So far, only Bubba has been able to do it.
The
"it" is to hit a golf ball into the pool of a recently completed home
along Waialae Country Club's golf course. The Bubba in question is
Bubba Watson, the PGA Tour's longest-hitting player. Earlier this year,
at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Watson hit a towering tee shot that landed
on the home's roof, ricocheted off a wall and bounced back onto the
lanai and into the pool. The home was unscathed, but Bubba ended up
getting a two-stroke penalty.
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| Inside
Out: A large, tranquil pool is only steps away. Beyond the pool is the
fairway and green of Waialae Country Club's 10th hole. |
"He
tee-ed it up again, and his second shot went about 378 yards down the
middle to about there," says the homeowner, pointing to an open area in
the lush fairway. "From our lanai we can see all the tee shots land,
and then we watch the players hit their second shots to the green. We
never have to leave our home during tournament time."
Considering
how close the home is to all the action, it's a wonder that it hasn't
been struck by more golf balls, especially when the tournament is over
and less straight-shooting golfers are playing. But successful
golf-ball protection was all part of the homeowners' plan. In fact,
many details of the home's design and construction took into account
the property's proximity to the golf course.
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| Fairways
& Greens: The canopies of several large monkeypod trees provide a
peaceful backdrop. During the Sony Open in January, the homeowners
watch all the action from the comfort of their lanai. |
"The
lot is at the end of a cul-de-sac, so it's kind of pie shaped, with the
street on one side and the golf course on the other," says architect
Kendall Ellingwood III, of Design Partners Inc. "The original house was
built in the 1960s and it was just sort of plopped down in the middle
of the property with no real consideration for maximizing the views.
Today, everything is oriented toward the golf course."
The
home sits near the 150-yard marker of the country club's par-5, 10th
hole, which during tournament time plays as a 478-yard par-4. It's a
particularly scenic area of the course, with two very large monkeypod
trees looming close by. Originally, the homeowners had envisioned a
smallish house on their expansive, nearly 19,000-square-foot lot. Maybe
a two-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot home, with a cozy guesthouse and a
large garden—something that would blend in seamlessly with the
wide-open spaces just beyond the property line.
"But
everyone was telling us what we should and shouldn't do. They said that
we shouldn't build a small house; that we needed to have at least four
bedrooms. And we needed a pool," says the homeowner. "We listened, and
we got the pool and eventually went from 3,000 square feet to nearly
6,000. This isn't the house that I was dreaming about when we started,
but I love it."
Shortly
after purchasing the property, the homeowners made frequent visits to
the old home, looking at the views, opening up all the windows and
taking note of how the wind was blowing. They wanted a Hawaiian-style
house that was open to the outdoors and the natural breezes. Because
the couple entertains frequently, they also wanted a great room that
could accommodate both large and small parties. They also needed the
privacy and peace and quiet of a smaller home. And, of course, they
wanted a great view of the fairways and greens of the nearby golf
course.
 |
| The
Island of Lanai: The home's lanai can comfortably accommodate dozens of
guests, but it can also host small, intimate dinner parties. |
"The
homeowners knew exactly what they wanted. They could visualize how the
house was laid out and where things would be," says Lyle Hamasaki,
president of Lyle Hamasaki Construction. "That's very helpful during
the construction process. Many people can't do that or can't make up
their minds, so you end up with changed orders, which cost time and
money."
To
maximize the views, the house had to be tee-ed up, so to speak.
Construction crews built a six-foot retaining wall along the perimeter
of the home facing the golf course. They backfilled the wall with tons
of soil, raising the wall of the lot by more than four feet. In
addition, the footprint of the home was turned slightly to the right,
so that it faced the picturesque green and monkeypod trees and away
from the less attractive driving range and the tee box (and incoming
golf balls).
The
heart of the home is its great room, which features a formal dining
area and an elegant living room that seamlessly link to a spacious
lanai once the home's custom-made pocket doors are fully opened. Steps
from the lanai is a large pool. Beyond the pool is a contemporary
Hawaiian garden and beyond that are the monkeypods and the golf course.
Inside,
the living room is filled with natural light and breezes, thanks to a
long bank of windows that runs along the street side of the room. The
windows and much of the interior of the home are trimmed with African
mahogany, similar in look and feel to Hawaii's koa wood. The home is
equipped with central air conditioning, but the homeowners say that
they rarely use it. The prevailing trade winds blow right through the
house.
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| A gracious formal living area seamlessly links to an expansive lanai. |
Just
off the dining area is a roomy kitchen, which features marble
countertops and the latest high-tech appliances. Since the couple
occasionally caters their parties, the kitchen and its commotion can be
easily closed off behind etched glass doors.
Beyond
the kitchen is the private wing, which contains the master suite,
maid's quarters and two guest bedrooms. The master suite features a
sitting area/office as well as a spacious bedroom. The master bathroom
looks out onto the home's interior garden, which provides both privacy
and peace.
Most
of the couple's time, however, is spent outdoors, whether watching
their grandson in the pool, cooking out in the barbecue area or just
watching golf from the comfort of their lanai.
"When
the Sony Open was here, it was like a four-day party," says the
homeowner. "It's great. We just sit around and watch TV and then watch
as the golf balls land over there."
Except maybe when Bubba tees it up.
