TIPS FROM OUR PROS 5 Pro Tips for Chipping and Putting on Kapalua’s Bermuda Grass– As an assistant professional here at Kapalua Golf, I see the same thing happen almost every day. Golfers walk off our Plantation and Bay courses shaking their heads, frustrated by short game shots that seemed simple but didn’t behave like they expected. The culprit? Our beautiful Bermuda grass greens and surrounds that play completely different from the bent grass most visiting golfers are used to. Playing Kapalua’s Bermuda greens is like learning a new language but once you get it, everything clicks. Here are my go-to moves that’ll transform your short game on our courses. Tip #1: Ditch Your 60-Degree Wedge (Seriously) – This one’s tough for golfers to accept, but your lob wedge is working against you on Bermuda. Think of it like trying to paddle through thick soup – that sharp leading edge just digs right in.Instead, grab your 54 or 56-degree wedge. The extra bounce acts like a surfboard, gliding through the grass instead of fighting it. You’ll get cleaner contact and way more consistent results. Tip #2: Read the Grain Like a Road Map – Bermuda grass has a personality, it leans one way and pushes your ball along with it. Here’s my quick read: look back at the hole. See that rough burnt edge? That’s your grain direction. Around Kapalua, the grass tends to grow towards the left edge of Molokai, the prominent island that can be seen from most holes at Kapalua. You should factor that in when you’re chipping with the grain, your ball will release more. Against it? Expect it to check up faster. Tip #3: Keep Your Hands Neutral (Not Forward) – On bent grass, you might lean your shaft forward to get crisp contact. On Bermuda? That’s a recipe for chunked chips. Instead, keep your hands even with the ball at address. This lets the club’s bounce do its job. The rounded sole will skip through the grass naturally, giving you that clean, crispy contact you’re looking for. Tip #4: Think “Bump and Run” with Unexpected Clubs – When the pin’s close or you’re dealing with tight lies, try something that sounds crazy – use your 9-iron like a putter. The narrow sole cuts through Bermuda beautifully, and you can control distance way easier than with a wedge. I’ve even seen players use fairway woods around the greens here. It feels weird at first, but the results speak for themselves.Tip #5: Practice Your Grain Reads Before You Play – Spend 10 minutes on our short game area hitting chips in different directions. You’ll quickly feel how the grain affects your ball’s behavior. Some chips will release like they’re on ice, others will grab like Velcro. This isn’t about memorizing every grain pattern – it’s about developing feel for how Bermuda responds to your shots. The Bottom Line – Bermuda grass isn’t trying to mess with you; it just plays by different rules. Once you adjust your technique and club selection, you’ll start getting up and down more consistently. Give yourself a few rounds to adapt, and soon you’ll be chipping with confidence on any Bermuda surface -Kapalua Golf Team |