It’s a star-studded event. The Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua’s Plantation Course on the island of Maui. All the winners of the PGA Tour sanctioned events will be there – therefore the Tournament Champions. For those of you not plugged in to the world of golf 24/7, you’ll need an update.

Jim Furyk, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour in 2010, was named the Player of the Year by the PGA of America. Furyk collected 60 points to top Ryder Cup teammates Matt Kuchar and Steve Stricker, both of whom had 50 points. Ernie Els (46) and Phil Mickelson (42) rounded out the top 5. Furyk earned 30 points for victories at the Transitions Championship, Verizon Heritage and Tour Championship; 18 for finishing second on the PGA Tour money list; and 12 for finishing fifth (69.83) in adjusted scoring average.

This is the event we used to call the SBS Championship (stands for Seoul Broadcasting System), and before that the Mercedes-Benz Championship and before that it was the Mercedes Championship.

Yes, we’ve been saved again. Once a thriving sports attraction in the islands, professional PGA and LPGA Tour golf went into a freefall in Hawaii over the past 5 years, reflecting the global economy. Just like the events on the Mainland, we’ve been scrambling and praying for sponsors to pick us up and/or to stay with us.

Hawaii once hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Poipu Golf Course, a Champions Tour event at Turtle Bay Resort, and up to three LPGA events, one at Turtle Bay, Ko Olina and Kapalua in addition to 2 PGA Tour events and a Champions tour event still held in January 2011.

Most states don't have any events, much less the 3 that are still held here.

In addition to the season opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course, we have the first full field event of the PGA Tour, The Sony Open in Hawaii at the Waialae Country Club and the Mitsubishi Electric Championship, the Champions Tour all winners season opener, at Hualalai on the Big Island. We also have the Wendy's Champions Skins played at Kaanapali on Maui.

We are lucky in Hawaii. The PGA Tour, with the hard work and dedication of a number of people who love Hawaii and believe in the value of golf events held here, including NBC and Golf Channel's Mark Rolfing, a title sponsor for the season opening winners only event that's been held at Kapalua on Maui has been found.

The Seoul Broadcasting System has a commitment to continue sponsoring the winner’s only event but SBS wanted a partner. That's where the Hyundai Motor Company jumped in and now we have the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

THE HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Admission is FREE. That's right. There is no admission for spectators, the entire Hyundai Tournament of Champions week. What a week it'll be.

Starting with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions "Family Fun Day" benefiting the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association, admission is free and many of the activities are “no charge”.

On Sunday, January 2nd, the Fed Ex Cup Fan Zone will host a free lunch for kids sponsored by CJ's Deli and the activities in the Zone include swing cages, junior putting contests with prizes, free All-Star Card giveaways, and Taiko drummers - just to name a few.

Trick shot artist Dan Boever will be on the 1st Tee at 1 PM and a Pro-Celebrity/Junior Golfer Shootout featuring Hyundai Tournament of Champions defending champion Geoff Ogilvy and Rocco Mediate.

If you want to play with the professional golfers, the Monday Pro-Am features 6 four-man teams plus a professional. The money raised from this Pro-Am benefits the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association.

On Wednesday there is the Pro-Am that has room for 24 four-man teams plus a professional. There is a charge to be in the Pro-Am. The Wednesday income benefits a Maui charity.

This year in the Fed Ex Cup Fan Zone, there will be entertainment every day after 4 PM until the tournament begins on Thursday. From Thursday, the entertainment begins after the last putt drops, around 5:30 PM in the FedEx Cup Fan Zone. 

FEDEX CUP KICKOFF

On the eve before the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Wednesday at 2 PM, the FedEx Cup kickoff begins. Award winning artist Keali'i Reichel performs on the 1st tee. Then Dan Boever, the trick shot artist, takes over. Then there is a long drive contest.

Then another Pro-Celebrity Charity Challenge, with Golf Channel broadcasting live from 3 pm until 5 pm and the entertainment continuing in the FedEx Cup Fan Zone.

Are you getting the drift? It's a non-stop, action packed event from start to finish with great tournament action and fun. Yes, FUN.

Can you take the first week off in January and just "play" at the Kapalua Plantation course? You can squeeze in a round of golf at Kaanapali or a lesson with Jerry King at the Kapalua Golf Academy.

Reminder, there is no admission charge on any of the days from Sunday, January 2nd through Sunday, January 9th.

THE "GLOBAL" ASPECT

Golf has gone global. We've talked about it for years on "The Golf Club" show. The young men and women from around the world, from Fiji to Stockholm, are working their way into the world of golf as youngsters and then dominating on the world stage.

We've talked about the importance of growing the game of golf to the golf industry, both on the junior golf level and internationally by inducing countries to embrace the game.

This year the International Olympic Committee voted to include golf in the Olympic Games. Will the global community invest the necessary resources to provide practice areas so golfers can represent their countries? If the Jamaican people can put a bobsled team in the Winter Olympic Games and become a contender, just about any country can put together a golf team. To the majority of nations on the planet, the Olympics is not about the medals, it about participating.

The true impact of the growing popularity of golf around the world is obvious this year on the PGA Tour. We've felt it creeping up on us but this year, with two Europeans capturing two PGA Tour majors, it was like a hammer over the head: An Irishman, Graeme McDowell is the U.S Open defending champ and a German, Martin Kaymer, is the PGA Championship defender. The PGA Championship is the PGA of America's top event.

Last year the talk was all about whether the Hyundai Tournament of Champions should include the last two years of PGA Tour winners.  There were less than 30 players. Many of the champions didn't show up including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.  This year we have a huge field. Given the willingness of the European Tour players to travel, I sure hope we see most of the eligible players to show up. Well, maybe not Phil Mickelson. He's never done very well on the Plantation course and hasn't taken advantage of the event. Doesn't seem to suit his game. We'll see if he shows.

So why do I say “Global Eyes on Kapalua”? Because the Hyundai Tournament of Champions is no longer about the winners from the PGA Tour coming to Hawaii, it’s about the top golfers from around the world who have won on the PGA Tour coming to Hawaii to win the Champions only event. If we are lucky, eyes from Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, South Africa, Australia, and out of competitive curiousity, the global community will be trained on Kapalua and the beauty of golf played in Hawaii.

SONY OPEN IN HAWAII – STAR MAKER

The Sony Open in Hawaii has been a huge supporter of golf in Hawaii. The Sony Corporation has been instrumental in keeping the first full field event of the PGA Tour in the Hawaiian Islands.

The event pumps millions of dollars into Oahu's economy.  That's a given. What we don't always realize is how much The Sony Open in Hawaii supports Hawaii's junior golfers. Their gracious "donation" of a sponsor exception has launched the careers to two of Hawaii's best golfers: Michelle Wie and Tadd Fujikawa.

The Sony Corporation has the option to extend sponsor exceptions - which means someone who would never qualify for the event gets a chance to play. That's how Michelle Wie got her break into men's golf.

The top amateur golfers vie for the one spot held for them. And in jumped Tadd Fujikawa.

Another gifted amateur will be playing against the top PGA professionals. The top amateurs who qualify for the Governor John A Burns Challenge Cup are not only playing to beat the professionals, they are playing for a spot on the big dance floor.

This year, the King Auto Group Pro-Junior Skills Challenge will be held on the 18th Green at Waialae Country Club.  Hawaii's top junior golfers get paired up with the great guys from the PGA Tour in a skills challenge. It'll be on Tuesday, January 11th. Starts at 2:45 pm and includes Sky Dive Hawaii dropping in on the crowd, literally. The event is a benefit for the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association.

The Sony Open in Hawaii raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities and that money is then matched by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, doubling the money raised and distributed to over 60 charities every year. It's huge. 

POIPU BAY GOLF COURSE OPENS ON DECEMBER 16

Get your reservations for the reopening of the Poipu Bay Golf Course!

Have you ever played a round of golf on a "pristine" course, one that has been closed for months and you're one of the first? NO. Well do it. For most of us, it's the closest thing to being on the PGA Tour.

Poipu Bay has been closed since April 1st. The greens have been completely changed out and they have grown in beautifully with the rain coming at the perfect time. The crew at Poipu tested a bunch of different types of grass but settled on the Sea Shore Paspalum hybrid known as Supreme. The original Tifdward Bermuda was taken out, the beds were redone and the seeds planted. 8 months later, the greens a ready for you and me.

“Kama'aina”, local Hawaii residents, tee times can be booked 7 days in advance. The kama'aina rate for Kauai residents is $68 and for "neighbor islanders” $75. But there is also the Kama'aina Foursome Special, which allows four to play for the price of three.

Visitors can book their tee times 30 days in advance, so you can reserve your spot and know it will be there for you when you get to Kauai. The prime tee times go for $240. After noon until 2:20 pm, the fee is $145 and after 2:30 pm to 6 pm, it's $85. That's a beautiful time of day to play at Poipu Bay Golf Course.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Poipu Bay. It opened in 1991 and gained international recognition as the home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006.

GLOBALIZING Q SCHOOL

Mike Hendry came to Hawaii from New Zealand to take his game to the PGA Tour. Hawaii is now an official first stage Q School location. It was held at the Turtle Bay Resort.

The Q School in Hawaii gave a lot of kids a chance to "go for broke" against some tough contenders from around the Pacific Rim and the US Mainland.

Here is the list of the players who made it to the second round:

Mike Hendry, New Zealand (-14); Luke Hickmott, Australia (-11); Alan Wagner, Argentina (-11); Keith Huber, Fresno, CA (-8); Ryan Posey, Dallas, TX (-8); Nate Lashley, Scottsdale, AZ (-8); Darren Angel, Northridge, CA (-7) Tony Finau, Lehi, UT (-6); Michael Feuerstein, La Jolla, CA (-4) and Sebastian Saavedra Larceri, Argentina (-3).

None of Hawaii's contenders made it out of the 2nd stage of Q School, the nickname for the PGA Tour's Qualifying School. There's is nothing "school" about it, except maybe teaching the individual player how much stress, mental and physical, their minds and bodies can take over a short period of time.

Parker McLachlin T 63 at the Redstone Golf Club at Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas.
Tadd Fujikawa finished T 57th, Chan Kim T 63rd and Sam Cyr T 64th at the Bayonet Course in Seaside, California.
Tony Finau finished T 40th at the TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
And closest to the card, Nick Mason who finished T 24th at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City, Florida.

2010 ASIA PACIFIC JUNIOR CUP

The weather conditions of the week were perfect.  Occasional strong gusts on the final day made for a tough test for the singles matches.  The Waikoloa Kings’ Course was in fantastic condition for the international competition.

Team Japan is the defending champion and needed a total of 16 points to retain the Asia Pacific Junior Cup and Team Hawaii needed 16 ½ points to win the Cup.

This Hilton Grand Vacations sponsored event, presented by the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association (HSJGA) brings together 32 of the best young players from Hawaii (USA) and Japan (10 boys and 6 girls on each team), in a Ryder Cup-style tournament designed to foster good will between young golfers, ages 15-18 from both organizations. Other countries are expected to participate in future Asian Pacific Junior Cup events.

MAKALEI AMATEUR

Since Makalei was "renovated" under the guidance of Hal Okita, the upcountry course on the Kona side of the Big Island has used all kinds of fun marketing events to encourage golfers to come out and play.

One of them is the Annual Makalei Amateur Championship. Congratulations to all.

PGA ALOHA SECTION WINNERS

All winners will be recognized at the 2010 Aloha Section PGA Annual Meeting on December 5th at Pearl Country Club.

Golf Professional of the Year - Steve Murphy, Princeville GC/Prince Course
Horton Smith Trophy - Greg Nichols, Ko Olina Golf Club

Bill Strausbaugh Award
John Harman, Hawaiian Golf Properties

Teacher of the Year - Kevin Hayashi, Hilo Municipal Golf Course

Junior Golf Leader - Art Rego, Waiehu Golf Course

Merchandiser of the Year – Resort - Steve Murphy, Princeville GC/Prince Course

Merchandiser of the Year - Private      
Mark Sousa, Mid Pacific Country Club

Merchandiser of the Year - Public
Tim Murphy, Ko'olau Golf Club

Assistant Professional of the Year - Kirk Nelson, Makena GC

Sales Representative of the Year - Neal Takara, Titleist

President's Plaque - Jerry King, Kapalua Golf Academy

KAUAI COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL

University of British Columbia was second and the University of Hawaii 3rd.  UH team member TJ Kua was 3rd in individual scoring.

As part of this event, UH and Puakea Golf Course teamed up for a College-Am on Saturday (2 College Players and 2 Amateurs).  “It is a great chance for our residents to be able to play with some of the best College Players across the globe – it is really quite an experience for them,” said Dave Werner, General Manager at Puakea Golf Course. 

On Saturday Dave handed UH Coach Ronn Miyashiro, a check for $5,000 for the UH Golf Team and commented, “On behalf of Grove Farm and Puakea Golf Course, we’d like to donate this back to the UH Team.”

Miyashiro addressed the teams today, “We’d like to thank Puakea for bringing an international collegiate invitation event to the island of Kauai.”  He added, “We love to host this event here at Puakea and we thank all the teams for making the trip – we look forward to next year.”

Thank you to Kaanapali’s Melissa Ludwig for the sending me the info and the photos for this story.

Thank you to all of the people who made “The Golf Club” radio show so much fun this past month.

TaylorMade for the Penta golf balls we have been giving away to all of our lucky winners. Thank you to http://www.photoballmarker/ for the prizes we’ve given away – personalized ball markers. Thank you to http://sweetspotgolf.net/ for the putter we gave away. Thank you to http://www.birthgolfdeath.com/ for the special discount you gave “The Golf Club” listeners.

And thank you to Poipu Golf Course. We’ll be giving away rounds of golf to the lucky winners who get to play on this just reopened course. There is nothing like it. Brand new greens and fairways untouched.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and here’s wishing you a fabulous holiday season. Merry Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza.

Thank you for your Mana and may you hit the sweet spot every time,

Danielle

PS You can hear “The Golf Club” radio show online at http://www.radiogolfclub.com/ or on one of these fine radio stations:
It’s “The Golf Club” show every Saturday morning at 7 AM on The Jewel, 99.5 FM on Oahu, KONI FM 104.7 on Maui , KTOH 99.9 FM on Kauai and on KPUA AM 670 in Hilo.