Saturday, November 7, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
| Audio Clip (.mp3) |
| Click here to hear Tadd Fujikawa sum up his experience of the Sony Open in Hawaii |
Yes, Tadd Fujikawa could have shot a better round on Sunday, but as he said, “That’s golf”. He did the best he could and he finished 32nd and took home a little less than 30 thousand dollars.
One of the headlines, from ESPN.com, “Despite odds, Fujikawa stands tall”, was written by Jason Sobel. Sobel writes, from the top:
“This edition of the Weekly 18 starts with an apology. A sincere “I’m sorry” goes out to Zach Johnson, who won the Sony Open on Sunday. And another one is aimed at Paul Casey, who claimed the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. On most weeks, fellas, if you take the trophy, you’ll take the honors for the best story, too, receiving more headlines than your peers for some quite obvious reasons.
Not this week.
Not when an 18-year-old kid named Tadd Fujikawa momentarily seizes a share of the lead in his hometown PGA Tour event by shooting a third round 62. No matter that he faltered to a share of 32nd place when all was said and done Sunday; Fujikawa had already left another indelible mark in the professional ranks.” Jason Sobel, ESPN.com.
We know Fujikawa’s incredible story from his birth to his maturing into a fine young man as son, student, amateur and now a professional golfer. Fujikawa turned professional shortly after his headline making performance in the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii. Given a sponsor exemption then, Fujikawa made the cut and finished in the top 20 but didn’t earn any more because he was still an amateur golfer. Then as a professional, Fujikawa traveled around the world playing on a number of different Tours, including the European and Japan, but he didn’t really ride the wave that first significant break at the Sony Open provided.
Fujikawa’s mom, Lori Fujikawa, told the Honolulu Advertiser’s Ferd Lewis, this time she’ll be working her son a bit harder. “I’m going to give him the rest of the day off, but then I’m going to crack the whip.”
Fujikawa has obviously been working hard on his game in the past few months. He wasn’t given a sponsor’s exemption in 2009. That meant earning his way in during Monday qualifying. He did it in fine form, shooting a 67 at Turtle Bay’s Palmer Course, to get one of the four qualifying spot available.
After earning that spot, Fujikawa told the Honolulu Advertiser’s Bill Kwon, “It’s like a redemption. I feel good about earning my way in – not getting an invitation and Monday-qualifying. It makes it feel that much better. I’ve worked hard for it.
He had a lot of work ahead and he knew it. After a little bit of a ragged start, Fujikawa made the cut. But as he told us on “The Golf Club” radio show, after his second round, “It’s awesome. You know, going from Monday-qualifying to making the cut. And you know I still have two more days. I have to stay focused. I’m out there to win. And that’s what it is all about.”
This 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii week was all about the wind. That was the week the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii basically shut down in preparation for what was supposed to be a near hurricane force south wind. As it turned out the wind was worst on the first two days. It quietly died out for the weekend.
| Audio Clip (.mp3) |
| Click here to listen to Tadd Fujikawa talk about the conditions at Waialae Country Club |
As Tadd told “The Golf Club”, just be consistent. That’s all he set out to be going into “moving” day on Saturday. He was that and more. He was phenomenal. He almost broke the course record and, at one point, shared the lead at the top of the leaderboard. Despite a few lipped out putts, Fujikawa shot a 62.
“Yea, I could have been better,” said Fujikawa, “ I think I had three lip-outs today. So it could have been better but I’ll take a 62. I really will.”
| Audio Clip (.mp3) |
| Click here to listen to Tadd Fujikawa talk about that Saturday round with his caddy |
Fujikawa finished the weekend with a Sunday round of 73.
Fujikawa wasn't the only Hawaii player in the Sony Open in Hawaii field. PGA Tour members Dean Wilson and Parker McLachlin were there but couldn't quite get their game to gel. Both had late tee times on Thursday, the worst time to start because of the gusting Kona winds. But Wilson had the hardest fall on the last day. Wilson was right on the line but the putt just lipped out. If it had dropped out, he would have been in for weekend play. Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year John Lynch, also hurt by the luck of the tee time, said he was just happy to have played in the event even if he didn't make the cut.
14-year-old Lorens Chan, who qualified for the Sony Open by winning the amateur spot given to the best player on the Governor John A. Burns Challenge Cup Amateur Team, was all smiles despite not making the cut. Chan shot an excellent 72-75, but failed by 6 strokes in his attempt to become the youngest player to ever make a PGA Tour cut. Chan wasn't just prepping for opening day on Wednesday. He was shopping for slacks. He was wearing shorts when one of the PGA Tour staff let him know he ought to wear pants through the week.
Turning the corner of the dogleg left on the 16th hole of Waialae is one of the best views on the course. There is an added feature this year.
Waialae spent $10,000 last year bending the shape of four palm trees to form a large "W" behind the green. The palms, with the ocean as a backdrop, look similar to the scene from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." One of my favorite classic comedies.
PRO AM PLAYER, 82, GETS ACE
Congratulations to the winning 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii Pro Am team.
Paired up with Carl Pettersson, Jerry Tambalo, Bill Dornbush, Keith Matsunaga and Corbett Kalama took home the victory. Their score of 53 was one stroke better than the second place team led by Ryuji Imada.
After 63 years of playing as a member and guest, Clarence K.H. Yee finally got his first hole-in-one at Waialae Country Club at the Sony Open in Hawaii Pro-Am on Wednesday.
And because it was on a prize hole, the par-3, 189-yard 17th, the 82-year-old Yee won an 18-karat Harry Winston Excenter Timepiece, valued at $18,000.
"This was the greatest thing that happened to me since I shot my age at 68," said Yee, a Honolulu insurance executive, who was paired with PGA Tour pro Kenny Perry.
MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
“The Golf Club” was broadcasting live from the Mercedes-Benz Championship, where the top of the line Mercedes-Benz automobiles were on display including this Mercedes-Benz SLR McClaren that sells for a cool $536,000
MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
Punahou graduate Parker McLachlin collected $64,000 in his first appearance at Mercedes, closing with a 71 to finish with a share of 24th — just ahead of defending champion Daniel Chopra. McLachlin was 6-over after the first 14 holes of this tournament and played the final 58 holes in 12-under.
Because of a lightning storm just hours before daybreak on Sunday, the last day, the entire field got a late start. With the split-tee start, McLachlin started on the back and birdied the 18th for the fourth straight day to make the turn in 3-under. A double-bogey on the first hole followed, but McLachlin had two more birdies on the front sandwiched around a bogey.
The winner, Geoff Ogilvy, started strong and finished his last 9 holes in spectacular fashion. If he looks a little bedraggled, that’s because he uses an electric shaver and didn’t bring the adapter to use the US outlet. So, instead of buying a plastic throw away, Ogilvy didn’t shave. After the first day, on top of the leaderboard, he really couldn’t shave. It’s a golfer thing, They’re kind of superstitious. And maybe he shouldn’t have shaved after his Mercedes-Benz win. He was clean-shaven for the Sony Open in Hawaii and he didn’t do as well as he would have liked. Zach Johnson took that trophy home.
MAUI’S SECRET YOU NEED TO KNOW
“The Golf Club” stayed in the beautiful Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas.
With the flights very inexpensive throughout February, I recommend you get over to Maui, check out this excellent condo-hotel, with excellent accommodations including the Heavenly bed, Jacuzzi bathtub in every bathroom, along an excellent beach, with keiki programs and pool and some of the best golf courses including the Kapalua Plantation Course and the Kaanapali North just minutes away. Then take a trip on the zipline at the Kapalua Adventure Center. I did.
PEARL OPEN
Tadd Fujikawa is playing in the Honda Pearl Open this month. You are invited to come and be part of the gallery to see the top players from Hawaii, Japan and the mainland compete for a first place prize of $60 thousand dollars.
We watched Ryo Ishikawa before he became a household name in action the past few years at the Pearl Open at the Pearl Country Club. Now this young man is making HUGE money, he is winning on the Japan Tour and he’s playing with a million dollar driver.
Ryo Ishikawa, a 17-year-old, will test the club, which cost 100 million yen to develop by Japanese sports maker Yonex and could boost his distance off the tee to 350 yards, during the 2009 season. "The ball feels lighter somehow," Ishikawa told local media on Tuesday. "It's a strange feeling. I've never hit it so far. I can have a real go at driving 350 yards now."
Ishikawa is already one of Japan's biggest sporting celebrities, finished tied for 13th to pass the "million dollar" barrier and shatter Shigeki Maruyama's record. He became the youngest ever golfer to win more than $1 million in prize money in Japanese Golf tour in 2007, at age of 15. He won his first tournament as a professional golfer last November at the ABC Championship after turning professional at the start of 2008.
PLUS, Ishikawa is going to the Masters, making his debut at the major on April 9. "At a young age Mr Ishikawa has shown the skill and competitiveness to make him a deserving recipient of this invitation," Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said in a statement.
"We see this as an opportunity to expose an emerging talent on a world stage and fulfil our objective to grow the game.
"I am optimistic his participation in the Masters will inspire younger players and increase interest in golf in Asia and beyond." Ishikawa, who helped Asia beat Europe to claim the Royal Trophy earlier this month, will be 17 years six months and 23 days when the opening major of the season starts.
ABU DHABI
Paul Casey sealed his first victory in two years. He finished the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship one-stroke clear of the field and made a new record winning score for the event.
Defending champion Martin Kaymer finished second. The 24-year-old German shot a bogey-free, five-under 67 that included an eagle at the last. Sitting alongside Kaymer in joint second place on 20-under was Louis Oosthuizen. The South Afrincan shot the joint best round of the day. He birdied two of his first three holes and finished the front nine with back-to-back birdies to reach the turn in 32.
Oosthuizen repeated that score on the back nine, picking up four further birdies for an eight-under 64. But the day belonged to Casey. The 2007 Abu Dhabi champion started the day with a four-stroke lead. He birdied the first two holes and picked up two more shots at the sixth and eighth holes to lead by six strokes at the turn.
The 31-year-old Englishman tapped in a short par putt at the 18th for a two-under 70 and finished one-stroke clear of the field on 21-under to claim his ninth title of his European Tour career.
THE GOLF COMMUNITY CLOSES RANKS
It was an exciting meeting at the Ko'olau Golf Course on December 9th of last year. The Aloha Section PGA had it’s biennial meeting to present a study about the economic impact golf has on Hawaii’s economy and to get feedback on a possible golf industry first – a concerted effort by all to promote Hawaii as a golf destination.
Whether golf course superintendent, golf course head professional, hotel operator, restaurant employee, car rental agent, apparel distributor, sales and marketing specialist, golf association member, or Joe Public, we were all invited to talk about what we can all do to make Hawaii a world class golf course destination and golf friendly for the kama'aina golfer too.
The idea was to get as many people together to talk about the challenges we are facing, tackle them and maybe even create the “Hawaii Golf Industry Alliance”, a vehicle through which the entire industry can lobby with one voice.
The Hawaii Hotel Association is a perfect example of an industry getting together as one force and one voice, but with input from the "little" players as well as the hotel owners and operators.
First we heard from a consultant hired to run the numbers. The result is impressive with one caveat. The data was collected during a period of extremely good economic times.
The Economic Impact Study concluded the golf industry generated $1.4 billion of direct economic impact and a total of $2.5 billion in total economic impact to our state.
Yes, golfers eat, drink, sleep, drive, check out the attractions, and buy stuff, just like other visitors plus they play golf.
In addition to providing a large tax base and quite a few good jobs, the golf industry gives back to our community by making significant contributions to those less fortunate than others.
We've heard all of this before. So what's the big deal? It's one thing to boast about how important the golf industry is to the State to justify golf promotion packages to be paid for with state money. It is quite another for the trickle down to be felt by all of those involved in the business.
Are the advertising dollars being spent well? We can do better.
I like this example of well-spent golf promotion dollars.
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The promotion doesn't say come to Alabama and by the way, we have this golf thing going on. It says, there's this great golf destination called the "Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail" and it happens to be in Alabama. Come on down.
People already know Hawaii is a beautiful place. If we want to "brand", we need to show more golf and less waterfalls, erupting volcanoes and tiki torches.
The answer? Give everyone a voice, create common goals and accomplish them.
That's when the conference got interesting. When we got a chance to actually voice our thoughts with someone influential listening, it felt like we were beginning to accomplish something.
We broke up into four groups moderated by very knowledgeable people including the incoming president of the PGA of America Jim Remy, Mark Rolfing, Thos Rohr and Mary Bea Porter-King.
Each group was asked three questions and we had 45 minutes to wrap it up answers.
Here is a look at the highlights:
<http://aloha.pga.com/gui/aloha130/pageimages/education/Education2008/2008BreakOutSessions.pdf>
When we reconvened, it was interesting going through the ideas each group came up with. Many of them were exactly the same.
The industry is threatened, in general, by the lack of time people have. Most people say they can't go out for 18 holes of golf and spend time with the family on the weekend.
So how about making 9 holes more appealing and making the courses family friendly?
How do we get around the baggage restrictions imposed during gas crunch of 2008? Appeal to the airlines? Make rentals - shoes and club - better?
This all sounds simplistic but it's often the simple things that make the biggest differences. Take the bed in a hotel room. How important is a comfortable bed? Just the most important part of my vacation cause if I don't get a good night sleep, I'm not playing at the top of my game, no matter what I'm doing.
If you have any further ideas that you would like to share, please send them directly to the attention of Jim Haugh, Executive Director for the Aloha Section at jhaugh@pgahq.com mailto:jhaugh@pgahq.com?subject=Golf%20Conference%20Feedback and they can be added to the record. This summary will serve as the blueprint for action for the Hawaii Golf Industry Alliance.
THE GOVERNOR JOHN A. BURNS CHALLENGE CUP
The 2009 Amateur team keeps the Cup. It was close.
Going into the final day, the singles matches, the Professional team had a 7-5 lead over the Amateurs. But on day two, the Amateurs they took just enough, 7.5 of the possible 12 points, to beat the Professionals 12.5-11.5.
T.J. Kua, freshman golfer at University of Hawaii, sank his 3-foot par putt on seventeen to clinch the match for the Amateur team.
It proved to be another great match and tremendous battle between Hawaii's best professional and amateur golfers with the championship coming down to the final matches of the day.
Joe Phengsavath had the only chance to rescue the Professionals but he couldn’t get the win from Lorens Chan. Their match was halved.
The Governor's Cup is Hawaii's version of the Ryder Cup, contested between the top twelve professionals and amateurs in the State. Teams are selected on the basis of outstanding performances in designated tournaments throughout the year. The first day's format includes two 18-hole team matches, a Four Ball Match (Best Ball) and a Foursome Match (Scotch). Individual matches will make up the final day's format.
This event honors the memory of the late Governor of Hawaii, John A. Burns, who was a strong leader and supporter of golf. Gov. Burns was inducted into the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame during its inaugural year in 1988 for his efforts in bringing the prestigious Canada Cup (World Cup) Matches and the Hawaiian Open here to Hawaii.
The outcome of the singles matches were as followed:
Professionals Amateurs
Kalani Kiaaina 5&4 Jonathon Ota
David Gerken 6&5 Max Bonk
Matt Pakkala 2&1 Alex Chu
John Hearn 1 up Brandan Kop
Lance Taketa 4&3 Bradley Shigezawa
Kevin Carll 4&3 Alex Ching
Beau Yokomoto 3&2 Travis Toyama
Regan Lee 1 up David Fink
Ron Castillo Jr. 3&2 Chris Igawa
Andrew Feldmann 5&4 Neal Takara
Tadd Fujikawa 2&1 T.J. Kua
Joe Phengsavath Halved Lorens Chan
PRESIDENT (THEN ELECT) OBAMA AT OLOMANA, MID-PACIFIC….
AND HE KNOWS HOW TO COUNT
You may ask yourself, why does President Barack Obama spend so much time playing golf while vacationing in Hawaii? You don’t hear about him chasing the little white ball across the links on the mainland. You may ask yourself, why we started playing golf in the first place, many hundreds of years ago. Whatever the actual reason may be, I have my own ideas.
In the British Isles, and throughout Europe, it’s almost expected that you’d be carrying a walking stick if you went out for a walk through the countryside. If you were herding animals, it would come in particularly handy to help spread wide your arms to move the animals.
My imagination takes me back to those heaths and long walks. While tending the livestock or on some endless journey to buy supplies, I can imagine myself contemplating the difficulties of hand to mouth living. There’s a rock in my path. I knock a rock with my stick. Subconsciously, I’d follow that rock, striking it again and again as I traveled my well-known route home.
On one of those walks, a fellow traveler or a friend on a similar trek, joined me. He knocked his own rock along. After all, he could knock his rock as far and to the same location as mine, he challenged.
We talked, walked and knocked, or rolled, our rock, home.
Where else today can you walk, talk and – once out of the range of camera and public eye – walk, talk and knock a rock around in absolute quiet and relative solitude and reflect on the many challenges we face in our more complex but still difficult state of life on earth.
Obama spent more than five hours one Sunday in December on the rolling Olomana Golf Links. He followed the next day with another round. Then he moved Christmas Eve to Mid Pacific Country Club. Both courses are very close to his vacation house in Kailua. And you can’t beat the view of the Ko’olau mountain range from those angles.
Do we really care how well President Obama plays golf? I don’t. I’m glad the man likes to get out in the middle of beautiful parks, walk and talk with friends and confidants, and hit a “rock” around. Guys need to feel like they’re getting something done while they take a stroll with the birds and the mongoose.
Before starting his round at Olomana, he stepped up to the driving range and stretched for several minutes, putting the club behind his back and bending over slowly. (You know stretching with your clubs behind your back isn’t enough of a warm-up BUT President Obama just came from a workout at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Semper Club so he was already very warmed up!) He hit several practice drives, the first going far off to the right, with the following shots straightening out and growing in distance. “He’s a lefty!” said one man, who was peering through the fence to catch a glimpse of Mr. Obama. Smiling, Obama made small talk as he walked past the photographers snapping away until his smile faded, just enough, to say “O.K. guys, come on, how many shots do you need?”
You know this had to happen. Tom Patri, one of America's top teachers and head golf instructor at Friar's Head on Long Island, analyzed snapshots of the left-handed player's game for the New York Daily News.
Here's what he saw:
The picture where he is halfway into his downswing motion is not all that bad for a golfer who clearly doesn't get a bunch of time to practice. The shaft of the club is in a fairly on-plane condition, not something this teaching professional is used to seeing from the average recreational player.
However, a few things in this position trouble me. No. 1, he seems to have some excessive knee flex, not unusual for a tall player who may be playing with misfit clubs or possibly poor posture during the setup condition. No. 2, he has the club face a bit shut - and together with his grip, a few Secret Service men could be sent scurrying into the tall grass for his golf balls.
After 30 years of looking at grips, these eyes can see a weakness from a mile away. Obama is a left-handed player, and if you examine closely his lead hand [the right], it is easy to see that the club is placed too high in his palm. We call that a weak lead hand and, along with the faulty face, it leads me to believe he probably plays from shut to open, which will lead to a weak slice at times. In other words, this Democrat hits it left when he aims down the middle. This is exactly the reverse of what we want to happen. Just like our economy, all he has to do to right the ship is reverse the course of action.
He must first and foremost strengthen his right-hand grip.
Obama also seems to have a lack of unwinding/pivoting of his lower body. (Mr. President-elect, you need to get the hips to swivel a bit sooner in the downswing motion if we are going to create any speed. Otherwise, Dwight D. will hit it past you, and he is dead!)
The brief video clip we saw shows him to be pretty darn athletic. He has a wonderful range of motion and a fairly good sense of balance. It would not take a great deal of work to help him play at a much better level. I would even be willing, considering the current bailout situation, to give him a "slight" break on my rates.”
And frankly, I’ve got to like the man who took the time to shake the hand of my niece, Rose Friedheim. He could have gotten into his car and drove off but instead he turned and greeted the small crowd gathered on the road along the golf club near the entrance to Lanikai.
Rose is a Punahou School graduate, said she enjoyed the meeting. "I felt really unconnected, but now I feel really close with him," she said, adding Obama's friendliness displayed his Hawaii upbringing. "That just showed the Hawaii part of him," she said. "I didn't feel intimidated. I just felt comfortable.” She added, "He had soft hands."
Are we having fun yet?
MOST IMPORTANT – THE PRESIDENT COUNTS EACH SHOT
According to an article in the February issue of Golf Digest by Don Van Natta Jr. of The New York Times, Obama took up the game 12 years ago and “usually shoots in the mid-90s, sometimes in the low-90s.” “He’d be better if he could play more,” Marvin Nicholson, who was the national trip director for Obama’s campaign, told Van Natta Jr. “He wants to play all the best courses: St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black,” Nicholson said. “When he becomes an ex-president, he’d like to try to become a single-digit handicapper.”
In the meantime, according to friends and associates, Obama demonstrates a deep respect for the game’s ethos. Terry Link, an Illinois state senator, recalled Obama’s acceptance of his limitations during a round some years ago. “His frustration at not being able to compete with me did not lead him to quit or throw his clubs in the water,” Link said. “I admire that and I will admire that in his presidency.” Nicholson said Obama did not curse on the course and counted every stroke.
“When he’d shoot an 11 on a hole, I’d say, ‘Boss, what did you shoot?’ and he’d say, ‘I had an 11,’ ” he said. “And that’s what he’d write on his scorecard. I always respected that.”
TIGERS CHEVRON WORLD CHALLENGE
Three months after winning the FedEx Cup, Vijay Singh padded his most lucrative year in golf Sunday by making a 10-foot birdie on the final hole for a 5-under 67 and a one-shot victory in the Chevron World Challenge.
Singh has not competed in stroke play since Sept. 28 at the Tour Championship, where he wrapped up the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize. Three months later, he ran off three straight birdies early on the back nine at Sherwood Country Club, then holed a 10-footer on the final hole to beat Steve Stricker (68) by one stroke.
After withdrawing from the Sony Open in Hawaii, Singh underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee. It wasn’t the kind of operation Tiger Woods had to endure and the recovery is expected to be very quick. He was on crutches for a couple of days and then rehab begins. Doctors were very happy with the operation.
UH WOMEN GOLF TEAM
Lori Castillo is the head coach of the University of Hawaii Women Golf Team and she’s starting off with an invitation to all to come and watch our team, either in person or via the Internet.
“At this time of year we want to reach out and Thank You for your interest in the Women’s Golf program at the University of Hawaii and invite you to view our progress at http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/ <http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/>. Results from the Fall season are posted along with the upcoming Spring schedule. We would love to have you join us!”
MAUNA LANI CHARITY CUP CHALLENGE
It was winner take all for the charities that have hosted events at the Mauna Lani Resort in 2008. It’s a great concept more courses might consider.
In 2008, 10 charities held their annual events at Mauna Lani. Throughout the year, Mauna Lani Resort contributed a portion of the greens fee revenues generated by those tournaments. That’s where the Mauna Lani Charity Cup fund grew from. On December 6th, two-person teams representing each of the participating organizations were invited back to compete for that fund.
The two-person team of Sharon Goodman and Bo Waite representing the West Coast Hawaii Little League were this year’s champions winning $1,150 for their organization. The team from Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Bob Saunders and Bob Williams, took 2nd and $960. 3rd and $770 won by Warren Lee and Donn Mende for the Hawaii Island United Way, 4th and $577 to the Rotary Club of North Hawaii through the great play of Tom Johnson and Jimmy Geil and 5th went to the American Heart Association. David Roque and Alan Sasahara won their AHA $385. Thank you to Mauna Lani Resort for its commitment to charity.
ALOHA TEAM CLASSIC
For the past three years, folks from around the world have been coming to Maui for the Aloha Team Classic. It’s held in October, just about the same time as the LPGA Kapalua Classic.
The Aloha Team Classic brought players to Maui from California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas and Australia, our tenth island, along with 8 people from the West Side of Maui. They all had a great time. Most of the time they played in competition against each other but to kick off this years event, it was off to the King Kamehameha Golf Club where 30 amateurs got a chance to “Play with the Pros. A big mahalo to Emily Bastel, Jeanne Cho-Hunicke, Meredith Duncan, Anna Grzebien, Liz Janangelo, Angele Jerman, Stephanie Louden and Heather Young.
This event, “Play with the Pros” and the Aloha Team Classic, raises money on behalf of the Beyond the Rainbow Foundation, which supports various youth agencies across Maui. Net proceeds from the 2008 event were close to $20,000. Not for profit organizations, which provide services to Maui youth, are invited to contact Beyond the Rainbow Foundation for information about submitting grant requests.
In the meantime, we’re gearing up for the 2009 Aloha Team Classic.
Planning has all ready begun for the Aloha Team Classic – 2009 to be held October 20 – 23, 2009. Individuals interested in receiving information about next year’s event should contact the Foundation by phone or email. Organizations that would like to join the Foundation’s efforts to help Maui’s youth as Supporters and/or Contributors should call 800-564-7357 or email to info@AlohaTeamClassic.org.
Last year, three days of golf began with a beautiful day at the Kahili Golf Club, followed by a second day at the Kaanapali Royal Course, home of the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game, and the third day at the Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course, home of the Mercedes Benz Championship.
Beyond the Rainbow Foundation would like to thank the Aloha Team Classic – 2008
Supporters (listed alphabetically) who made it possible to hold this event. Their
contributions are critical to the success of the event:
Expedia Local Expert
Honua Kai
Hula Grill
Kaanapali Golf Resort
Marriott Maui Ocean Club
Maui TV News
Outrigger Napili Shores
Polynesian Adventure Tours
Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
Sakamoto Property
Sullivan Properties
The King Kamehameha Golf Club
Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas
The Foundation would also like to thank the organizations that have contributed welcome
gifts, prizes and auction items for the event:
Bank of Hawaii
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Cannery Mall
Hardrock Café
Honolulu Cookie Company
Hula Grill
Interval International
Jeff Polakowski, Marriott Vacation Club
Kaanapali Golf Resort
Lahaina Grill
Lahaina Store Grill and Oyster Bar
Maui Babe
Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
Maui Grown Coffee,
Maui Jims
Maui Land and Pineapple
Maui Prince Hotel
Plantation Restaurant
Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Sansei
Starbucks in Cannery Mall
Williams and Associates
Mahalo to all the Participants, Supporters and Contributors for your contributions to the success of the Aloha Team Classic – 2008 and for supporting Beyond the Rainbow Foundation in its efforts of “Helping Maui’s youth realize the promise of their future!”.
MAUNA KEA BEACH OPEN
It’s been two years since many Big Island residents were terrified as they felt the earth tremble around them and watched their treasures tumble and crumble beneath their feet.
It didn’t seem possible a structure as centered as the Mauna Kea Beach hotel could possibly be hurt. Despite its spread out squat style, the damage forced the closure of the Laurance Rockefeller-built beachfront hotel.
In late December 2008, The Mauna Kea reopened with a traditional Hawaiian blessing.
The flagship property of the Prince Hotels and Resorts international portfolio, Mauna Kea will have its “official” Grand Opening in March.
With all of these stories and pictures, I’ve really only scratched the surface of golf in Hawaii. Every day, folks are out taking part in some kind of golf event whether it’s for charity or for junior golfers or a tournament.
It’s nice to see Dean Wilson get a local resort behind him. He is representing the Mauna Lani on Tour. Still waiting to see if Michelle Wie if offered Ko Olina. And Tadd Fujikawa? We’ll see.
Join me in “The Golf Club”, broadcasting from KONI FM 104.7 on Maui, KTOH FM 99.9 on Kauai, KPUA AM 670 in Hilo and KUMU AM 1500 on Oahu every Saturday morning from 7 AM until 8:30 AM. Or you can listen on the Internet at http://www.radiogolfclub.com/.
Thank you for you Mana and may you hit the sweet spot every time.
Until next time, Aloha,
Danielle
