Parker McLachlin is lucky enough to be playing in his homestate at the Sony Open. While he lives -- when not touring -- in Arizona these days, he tries to make a trip back across the Pacific a couple of times a year to get a good old dose of home.
The life of a golfer leaves little room for lazy nights at the house with a movie on the couch, so any time the pros get to go home for a spell, they cherish it. "Last year, I went back four times," McLachlin said. "It's pretty fun to go back to the place where I grew up."
Just like any of us, McLachlin falls into a certain routine when he gets back to his roots, even though his roots stem from palm trees. And while he swings a golf club like a pro, this 28-year-old is an island boy at heart, and here are his five favorite things to do when he goes Aloha.
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| 1. A good sandwich |
| Most of us only go a few hours before thinking of food (if we can even manage that), and McLachlin is no different. One of the first places he hits in Oahu is his No. 1 lunch spot, Andy's Sandwiches. Located in the Manoa Valley, about five minutes from his house, McLachlin said this little local joint has "some of the best whole-food sandwiches [he's] ever had." His choice? The Smoked Ahi Melt. But great sandwiches don't monopolize the menu. According to McLachlin, Andy's has awesome smoothies as well. (Note: It's only 15 minutes from the Sony Open course, so if you happen to be in town, check it out.) |
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| 2. Burn off that sandwich |
| No matter how delicious the sandwich, a good golfer needs to stay in shape. So McLachlin likes to switch out his golf shoes for walking boots and head out for a hike to the Makapu'u Lighthouse with his wife. "There's a great view of the eastern shoreline of Oahu," he said. "And after we hike, we go to Makapu'u Beach and do some bodysurfing." The trail to the lighthouse takes about 35-40 minutes, so it's more than enough to walk off a sandwich. |
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| 3. Get lost in island life |
| Just as every golfer needs to stay in shape, he also needs some good old R&R. McLachlin's favorite way to relax awhile is to spend a day at Kailua in Lanikai Beach. "It's a quaint, sleepy, little beach town consistently in the top 10 in best beaches in the world," McLachlin said. Less than a half an hour from Honolulu, McLachlin's best beach spot is an easy-to-get-to escape. |
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| 4. Hit up Waikiki |
| Not one to stick to a golf club and nothing else, McLachlin enjoys a little water sports every now and then. If the tourists love Waikiki Beach, there's got to be something great about it, right? McLachlin thinks so. Whenever he's home, he and three or four friends head to Waikiki Beach for some fun in the ocean. "I like to take a canoe out and catch some waves, get in the water," he said. And he must be pretty accomplished with a paddle too, because despite the choppy waters at Waikiki -- both natural and wake induced -- McLachlin manages to keep afloat pretty easily. Anyone who has attempted a canoe on anything besides a flat current knows it takes a lot of control to keep you from capsizing. |
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| 5. A little golf |
| While most of us try our hardest to leave our work at the office, golfers heap on the homework. And whether it's for practice or pleasure, most TOUR guys like to play a round every now and then without the temptation -- or pressure -- of a purse at the end of 18. McLachlin is no different. "Every Christmas, for the last eight years or so, myself and Dean Wilson -- we're the only two from Hawaii on TOUR -- with about four other people, go out to Ala Wai Golf Course," he said. One of the busiest courses in the world, Ala Wai is a favorite of McLachlin's because they allow you to play in sixsomes and because he and Wilson both grew up having high-school practice at this central-Waikiki course. |
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