvd. The day I played it there was some fog and it made the course look like a picture out of a magazine. It is a real old course with a lot of character.

Thanks, Tony. I'll remember the name, just in case I ever get lucky...

Well Laney you would have to get lucky and be near San Francisco and know someone that is a member at that course. I don't know if you every really do get out this way but if you did and wanted to play a nice course I would be glad to help you out.

T

Those of you that have been to Hawaii to play are very fortunate. I've yet to make it there myself and I envy you. With the economy the way it is right now there's a lot of great deals for Hawaii travel but I don't think it's going to happen for me this year.