Over 18 days, we're bringing you the best holes on the best courses in the world. Today, an absolute behemoth from Hawaii.
The hole: The 18th, "Home," at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course, Hawaii
The stats: Par 5, 663 yards. Yes, you read that correctly.
The story: You've got to go more than a third of a mile on this hole, the famous finishing hole on Kapalua, and when you're done, you'll be crying for home -- hence the hole's name.
Designed by Ben Crenshaw, this is actually a relatively straight hole; you can see the green from the tee, oh so far away. But there are plenty of hazards between the two, starting with the forest that lines both sides of the fairway. Put your ball into one of these dense thickets of Hawaiian jungle, and you can start planning for a drop.
Landing in the fairway isn't a slam-dunk, either; the fairway slopes so sharply from right to left and toward the Pacific Ocean and the island of Molokai there in the distance. You've also got to carry a canyon that runs in front of the green. Even so, the pros can run up good scores here, with birdies possible and eagles not uncommon.
Kapalua is the site of the season-beginning Mercedes-Benz Championship, which brings the winners of the past year's tournaments to Hawaii. And when they get done with the 18th, they're ready to head back stateside.
Tomorrow: All it needs is a windmill!
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