Timeless Magic, 1965 - 2015
42 TIMELESS MAGIC As we were flying over the Big Island Jones recounted in his 1988 book Golfs Magnificent Challenge Rockefeller suddenly said Thats the kind of beach Im looking for He was looking at Kauna oa Bay a half mile crescent shaped cove protected by rock outcroppings ringed by sand and scrub It was part of Parker Ranch a 246000 acre tract on the northwest shoulder of the island The land folded into the foothills of the Kohala Mountains with Mauna Kea mountain standing in splendor some 28 miles to the southeast Mauna Loa still an active volcano towered over the island 40 miles to the south On the ground it did not look as good Jones wrote Located on the leeward side of the island with scant annual rainfall the land was hostile almost like a moonscape It was the most challenging terrain I had ever faced But the potential certainly was there As Jones and Rockefeller prowled the desert like volcanic stone terrain Rockefellers anxiety bubbled up Trent can you build a golf course here If you cant well have to look for another site A golf course is vital to this resort Jones responded It depends on whether I can work with the lava rock if it can be crushed and used as a soil base to grow grass If it can and there is enough water I can build a golf course Jones eldest son Robert Trent Bobby Jones Jr recalls what happened next Dad picked up two lava stones and pummeled them together They fractured The pieces crumbled and fell to the ground Yes we can do it said Jones Mauna Kea would have its golf course ABOVE Architect Robert Trent Jones Sr standing on the lava rocks that would become the tee box for hole No 3 The peninsula behind him is where the green is now located RIGHT Golfers on No 3 tee box FAR RIGHT The downhill par three 11th hole with its spectacular Pacific Ocean backdrop
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