Maui B. & Maui T. Back Again: Day 11 & Day 14: PGA Tournament of Champions

Day 11: Round One

We have looked forward to this day for 10 months! After visiting Maui last
March we knew we wanted to come back as soon as possible;
We decided we wanted to come back for the PGA Tournament of Champions
which is held on Maui at Kapalua Plantation Course and is the first
tournament of the year. Today is round one, we bought our tickets right away when they became available and had been on the edge of our seats waiting.

Over my cup of tea this morning I saw something a little different over by Molokai, it was a boat but I could not see it very well and got my binoculars. Turned out to be a huge cruise ship, I was thinking they were getting a beautiful sunrise and a beautiful view as they went through the channel between
Malakai, Lanai & Maui. I am not one to want to go on cruises but
still really enjoyed seeing it that day.

By Molokai

By Lanai

We were pretty much focused on getting on our way to Kapalua, we really didn't waste any time getting ready to go. We bought Clubhouse Weekly Passes that allowed us access to the clubhouse and restaurant as well as allowing us to park at the course; we were so glad we did not need to go to Kaanapali
and catch the shuttle. It was also great at the end of the day to be on
our way and not have to wait for the bus.

We had to have our picture taken to share with friends & family who would

be watching for us on T.V.

Our Property Manager at Kulakane, Debbie, was more than happy to help out.

We have been to Kapalua before to The Plantation Course but pulling in today with all the pomp & circumstance was so much different. It is our first PGA event and we are both feeling pretty giddy... a little emotional, really.

You are not allowed to take pictures during the tournament so I had just clicked these couple on our way in.

When we got to our parking lot there was a van waiting to shuttle us to the clubhouse; they really treated us well, we felt very welcomed by all the staff as well as the volunteers. B. said if he lived there he would volunteer to work at the tournament. It is really just a nice atmosphere all around.

We were a little hungry and a little early so we had breakfast in the clubhouse while we were waiting for play to begin.
They were very happy to fix my breakfast with a few special requests.
It was very good!

We had an amazing seat with an amazing view!

We watched some players on the putting green after breakfast, seeing the players we love to watch on TV every week in person was really pretty cool. We shopped a bit in the merchandise tents but decided to wait to buy anything, I signed up to win a hat from a radio group and was pretty much planning on winning because I really liked the hat and since I had just won a whale watch
I was feeling pretty lucky.

We walked back up by the clubhouse and watched a few groups tee off.

We then decided to go down to the first green and watch everyone come through and then we would follow Zach Johnson, he was the defending champion from this tournament last year and also an Iowa boy.

Have I mentioned we originally hale from Iowa?

We really loved watching all the groups come through and then followed Zach Johnson on the entire front 9... WOW! What a workout!!!!

You pretty much walk straight up hill, on one hole by the time we got to the green they were going off and heading to the next tee already.

It was fun, but we knew we would not follow another 9 holes.

We headed to the 18th green and watched everyone come in.

It was a great day, sorry no pictures but I do have a few I snapped here at home... we had recorded the tournament and took some pics of the TV where we found ourselves watching... :)

This first one was actually sent to me by a friend who saw it while she was at home watching, we loved that they had seen us!

This is us watching Zach Johnson on the first green... see us??

When golf was over we headed "home", it was a long day.

B. made me more of the Mahi Mahi and sweet potatoes for dinner

and we enjoyed yet another beautiful sunset!

Skipping ahead a few days...

Day 14: Final Round

We had tickets for all four days but opted to only go the first and last day because we did not want to miss any more Maui than we had to.

The first day was hard... I missed the ocean all day...

I could see it, but I could not touch it...

My morning started today with FINALLY getting a picture of this Japanese White-eye (labelled him just for you, AGU).

B. kept seeing these little guys in the Plumeria trees in front of the condos but they moved so fast when he would try and show me they were always gone. He is actually the one who got out the Hawaiian Birds book and found them.

We were ready to go early again and asked Debbie for another photo to share with friends and family watching at home; most were at work though as it was a Monday... but NOT US!!! Boy does it feel good when you have been on Maui so long that it doesn't matter one bit what day of the week it is.

B. in the Clubhouse.

Views from inside the clubhouse.

Well... as I had predicted... I WON THE HAT I WANTED!!!!!

I know, I know... it is only a hat, but it is MINE and I WON it, on Maui, none the less, so I will treasure it! (I get a little over excited about simple things...)

After we checked out the merchandise tent and bought plenty of goodies we headed right to the first green, we wanted to watch all the groupings from here today and then had plans to watch the rest from the grand stands at 18.

We enjoyed every minute, hard to describe how we were feeling,it was something we waited to do for a long time and wewere really just soaking it in.

After the final group came through we wanted to go to the clubhouse to have some lunch. As we were walking up the steps to the clubhouse I heard

a man say "hey, it's our friends from the beach"... what?

Well the day before we were at Black Rock and a nice guy offered to take our picture, we chatted a bit afterwards, enough to know they were from Calgary.

Well, here they were again, small island. When we all got to the restaurant they said there was a wait for tables for two but tables for four were available.

I asked if they would like to join us and we really had a great time visiting with them; I love meeting people here!

We said our goodbyes after lunch and were off to the 18th to watch the remainder of the tournament.

It was really thrilling at the end, very close and anyone's game for a while; the kind of golf we both really love to watch... edge of your seat!

Finally at the end of the tournament we got a selfie!

We had to wait to take out a camera, even though we saw plenty of folks sneak theirs out over the two days we were there.

Here are some shots after the tournament, Patrick Reed had come from behind and won in a playoff with Jimmy Walker. They are both from Texas so either way at the end of the day Texans were going to have bragging rights.

In the shot just above the woman and the baby are Patrick Reed's wife and daughter, I always love when their family is there for them when they win!