So, last summer I was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the ripe old age of 37. Due to the uncertainty of the progression of the disease my family's(my wife and I) priorities shifted some. We decided we wanted to make some memories together. So she decided to pick up the game of golf(I quit asking after 3 years) so we could make those memories down that road! *(Disclaimer I'm in a good place surrounded by good people in regards to the Parkinson's. I make light of it and make shake/tremor jokes on myself more than any of my "friends" 
)
So in early January we began discussing our trip this summer and it began with "go to Florida again or maybe California?" It soon escalated to Hawaii and then let's make it next year to Hawaii so we can make it worth it. Come mid-February I became super busy with work(teaching/coaching) and the vacation trip talk had died down. Late March I came home from practice and woke the PC up as my wife was walking up behind me and yelled, "Don't loooooook! Close your eyes!" Which I almost did in time. I saw "Your trip has been booked!" I wasn't sure where we were going but she was trying to make it a surprise. She decided not tot tell me where we were going, but her mom spoiled that during Easter break as some of us were having conversation about having a family trip within the next few years.
So in early summer we went out for a birthday lunch and her and my kids surprised me with a folder with the itinerary for our vacation. 13 days in Maui with 6-10 days set aside for golf and let me tell ya, I don't know that I've received another gift that caused me to smile that big my entire life.
I ended up playing 8 rounds of golf(2 with the fam). We started in Wailea and played the Blue Course once, the Gold once and the Emerald twice. The first day was at the Blue and it started off frustrating witht the front desk person(I can go into detail later for anyone interested), and then walked over to the "range" and hit the crappiest range balls I would expect to see at a resort type course. Oh the range was 3 or 4 bays hitting into nets. Now I would never base my course judgement off of the range and glad I didn't because the course was fun, not too difficult and had some pretty good views. Of the Wailea courses it came in 3rd place, which would still fall in front of almost every other course I've ever played(apart from RTJ trail). The best memory made on that course with my wife was watching her make her first legit par on #4, double bogey #5 and follow that up with her first legit birdie on hole #6. (I've been making her putt them out until she'd make 1 and it's a great feeling now to be able to walk up and give her a 3 footer).
Day 2 of golf was on the Gold course. I received a slight discount on this course due to the fact that they had punched the greens 5 days prior. But to be honest the greens were the best greens after 5 days I had ever putted on. I played this course solo and was done within 3 hours(early tee time). I had a difficult time reading the greens on all of the Wailea courses. They'd appear to break gently the opposite way at times. Pace was easy to judge just rarely caught the right line 8+ feet out. The Gold was #2 ranked out of the Wailea courses in my opinion. The highlight was driving pin high par 4 #6(shorty hole) and nearly making eagle from the green side bunker.
The 3rd and 4th rounds of gold were at the Emerald course. There was so much scenery I kinda forgot to take pictures at times because I became so accustomed to it. Good thing I played it twice. It was definitely the best of the 3, hence why I played it twice. Greens were smooth, they put some top dressing on the greens and it was pretty slick. I putted best on this course of the 3 and had a handful of birdies but I'd have to say opening the first round there with a birdie on 1 or birdieing the #1 handicap during the 2nd round were the 1A/1B. I played each time with a few older couples and enjoyed meeting some neat people.I took more pictures than posted of this course but the resolution was pretty crappy.
*Updating below*
)So in early January we began discussing our trip this summer and it began with "go to Florida again or maybe California?" It soon escalated to Hawaii and then let's make it next year to Hawaii so we can make it worth it. Come mid-February I became super busy with work(teaching/coaching) and the vacation trip talk had died down. Late March I came home from practice and woke the PC up as my wife was walking up behind me and yelled, "Don't loooooook! Close your eyes!" Which I almost did in time. I saw "Your trip has been booked!" I wasn't sure where we were going but she was trying to make it a surprise. She decided not tot tell me where we were going, but her mom spoiled that during Easter break as some of us were having conversation about having a family trip within the next few years.
So in early summer we went out for a birthday lunch and her and my kids surprised me with a folder with the itinerary for our vacation. 13 days in Maui with 6-10 days set aside for golf and let me tell ya, I don't know that I've received another gift that caused me to smile that big my entire life.
I ended up playing 8 rounds of golf(2 with the fam). We started in Wailea and played the Blue Course once, the Gold once and the Emerald twice. The first day was at the Blue and it started off frustrating witht the front desk person(I can go into detail later for anyone interested), and then walked over to the "range" and hit the crappiest range balls I would expect to see at a resort type course. Oh the range was 3 or 4 bays hitting into nets. Now I would never base my course judgement off of the range and glad I didn't because the course was fun, not too difficult and had some pretty good views. Of the Wailea courses it came in 3rd place, which would still fall in front of almost every other course I've ever played(apart from RTJ trail). The best memory made on that course with my wife was watching her make her first legit par on #4, double bogey #5 and follow that up with her first legit birdie on hole #6. (I've been making her putt them out until she'd make 1 and it's a great feeling now to be able to walk up and give her a 3 footer).
Day 2 of golf was on the Gold course. I received a slight discount on this course due to the fact that they had punched the greens 5 days prior. But to be honest the greens were the best greens after 5 days I had ever putted on. I played this course solo and was done within 3 hours(early tee time). I had a difficult time reading the greens on all of the Wailea courses. They'd appear to break gently the opposite way at times. Pace was easy to judge just rarely caught the right line 8+ feet out. The Gold was #2 ranked out of the Wailea courses in my opinion. The highlight was driving pin high par 4 #6(shorty hole) and nearly making eagle from the green side bunker.
The 3rd and 4th rounds of gold were at the Emerald course. There was so much scenery I kinda forgot to take pictures at times because I became so accustomed to it. Good thing I played it twice. It was definitely the best of the 3, hence why I played it twice. Greens were smooth, they put some top dressing on the greens and it was pretty slick. I putted best on this course of the 3 and had a handful of birdies but I'd have to say opening the first round there with a birdie on 1 or birdieing the #1 handicap during the 2nd round were the 1A/1B. I played each time with a few older couples and enjoyed meeting some neat people.I took more pictures than posted of this course but the resolution was pretty crappy.
*Updating below*
