Golden Bear will review redesign progress on renowned Kiele Course this Friday
(KAUA’I, Hawaii) – Jack Nicklaus will be on the island of Kaua’i this week to review the much-anticipated renovation project at Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club, which includes the addition of another ocean hole.
The original designer, Nicklaus will be at Kauai Lagoons on Friday, Aug. 20 to ensure it meets his exacting and acclaimed standards. Renovation of the Kiele Ocean back nine holes began in June and is expected to be completed in May, 2011. Currently 18 of the 36 holes designed by Nicklaus there – adjacent to the Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach – are in play, consisting of nine holes from the Kiele Course and nine holes from the Mokihana Course.
“We look forward to receiving Mr. Nicklaus’s feedback on the Kauai Lagoons’ renovation,” said Kaua’i Lagoons Director of Golf Scott Ashworth, PGA. “The Kiele Course has been rated one of the best courses in the country since it opened, and Mr. Nicklaus’s design portfolio speaks for itself, so our expectations for the new, enhanced Kiele are immense.”
The Kiele “Ocean” back nine will include three new holes and the renovation of six holes. Upon completion it will feature a half-mile stretch of oceanfront holes – the longest in golf-rich Hawaii. All renovated holes will receive new irrigation, greens, bunkers, and drainage. Many of the holes will also have some minor design changes as well. A new first hole of the third nine at Kauai Lagoons is also being added.
Nicklaus – who has many course designs ranked among the world’s best by leading golf magazines – will review the newly designed first hole of the third nine and the first two holes of the former Kiele back nine, which are new golf holes that have been shaped with new bunkers and greens in place. Nicklaus said he wants to sign off on these holes before grassing begins. He will also observe the 11th, 12th and 13th holes – a scintillating stretch of holes approaching and bordering the Pacific – and provide guidance on the work at Hole No. 15, a brand-new ocean hole.
The signature 16th hole – which hugs the coastline and has a green that sits on lava rock overlooking Nawiliwili Harbor – will have its gorgeous layout remain intact, but add a new green, irrigation and bunker sand. Nicklaus has also indicated he would like to provide direction for the substantial changes being made to the greens on the 17th and 18th holes.
Renovation of the Kiele front nine and the Mokihana holes is scheduled to begin in 2012 and will eventually give Kaua’i Lagoons 27 Jack Nicklaus Signature golf holes.
The Kaua’i Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach is oceanfront property that just completed a $50-million makeover last month. Earlier this summer, the resort was included on Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious list of “Top 80 Golf Resorts” and last year GolfWorld magazine named it at “Top 50 Resort Course.”
For more information visit Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club at www.kauailagoonsgolf.com or the Kaua’i Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach at www.kauaimarriott.com.
About “Kaua’i: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green”
Kaua’i offers more than 50 miles of white sand beaches — more beach per mile than any other island in Hawaii. Only four percent of the island is developed for commercial and residential use.
For more information about golf on the Garden Isle visit www.Kauaidiscovery.com/activities/golfing/, www.twitter.com/KauaiGolf, or call 800-262-1400.
The unique attributes of the golf destination cooperative “Kaua’i: Discover Golf’s Ultimate Island Green” include:
1. Princeville Golf Courses (www.princeville.com)
45 holes of golf — the 27-hole Makai Golf Club at The St. Regis Princeville Resort and the 18-hole Prince Golf Course — all designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
The Prince Course (800.826.1105) is rated the No. 1 course in the state and was rated No. 67 in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses 2009-10”
The Makai Golf Club (www.makaigolf.com/, 808.826.1912) reopened in 2010 after an extensive 15-month renovation and now features the 18-hole Makai Course and the 9-hole Woods Course
The St. Regis Princeville Resort just completed a multi-million-dollar renovation and opened the first week of October 2009
2. Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club (www.kauailagoonsgolf.com, 800.634.6400)
Voted, along with Kaua’i Marriott Resort, one of the “Top 50 Resort Courses” worldwide by GolfWorld magazine in its “2009 Readers’ Choice Awards”
Currently 18 of the 38 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus are in play, consisting of nine holes from the Kiele Course and nine holes from the Mokihana Course. The Kiele Ocean nine is receiving extensive upgrades, including the addition of one new ocean hole that will create a one-half-mile long stretch of oceanfront golf. Completion of the Kiele Ocean nine is scheduled for May 2011
The front nine holes feature the par-3 fifth green encircled by a tropical Mango and Guava tree forest
3. Poipu Bay Golf Course (www.poipubaygolf.com, 800.858.6300)
Along with Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa rated No. 16 in GolfWorld’s “America’s Top 50 Resort Courses, 2009”
Four closing holes play atop a 150-foot sea cliff
Home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 through 2006, it has frequently hosted players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and other major champions
Course is currently closed for greens renovation with a reopening planned for December 2010
4. Puakea Golf Club (www.puakeagolf.com, 866.773.5554)
Consistently rated a favorite among Kaua’i golfers in local media outlets and ranked as the No. 15 course in Hawaii by Golfweek.
Golf Course Architect Robin Nelson used the natural layout of the land when he planned this layout, testing golfers of all levels and treating them to beautiful views of Mt. Ha’upu and deep lush ravines on several holes.
Owned by AOL co-Founder Steve Case
About the KVB and HVCB
The Kaua’i Visitors Bureau is a division of the Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau, which is contracted by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawai’i’s tourism agency, for marketing management services in North America. The HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawai’i tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawai’i’s economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.
Contact:
Gary Trask, 978.228.0314
Buffalo Communications
gtrask@billycaspergolf.com
Dan Shepherd, 703.891.3320
Buffalo Communications
dshepherd@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
