This may be one of the best-kept secrets in Hawaii. The Ka’anapali Champions Skins will be played the final weekend in January and it will be broadcast live.

This may also be the final Champions Skins in Hawaii. No one will confirm that for me, officially. But considering Wendy’s pulled its sponsorship and Ka’anapali Resort picked it up, and it’s an expensive undertaking for a relatively small organization like Ka’anapali Resort, chances of it in staying in Hawaii are slim. Unless, of course, another sponsor takes it and INSISTS on holding the Champions Skins in Hawaii.

I’ll be there. This is an event that I was loath to miss the past two years. Someone decided to schedule it on the same weekend as the PGA Tour‘s first full field event of the year, the Sony Open in Hawaii. Making the choice, to be at the first official PGA Tour event or to be at the Champions Skins, was awful but dictated by forces outside my control – money and long-term relationships and a very small staff.  – me, myself and I.

Some of my fondest memories were made following Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Gary Player from the wide open fairways of Mauna Lani on the Big Island of Hawaii to Maui’s Wailea Gold course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and finally, it would seem, to the Ka’anapali Royal., once called the Ka’anapali North - built by Robert Trent Jones Sr.

It was a homecoming of sorts for many, including Jack Nicklaus, who played the Ka’anapalil Royal over 30 years ago.

 

Let me tell you the difference between watching the guys on the PGA Tour compete versus the guys on the Champions Tour, particularly the champions who play in the Skins.

On the PGA Tour, you’ve got your young guns, the big stars, intent on showing just how tough they are, up against one another. It’s all quite serious. To put it mildly. When a Tadd Fujikawa comes out of nowhere, with a big grin on his face, and finishes in the top 10 – well that just lights up the crowd.

On the Champions Tour, during the Skins game, it is business BUT these guys know how to play rough, talk smack and have fun, all at the same time. And they laugh about it with each other while they are walking along the fairway. This is the most amazing golf played by men who are having fun. You want to walk with them forever. Just soak up their joie de vivre for the game, for each other and for the fans.

Sure they fly in on their own private jets, all neatly lined up at the airport. And they’ve earned it.

Don’t miss this chance to be at the Ka’anapali Champions Skins at Ka’anapali this year. This may be your last.

WHERE TO STAY? THE KA’ANAPALI WESTIN OCEAN RESORT VILLAS

I’m already packing. I’ve got my bath oil and my favorite body scrub from the Aji Spa in Arizona. It’s this delicious smell of earth with creosote. Leaves your skin smooth and hydrated. Yes. That’s number #1 on my list.

When I walk into the lobby of The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, it feels like walking into the lobby of my condo. Okay, maybe not mine but upscale ones I’ve visited.  Say “Hi” to the folks at the desk, get my keys and head up to my apartment.

 Thankfully this apartment is uncluttered. Nothing reminds me of what needs to be done, only of what I can dream to do. The “villa” is so spacious, it feels like an apartment, not a cramped hotel room.

I go straight to the bathroom, where the Jacuzzi tub awaits. (If you’re not into baths, there is also a beautiful enclosed shower.)  Turn on the facet, get the water flowing, in go the bath oils, and the aroma fills the room. While the tub fills, I unpack.

My villa has a private lanai, blackout-lined drapery, dual phone lines and free high-speed Internet access.

With a full kitchen at my disposal, including glass cook top, microwave/convection oven, toaster, blender, dinnerware, dishwasher and a full size refrigerator. I’ve already done my shopping. I’ve got everything I need, from the late night munchies to the mid afternoon snack attack.

But that’s not all. I can choose the “Chefs in Action”. A chef will prepare a complete meal in my villa. Or I can use one of the barbeque grills for a family picnic poolside. Or I can go to one of the three restaurants on property. Or I can catch a free shuttle to one of the sister hotels in Ka’anapali or to Lahaina.

Maui is mine. I can hang out at the pool with the slides, get a good workout, a fabulous massage at the Spa Heleni, go snorkeling or scuba-diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, horseback riding or I can head out to watch the sun rise at Haleakala and then go play golf.

Did I mention that I really like staying at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas? Can I just move in?

NEED A BREAK…GO MAUI ALREADY

Got two really good reasons to be there. The second is the 2011 Ka’anapali Champions Skins at the Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course on January 20th and 30th.

2010 Champions Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson will be there plus three more Hall of Fame members Ben Crenshaw, Bernhard Langer, and Nick Price and multiple major championship winners Fred Couples, Mark O’Meara and Fuzzy Zoeller.

The website is http://westinkaanapali.com/.

The number is 866-716-8112.

The second really good reason to be on Maui in January is either underway or just about to start by the time you are reading this. .

THE HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

FEDEX CUP KICKOFF

Geoff Ogilvy talking about how important the win at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua was to him last year. 

On the eve of 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 a long drive contest. That’s the warm-up.

There’s the Pro-Celebrity Charity Challenge, with Golf Channel broadcasting live from 3 pm until 5 pm, and 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 Ka’anapali or a lesson with Jerry King at the Kapalua Golf Academy.

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 from Sunday, January 2nd through Sunday, January 9th.

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”.

HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS “FAMILY FUN DAY”

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.

SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

Follow the sun and the PGA Tour with it’s first full field event of the 2011 season on Oahu at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Sony was the first with the JumboTron. It only stands to reason Sony would want to up it a notch and be the first to bring you golf in 3D.

This year, Sony, the PGA Tour, and the Golf Channel are partnering to bring you the Sony Open in Hawaii in 3D.

Watching The Masters last April in 3D opened the eyes of a lot of golfers. Simply, the pro game is not the same game as most of us play – the depth of the bunkers, the undulations of the greens, the length and thickness of the rough – all coming across as never before thanks to 3D HD technology. 

So while the rest of the world watches on television, you get the real 3D images strolling the course.

On Jan. 10, Sony has added Drive Fore the Green, a long drive contest with seven pros, including Davis Love III and John Daly. Admission is free and it starts at 9:30 a.m. at Waialae.

King Auto Group is sponsoring the Pro-Jr Skill Challenge this year. It’ll be Tuesday, January 11th, at the Waialae Country Club, starting at 2:45 pm. It’s free and fun.
Alex Chiarella, Cyd Okino, Ryan Kuroiwa, Scotty Yamashita and 12-year-old Allisen Corpuz will team with PGA Tour pros in the fifth annual King Auto Group Pro-Junior Skills Challenge during Sony Open in Hawaii week. The top Hawaii junior golfers will play with Jerry Kelly, Steve Stricker, Fred Funk, Zach Johnson and Dean Wilson in the Challenge. This year a sixth pro will play with a Japan junior golfer.

Six former Sony champs have tentatively committed to play in the tournament — Ryan Palmer, Zach Johnson, K.J. Choi, Paul Goydos, Ernie Els and Kelly. Others on the early commitment sheet include the top five on last year's money list — Matt Kuchar, PGA Tour Player of the Year Jim Furyk, Els, Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker.

TURTLE BAY HAWAII STATE OPEN

On the final day of Turtle Bay Hawaii State Open, I couldn’t see downtown Honolulu from my lanai. That’s only a couple of blocks.

When it rains, it pours but it didn’t stop 19-year old Tadd Fujikawa from coming out on top at the Turtle Bay Resort Hawaii State Open. Fujikawa fired a one under par, 71 on the Resort’s Palmer Course through a day filled with tough rainy conditions.  Fujikawa’s three-day total 204, 12-under par earned him his first Turtle Bay Resort Hawaii State Open title, round trip airline ticket courtesy of Continental Airlines, and most importantly a check for $10,000.

With over an inch and a half of rain before sunrise, starting times were delayed for over three hours before a decision was made by Aloha Section PGA Tournament Director Anthony Valverde to move all divisions to the Palmer Course and have a shotgun start.  “We wanted to ensure all competitors had the chance to finish their rounds and with rain all over the island we were fortunate to complete the tournament,” commented Valverde.

Right behind Fujikawa, was Ben Sauls of Scotsdale, Arizona shooting a 5 under-par 67 finishing with a 205 overall. In third place was Turtle Bay Resort’s Tony Finau who finished with a 3 under-par 69.

David Ishii, three-time Hawaii State Open winner clearly showed that he can still play the game with Hawaii’s best by leading the field from start to finish and capturing the Hawaii State Open Senior Division.  The Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer was 10-under par for the 54-hole tournament which saw arduous final round conditions. In second place and three strokes behind Ishii was Casey Nakama. Kahuku’s Lance Suzuki captured third place shooting a 72 during the final round and a 212 total overall.

Ji Soo Park  of Honolulu won the Women’s Open championship shooting even-par today and totaling 214 overall. Park finished ahead of last year’s Women’s Open Champion Katie Kempter of Albuquerque, New Mexico by 4 shots.  Kempter shot a final round 71 and 216 total.

Crowd favorite, Rayray Gorman captured the Men’s A-Flight division with a 9 over-par three day total of 225.

Hansol Koo of Honolulu won the women’s A Flight with a final round 81 and 237 tournament total.

Thank you to Turtle Bay Resort, the staff, and maintenance crew. Also, to the volunteers who helped put on a great event. Special thanks to our supporting sponsors: Pima Direct, Pukka Headwear, Continental Airlines, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Golf Scorecards.

Thank you to Turtle Bay Resort for the synopsis and the great photos.

ISAGAWA ADDS ANOTHER TROPHY

Cassy Isagawa took it low — even lower than her opening round — to win the oldest age division in the U.S. Kids Golf Kaanapali Hawaiian Classic by 28 shots yesterday.

Isagawa, the 2010 Junior PGA and state high school champion, fired a 6-under-par 66 in the final round at Royal Kaanapali. She opened with a 67 on Monday and had a three-day total of 8-under 208. The Baldwin High School senior is headed for Oregon next fall to play for the Ducks.

She wasn't the only winner from Hawaii in the tournament that brought together about 160 juniors from 22 states, Canada, Guam, Hong Kong, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

Kahului's Kyeton Littel-Kamimoto (77--231) won the boys title by four shots over Lahaina's Noah Klipstein (82) and Lahaina's James Horton (81).

Other Hawaii winners were Kimberlie Miyamoto (14), Kirsten Ishikawa (13), Zoey Akagi-Bustin (12), Justin Ngan (11), Aneka Seumanutafa (10) and Torin Dezzani (7).

JOANNE WINTER ARIZONA SILVER BELLE CHAMPIONSHIP

As I’m about to wrap this first column of the year, three of Hawaii’s top junior golfers are already back in competition at the Arizona Silver Belle Championship at the ASU Karsten Golf Course. Kristina Merkle, Kacie Komoto and Kelli Oride left Hawaii Christmas Day for the tournament that was held December 28 - Dec 30, 2010.
ASU Karsten Golf Course

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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

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 http://www.poipubaygolf.com/ for the rounds of golf.

Thank you to Hawaiian Airlines and to the Las Vegas Hilton for helping us celebrate our 12th anniversary. Stay tuned. You never know where we’ll be taking you next.

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.