Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1492979
us with spectacular ocean views, excellent facilities and friendly service. The day was pleasant with sunny skies and the gentle ocean breezes were refreshing. Built in 1966, this William Bell-designed course maintains its quaint charm by incorporating natural settings along the Pacific Ocean. Home of LPGA Takefuji Classic in 2000 and 2001, this 18-hole championship course offers wide, lush fairways, Bermuda grass greens and numerous sand bunkers. The only natural obstacles are the turquoise blue water and lava rocks. The undulating greens were extremely tough to read Afterwards, we changed into our bathing suits and headed to the hotel pool and private beach area… With daylight-saving time, Hawaii is five hours ahead of central time. We picked up our rental car and drove to the Marriott's King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel which was a short drive from the airport and in the perfect location in downtown Kailua-Kona area and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. We checked into the hotel after changing rooms to get a room with a bathtub and a quieter location. We put away our clothes and walked across the street to Big Kahuna's – a remarkable local restaurant and bar where we enjoyed happy hour drinks, appetizers and dinner. We had a fish platter and Mahi Mahi fish and chips. The jetlag kicked in and we headed back to the room and fell asleep after a very long day! After a restful night, waking up on our first full day in paradise, we walked down the street to a incredible island breakfast at the Fish Hopper. Afterwards, we walked to the Farmers Market and checked out St. Michael the Archangel's Catholic Church for Ash Wednesday's service. Afterwards, we changed into our bathing suits and headed to the hotel pool and private beach area with water sport rentals, snorkeling and the view of King Kamehameha's lookout hut. Dinner that night was at the Paradise Brewery. We had a marvelous coconut shrimp appetizer, Thai salad with fresh local greens, and a veggie pizza with cauliflower crust. Kona Country Club—A Popular Spot For Visitors & Residents On our second day in Kona, we met Jamie of Jimmy's Kona Golf Rentals at the front of the hotel with our sets of PING 425 golf clubs that we rented for the week. Great clubs with top name brands that we rented for $99 – and Jamie drops them off and picks them up at your location anywhere on the island. We headed south for about a 20-minute drive to the beautiful Kona Country Club for our first round of golf. Situated in the scenic Keauhou Bay area, just 6 miles away from downtown Kona, Kona Country Club greeted 46 GOLF NOW! Chicago