April 1, 2011 marked the end of an era for Maui Lani & Pineapple, as the former owner of its two prized golf courses—the Bay and the Plantation—passed the management baton to Arizona-based Troon Golf. Troon wasted no time in establishing its new website for the courses, golfatkapalua.com, which sports all-new imagery and a simple, straight-forward user-interface. The management company and the website are a departure from the more exclusive, campy image that Kapalua had projected over an era that saw itself become one of the biggest and best-known brands in golf.
Many who live here have seen major change at Kapalua coming for a long time. As the transition was undertaken by the courses’ new owner: Tadashi Yanai, president of TY Management Corporation, many internally were concerned for their jobs. But few were actually hurt, as there was little overlap and it is clear that Mr. Yanai is not looking to radically rock the boat.
“The Bay Course and The Plantation Course at Kapalua are two world-class facilities located in one of the most majestic settings in the world,” stated Mr. Yanai. “Combining superior course architecture with impeccable playing conditions and customer service, makes these two courses unique among even the finest golf destinations.”
“Kapalua is an iconic golf destination,” stated Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO, Troon Golf. “We are honored to have been selected to manage these exceptional golf courses and are confident that our management practices will contribute positively to the overall experience at Kapalua Resort.”
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon Golf is the world’s largest golf management company, overseeing operations at properties located in 31 states and 23 countries, with 201 18-hole equivalent courses in its portfolio. Last month, 28 of its managed courses were named to the list of Golfweek’s Best Courses in the United States.
