Waialae Country Club, Hawaii

The Waialae Country club recently played host to the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Hawaii, with golf fans being treated to a feast for the eyes – beautiful manicured greens and lush fairways set against an ocean backdrop await players at the championship golf course, which is the jewel of Oahu.

The golf course at Waialae was first established in 1927, and was designed by Seth Raynor. The current layout is the result of a redesign in 1992 by well-known course designer Desmond Muirhead. At first glance, the championship course stands out for the lushness of its fairways, which are flanked by palm trees heavy with coconuts and monkey pods. The fairways are forgiving to amateurs and challenging to professionals, as the ability to make par on the course is not as easy as it appears.

Though the course length at Waialae measures over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, the length from the members' tees is under 6,500. With left and right doglegs abounding, the course challenges both high and low handicap players and offers an exciting and scenic round of golf to players of all skill levels.

The course includes four par 5 holes which challenge the long hitter, as well as a number of tricky par 3 holes which call for great accuracy off the tee and on the green. The highlight of Waialae is the par 3 eighth hole which is flanked by the Pacific Ocean along its entire length, offering a cooling breeze and often challenging winds to prospective players.

The beauty of Waialae Country Club is only exceeded by its exclusivity – the Sony Open aside, the course is seldom open to non-members, but members are permitted to invite their often envious guests for a round of golf at this magnificent and enjoyable island course.

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