Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/80982
GOLF IN HAWAII Putting A Different Sort Of Game On The Hawaiian Islands If you're putting away from the island, you're looking at a slower putt because you're going back into the grain. "But you have to know your slope before you can factor in the grain," cautions Havens. Confused? Yeah, so were we so we kept working on this puzzle which can be unbelievably frustrating for the uninitiated. Isles, be assured the hole is exactly the same size as they are anywhere on the mainland – exactly 4.25 inches in diameter. It only feels smaller, much smaller, for a couple of reasons. David Havens, the PGA teaching pro at the Ka'anapali Royal and Kai golf courses said that grain and slope on many putting surfaces across Hawaii and in particular at his two courses on Maui, have a dramatic effect on putts. But, he advised, if a player takes the time and studies things carefully, they'll be fine in the long run. Easy to say, Mr. Havens. Tough to do. "So many people put too much emphasis on grain and they forget about the big picture," the pro began in breaking down this puzzle for a guy who had just 3-jacked for what seemed like the 15th time over half that number of holes. "You have to realize grain is going to affect the putt but not as much as slope. Grain is a product of slope you forget about if you're going uphill or downhill. Grain is going to help the ball move faster." An easy way to read the grain, and the direction it runs, it has been said is by finding the isle of Lanai because it's to the west and that's the direction the grass lays down making for a speedier putt. A quick way to solve this dilemma with the short stick, the pro went on to explain, is to practice short putts before you start your round so you make them all on the course when you're faced with them. "Work within five feet, one foot, two feet and so on and become great at that distance because what will happen is when you get to 20 feet, now you can become more aggressive," Havens explained about getting close with a lag putt and then making the most of what's left after that. "The grain around the hole inside five feet is where it's important. When you're 30 feet away, the grain matters but the slope is more important so my advice would be to spend more time practicing within five feet, getting a read on what that looks like." Another major problem for some mainlanders here is the rough – grass that seems to have been grown in Hell and was then transplanted here in Heaven. This tangled web makes things just a little nastier on golf courses. "Our rough here is penalizing, especially on our Championship course (the Royal)," said Havens. "The difficulty lies within 50 yards of the green. The grass is a common Bermuda found here on Maui and we let it grow to a certain length and it grows to a certain side then stands up taller. That grass is wiry, it's kind of like a cowlick. It's difficult to deal with." To get the ball out of that bird's nest of grass, make your swing shallower, Havens advises. "The grass is really strong and will cause a digging effect when you try to hit down through it hard. Sweep through it. Take the club more outside to where you can slide underneath it." The only real way to master these elements of the game, which are so different in Maui than in Alberta and elsewhere, is to practice them, Havens ended. By doing that, you can solve one, or both of the major dilemmas that mainland golfers face when they tee it up in Maui. About the writer: Gord Montgomery is the sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He has written for Inside Golf for the past four years with the majority of his coverage in north and central Alberta. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. KAUAI GOLF REPORT Ka'anapali Golf Courses May Offer Up Some Outstanding Scenery But That Doesn't Make Getting The Ball In the Hole Any Easier. The Holes At The Royal And Kai 2012 HAWAII UPDATE