Finding it hard to get in some golf on your golf vacations? Kaanapali Golf Resort has an idea.
So, you think seven hours is a long time to play 18 holes of golf? Try seven days.
As reported in the just-released November 2009 issue of Golf Odyssey, a famous golf resort has introduced a new program called “Golf on Your Time” to address the common problem of relatively long golf rounds conflicting with other activities when on couples or family vacations.
After paying your green fee, you have the option of completing your round at your convenience – you can leave and return as many times as you like within seven days.
I’ve heard some wacky ideas in my 15 years writing about golf, but this one just might take the cake.
Here are more details on how it works, the big-market resort that’s offering it, and if you’re likely to find it on your next golf vacation.
“Golf on Your Time” is being offered at Maui, Hawaii’s Kaanapali Golf Resort and its two 18-hole courses, Royal Kaanapali and Kaanapali Kai.
By way of example, the program allows you to play a few holes early in the morning, then, say, meet your family for breakfast, go to the beach, take a day trip, or attend a tennis clinic.
Then, when you have some free time in the afternoon or the next day, you can come back and finish your round or simply play a few more holes. In fact, you can come back as many times as you like in seven days to complete your round.
The editors of Golf Odyssey say:
“It’s an intriguing concept, but one that obviously won’t work on a crowded course. It could also be very awkward to get back out to the right spot on the course, and for that reason, Kaanapali tells golfers that if they can’t be re-inserted on the holes they have yet to play, they must begin again on the 1st hole. We’re curious to see how the policy works in practice.”
What do you think? Will it work and is it something you’d like to see at other golf vacation destinations? Share your comments below.
Did you know? Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey are the world’s only golf publications that conduct “secret shopper” site inspections and do not accept advertising from golf courses, resorts or restaurants in order to provide you with expert, unbiased, and trusted advice.
Not already a subscriber to Golf Vacation Insider? Use this link to stay in the loop with our free tips and expert advice on which golf courses, golf resorts, discount golf vacations, and golf vacation packages are truly worth your time and money. As a bonus, we will send you a free copy of Planning the Ultimate Golf Vacation, a 40-page book filled with some of the best golf travel secrets from the editors of Golf Odyssey.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Stupid Idea !!!
What real golfer would want to do that……..
I can’t see anyone taking advantage of this terrible idea. There’s a flow to a round of golf, getting accustomed to course conditions, speed of greens, wind, etc. Most of us have a warm-up routine but do we go through it for 3 holes of golf? Mainly, the biggest issue would have to be slipping people in between golfers who are trying to complete an actual round of golf- they’re going to have a lot of annoyed and angry golfers on this course. Stupid idea,
While I like the concept and Kaanapali’s courage to introduce it, it seems like it would be a logistical nightmare. If a golf course happens to be empty enough to make this work, you’d think pace of play would be a non-issue and people could zip around.
Interesting but can’t see how it would work in practice. I do think a refinement to perhaps 9 holes one day and 9 holes another day might work better in practice and would still seem to be very desireable. Not sure i want to play 4 holes one day, etc. Would seem to turn the place into a pitch and putt rather than a resort. May not do well for the reputation of the place either. However, 9 and 9 might serve all masters a little better.
FINALLY, an idea that meets head-on one of the major problems with golf — the fact that in today’s fast-paced world, playing a full 18 holes of golf simply takes too damned long. The golf industry has basically ignored this problem, and one of the results is that the number of new golfers never increases, and the number of golfers who leave the game every year remains alarmingly high.
This “Golf On Your Time” idea clearly could stand some fine-tuning, but experience with the concept no doubt will result in ways to deliver this idea more smoothly and efficiently. Traditionalists will hate this, but it still is a damned good idea. Now, maybe some other geniuses will take on the task of making 9 holes of golf more popular, and tackle the P.R. problems of making driving ranges, executive courses, par 3 courses and pitch-and-putt courses more acceptable to the golf industry. These alternative venues appeal greatly to individuals and families who today simply don’t have the time (or want to spend the money) fo play 18 holes of golf — but these facilities are bad-mouthed or laughed at by Traditionalists. Wait a few years, and let’s see who has the last laugh.
Can’t argue with a single point you made, Jerry, although is the real issue that golf “takes too damned long,” or that we’ve created a modern lifestyle that is too damned hectic?
About 26 years ago, at this time of the year, or around thanksgiving we went to the Mauna kea on the golf package. every day, we would get up and have coffe and pastreis and then hit the links at about 7 a.m. We would play nine holes and then stop for breakfast, which was part of the package. After breakfast, we would return to golf and either finish the back nione or play 18, finishing around 12:30 or 1 p.m., leaving plenty of time in the rest of the day to do whatever.
Man, that sounds like a great way to spend a day, William. Now, if I could only get the wife to sleep until 12:30….
FASCINATING IDEA ABOUT GOLF AT KANAPALI. THIS IS A NEW IDEA FOR ME.
KH
You have mentioned “your round” several times in this article meaning one. So if you want to play two or more rounds, does it cost a multiple of that or is this basically a 7-day play how much you want ticket? Great idea though.
Hi Steve, I believe you’d have to pay more for additional rounds. They give you the 7-day window to complete one, 18-hole round.
Absolutely ridiculous idea. No real golfer would play three holes one day and four holes the next and so on. If your that worried about the amount of time it takes to play a round of golf then go play mini putt-putt at your local mall. Not to mention the nightmare it would be to re-insert players on to the course after such an absence.
Agreed that this would be a tough nut to crack logistically, but some comments here show that “real golfers” like the idea. We’d lose a lot golf courses if all time crunched golfers switched to mini golf.
I have had many experiences where I could not get all 18 holes in, whether it was due to another appointment that forced me to quit early, or weather or darkness cutting me short. To be able to go back and get all the holes in sounds like a great idea to me. And being able to occasionally split up a round intentionally to work around my schedule also sounds appealing, especially if I have flexibility in when I can complete the round. Being able to go out and play 6 holes of golf on three different days, for example, really appeals to me. I don’t always feel like playing 18. Why not? If they can make it work, more power to them.
I feel this concept of playing 9 holes and another 9 at a later time in the week would work very well for women and men. Less use of babysitter time, more use of golf shop merchandise and helping women plan play with other people. This would also speed up golf time. People would be more relaxed knowing they could make the meeting or party with less hassle. Husband’s would make their wives happier not being on the golf course all day, leaving family time. One payment for all this golf would be great too Yes, yes, yes..
When I start a round I want to finish it. This stop and go deal wouldn’t work for me. It’s all about getting in a grove, a rhythm, that makes a round great!