KAPALUA, Maui — The hostess is ready to throw a week-long party.

The Bay Course, with 14 regrassed greens, more than 60 new teeing areas, a do-it-all short-game facility and a revamped putting green, hosts the inaugural Kapalua LPGA Classic this week.

The first look at the course for the professionals in attendance at Monday's opening practice round drew nothing but raves — along with some caution that the wind is coming.

''I think it is awesome, it is in great condition and the greens are perfect, so it is going to be a lot of fun this week,'' former University of Hawai'i golfer and 24-year LPGA veteran Cindy Rarick said to The Maui News. ''I have only played it a couple of times and it was at least 15 years ago, maybe even longer. But it was great to come out and play yesterday afternoon and I just played it again a few minutes ago.

''The course is just in magnificent shape, so it is going to be really interesting to see what kind of conditions we will be in, whether it will be windy or not.''

Rarick, a five-time LPGA winner who found out Sunday she made this field as an alternate, said it was windy on Sunday when she played, but not so yesterday.

''Yesterday was pretty windy and the greens were really fast on the front nine, but I spoke to (tournament chairman) Gary Planos and he said they are probably going to slow them down a bit because they were really quick yesterday.''

Rarick said that if the usual Kapalua trade winds show up, it will become a thinking game.

''You just have to pay so much more attention with your approach shots, where you want to be putting from on these greens because they have slopes and swales and those kinds of things,'' she said. ''You just don't want to be putting down-grain, downwind type of thing. You want to be putting up into the hole.''

Rarick came in early and spent a few days at Wailea before coming to the west side. It gave her a chance to catch up on Maui golf memories.

''I got to play the (Wailea) Blue Course, where we used to play the old Women's Kemper Open, and that was a thrill in itself,'' said Rarick, a Minnesota native who now lives in Arizona. ''Just to be back on Maui just feels great.''

She said the Kapalua is a perfect spot for the event, even as it searches for a title sponsor.

''Absolutely, this Kapalua side is just wonderful, the resort here is great, Gary Planos and his staff are just fantastic, I mean you just can't get a more top-notch tournament here,'' Rarick said. ''I think it would (attract a title sponsor). I mean you have a premier golf course, a premier resort with a Ritz-Carlton and the fact that the PGA Tour plays here as well now as the LPGA. That in itself adds a boost of credibility. I would think that someone will step up to the plate and we could have a title sponsor next year.''

Charlotta Sorenstam, the younger sister of Annika Sorenstam who is in the 132-player field on a sponsor's exemption, said the course was picturesque.

''I played nine holes this morning and it is just beautiful to look at, I mean you have got great views, great conditions and lots of hills to walk,'' Charlotta Sorenstam said. ''It was pretty light (wind) this morning, but it is picking up now so I am going to go do the back nine.''

Charlotta Sorenstam said the 6,240-yard, par-72 layout could favor longer hitters.

''I would think longer hitters because I assume it is going to be pretty windy,'' Charlotta Sorenstam said. ''There are some tough lies out there with the slopes, so I would think when you land in flat areas and have flat shots in, it will be better, so longer hitters. We will see.''

Charlotta said the home stretch of her Hall of Fame sister's career is going well. Annika Sorenstam is playing in her final full-field event here.

Charlotta Sorenstam said that Annika is trying to enjoy each stop in her career that has four more official tournaments in it.

''Yeah she is,'' Charlotta said. ''I'm sure she is not too happy with her results, but that is just the way golf is. I don't know if it has sunk in yet that some of the stops are the last ones, but I know she had a great, special moment at the U.S. Open, so we will see about this week.''

Annika Sorenstam last played earlier this month in the 20-player Samsung World Championship, where she finished 15th.

Taylor Leon, an LPGA Tour rookie out of the University of Texas who got into the field as an alternate when Se Ri Pak withdrew, played the course in the morning on yesterday.

''It is beautiful,'' she said. ''They re-did the greens and they are in great shape, they are rolling really well. It is beautiful views. This is my first time to Maui and I heard it is usually a lot more windy than it is today. Whenever the wind picks up on any course it makes it a lot harder and I'm sure out here it can really blow being right next to the ocean. It would be a lot harder and I think the greens would probably speed up, too.''

Leon said the players are happily anticipating the chance to play on Maui.

''Everybody is excited,'' she said. '''We are so lucky to get to come out here. I don't know anybody who wouldn't want to come and have this experience.''

Leon agreed with Charlotta Sorenstam, saying longer hitters may have an advantage this week.

''I think maybe longer hitters, but the course sets up fair for everybody,'' she said. ''There are a couple par-5s — I am probably an average hitter — and I think I can reach those.''

Johanna Head of England played the course on Friday and again yesterday.

'''I think the course is a really good test,'' Head said. ''When the wind blows — I played on Friday and the wind was very strong — that is going to be a real test. You have got to really think a lot. I don't think this is the norm right now. I believe it is going to be quite windy towards the end of the week, so you just have to have your thinking head on. You have just got to concentrate out there. It isn't just about target golf. You have got to think about what shots you are going to play — whether they will be low shots, high shots downwind and then you have got the grain to contemplate as well.''

Head's sister played in The Golf Channel's Big Break Ka'anapali a few months ago, just down the road from Kapalua.

''We haven't talked about it,'' Head said. ''She didn't give me any hints at all. I may have to get on the phone with her before Thursday.''

For more Maui news, visit www.mauinews.com.