Hawaii’s Pacific Ocean location has many major benefits. Incredible sandy beaches, delicious seafood, and some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world are some of the major ones that come to mind. But the year-round warm weather and lush natural environment of Hawaii have another major advantage for America’s 50th state: incredible golf courses.
While this may not be the first thing you think of when you think about Hawaii, the state has some of the best golfing of anywhere in the country. On January 13th, 2022, the biggest golf event of the year in the state will be taking place at one of the state’s most historic golf courses.
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From Thursday, January 13th, to Sunday, January 16th, the 2022 Sony Open will be played at the Wai’alae Country Club in East Honolulu. The Sony Open is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, the highest level of golf. It is part of the FedEx Cup Series of the tour and is a stroke play event.
The Sony Open is a significant PGA event with a history stretching back decades. The first iteration of the tournament was played in 1965, and it has been played at the same location every year since. The event’s winner has taken home a cash prize of over $1,000,000 every year since 2013, and some of the best golfers worldwide typically compete.
Last year, American Kevin Na emerged victorious, with a final score of -21 and a take-home prize of $1,188,000. The overall purse for the event is a whopping $6.6 million, so there are plenty of incentives for the golfers to perform. While the field of players participating in this tournament is yet to be released, it is sure to feature some of the biggest names in professional golf.
The location of the event is sure to bring in spectators. If you’re a golf fan who wants to catch a big tournament, why not make it in Hawaii? The courses are lined with palm trees overlooking the ocean under a big blue Hawaiian sky, making it a dream spot to enjoy watching some of the best golfers on the planet square off.
Wai’alae Country Club has been hosting this tournament since 1965. It is a par 72 championship course that has an extensive history. Wai’alae was founded in 1927 and designed by Seth Raynor, a world-famous golf architect. It is a private club with deep green courses, multiple pools, and an incredible ocean view. Members of this exclusive club get to enjoy year-round golfing on a PGA quality course that is always kept in incredible conditions.
While tickets have yet to go on sale, the event will likely attract many visitors to Hawaii. Last year, the 2021 Sony Open was played without fans in attendance, a disappointing blow to many golf fans’ travel plans. This year, with travel opening up, it is likely that many will head to Honolulu to enjoy the event.
Beyond the Sony Open, there is much to do in Honolulu. It is Hawaii’s biggest city, a major metro area on Oahu’s south shore. For starters, the famed Waikiki area of Honolulu will be a significant attraction for those that head to the island. Waikiki is Honolulu’s central nightlife, restaurant, and culture area. It has incredible beaches, stunning views of the surrounding area, and numerous hotels and resorts nearby. It will likely be where many who come to Hawaii for the Sony Open will choose to be based.
Hawaii has much more than just the Sony Open for lovers of golf. Oahu is where the most golf courses are, as it is the most populated of all the islands. There aren’t many other places on the planet where you can play golf in the middle of a tropical environment with dense palm tree forests and mountainous backdrops. There are over 40 public and private courses, so a lack of options will not be a problem.
Hawaii is a travel destination regardless of what events are occurring, but if you are a golf fan, you won’t want to miss the 2022 Sony Open. Played at a historical club with some of the prettiest courses anywhere on the PGA Tour, it is sure to be an event worth attending. And being in Honolulu on one of the most naturally stunning islands in the world is certainly a bonus.
