Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tadd Fujikawa at the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club
ANOTHER HAWAII TEEN TURNS PRO
Tadd Fujikawa finishes tied for 20th in a PGA Tour event, the Sony Open in Hawaii 2007
Tadd Fujikawa. Sophomore at Moanalua High School. Between the summer of 2006 and February of 2007.
He won the hearts of the golf media and charmed the galleries when he played at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in 2006, becoming the youngest to play in an Open.
He stunned the world of professional golf when he made the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii this year with a perfectly stroked birdie putt on the 18th hole, shooting a 66 at Waialae Country Club. That made him the youngest golfer to make the cut on the PGA Tour. Then he finished the event in the top twenty.
He amazed Hawaii, and made national golf headlines, when he won the Hawaii Pearl Open at the Pearl Country Club against the top professional golfers in Hawaii and many from the mainland and Japan.
It has not been so perfect in the past six months. Fujikawa didn’t make the cut when he was invited to play at a professional event on the Japan PGA Tour and he didn’t win a qualifying spot to get to the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
So it came as a surprise when Fujikawa announced he was turning pro as of July 12, 2007 and making his first professional appearance at the Reno-Tahoe Open on August 2, 2007. Fujikawa is still going to high school at Moanalua. Plus he says he wants to go to college. So why make the jump to professional golf so early?
Fujikawa’s agent, Kevin Bell says Tadd talked to a lot of people, including his family, and decided the only way to push himself further was to turn professional. Tadd has already played and won as a junior golfer playing junior and adult competition.
Bell adds “He doesn’t believe he is going to take the world by storm. He needs to develop his game and take it to the next level. This was a way for him to do that.”
Fujikawa has a team of coaches he is working with at Sea Island in Georgia just off the coast. He was there for seven days working with swing coach Todd Anderson, putting coach Mike Shannon and Randy Myers, fitness coach. He told us on “The Golf Club” radio show “Sea Island is an island, just like Hawaii”. He couldn’t believe the similarities.
Some of the coaching work is going to be done via email, with Fujikawa sending a video of his swing and his coaches checking it out and sending him feedback. Right now he is just working on all parts of game, something he says separates the amateurs and the professionals. You’ve got to keep working on your game.
How are his parents about the decision? Tentative at first, but they support Tadd’s decision completely. They always have, making sure that despite the expense of traveling and staying in motels, he was always where he needed to be to compete.
Lori Fujikawa, one of Tadd’s closest friends and his mother, says her life won’t change. She’ll still work and so will dad Derrick. Tadd was beating dad on the golf course by the age of 11 but dad could still take him down in judo. That was the sport Tadd got into first as a kid. He excelled in judo, even though he was often the smallest kid and maybe that’s because Tadd fought to survive from the time he was born.
Tadd Fujikawa entered this world 3 ½ months early. He weighed only 1 pound 15 ounces and fit in his grandfathers palm. The doctors gave him a 50 percent chance to live and only after many operations.
So if anyone wants to know if Tadd Fujikawa is ready for the ups and downs of golf, as a professional, well he has already lived through more than most of us have.
Fujikawa says he feels good about this decision and “as of right now, there’s no going back.”
Fujikawa says he’d like to thank everyone for all their support!
ANOTHER LPGA EVENT IN HAWAII
The LPGA is adding a third tournament in Hawaii in 2008, this one an event on the Bay Course at the Kapalua Resort in Maui that will help the tour transition to its Asian swing. The 72-hole event in October will precede LPGA tournaments in Korea, Japan and Thailand. "We are excited about adding the Kapalua LPGA Classic to the 2008 LPGA schedule," said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. The tournament will carry a $1.5 million purse. Next up for Kapalua is finding a title sponsor for the tournament. "We at Kapalua Resort are thrilled to bring this top women's golf event to Maui," said Gary Planos, Kapalua Resort's senior vice president of resort operations. "World-class golf is a tradition at Kapalua Resort and we are looking forward to the best female professional golfers competing here in October 2008." The PGA Tour plays the Mercedes Championship on the Planatation Course at Kapalua.
2007 WESTFIELD ALOHA SECTION JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
David Fink, Iolani High School student, wins the Hawaii qualifier of the 2007 Westfield Junior PGA Championship
Kristina Merkle of Honolulu wins the Hawaii qualifier of the 2007 Westfield Junior PGA Championshp
As our two Hawaii qualifiers, David Fink and Kristina Merkle, got on their flights bound for Ohio and the 2007 Westfield Junior PGA Championship, there were 3 more Hawaii born players already on the mainland and qualified to compete. Two of them transplanted to the mainland to be closer to the competition and the mainland style golf courses and play.
Kimberly Kim and her mom moved while dad continues to work the family orchid farm on the Big Island to keep his family going.
Chan Kim and his family moved from Kaimuki and lives in Arizona, the same state Kim moved to.
Kim and Kim were in.
Maui's Robert Greenleaf also qualified. Greenleaf, whose father Bill has been traveling with his son, has been winning on the Callaway PGA Junior golf tour. Greenleaf was leading the field in points for player of the year in the 13 to 15 year old age group, a title he won last year.
As the Westfield got underway, all of our Hawaii players were doing okay. By the second and third day, only two were left in contention. On the boys side, Kim was holding steady around 23rd where he eventually finished.
On the girls side, Kim was steadily improving her game until she found herself tied for the lead going into the final day with Alexis Thompson, the 12 year old who become the youngest amateur player to made the U.S. Women's Open field ever.
Kimberly Kim during the Westfield Junior PGA Championship
During that final girls round, Kim was leading. Unfortunately she couldn't hold on to the three stroke advantage and finally lost by one stroke to Thompson, the youngest to capture the Westfield. Here we go with “youngest” ever.
Kimberly Kim can’t hold off 12 year old Alexis Thompson
Seems not having to travel long distance has its advantages!
The Westfield is the premiere junior golf event put on by the PGA of America - the organization that holds the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and promotes golf through the First Tee program, Play Golf America, Women in Golf month and Family month among many other imaginative programs to get folks out on the course to have fun and grow the game.
US GIRLS JUNIOR
As this goes to post, Hawaii's Kimberly Kim is the medalist winner in the stroke play portion of the U.S. Girls Junior, another USGA event, this year held in Lakewood, Washington. She finished stroke play 10 under par! She had a 62 in the first round. She went into the match play part of the championship as first seed. There were a total of six girls from Hawaii playing. Stephanie Kono tied for 25th in stroke play, Cyd Okina tied for 38th, Elyse Okada tied for 43rd, Ayaka Kaneko tied for 51st. Kyung Kim didn't advance to the match play portion of the event.
PO’IPU
Poipu Bay Golf Course, on Kauai’s south shore, is offering a “Four Play for the Price of Three” kamaaina special through the end of the year. For Hawaii residents, that means the kamaaina green fee goes down to 50 dollars a person for groups of four kamaaina players. That price is good or any day of the week at any time of the day, even the peak morning hours. A Hawaii driver’s license is required for each player to qualify for the offer.
Poipu hosted the annual PGA Grand Slam of Golf for 12 years
Poipu was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. on 210 oceanfront acres.
ASPGA PRO PRO
The Wendys Skins game is moving to the Kaanapali Royal, a course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the hills just above Kaanapali.
This year the annual Aloha Section PGA Prolink Solutions and Srixon Pro-Pro Championship was played into sudden death playoff and after four holes, the team of Kevin Hayashi of Mauna Kea Resort and Joe Phengasavath, an Aloha Section PGA Apprentice at Mid Pacific Country Club, won.
Kevin Hayashi and Joe P. after their victory. Thank you Ed Kageyama for this wonderful shot
Kirk Nelson and Brian Sasada of Makena Golf Course shot a 66, 5 under par, to force the playoff.
NEW E.D. AT ASPGA
The Aloha Section PGA has chosen a new executive director.
Douglas Logan. ASPGA president Matt Hall made the announcement. Hall, Director of Golf at Turtle Bay, says Logan “bring his experience in business and professional golf” and his love of the game “to grow our Section”.
Douglas Logan, begins his work as ASPGA executive director in the middle of this month
Logan has most recently been the Director of Tour Operations for the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Logan has been responsible for all operational aspects of the tour, including planning and budgeting, recruiting and training, formulating and implementing tour policies and working with sponsors and the media.
2007 MANOA CUP
Kurt Nino, Damien High graduate now studying Business at the University of San Francisco on a golf scholarship
It was a long time coming for Hawaii golfer Kurt Nino, Damien High school graduate and salutorian. He started playing the game at the age of 7, started playing in the Manoa Cup in 2003 and walked away the winner in 2007. The trip through junior golf into college golf for Nino, now on a golf scholarship to the University of San Francisco, hasn’t been easy. Nino has overcome a couple of obvious obstacles following his passion. The hard work got him back to top condition and to this major victor. The Manoa Cup is Hawaii’s most prestigious amateur golf tournament in the islands and the fourth oldest in the country.
First we’ll talk about the tournament held at the Oahu Country Club in Nuuanu Valley. Nino played against some of the best amateur golfers in Hawaii, including the defending champion Jonathon Ota.
During our 45 minute interview on "The Golf Club", Nino said it helped that he'd played against and beat Brandon Kop in the past. It gave him that extra confidence he needed against a 4 time Manoa Cup champion who knows the Oahu Country Club terrain better than most.
In the final against a very good player from USC, Edward Stenftennagel, Nino found himself playing a putt that ended his quest to win the tournament way back in 2003. In 2003, it was the championship round against Kellen Lloyd Asao. They were on the 12 hole when Asao drained a 25 foot putt for the win. This year, Nino says he found himself on the 12th hole, pin right side, middle of the green. He was 30 feet left. Nino felt like déjà vu. “Wow, if I make this putt, I’ll win with the putt that beat me in 2003.”
Then came the obligatory dunking into the swimming pool at the Oahu Country Club. Nino told me he was amazed how high they were able to throw him. "They" included the head professional at Oahu Country Club, Andrew Feldman and defeated defending champion Ota. Nino said, “those guys were big enough to fling me”, (all 130 pounds of him) ”that’s the highest I’ve ever been!” Nino said UH Dive coach Mike Brown gave him an 8.5 on his reentry and asked Nino about his eligibility for the college swim team. (Wink, wink!)
Check out the picture and you decide.
Kurt Nino get the traditional toss into the Oahu Country Club pool
Most Valuable Nino Team Member? His dad and caddie. Nino says “Dad was the one who was next to me all week, giving me yardage, helping me read the putts, and spending hours analyzing, talking about what had happened during the day at night, and getting ready for the next day.”
Now to the serious stuff Nino went through to get here.
Recovering from injuries.
Nino told me what struck him the most was how “for granted” we take our physical abilities when we have them.
He injured his wrist, requiring him to leave golf completely for 6 months. After a lengthy rehab, he got his game back only to suffer a hernia. That knocked him off his feet for two weeks, literally. Nino says The University of San Francisco was very helpful with his recovery.
Today, he works on his abdominal muscles to keep his core strength, he works on his flexibility overall and his wrist in particular. It remains tight in the mornings.
Don't ever take your good health for granted!
TIGER’S TOURNAMENT
It was the first AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods at the Congressional County Club.
Follow these headlines:
Day One: “Woods in bullish mood despite opening 73”
Day Two: “Host Woods climbs back into contention”
Day Three: “Woods screams himself into contention”
Day Four: “Woods shoots himself out of contention”
There you have it. Woods didn’t win his first official PGA Tour event. The world’s top ranked player had a rough front nine on Sunday’s final round, after what he called “a lot of missed opportunities” over the three days before. He bogied the seventh, birdied the eighth and double bogeyed the ninth. He was already pretty much out after a bogey on the par four fourth, but is Woods really ever out?
For the second time in five weeks, the biggest South Korean star on the U.S. PGA Tour, K.J. Choi walked away with the trophy. The first trophy this year was given to him by Jack Nicklaus at the Memorial and the second by Tiger Woods at the Congressional.
K.J. Choi with the first AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods trophy
"This tournament is just too big for me to really absorb right now," Choi said. "But it's a very big win for me, and definitely the biggest win of my career." I think that’s what he said after the Memorial!
Choi shot a final-round 68 for a 9-under 271 total to win for the sixth time on the US PGA Tour, the most victories by an Asian-born player.
K.J. Choi with his children after his victory at the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods
Watch out, guys, Choi is after the FedEx Cup!
WASHINGTON WINNERS
So when is Tiger Woods smiling after coming in 6th in a tournament?
Tiger Woods with K.J. Choi at the AT&T National
When it's at his tournament and that tournament was a huge success. After finishing birdie birdie, Woods tipped his hat to the crowds on the three hillsides surrounding the 18th green at the Congressional, swirling his putter, ambled off to present the trophy to K.J. Choi.
He also talked about how excited he was talking to Elin on the phone, about their little Sam and this new "baby", the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods revealing his wife Elin was in the hospital when he was playing in the U.S. Open. She told him there was nothing he could do and to go out and get a “W”.
"Elin's been watching the tournament on TV, and we talk about how pleased we are with the way it's all gone off," Woods said. "She wishes she could be here. The support this area has given us has exceeded all our expectations. We want this event to be in Washington in perpetuity." "Forever," he said. "Right here."
Tiger means both Washington, which produced a crowd of 37,000 fans on Sunday, larger by 2,000 than the final U.S. Open crowd at Oakmont, and Congressional itself, with its distinguished golf legacy and sprawling magnificence.
"I've met President [George H.W.] Bush before and [Secretary of State] Condi Rice," Woods said of two of this week's many prominent attendees. "But the thing that moved me the most was seeing a detachment from Fort Bragg. That was exactly my father's detachment. That was my dad."
That was Woods intention at the beginning of the tournament, when he spoke days before the tournament began.
There are some scheduling conflicts with USGA events already planned for the Congressional. "There's no way to know how '09 and '11 will work out right now. It's just too soon," Woods said. Some speculate Woods would go so far as to renovate a property in the area just to keep his event there. We'll see.
It is clear Woods is excited about the impact the tournament is going to have on the community. He wants the money raised at this East Coast venue to create another Tiger Woods Learning Center, like the one he has already opened on the West Coast.
"This has been an unbelievable event. It felt like a mini-major out there because of the course, Tiger as the host and the [strong] field," runner-up Steve Stricker said. "Put all that together and you had a great-feeling tournament, run really well. Add the twist of the Fourth of July and all the military around -- it was great. I'll be back."
"He isn't the 800-pound gorilla in golf. He's the 10,000-pound gorilla," one influential member said. Some in the club would appreciate it if Woods could use his vast influence in the game to make sure that, if Congressional welcomes his event frequently, it will not hurt the club's future chances to hold world-class events such as the U.S. Open or even a Ryder Cup.
"I don't know how much pull I have with the PGA of America," which controls the Ryder Cup, Woods said. "I lobbied for Mark O'Meara [to be captain], and you see how much good that did him."
Surprising to some was the level of enthusiasm from a “gallery” that never had a Tiger charge to celebrate. Early in the day, as third-round leader Stuart Appleby collapsed, the front nine erupted with one Woods-size birdie cheer after another. Woods made no birdies, and two bogeys. The crowd was simply charged at being at Woods event getting behind all of the comers – including Choi, Stricker, Robert Allenby and Jim Furyk at various points, as they moved up the leader board.
Woods heard those explosions, too, and even ventured, perhaps a bit enthusiastically, that the day's atmosphere was right on par with the mood at the '02 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, one of the best scenes in recent memory.
"We're just going to keep making this event better," Woods said of his infant tournament. Already, Elin wants to come next year. How about Sam Alexis, too?
"Can babies come to golf tournaments?" Tiger wondered.
"I don't know. I'm new to all of this."
BABY WOODS
At the beginning of the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods, he talked about Sam Alexis and why her first name is “Sam”. It wasn’t because he wanted a boy. The name “Sam” came from his father. Earl Woods used to call Tiger “Sam”. When Tiger asked his dad why he called him “Sam” and not Tiger, Tiger says dad replied “because you look like a Sam”.
Sam Alexis Woods
The pictures of the Woods’ family are precious and, as you can see, the family is a lot larger than we thought with the two dogs added to the mix!
Tiger, Elin, Sam and gang
The official family portrait
Just daddy and me!
ALOHA DENNIS ROSE
Dennis Rose, the District 11 Director for the Aloha, Northern California and Southern California PGA Sections of the PGA of America, died on July 13th after a long battle with cancer. Rose, the PGA director of golf and general manager of the Francis H. I’I Brown Golf Courses at Mauna Lani Resort in Kamuela, Hawaii is survived by his loving family, his wife Laura, two sons, David and Stephen, his parents Whitney and Rita Rose and his sister, Patricia Jamesson.
In an email, Ron Castillo, PGA professional, wrote about one special memory of Rose. It was the day he played a practice round with Dennis and a few other Hawaii professionals in the CPC championship in Palm Springs. Castillo says they were looking at a tablecloth in someone’s back yard and Rose called it “palaka”, the plantation fabric. As a result of that memory, Castillo made red and white ribbons, “palaka” style, to pin on the caps they wore at the Pro Pro event played at Kaanapali the middle of July.
Rose was a wonderful man who loved the gamed and enjoyed sharing his stories with everyone, including the folks on “The Golf Club” radio show. He was always happy to “grow the game” with his enthusiasm.
The family asked that instead of flowers, folks donated to the West Hawaii Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
U.S. SENIOR OPEN AT WHISTLING STRAITS
Brad Bryant, right, is congratulated by Herb Kohler Jr., on the 18th hole after winning the U.S. Senior Open golf tournament Sunday, July 8, 2007, at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis. Bryant shot a 4-under 68 to win the tournament by three strokes. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Brad Bryant took advantage of another US Senior Open flameout by Tom Watson, shooting a 4-under-par 68 to complete the second-biggest comeback in tournament history on Sunday. Bryant's birdie on the 16th hole at Whistling Straits gave him the lead as Watson frittered away six shots in a five-hole stretch on the back nine -- the latest in a series of final-round disappointments for Watson in the high-profile senior major. Bryant, 52, won only once in more than two decades on the US PGA Tour. But he finished third on the Champions Tour money list last year with two victories, and won again at the Regions Charity Classic in May. It was the first victory in a senior major for Bryant, who finished second in last year's Senior US PGA championship.
LPGA AND WIE
Cristie Kerr smiles as she holds her trophy after winning the 2007 Women's U.S. Open golf championship in Southern Pines, N.C., Sunday, July 1, 2007 AP Photo
It’s been a long time coming for Cristie Kerr. She’s been on the LPGA Tour for ten years. She’s won 9 tournaments but never the big one, a career defining “major”, until July 1st when she won the US Women’s Open at Southern Pines in North Carolina.
With a five-under-par 279, Kerr claimed her tenth LPGA title and her first major, while Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, who shot a 71, and Brazil's Angela Park, who birdied the last for a 70, were tied for second two shots behind.
Cristie Kerr (facing camera) reacts as she is hugged by Lorena Ochoa, of Mexico, after Kerr won 2007 Women's U.S. Open golf championship in Southern Pines, N.C., Sunday, July 1, 2007. Ochoa finished in second place. AP Photo
It was a tough loss for the world’s number one LPGA player. Ochoa was tied with Kerr with five holes to play, but fell behind to a birdie at the 14th before contributing to her own downfall with a poor tee shot at the 17th where her drive hit a tree and dropped into a bunker. Ochoa is still trying to “validate” her number one world ranking with a win at a major event.
The first major of the year went to relative newcomer Morgan Pressel, who became the youngest LPGA member to win when she walked away with the win at the McDonald Championship. Kerr had to be happy for Pressel. They’re close friends. Pressel was a bridesmaid at Kerr’s wedding.
The best way for me to describe how Ochoa handled her defeat is to use this quote from one of Doug Ferguson’s articles. Ferguson is usually first in at the media rooms, and constantly taking in the nuances of the personalities and the many PGA Tour, LPGA and USGA players at the events he covers for the Associated Press. “Ochoa, of course, continues to be the class of the LPGA Tour, even though she hasn't won a major. She already has won three times this year to rise to No. 1 in the world. Although her drought is now 0-for-23 in the majors, Ochoa wasn't worried. Few players under such pressure to win a major have handled defeat with such peace and dignity. ‘That's the way I am,’ she said. ‘There are times when I will really either just be sad or upset. It really hurts when I don't win. But at the same time, it's
just life. I'm going to go home now and have a good time with my family, my friends. They came here, and I have no reason to be upset and cry in my room.’”
MICHELLE’S WORLD
Some wonder why the public reaction to Michelle Wie and her failing game has been so negative. I think it’s in part because the rules have been bent or changed for her so often. I think the “collective” will allow the rules to be bent as long as you thrill them with spectacular results but if you let the collective down after it made so many concessions, well then it cries for blood. It’s the Roman forum and the thumbs are down! But it’s just until she’s back on top.
Michelle Wie speaks to officials as she sits in a car waiting to leave Saturday, June 30, 2007, after withdrawing from the tournament midway through the second round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, in Southern Pines, N.C. Wie withdrew because of pain in her wrist.
If Wie is being headstrong, determined to get back out in the spotlight and the thrill of competition, just because she wants to be where the action is, her parents need to “ground” her.
If her parents feel an “obligation” to the sponsors to deliver their child prodigy to perform services for payments received, they’re being short sighted. Plus she’s grown out of her child prodigy status and there are lots of new child prodigies on the way up the ladder.
Maybe it’s time for her coach to re-evaluate his priorities. David Leadbetter recently said Wie was like having a “Ferrari you couldn’t drive”. Heck, first of all she isn’t a machine. Second, we don’t treat thoroughbreds like her handlers are treating her. Wie shouldn’t be playing, much less taking, hard hitting punches out of the rough. That’s not just my opinion.
I’ve heard it repeated time and time again. Her first coach, Casey Nakama, told me on “The Golf Club” that Michelle shouldn’t be playing. Not only is it bad for her wrist, its disastrous for her self-confidence. One of her former fitness trainers, who occasionally works for one of the big swing teachers, told me she shouldn’t be playing.
Instead of working with trainers, Michelle is working with a physical therapist who understands the physical needs of a golfer. That’s the woman you see constantly massaging Michelle’s wrist between shots.
Michelle Wie gets her wrist examined by her physical therapist Leanne Quinn as they make their way down the 18th fairway Saturday, June 30, 2007, during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. Wie withdrew from the tournament midway through her second round because of pain in her wrist.
I’ve now learned from GolfWeek that Michelle is going to be visiting the Baltimore based specialist Dr. Thomas Graham and physical therapist Gray Cook.
David Leadbetter is also talking about Wie taking the summer off. “With an injury like this, you need to rehab, retrain, gain confidence and get competitive again. This is not Michelle playing golf at the moment, it’s her evil twin.”
Leadbetter has said things in the past like “Michelle will stop playing men’s events and focus on the LPGA” only to have her parents tell us the opposite. The most recent when we found out she had accepted the PGA Tour John Deere Classic sponsor invitation.
Tournament officials at the Evian Masters in France, held after my deadline, and the Richoh Women’s British Open the next week, both say they expect Michelle Wie to tee it up at their events and a source in the Wie camp has told Golf World she’ll make the trip to Europe. Other sources say she is hitting the ball better but still somewhat erratically.
She’s not going to make any friends on the LPGA, and she hasn’t many left, if she keeps entering their events only to withdraw because of aggravated injury to the wrist.
Michelle Wie watches her playing partners putt on the 16th green during the completion of round two of the U.S. Women's Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club on June 30, 2007 in Southern Pines, North Carolina. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images)
We can only hope prudence and patience win out and not the need to be “where the action is”. There is plenty of time for her to be in the spotlight after she’s healed. Look at Venus Williams. She suffered incredibly recovering from a wrist injury. The waiting for the healing, the rehab, the rebuilding of muscles, then rebuilding her game and capping it all off winning her fourth title at Wimbledon.
I hope Wie and her team is thinking in terms of her long-term health and career. The more she “reinjures” or aggravates the healing process, the more scar tissue she is danger of developing.
ALOHABUCKS?
We hear or talk about this economic problem a lot but we haven’t done anything to correct the situation. How to keep the money spent in Hawaii, circulating in Hawaii’s economy.
So here comes an idea from New England. In towns in western Massachusetts, you can buy and sell using local currency. They’re called BerkShares. There are about 844,000 BerkShares in circulation, worth $759,600 at the fixed exchange rate of 1 BerkShares to 90 U.S. cents. The paper script is available in one, five, 10, 20 and 50 BerkShare notes. In the 10 months they’ve been in circulation, they’ve become a feature of the local economy. They were designed to support the locally owned businesses over the national chains. They keep the local money, in the local economy. Businesses that take BerkShares treated them like dollars: a $1 cup of coffee is 1 BerkShare, a ten percent discount for people paying in BerkShares.
BerkShares are accepted in about 280 cafes, coffee shops, grocery stores and other businesses.
Susan Witt, the executive director of the E.F. Schumacher Society, a non-profit that set up the program says folks are buying their lunch, coffee, small presents with BerkShares and it helps keep the money coming in from the tourists from New York and weekenders from other areas, in the small communities.
There are about a dozen similar efforts underway in other parts of the country including California, Kansas, Michigan, and Oregon.
WOMEN FRIENDLY
Lana’i’s Challenge at Manele and Maui’s Wailea Emerald are among the top 50 Courses for Women, according to Golf for Women magazine. Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in North Carolina is one the top of the list. A top 50 Course must be open to the public, have at least one set of tees under 5,300 yards and should have at least two under 6,000. A minimum of two tees should be rated for women. It also should have a “few forced carries from the forward tees, be in top condition and present a women-friendly environment.”
TOP HAWAII TEACHERS
Golf Digest has chosen the top Hawaii golf teachers. Jerry King of Kapalua Golf Academy was chosen number one and Eddie Lee of the David Leadbetter Hawaii Academy ranked second. Ben Hongo from Kapalua, Casey Nakama from the Casey Nakama Golf Development Center at Olomana, and Ian Hume of Kapalua Golf Academy were third, fourth and fifth.
Nationwide, the top three are: Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter and Hank Haney.
COSMETIC TIP
A tip for ladies who like to look their best on the golf course but don't want that "made up" make up look, check out Avi P. Cosmetics. The foundation has both sun damage protection agents in it, so you're protected from the sun’s burning and aging rays plus it looks very natural.
The best place to go check out Avi P. Cosmetics is "Permanent Elegance". You can see all of the colors, beautiful smooth, silky foundation and the best concealer.
Here is a link to Avi P. Cosmetics: www.naturalcolor.biz/store
“Permanent Elegance” is in the University area, 2570 So. Beretania, between Burger King and Jiffy Lube, with parking in the front. The number is 808 944 8881.
“Permanent Elegance” also offers permanent makeup. Gigi is the person to ask for. She is a master at the art.
“Permanent Elegance” isn’t just for women. Men would benefit from a little eyebrow grooming with Gigi at “Permanent Elegance”. I know it sounds weird, guys, but you'll be surprised how much of a difference it'll make in your overall look. Believe me, some of THE well-known men in town and country trust their eyebrows to Gigi at “Permanent Elegance”!
I hope you tune in for my next gathering of "The Golf Club" on the radio. It's every Saturday morning at 7 AM on KUMU AM 1500 on Oahu, KONI FM 104.3 on Maui, KTOH 99.9 on Kauai and KPUA AM 670 on the Big Island. In the meantime, thank you for your Mana and my you hit the sweet spot every time!
Aloha, Danielle
PS If you have something you'd like to talk about or have me feature on the radio show, just log on to www.radiogolfclub.com and click on the contact button. I'll be in touch.
