Technological innovations are making golfing in Hawaii more accessible than ever, and course directors are continuing to eye the next big innovation that will spark the interest of the next generation of golfers.
Many top courses are adding amenities, including GPS in their golf carts, state-of-the-art swing analysis technology and golf boards, the latest way to skip walking the course with a 30-pound golf bag.
On the Big Island, the Kona coast boasts a number of top-flight courses all within a short driving distance of each other, including the Mauna Kea, Hapuna Prince, Mauna Lani and Waikoloa golf courses.
"There are six great courses in a 15-mile stretch," said Josh Silliman, director of golf for the Mauna Kea and Hapuna Prince courses.
"We also probably get some of the best weather in this area; it's one of the most arid in the state with an average of five to six inches [of rain] each year," he added. "So the chances of having a beautiful day are very good."
Silliman was an early adopter of golf boards, a mix of a Segway and a scooter that golfers can ride (with a rack for the golf bag) instead of a golf cart.
The Mauna Kea and Hapuna Prince courses also recently added GPS to their golf carts for tracking distances and helping golfers select their club and approach.
The golf school is using TrackMan, an instrument that measures everything about a golfer's swing and shot, including distance, attack angle and spin, to help with instruction and find the kinks in each golfer's stroke.
Golf on Kauai
In addition to life on the course more enjoyable, technology is also helping make the booking process easier on Kauai.
A new website dedicated to golf vacations on the island, GoGolfKauai.com, will make it easier for travelers and travel agents to find the best deals, packages and courses for their needs. In May, the site launched with a partnership to offer bookings and package vacation deals with five of the Garden Isle's well-known courses.
All of the details have not been worked out, but spokesman Dan Shepherd said the site wants to work with travel agents and tour operators and will be offering commissions.
Travelers booking their trip with a focus on the links or visitors who simply want the experience of playing nine holes on the same course where PGA Tour members have swung their clubs can book lodging and tee times and get recommendations for activities like sunset golf tours via the site.
The courses available through the service range in price and level of difficulty, including the Ocean Course at Hokuala, renovated in 2016; the challenging Princeville Makai at the St. Regis Princeville Resort; Poipu Bay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, which hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006; the accessible and well-regarded Wailua Municipal Golf Course; and the player-friendly Puakea Golf Course.
Shepherd and GoGolfKauai.com have plans to add partners and features as they move forward. On Kauai, too, many of the course directors are adding amenities to keep the next generation of golfers interested.
"The golf boards are certainly spreading to more courses, and in general golf carts come with more features like USB ports for charging your phone and staying connected to social media," Shepherd said.
"The golf industry on Kauai is getting more savvy about the millennial generation. ... A good chunk of millennials with discretionary income are embracing golf, and they do like to have their tech with them. They want to play their own music on the carts."
New at Kapalua
Not to be left out, the Kapalua Plantation Course on Maui, which is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in Hawaii, purchased the TrackMan technology for its golf academy in 2016 and also features GPS-equipped golf carts.
The course is the host of the PGA's season-opening Tournament of Champions and has been the site of some of the longest recorded drives on the professional tour.
Amateur golfers can attempt to set their own longest-drive record on the course's downhill 18th hole, where a generous roll can add 100 to 150 yards to a tee shot, according to the course's head professional, Stephen Arendt.
"There are ocean views along all 18 holes all the way around," Arendt said. "In season, you can see whales swimming by. You never lose sight of the water, and overall there is 800 feet of elevation change. The terrain is pretty unusual and amazing."
While the Bay and Plantation courses at Kapalua Resort do not offer golf boards because of some concerns about steep drops and road crossings, they are introducing programs to bring in more young golfers. Both courses offer free play for children with a paying adult after 2:30 p.m.
Back at the Mauna Kea on the Big Island, the changes keep coming with an eye on maintaining a fresh feel while accommodating the baby boomers who will be using the links for years to come and as well as millennials. Golfers can now order food from their carts and have it ready to be picked up at the clubhouse when they swing by, and a renovation of the Mauna Kea clubhouse is scheduled to begin soon, Silliman said.
"The baby boomers will continue to play more as they retire," he said. "But for the game to be successful in the future we will have to focus more on the needs and interests of millennials as we move along. One thing we are talking about is relaxing the dress code slightly."