Eighteen-hole play at the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course has been extended until sometime in June, county Department of Parks and Recreation Director Ka’ala Buenconsejo said Friday.
Course renovations began April 16, and county officials had planned to close the back nine holes in May. The closure has been pushed back to June because of operational delays in manpower and materials needed for the upgrades, Buenconsejo said.
He noted that the Maui County Council has approved funding the renovations for all 18 holes.
“We’re currently in the beginning phase of the renovation,” he said. “I think we all want to see the course become a flagship for municipal courses in the state.”
In the interim, golfers have the option to play the front nine holes twice with two different tee boxes set up for play, or continue to the back nine, which has temporary greens, Buenconsejo said.
Improvements to the course include removal of existing Bermuda grass on the greens and collars, and installation of seashore paspalum grass. As part of the facelift, 16 to 19 percent of the greens’ soil profile would be modified to help the new paspalum thrive, officials said.
Other work included completing aerification of the back nine, tee box remediation, continued weed eradication and beautification projects to improve overall playing conditions.
Officials said they expect the upgrades to take three to five months. It will be the first time in at least 30 years that the greens will have undergone renovations. Work on the front nine greens will follow.
Resident golfers and businesses appeared to be divided about the project when the county announced the closure, but all agreed that the greens needed to be redone.
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