GREAT EATS HAWAII: the experience at koele

Thursday, February 7, 2013

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

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

THE EXPERIENCE AT KOELE

THE EXPERIENCE AT KOELE

THE LODGE AT KOELE

LANAI, HAWAII

FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANAI

THE LODGE AT KOELE

ONE KEOMOKU HIGHWAY

P.O. BOX 641380

LANAI CITY, HAWAII 96763

THE EXPERIENCE AT KOELE

OPEN WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY

HOURS: 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM

808-565-4000

How do I describe what was possibly the best golf day of my life. Well it was AWESOME! Not because I shot a good score but purely based on the natural beauty and surroundings of the course. The Experience at Koele is spectacular. Probably one of the most beautiful courses I have ever played. Playing here is pure heaven especially when there are only a handful of golfers on the course and you can take your time and take in the sights. After each and every hole we just kept saying "beautiful" and thanking the Lord for being here on a perfect Hawaii day. This course begins on a plateau nearly 2000 feet above sea level. On a clear day you can see views of Maui and Molokai across the channel. The signature 17th hole was incredible. You tee off 250 feet above the fairway. There is water on the right and woods on the left. You must hit the ball straight to have a good score here. I launched a perfect drive down the middle and got a par on the 17th. This is something I will never forget. This was the signature hole for my brief golf career that began a year ago. I followed up the par on 17 with a birdie on 18. Not bad for a hacker with 34 handicap. The course plays through ravines wooded with pine, koa and eucalyptus trees and has seven lakes and flowing streams with cascading waterfalls along the entire course. The Experience at Koele is a must for anyone who enjoys a round of golf in a beautiful setting. I LOVE THIS PLACE!