Bill Greenleaf joins The Dunes atMaui Lani as Director of

Instruction. Bill, a PGA MasterProfessional and Teacher of theYear in New York, is offering groupand private lessons. Join innovativegroups like mother/daughter,father/son, and husband/wife forfun and learning.

Under Bill’s leadership, studentswill learn fundamentals from awhole swing model. Swingmechanics will make sense as partof the whole. Beyond mechanicswill bridge the gap between successon the practice tee and playing the

game on the course. Real tools tohelp Dunes customers realize theirgolf dreams.

The facility’s are equally impressive. Golfers enjoy daytimeand evening instruction on thefacility’s lit, all-grass range. Thereare also seven target greens, a short-game area, and a privateteaching pavillion.

The College’s private lessonsand half-day schools make learningfun and affordable. Students receivequality instruction, and 18 holes ofgolf, all for one great price. Call BillGreenleaf today!

With Bill Greenleaf, PGA Master Professional

Realize Your GolfDreams at The Dunes

$145Includes golf and

private lesson

($260 for two).

ong before the game of golf was even a

figment of man’s imagination, the Gods were

working their magic on what we call the Valley

Isle; shaping and honing and erupting it from

deep beneath the ocean floor. In time, the island

of Maui as we know it today was to be born.

Maui is known for its unique, majestic, and won-

derful landscape. Maui Lani is just such a place. It

is a master-planned residential community on a

tract of land in the heart of the island. An integral

part of Maui Lani is the golf course. It is called:

The Dunes at Maui Lani.

The Dunes at Maui LaniG O L F

Maui’s Classic Links.

L

“. . . the Gods were working their magic on what we

call the Valley Isle; shaping and honing it from

deep beneath the ocean floor.”

Photo © Douglas Bowser

“. . . for

they are

the reason

The Dunes

is so highly

regarded.”

—Dave Gleason,General Manager

On behalf of all of us here at The Dunes at Maui Lani, I’d liketo take this opportunity to thank the thousands of golfers whohave made our arrival on the Maui golf scene such a success, andto invite those who have not yet played The Dunes to come and tryit—you’ll be in for a treat.

While The Dunes has received a great deal of national attentionsince its debut in 1999, much of the credit for our success belongs toBill Mills, its developer, and the many loyal and hard-workingemployees who we are fortunate enough to have on our staff; forthey are the reason The Dunes at Maui Lani is so highly-regarded.

I think after a visit to The Dunes you will agree. When you gethere, our guest service staff, led by Dean Kawabata, is alwayscheerful and efficient, and their aloha spirit is contagious.

When you enter our new clubhouse, with its comfortable sur-roundings and well-stocked pro shop, you’ll find it very inviting. Ifyou have time, stop in at our lit practice and learning facility,where our professional teaching staff is available to assist.

Then, there is our new restaurant, The Dunes. Headed byChef Dan Saito, you’ll find everything from an exquisite buffet to arelaxing lunch.

I think you will find it is The Dunes at Maui Lani golf courseitself that is what you will remember the most. Its fairways, tees,and greens are immaculately-manicured by a fine staff led byBrian Kaulupali. The course’s conditioning only adds to RobinNelson’s excellent design, which is a tribute to the links courses ofthe British isles.

The following pages will testify to what I have said. I hopethey will convince you to visit us in the near future. I hope to seeyou at The Dunes at Maui Lani very soon.

Aloha,

The Dunes at Maui Lani

he island of Maui has many beautiful golf

courses. Some are world-famous. The Dunes is

quickly becoming such a place.

The excitement over The Dunes began with its construction in1997. The course itself opened on January 15, 1999.

The wait was well worth it becauseit put the young course in the type of condition it needed to be to rival, ifnot top, even Maui’s finest resortcourses—a task it has succeeded inaccomplishing to this very day.

Weeks after play commenced, themedia attention The Dunes receivedexceeded that of any other daily feegolf course in Hawaii’s century-oldgolf history. Representatives fromGolf Digest, Golf Magazine, Travel &Leisure Golf, Golfweek, and a dozenother international and domestic periodical golf publications conjuredup words of praise for the course manysay finds its roots in the British Isles.

“Maui Wowie!,” was how the caption read next to a rare two-pagephoto spread showcasing The Dunesin Travel & Leisure Golf’s November/December issue. “Even among thegreat tracks of Maui,” the internationallycirculated golf publication noted in itsheadline only weeks after the coursehad opened, “this one has alreadyearned its place.”

Course Architecture“I remember when I first saw it,” renowned course architect

Robin Nelson said of the eventual site of The Dunes. “You’re luckyif you get one of these in a lifetime, and I was like a kid at Christmas,rushing from present to present,” The Dunes’s designer mused.“The owner, Bill Mills, probably thought I was over the top. Butwhen I explained that we could build the best course in Hawaii…he

became giddy too.”Nelson, whose designs, refurbishes,

and redesigns include the Mauna LaniNorth and South courses on the BigIsland; Coral Creek, Royal Kunia, EwaBeach International, Bay View, WestLock, and the Mid-Pac and Oahucountry clubs, on Oahu; and Kapalua’sBay course, Wailea’s Blue course, andSandalwood, on Maui, deserves muchof the credit for the allure and mystiqueof The Dunes— much of which comesfrom its playability.

“I play to a 10-handicap. Soalthough I’m usually looking down themiddle of the fairway, my eyes arealways darting to the rough. Thishelps me a lot in designing courses thatare enjoyable for the average golfer.”

Nelson’s clever tee box configurations,deft use of elevation changes, andingenius hole routing maximizes theimpact and usefulness of the Dunes’natural sloping terrain, while usingthe Pacific tradewinds to createholes that have more subtle effectson the player.

[ The west Maui mountains from the first tee. ]

“Weeks after play com-

menced, the media atten-

tion The Dunes received

exceeded that of any other

daily fee golf course in

Hawaii’s century-old golf

history.”

G O L F

T

Rand

y Huffo

rd &

Michael G

ilbert

“All said, the 10th is one of

the toughest par-4s on Maui.”

—Robin Nelson,Course Architect

[ The 474-yard, par-4 10th. ]

G O L FR

andy H

ufford

& M

ichael Gilb

ert

Nelson’s capitalizes on what nature provided, and that’s thekey to The Dunes’ charm. Constructed on sand dunes that haveremained untouched by man ever since Maui was formed over amillion years ago, the bulk of The Dunes’ 18 holes are routedthrough a terrain consisting of huge mounds and slopes—ordunes. These dunes make for a terrain that features naturalelevation changes and contours that have been shaped by thetradewinds over an enormous time span. The result is unspoiledterrain ideally suited for golf which allows for holes to look andplay much like what one finds on the links courses built in theBritish Isles hundreds of years ago.

“It’s not a true links course because we’re in a different climaticzone, and we don’t have theexact same turf conditons,”Nelson explains. “Plus, becauseof the heat and humidity, wedon’t have the fescue grassesand so forth. But in manyrespects, The Dunes is as closeto an authentic links as can bebuilt in Hawaii. It is spread outlike Royal Troon—you go out on#1 and don’t see the clubhouse

until 18. Anyone who has seen Ballybunion, Wild Dunes, orShinnecock Hills will recognize The Dunes.”

The HolesThe 18 holes at The Dunes play to a par of 72, and measure

6,841-yards from the black tees. While this may seem like a tamelength to some, don’t let that fool you; even the longest and thestraightest of players will need to bring their A-games to thiscourse. Nelson’s elaborate array of tee box configurations bringthe radically sloping terrain, dense kiawe forestry, and elaboratepot bunkering into play to give golfers four looks at each holedepending on their skill-levels. The result is a masterpiece consist-ing of holes that can test the moxie of all players: from the good,the bad, and the ugly—to the very ugly.

The course’s opening hole is a perfect example. This 428-yard,par-4 features a slight dogleg that works to the left around anancient dune. Golfers are tempted to cut the corner, but in doingso flirt with an approach over sandy revetted pot bunkers, agreenside grassy pot bunker, and a shallow angle in to the put-ting surface. Golfers who cut the corner perfectly are left with atesty short-iron approach. Those who play it down the middle andare conservative have more club on the approach, yet are offereda clear path to deepest part of the green.

The #2 hole is a short 381-yard, par-4 and is anotherrisk/reward hole. Players who lay up to the left side of the fair-way are left with a longer approach to the slightly elevated greensurrounded by pot bunkers. Those who go long flirt with the rightside of the fairway where deep bunkers and a waste area lurk.Nelson beckons the player to ponder the options, “do I have thisshot in my bag?” The real question is, “do you have that shot inyour bag all day?”

Nelson rewards good course management, prudence, somehumility, and a little patience. Brute strength is not required forgood scoring at The Dunes. Instead, it is all about good decision-making, playing within one’s self and, yes, luck.

The 145-yard, par-3 #3 is a great example of a short hole at TheDunes that requires a lot of finesse and careful planning. Its

“Anyone who has seen

Ballybunion, Wild Dunes, or

Shinnecock Hills will

recognize The Dunes.”

[ Mt. Haleakala from behind the #4 green. ]

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longish green sits at an angle—with the front to the player’s left andthe back to the right—creating a shallow landing area protectedin front by deep pot bunkers, and deep wild grass and bush in theback. Anything long or short is trouble so Nelson gives the player asecond choice: a bail-out to the left-front portion of the green.While the putt from there is often long and a birdie is less likely, thespectre of a double-bogey is also less-likely to occur. Still, whenstanding on the tee with a pitching wedge in hand, it’s hard to aim30 feet away from the pin, but it takes that kind of mental controlto score well on this course.

Nelson’s penchant for the risk/reward design theme, coupledwith his outstanding hole routing and use of elaborate bunkeringin the fairways begins to show its true colors with the 509-yard, par-5 #4 hole.

Standing on the tee practically the only thing one sees with driv-er in hand and hopes of the green in two is a ten-yard wide saddle-like strip of fairway. There it sits awaiting one’s boldest tee shot 220-yards away. And this tiny target gets even smaller when factoring inthe steady right-to-left trades that cast fear. The target gets small-er still as it sits adjacent to a sea of revetted pot bunkers and forestryto its immediate left, and a waste area filled with indigenous alluvialdunes sand and kiawe trees to the right.

Hence, anything long off the tee errant almost assures a player adouble-bogey or worse. Naturally, one can play it safe and lay up.But in doing so it presents the birdie-seeker with a very difficult lay-up shot requiring a lengthy second aimed at a narrow landing areabetween kiawe forestry to the left, and an 80-foot-deep waste areafenced off by kiawe wood posts to the right. For those who try tounload all their fire-power, Nelson has two pot bunkers awaitingthem a couple hundred yards away in the fairway. The bold must bebold accurately!

Credit once again goes to the course designer for offering theless-gifted a chance to play a second shot of more-modest ambitionthat will still put the ball within 160-yards of the putting surface.From there, a reasonable third-shot gives those who take the saferoute a fair chance to make par or better.

The next two holes add a newdimension to the equation: water.The 362-yard, par-4 #5 hole seemslike a birdie opportunity on paperwith its short length, but those who try to tame it with a wood intheir hands often find their length is more of a hindrance than a helpsince the landing area narrows as tee shots get closer to the holewhen a small pond comes into play. One can lay up with an ironalthough it does bring the pond guarding the green’s front intoquestion too. Hence one must choose, with both options offeringrisks and rewards. What makes it so interesting is how Nelson givesthe player choices—ones they can make depending on what theythink they can do at the moment—not what he (the designer)expects. Big difference.

The 198-yard, par-3 #6 shares the same waterspace as #5, butplays in the opposite direction with a left-to-right prevailing trade.Here Nelson offers a bailout area to the right and allows fear tocreep into the hearts of all others by fronting 90% of the green withwater and setting up the tees as far as 200+ yards out. The better(or more daring) the player, the more demanding the shot.

There’s more. The green is very shallow and wide—like an hour-glass set-up perpendicular to the tees. At its narrowest point therelies a deep pot bunker toward the front and a grassy knoll towardthe back. The entire green is backed-up by a grassy hill to create abowl-shaped effect that can help yet often hinders depending onluck. As a result, using lots of club to clear the water means riskinga difficult pitch off a severe slope out of rough facing toward thewater. A birdie on this hole is indeed special.

The 351-yard, par-4 #7 is a short, wide-open hole that offers theplayer a legitimate glimpse at a birdie. It does have bite for theerrant approach or sloppy tee shot, but keeping the ball in the fair-way and converting the approach shot with the right club in hand isshould put the player in position to make a low number. They key isto stay focused as Nelson’s easiest holes still require the player toexecute quality golf shots. Not tough shots, just well-executed andintelligently-crafted.

“a masterpiece

that can test of

moxie of all

players; from

the good, the

bad, and the

ugly—to the

very ugly.”

[ The 362-yard, par-3 #5 hole and Mt. Haleakala in the distance. ]

G O L FR

andy H

ufford

& M

ichael Gilb

ert

The next three holes presentsome of the most challenging testsof course management to the golferThe Dunes offers. They are notoutlandishly long, nor are theyextremely tight. They are just a littleof each, and they are often compli-mented by a headwind that canshake up even the best players.

The 198-yard, par-3 #8 hole is where the fun takes on new dimen-sions. It plays through a kind of chute with narrow tees, a closely-cropped and contoured fairway, and deepish green all framed in bythe kiawe forest. Trees partly encroach the airspace, cramping thestyles of those who draw the ball. Faders who try to carve the ballinto the deep putting surface find it buffeted by trades, obscuredby trees and an altogether narrow target surrounded by deep potbunkers. Add it up and be stoked if you make par.

The front-nine ends with the solid 547-yard, par-5 #9 hole whichrequires three great shots and two super putts to make par. A birdieis outstanding.

The tricky hole begins with a tee shot that plays into a head-wind and features a fairway that narrows with length and is dottedby various trees. (There are only two holes that play into directheadwinds: #9 and #10.) Faders do well off this tee as they can playtheir balls to move away from the forest. A draw, provided it isn’tover-cooked, works too. The key is to play whatever shot you can tokeep the ball under the wind and on the left side of the fairway, asanything right brings trees into play.

The second shot is where forest, pot bunkers, and over-hanging trees converge, which is why a well-placed tee shot is rec-ommended. In order to put the ball in the optimum position to

approach this green, one must not only shape their second shot, butdecide how daring they want to be in doing so. Carry the two potbunkers in the middle of the fairway about 100-yards short of thegreen and a wedge/birdie opportunity is to be had. Lay back andplay it safe and one needs a 7-iron or more. Either way, the player’sgot options. The #9 hole also has a deep undulating green that isreplete with all kinds of interesting swells created by the dunes.

The Dunes at Maui Lani is a lot different from the typical resort orpublic golf course because the designer’s intent was that playersfocus is on the entire round of golf from start to finish. Players head

out and come in. There are norestaurant stops, pay phones, or vis-its to the locker room to be had untilthe game is finished.

The ride between the #9 greenand #10 tee winds by the entrance toMaui Lani’s gated residential com-munity, The Island. In fact, golferspass directly in front of The Island’sdigital-access gates before tunnelingbeneath a huge sand dune to theother side where #10 awaits. Want ahomesite? They’re for sale!

From the tips the 474-yard, par-4#10 hole is arguably one of the most difficult golf holes on all ofMaui to par let alone birdie. The tee shot is blind and can play intoa snarling headwind. The fairway curves right, left, and then rightagain while dropping 80 feet in elevation. Golfers ahead in the samefairway must ring a bell when the coast is clear; a stripped direc-tional pole is positioned in the fairway to show the best line.

That brings up an important point. The Dunes is among the fewcourses on Maui who provide players with diagramed “caddie jour-nals” showing the lay-of-the-land on each hole (so you won’t needthis article when you’re out on the course). It provides playing tipsand yardages and is very helpful.

On #10 such local knowledge is especially handy as you’ll want tovisualize your tee shot before you even hit it. With trouble left andright, and the fairway sporting three tiers, most good tee shotsdown the middle are left with an approach of about 200 yards.

But a good tee shot on this hole is not enough. Golfers mustjudge their approaches well when playing into its deep andnarrow kidney-shaped green which is protected by deep bunkersand a prominent ridge that divides its front and back portions. Oneneeds to hit the ball into the wind with a mid-to-long-iron accurate-ly ans must also land their approach on the correct half of the greenif they want to have a good run at birdie. All said, #10 is a challengethat golfers consider one of the toughest par-4s on Maui.

“...with its narrow

tees, closely-cropped

fairway, and sly green

all framed in by the

kiawe forest.”

[ A kiawe forest lines the 9th fairway. ]

Ro

n Dahlq

uist

The 416-yard, par-4 #11 hole offers those who’ve suffered off thetee on previous holes a short reprieve and some breathing roomwith a wide fairway and little immediate danger. It is a short holethat plays downwind, so even a fairway wood or an iron can beplayed. What does open the player’s eyes is the second shotawaiting them.

Set 60-70 feet above the fairway is the #11’s shallow and undu-lating green. It features two false fronts which wrap around a nastypot bunker all on the edge of a tightly-cropped fairway that looksstraight downhill. Often the pins are placed perilously close to thefront where anything short not only rolls off the green but usuallywinds up 25-80 yards back down the hill in rough—where golfer’srarely succeed in recovering without losing a good number ofstrokes to par.

This makes club selection and the all-important high-soft-fadecritical as going long points back at an awkward and speedy down-hill, down-grain chip toward the “clif” again. This is one shot every-one has flubbed to avoid disaster and it usually brings to mind yetanother long par-saving putt. The short #11th at The Dunes oftenstimulates every emotion a golfer can have: from a steady heartbeat to sheer terror. Those who leave this hole, and the two thatpreceded it, with anything close to par on their card shouldn’t com-plain. These three are like Maui’s version of Amen corner!

Reemerging from the tunnel that separates #10 and #11 from therest of the course one finds the 424-yard, par-4 #12 hole awaiting.There one finds its multi-leveled tee boxes sit poised high upon adune well-above the heart of Kahului’s residential district. One cansee great views of Mt. Haleakala, the north shore, and the centralvalley where activity buzzes all day-long.

Faders of the ball will feel athome on this shortish downhillhole as prevailing trades and theslope of this dog-leg all help towork balls from left-to-right. Bunkering and kiawe guard the rightside of this fairway to deter the cutting-off of the hole’s corner,which is tempting. (Those who succeed in pulling off such a shot doneed lady luck on their side if they hope to cop a good-enough lieto take advantage of the short pitch theyll have to the green.)

However, most mortals and smarter golfers will play this holestraight away as their second shots play straight downhill to a deepgreen. (While it is heavily bunkered, you still feel like you are shoot-ing darts when taking aim at this green. Anything close, and you’llhave a good shot at par or birdie.)

#13 is true birdie hole. This 516-yard, par-5 plays straight down-wind, and while the green is elevated, the hole is still reachable intwo good shots from all tees. Nelson’s clever positioning of bunker-ing, the natural slope of The Dunes that shape the fairway, and theshape of the green are all hole attributes that make the hole funwhile keeping players honest. But, while #13 is a birdie hole, Nelsondoesn’t hand it to you on a silver platter; you’ve got to earn it!

The 340-yard par-4 14th, by its length, should be an easy birdiehole too, but the mounding that hides the front of the green, cou-pled with Nelson’s pot bunkering behind these mounds, makeswhat should be a simple approach one that often leads to troubleand lost shots. As tricky as the approach is, drivers beware!

Most players get to the tee on this hole and pull out their 1-woods and bang away only to find their balls have gone too farthrough the fairway left or right behind trees or into a ferocious pot

“. . . even a fairway wood or an iron can be played.”

[ Clouds waft above the west Maui mountains behind #14. ]

G O L FR

on D

ahlquist

bunker. This thoughtless strategy is the type that plays right intoNelson’s hand. In addition to the obvious, he makes the secondfrom such a position more difficult because it is usually blind, playsfrom an uneven lie in the rough, brings the greenside pot bunkersinto play, and offers the shallowest angle of approach.

All-too-often a player errs off the tee and dribbles their ball 170-yards down the fairway only to find themselves in perfect positionto attack the pin. For those who refer to their caddy journals, andplay the smart shot off the tee, par or birdie is very possible on thishole. But, the temptation to go for the green off the tee is so greatthat very few golfers can resist, and thus rarely make a birdie on thisseemingly-simple yet very-tactical golf hole.

The shot strategy changes abruptly on the 428-yard, par-4 #15hole which usually features a left-to-right tradewind and requires athat a tee shot favor the left and plays over a small valley or uphilldepending on which tee box a player uses.

Those playing from the back tees find they must flirt with a treeand ravine on the left in order to avoid trees and another ravine onthe right. Those playing from the forward tees must get their ball upquickly to carry the hill that stands between the tee and the green

and also protect against going right or even long as the fairwayends at the edge of another ravine.

The #15 hole is the only par-4 that has a forced carry. Albeit nota long one, but a carry nonetheless. Usually this type of shot is toomuch for the average player, so Nelson puts the thrill of pulling offsuch a shot within reach, and that far outweighs the agony of anypotential failure. Hence, the design of this hole in particular is quitefair since the ravine one must carry is only about 50-60 yards wide(almost anyone capable of swinging a golf club can carry it, eventu-ally). Players can also lay up and cross from a closer range.

The 346-yard, par-4 #16 hole is very short, and that, like the 14th,can sometimes get the overly-aggressive player into trouble. A 40-foot high sand dune hugs the right side of the hole. At its base is awaste area that runs its entire length while curving into the fair-way roughly 200 yards from the tee where the fairway widens.

A golfer can play a tee shot of between 185 and 220 yards and itwill give them a good angle into the green, which slopes from right-to-left. They also avoid being blocked by a hilly area that obscuresthe view of the pin. Those aggressive-minded hitters who strive to

overpower the hole usually find themselves approaching fromabove the hole (right), blocked by another sand dune, and landingtheir balls on the downward slope of the green which is tough tohold. Hence, short is good off the tee and can often produce a goodscore on this hole.

One hole that shows off Nelson’s true flair for the dramatic, likeelaborate tee box configurations, fairway shaping and greensidebunkering is the 190-yard, par-3 #17.

Left-to-right prevailing trades make one’s club selection andshape of shot key as the long but narrow green is more evasive thanit looks. And, while this green features a slot in the front that allowsplayers to run their balls onto the putting surface, it is the cut-shotwith a full carry that is the ideal way to play this hole.

Executing is tougher than it sounds since the shot requires one toflirt with steep mounding to the left side of the green. When thewinds are up, the possibility of losing it to the right into a deeprevetted pot bunker increases. Trouble left and trouble right.Deciding on the lesser of two evils and playing for the pin with one’srelease favoring the left is the best bet. Par on #17 is good. Birdie issomething to write home about.

As finishing holes are often thought of as pivotal in the game ofgolf, Nelson doesn’t disappoint on #18 at The Dunes at Maui Lani.It is a 588-yard, par-5 that summons one’s very best and is often theapex of a player’s day on the links.

In its simplest form, #18 is a hole that starts out straight, thendoglegs to the right on the second shot around a huge pond thatremains in play to the very finish. OB and a waste area lurk to theleft and pot bunkers loom toward the left-portion of the fairway onthe second. The wind, which comes from the left, blows hardest

“Nelson doesn’t hand it to

you on a silver platter;

you’ve got to earn it!”

[ The 428-yard, par-4 #15 features an

inviting, contoured fairway that leads to a

ravine and the angled, two-tiered putting surface. ]

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here since this finishing hole is on the home-stretch to the clubhouseset on high ground where cover is non-existent. How one deals withthe wind and Nelson’s other obstacles is critical to succeeding onthe opening two shots on #18.

One’s third, or approach, is often the scariest since the golfer isusually forced to throw the ball up high in order to land it softly. So,with the trades gusting in from the left, and a speedy/firm puttingsurface ushering balls toward a watery abyss to the right, it’s nowonder why the final shot of the day at The Dunes will likely add upto be an exciting finale for all players.

The Dunes Practice FacilityThe Dunes has the only lit practice range in central Maui with

grass tees and target greens. It is the island’s newest practice facilityand it features over two acres of teeing areas made up entirely ofTif-419 Bermudagrass. Only The Dunes offers so much luxury.

In addition to its world-class teeing areas The Dunes’ practicefacility features brand-new range balls, large accommodating bagstands on every “tee-box,” and over two-dozen all-new hitting matsfor those who refer them.

The range itself features a crushed-coral sand bunker with its ownpitching and chipping green, and seven beautiful target greens alldesigned by Robin Nelson specifically to help players take maximumadvantage of the helping right-to-left trades while working everyclub in their bags.

Each green has its own set of bunkers designed to emulate realplaying conditions, with their depths and widths varying to giveplayers a chance to work every aspect of their games.

What also makes this range (and the entire golfcourse) so special is in how it is so well-maintained. TheDunes’ maintenance crew is overseen by course super-intendent Brain Kaulupali. Kaulupali’s team puts in thetime and effort required to maintain a facility that

boasts its own contoured fairway, raked coral sand traps, andedged bunkers; all giving holes the definition they were designed to

have. (So our drivers, fairwaywoods, irons, and wedges all havesomeplace to go. . . ). The facilityeven has a ball machine thatscans specially-made cards with magnetic strips that allow cus-tomers to avoid waiting in line or digging for quarters.

The Dunes Golf CollegeThe Dunes at Maui Lani even has its own “Golf College” headed

by Bill Greenleaf, a PGA Master Professional who was Teacher of theYear in New York. The Dunes Golf College offers group and privatelessons so people can enjoy innovative fun and learning.

Under Bill Greenleaf, students learn the fundamentals from a“whole swing model.” Explains Greenleaf, “Swing mechanics willmake sense as a part of the whole. Beyond mechanics will bridgethe gap between success on the practice tee and playing the gameon the course. Real tools to help Dunes customers realize their golfdreams,” The Dunes’ director of instruction said.

Golfers can also enjoy daytime and evening instruction since thefacility is lit and a private teaching pavillion exists to affordstudents, and the pro, an opportunity to discuss the curriculum ina private setting

The College’s private lessons and half-day schools also makelearning affordable. One package allows students to receive qualityinstruction and 18 holes of golf for what they’d normally pay to playa single round at one of the resorts. For more information, call BillGreenleaf at (808) 873-0422 for details.

The Dunes Pro ShopThe Dunes at Maui Lani Pro Shop and clubhouse

is managed by Dean Kawabata, the clubhouseoperations manager. It is stocked with an abundanceof attractive and colorful fashion accessories all bearing The Dunesat Maui Lani logo, which is a specially-designed coat of arms adaptedfrom that of the Mills name; after the course’s owner, Bill.

G O L F

[ The Dunes’ offers scenery and four spacious teeing areas to accommodate every level of player. ]

“I t i s a 588-yard par-5 that summons our very best, and is

often the apex of a player’s day on the links. ”

Rand

y Huffo

rd &

Michael G

ilbert

Leona Andrin, is The Dunes at Maui Lani’s merchandiser andbuyer. “We carry a full men’s and women’s line ofgolf apparel,” the Molokai-born fashion expertexplains. “For the ladies, we carry classic polo,sleeveless, and short-sleeve shirts. We also carry

vests, shorts, and sweaters in a variety of lines such as Lilly’s ofBeverly Hills, Tail, Marcia, EP Pro, and Tommy Hilfinger.”

Andrin’s 7 years with Grand Waikapu C.C. and 9 years at Miki’s atWailea, afforded her the kind of experience she needed to buyfor the type of discriminating clientele The Dunes serves.

“Here at The Dunes I’ve stocked our store so our patrons will finda wide and colorful selection of items to fit just about any look,need, or budget.”

The Dunes pro shop stocks such popular golf apparel names as:Copley, Ashworth, Monterey Club, Clark & Gregory, Skins, SDI,Cross Creek, and more. Its large selection of Texace hats, with TheDunes logo embroidered in a variety of colors, starts at about $20.

The Dunes has an exceptional crew of pro shop and guest servicepersonnel. Darlene Johnson, in charge of advancesales and administration sets a shining example.Got a group? Give her a call: (808) 873-7911 x3.

The Dunes RestaurantIt’s hard to find good food at a golf course, but The Dunes at

Maui is just such an exception. After having tapped one of America’stop chefs to take the helm of their newly-opened clubhouse eatery,The Dunes Restaurant has turned sports fans into fine diners literallyat the flick of a switch.

“We are stepping out of the box of originality and are creating anew wave flavor of our own at The Dunes,” says chef Dan Saito, aMaui-transplant who was most-recently employed to design thefood creations at the number ten-ranked resort in the world,Manele Bay, on Lanai.

“Ours is a style of flavors,” the former mentor of Wolfgang Pucksays with a smile. “We merge the freshest Maui-grown ingredients

with our own traditional home-style approach to produce a brand ofcuisine that has a unique Asian-American twist.”

Recruited by the formidable regional restaurant managementcompany Modern Innovations of Honolulu to provide The Dunes atMaui Lani with a restaurant, banquet, and catering solution thatcould compete “toe-to-toe” with Maui’s top resorts, chef Dan Saitowas recently featured in Wine & Spectator magazine as the “one towatch” among chefs in Hawaii.

Saito began his career at the renowned La Serre CulinaryAcademy in Paris. It was there that he learned the mastery of theworld’s leading culinary artists before completing his apprenticeshipin the same city at the famous bistro Maxim’s.

Later Saito would return to America at a time when chefWolfgang Puck was reaching the height of his meteoric culinary riseto greatness. It was Puck who hired the young chef to cook atSpago’s of Hollywood as the right-hand man of his legendaryexecutive chef Anne Gingrass.

“The chance to work with Anne and Wolfgang was a hugeopportunity for me and I jumped at it. They really taught me how tocreate flavors on a world-class level,” said the mild-mannered chef.

Spago’s was the first stepping stone in a learning process thattook Saito years to complete. “Wolfgang pulled me aside during myfirst year at Spago’s,” Saito began. “He told me, ‘You need to learnevery aspect of cooking in order to be the best. You’ve got to putyourself in different situations, learn from them, and move on.’”

Saito applied Puck’s advice to himself by working to perfect histalents in every facet of cooking from hâute cuisine for one, tobreakfast, lunch, and dinner for thousands. “I wanted to gainexperience in doing just about everything at least once,” Saitomused. “Particularly in the area of banquets and catering as that isan important part of our business.”

In this arena Saito excelled spending several years helping to cre-ate extremely high-end and detailed cuisine at two major banquetand catering facilities: the Claremont Hotel and Resort in Oaklandand the Peppermill Hotel and Casino in Reno.

“...a specially-

designed coat

of arms adapted

from the one

bearing the

Mills name;

after the

course’s

owner.”

[ The clubhouse and pro shop at The Dunes is stocked with the latest in logowear. ]

Club

ouse and

pro

shop

imag

es by R

ob

in Fow

ler

“Those two jobs allowed me to take my experiences in Paris andHollywood to the next level by mastering the art of producingsuperb flavors for the masses,” said Saito.

But it would be his time back on the west coast that would raisethe bar for the young chef. First the creator of Pacific-rim cuisine,Jerimiah Towers, recruited Saito as his executive sous shef at StarsRestaurant of Palo Alto. Then, his former bosses, Wolfgang Puckand chef Anne Gingrass, introduced him to executive chef JulianSerrano of Masa’s.

“Masa’s of San Francisco was the number one fine diningrestaurant in Northern California, and it was there that I was ableto florish under Julian’s guidance. It was awesome to gain thatexperience,” Saito confides.

The recruitment of a talented chef like Saito tells a lot about thedirection general manager Dave Gleason is headed with The Dunesat Maui Lani in putting the course on the Maui map as a prime contenderfor group business.

“We want to offer the visitor and resident an enjoyable experienceat The Dunes,” Gleason says. “Whether it is on the golf course, orin our restaurant, we want our customers to have the very best.”

Setting TrendsWith the passing of each decade, Maui’s popularity has grown

and with it there have been dramatic increases in the number ofpeople who visit the “Valley Isle.” This boom has brought about arapid transformation in terms of the quality and caliber ofrestaurants that visitors and residents can choose from. Quality—once the domain of the better hotels and resorts—is now the stan-dard among the island’s best independently-owned and operatedrestaurants. Increasingly, Maui is becoming home to many of theworld’s top chefs.

Gleason witnessed this evolution first-hand and looks to set thepace with the organization of an elite group of investors whounderwrote the build-out and recruitment of the high-calibertalent needed to manage and operate a cutting-edge restaurant.

“We want to make it known tothose who live here, are visiting, orwho are planning to visit Maui,that The Dunes Restaurant is notonly a good place to come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the golfcourse but more importantly is an outstanding resource with thecapability, facilities, and capacity to provide world-class banquet,wedding, corporate, group, and off property catering solutions forgroups of up to 250 people at very cost-effective levels,” saysModern Innovations’ president and CEO Gary Ichimura.

Ichimura adds, “Our mission is to provide Maui with an outstand-ing dining experience regardless of whether it is for one, four, or 200people and under chef Saito’s direction we know we can do it.”

Ichimura’s banquet and catering menus are designed with flexibili-ty in mind to provide clients with a broad spectrum of options rang-ing from simple fried chicken to more complex dishes like foie graswith roasted squab. “With Dan’s experience in fine dining and banquetoperations,our capabilites are much broader than most dining estab-lishments offer,” Ichimura notes.

Indeed Saito’s menu shows his own diversity with dishes rangingfrom banana-creamed pancakes with locally-grown vanilla beans andapple bananas for breakfast, to taro-crusted mahi mahi with rockshrimp and Kula orange carrots and coconut Jasmine rice for dinner.

What Saito feels separates The Dunes Restaurant from others isn’tnecessarily the names or descriptions of what he creates on themenus, but what he puts in the dishes and how he creates them.

“Our dishes are designed to captivate the diner with flavors bysynergizing the freshest local produce and seafood available onMaui with our specialized techniques to create our own uniquebrand of home style flavors,” Saito points out.

The Dunes Restaurant is beautifully-appointed, seats up to 60indoors, and opens up to a huge lanai overlooking the #1 and #18holes. When combined with its adjoining 2,100 square-foot banquetroom, The Dunes Restaurant can accommodate parties up to 250.

For group bookings and information call: (808) 873-7911 x3.

“We are

stepping out of

the box of

originality and

are creating a

new wave flavor

of our own at

The Dunes.”

—Chef Dan Saito

[ Chef Dan Saito in his sparkling-new kitchen. The bar at The Dunes Restaurant. Outdoor seating on the lanai. ]

F O O D

Imag

es by Jo

hn Henry

he grass is a little greener at the Island.”

That’s how the slogan for Maui Lani’s private,

gated residential community reads and it’s

actually quite true.Situated between the #8, #9, #12, and #13 fairways of The Dunes

at Maui Lani Golf Course, each of the Island’s 226 spacious homesites command one or more unobstructed views of the ocean,Haleakala, the Iao Valley, the west Maui mountains, and, of course,the storied tees, fairways, and greens of The Dunes at Maui LaniGolf Course—all of which are graced by a greener, friendlier brandof hybrid-bermudagrass called Tif-419.

But the story about the Island at Maui Lani involves more thanmere views of greenery and “Mauidom.” It revolves around its cen-tral location in Kahului—the epicenter of all Maui—and the uniquemix of people that make up what one leading Maui real estate bro-ker describes as the ideal neighborhood.

“I really think it’s going to be Maui’s finest community,” Carol Ballexplains, “because you have a cross section of the people that makeMaui great. It’s not a segmented type of market like you have inmost of the other communities. With Maui Lani you have a nice crosssection of the people who make up the entire island of Maui livingright here in the one community,” the broker said.

Ball, whose company Carol Ball & Associates averages over 30transactions a month in central Maui, and who has been selling realestate on Maui for over 20 years, says, “We’re talking about a gatedcommunity right in central Maui and that’s why it’s such a goldmine—because it’s almost too good to be true to have such a brand

new product in a planned community in central Maui. Nobody everthought that could happen.”

“Most people never thought it would come to fruition becausepeople had talked about it for so long. The people who had the landbefore either had the wherewithal but not the vision, or the visionwithout the wherewithal. Mills had both.”

Maui Lani is the first master-planned community Kahului has seensince Dream City was created back in the 1950s and 1960s. Mills,with help from Hillwood West, made it all a reality.

“Our vision was to provide central Maui with a unique well-planned residential community. One that incorporates many aspectsof a resort community: gated, golf course frontage, large lots, cul-de-sacs—which create mini neighborhoods, a linear walking parkcalled a strada. We think we have accomplished our goal by pro-viding central Maui with a land plan that will provide abundanthousing situated in a brand-new family community,” said Guy Owen,vice president of Hillwood West and the project director for the Island.

For the first time in decades, buyers representing a wide cross-section of Maui’s diverse population can buy new housing of alltypes all conveniently located within island’s most central spot:Kahului; but it wasn’t always that way.

Back in the 40s Kahului didn’t even exist. Wailuku was the maintown, and the community centered around the sugar mills. Peoplelived in camps around the Puunene and Wailuku sugar mills, and outin Paia and Haiku. That’s where the communities were clustered. Atthe time, Kahului was just one big sand mass.

In the 50s Dream City, what most of the housing we know of inKahului is today, was developed. Dream City had a specific marketthat consisted of those being moved from the camp homes. At the

[ Where golf is only paces away. ]

A look at central Maui’s first private, gated community.

Fairway Living at The Island

T

Michael G

ilbert &

Rand

y Huffo

rd

time, they may have bought their homes furnished for about $7,000.Since then times have changed. Now they are reselling them for asmuch as $300,000.

Maui’s economy has come a long way particularly since tourismbegan to flourish in the 70s. With it came more businesses and morepeople and the local economy grew. As the island’s population andthe economy grew the local home buyer took on a broader demo-graphic profile: smarter, more affluent, and savvier. Consequently,the shift toward higher-quality housing inland has begun and thegated community The Island is the first example of this evolution.

“I think buyers of The Island come from a different environment,”Ball notes. “One where it’s expected to have a gated community orsome degree of privacy or security and for them they wouldn’t haveit any other way,” the local broker said.

“What we’ve noticed is that one of the major reasons peoplewant to be at The Island is location. You can say you want it luxurious;you can say you want a gated community; you can say you want

the views; you can say you want to be around a golf course; youcould have those things anywhere else on Maui but you can’t havethe location. That is the unique factor of The Island.”

“And, interestingly enough, the people that have selected TheIsland have selected it because of location. Many of the buyers workat the medical center and they don’t want to drive from Kula orWailea in the middle of the night. They’re tired.”

At The Island, residents have all of the amenities and all of thethings they would like right in their backyard and yet they’re oneminute from the business district or the hospital.

There are those who want to be in central Maui because they canbe close to the airport should they have visitors from out of town.Then there are the people who don’t want to be a part of the resortcommunity. They want the amenities but they also want to be wherethey can readily go to Wailuku or shop in the mall with the otherlocal people.

Jonathan Olson of Delmore Realty was the sales manager for theGrand Fairways at Maui Lani. Once again, as sales manager, Olsonrepresents The Island at Maui Lani along with Carol Ball &Associates. He spends the better half of his work week talking tohome buyers about The Island and is thus a good source of infor-mation about the market.

“Some ask about Wailuku Heights,” Olson explains, “and someare even comparing The Island to Wailea and Kapalua and I thinkthey just want golf course living and Maui living but they don’t wantto pay that million-dollar price tag. The Island gives them all that,plus they get the added bonus of a super-convenient location,which no one else on Maui can offer.”

r e a l e s t a t e

[ Interior view of the new 3D Builders’ model, The Kauai. ]

“I really think it’s

going to be Maui’s

finest community

because you have a

cross-section of the

people that make

Maui great.”—Carol Ball

Realtor

David

Watersun

The 6,840-yard, par-72 Dunes at MauiLani Golf Course is designed just like

the classic courses crafted centuries ago in the BritishIsles. Its 18 unique holestake full advantage ofMaui’s naturally-slopingisland dune terrain. That’swhy creativity, finesse,

strategy, and good shot-making are allpart of the Dunes experience. In addition

to great golf, The Dunesoffers the only lit range, withgrass tees, in central Maui. Itis also home to the newly-opened Dunes Restaurant, allconveniently located incentral Maui.

The Dunes at maui Lani • 1333 Maui Lani Parkway, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, 96732Pro Shop Phone: (808) 873-0422 • Pro Shop Fax: (808) 871-6647 • Group Reservations: (808) 873-7911 x3

Internet: www.dunesatmauilani.com

“From over here on lot 16 you can see thegreat views of Haleakala and the #13 fair-way,” Olson said while standing on a gratedsand lot along the outer perimeter of TheIsland one afternoon. “Across the way youcan see those are the Grand Fairways lotsthat sold for $171,000. The last one sold for$179,000. Over here, at The Island, you’regoing to get a gated community, some oceanviews, you’re above everyone in town soyour views are unobstructed, and you’re get-ting all of that for about $20,000 to $25,000more.”

The developers of The Island at Maui Laniso named The Island because of its locationbetween the back nine golf course holesat The Dunes. “The reason we call it TheIsland is because it is surrounded entirelyby The Dunes’ fairways,” Leiane Goo,

“. . . a super-convenient

location, which no one else

on Maui can offer.”—Jonathan Olson, Realtor

[ The Queen Kaahumanu Shopping Center is only minutes away. ]

TheIslandAT MAUI LANI

Maui’s Newest

Gated Community

on the Fairways

of the dunes

championship

Golf Course

3 MONTH SPECIALCentral Air • Corian Countertops • Insulation

CALL FOR DETAILS!Model to open soon!

Betsill Brothers Construction, Inc.Sales Office: 243-2249 • Or Call Direct: Byron Yap 870-3182www.betsillbuilder.com

© R

ob

ert Reck Pho

tog

raphy

director of Maui Lani development explains, “and it’sthis location that made it a prime opportunity for us tocreate a gated community like The Island.”

The Island is indeed like an island set within The Dunes’perimeters, so homes can be seen from the fairwaysbelow. (In keeping with other upscale golf communities,The Island has its own set of design guidelines that weredeveloped to assist lot owners in designing their homeswhile maintaining long-term property values.)

Homeowners are assured that they, and their neighbors,have met The Island’s standards, which encompass everythingfrom architectural plans, landscaping, and constructionmethods to materials and compliance. A Design ReviewCommittee exists solely for this purpose.

“We made sure we would give enough of a guideline tocreate a nice subdivision, while at the same time not sostrict that our owners would feel like they’re living in acondominium association,” Goo said.

The Island’s semi-oval design accommodates 226 lotsall encircled by Dunes’ fairways. Roughly half the lots forman inner perimeter and the remainder form the outer.

“. . . an island set

within the Dunes’

perimeters.”

[ Golf course views abound at The Island. ]

LocationCentral

GolfChampionship

Snag one of Hawaii’s most precious pieces of real estate.

$1,993 *

For aMonthly Payment

you can own a spectacular custom home on a

golf course frontage lot.

With a backyard of nothingbut beautiful hawaiian

landscape, you’ll live onlyminutes from beaches,

airport, shopping, schools and business centers.

The Dunes ChampionshipGolf Course will be your

constant source of pleasure.

M o d e l H o m e s O p e n D a i l y 1 0 am - 5 p m

Free memberships for new Island Residents only.

To Tour Our Championship Golf Course,Clubhouse and Model Homes call:

Carol Ball &Associates (808)871-8807 Delmore Realty (808) 242-1467

Courtesy to Broker (Broker must accompany client on first visit)

Directions: Take Kaahumanu Ave. towardWailuku and turn left on Maui Lani Parkway.

MembershipsFreeEnjoy FREE 1 year member-ships to The Dunes Players

Club and to the Maui Arts &Cultural Center’s Ilima Club.

*$1,993 monthly mortgage payment is basedupon a purchase price of $195,000 (Lot 94, PhaseI) & 3D Builders and Design's Mauna Kea model

(2,517 SF total) for $229,400 with a 32% downpayment of $135,808 on a 30-year fixed mortgage

(360 payments). Interest rate is 7.375% basedupon 2.5% loan fees or $7,215 (7.666% annualprecentage rate). Monthly payment quoted

above is principal & interest only payable on firstof each month and total principal and interest

payments over life of loan is $722,173. Does notinclude Maui Lani Master Association dues,Island sub-association maintenance fees, real

property taxes and insurance. Interest rate, feesand taxes are subject to change without notice.

MAUI LANI

of

Ro

n Dahlq

uist

D r e a m h o m e a l o n g t h e D u n e s G o l f C o u r s e

Homes within the inner perimeter are owned and developed by abuilder who started in Hawaii and has grown nationally namedSchuler Homes. Schuler offers many home designs available to buyerswith interior lot and home packages starting at about $337,000.

Home buyers in search of more flexibility may choose to buy a loton the outer perimeter, which is owned by Maui Lani. These lots alloffer direct fairway views, in addition to the Maui expanses. Theselots start at about $194,000 and average 10,000 square feet.

Two of Maui’s top builders, 3D Builders and Design and BetsillBrothers Construction, have built many of the homes at The Island,in addition to the whole Maui Lani development.

“We’ve had a long relationship with 3D Builders and BetsillBrothers and feel that they are consistently able to deliver ourhomeowners the type of quality and workmanship theydeserve. Both builders get their work done on time and withinbudget,” Leiane Goo explains. “We couldn’t have asked fortwo better partners.”

Both Betsill Brothers and 3D Builders have model homes on-siteto give buyers a glimpse of what a lot at The Island looks like fromoutside and within the comforts of a real home.

“Our model home with our large open space design really show-cases the spectacular views which is a result of the positioning of

r e a l e s t a t e“We couldn’t be happier—

we’re right off the ninth hole.”

—Sherri Grimes, Homeowner

[ Artist’s rendering of The Island’s gated entry. ]

Co

urtesy of Yacuk &

Asso

c.

the doors, cabinetry, and windows,” says Steve Betsill, vice-president for sales &marketing. He adds that the model is, “full of design features that have only beenseen in Maui’s most expensive homes, and once completed, are a must to visit forinspiration and new ideas.” Betsill even provides a design center inside their modelhome to help customers compose the elements to fit their own styles.

Dan McEvoy, vice president of 3D Builders and Design describes their newestmodel home, The Kauai, as “a good exampe of 3D Builders’ innovative approach tostate-of-the-art custom home-building—utilizing the latest design technology andstyle to achieve an exceptional living environment.”

Within 3D Builders and Design’s model, buyers find a design-scheme showcasinga contemporary Hawaiian style with plenty of open living space and options toreflect Maui’s old plantation era.

Beginning with its distinctive courtyard entryway, The Kauai’s classic island styleunfolds throughout more than 2,300 square feet of living space beneath a Moniertile roof and high, vaulted ceilings. The entirety of it all captures the expanse of TheIsland’s panoramic ocean and golf course views and is indicative of what a typicalIsland home site can be.

Those living at The Island seem content with what they’ve got. “The golf courselot and 3D Builder home package we bought gave us a terrific value,” remarks SherriGrimes of Pacific Radio Group, a local station-operator. “We couldn’t be happier—we’re right off the ninth hole.”

New owners at The Island also enjoy complimentary one-year memberships toThe Dunes at Maui Lani Players Club, and Ilima, at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

The entire Maui Lani community is poised to grow even more, as Leiane Gooexplains. “We have zoning for churches, community centers, a village center—whichis like a mixed-use commercial site, multi-family and single-family residential housing,and a medical facility. So we have a little bit of everything that is needed to create areally nice master-planned community which is what we are doing,” said Goo.

Evidently so. The Island and the Maui Lani community as a whole are fulfilling apromise made decades ago and now delivered by developer Bill Mills.

“I’ve written Bill Mills so many thank you notes,” adds Carol Ball enthusiastically.“Thank you Bill for bringing us this wonderful community.”

“. . . we have a little bit

of everything that is

needed to create a

really nice master-

planned community.”