(LAHAINA, HI) – Ka’anapali Golf Resort – managed by Billy Casper Golf – announces a multi-year partnership with Kim Welch, winner of The Golf Channel’s popular “Big Break Ka’anapali” show and 2009 LPGA Tour player.
By finishing in the top 10 on the 2008 Duramed Futures Tour, Welch earned playing privileges on the LPGA Tour in 2009, and Ka’anapali will serve as her home course for the upcoming season. As a Ka’anapali “Touring Pro” and endorser, Welch will be featured in resort promotions and events and display the resort logo on her bag.
A native of Sacramento, Welch was introduced to golf at age seven and, prior to winning The Golf Channel competition at Ka’anapali, won 11 tournaments and All-American honors while at Washington State University. Welch joined the Futures Tour in 2006 and won the Alliance Bank Classic in 2008 while leading the Tour in driving distance. Previous Futures Tour players who became LPGA Tour stars include Lorena Ochoa, Grace Park and Christina Kim.
“I’m thrilled Ka’anapali is my home base because it’s a beautiful place with two challenging courses to hone my game,” says Welch, 25. “Winning the ‘Big Break’ was a dream come true and I hope to make an impact as a touring pro next year.”
“Ka’anapali has always placed an importance on giving access to those who want to learn the game of golf, and we are excited to help Kim as she embarks on the LPGA Tour,” says Ed Kageyama, PGA General Manager of Ka’anapali. “Kim will be an outstanding ambassador for Ka’anapali and we are proud to support her.”
Welch – the youngest of five kids and daughter of Peter and Kozuma Welch – will next tee-it-up October 9-12 at the Longs Drugs Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club (CA), where a top 10 finish would help to give her priority in her exemptions next year on the Tour.
Ka’anapali’s Royal Course, a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design, was recently awarded a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest, which puts them in elite company with other famous courses to include U.S. Open sites Torrey Pines (CA), Pinehurst (NC) and Bethpage (NY); LPGA Tour sites Kingsmill Golf Resort (VA) and Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club (OR); PGA TOUR sites Quail Hollow (OH) and TPC of Louisiana and resorts The Greenbrier (WV), The Homestead (VA), Turnberry Isle (FL) and more.
The resort underwent a $13 million renovation from 2005 – 2006 and hosted the Wendy’s Champions Tour SKINS Game on ESPN in February 2008. The two-day event – featuring Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Jay Haas, Loren Roberts, Fuzzy Zoeller and Peter Jacobson – drew more than 8,000 spectators. Ka’anapali was selected by the Golf Channel to host “Big Break Ka’anapali” that aired this April through July.
For more information about Ka’anapali or to reserve a tee time, visit www.kaanapaligolfresort.com or call 808.661.3691.
About Billy Casper Golf
Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, Billy Casper Golf was co-founded by Robert Morris and Peter Hill in 1989 along with professional golf legend Billy Casper, the Masters and two-time U.S. Open winner who ranks seventh all-time with 51 PGA Tour wins. The company manages 98 golf courses in 23 states, the District of Columbia and Costa Rica. Combined with Buffalo Communications, the golf-lifestyle PR division of BCG, 24 of their courses were honored in the recent Golfweek’s “America’s Best” state-by-state rankings.
For more information about Billy Casper Golf, visit www.billycaspergolf.com or call 703.761.1444.
Contact:
Melissa Ludwig
Ka’anapali Golf Resort
808.357.7248
mludwig@kaanapaligolfresort.com
www.kaanapaligolfresort.com
Nick Lashinsky
Billy Casper Golf / Buffalo Communications
703.891.3324
nlashinsky@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
www.billycaspergolf.com
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