Kaua’i Lagoons Offering Special Rates for Repeat Players; Puakea Golf Course Names New General Manager; Golf Pass Cards Available Now at Makai Golf Club
(KAUA’I, Hawaii) – Tee times are now being accepted at Poipu Bay Golf Course, the former home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf located adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa that will re-open Thursday, Dec. 16 following a nine-month greens refurbishment project.
The course has been closed since April in order to install Seashore Paspalum, a warm-season turf that requires less water and chemicals to maintain excellent conditions. The course also enhanced more than a dozen bunkers and tee boxes and made improvements to the 21,000-square-foot clubhouse.
“We’re excited for our guests to play the course and experience the new greens,” said Poipu Bay’s Director of Golf Craig Sasada. “The greens look absolutely pristine. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they will provide a faster and more consistent roll for our players.”
Poipu Bay – a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design – was ranked No. 5 out of more than 90 courses in Hawaii in September’s GOLF Magazine biennial “Best Courses You Can Play” by state list.
Together with the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i it has been ranked as one of the best golf resorts in the world by national publications. The oceanfront resort features lush gardens with manicured lawns, six restaurants and six lounges, a water playground with a river pool, waterfalls, a 150-foot water slide, a saltwater lagoon, tennis and the award-winning Anara Spa.
For complete rates and on-line tee time arrangements, visit www.poipubaygolf.com/rates.html or call 1.800.858.6300.
Kaua’i Lagoons Offers Special Rate to Repeat Players
Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club – located next to the Kaua’i Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach – is offering a rate of $85 and a $25 club rental fee for second or subsequent rounds when you play two or more rounds during your stay.
The Hana Hou – which mean’s “to do again” – Discount Card is provided upon check in of your first round and can be used for up to one week.
Kaua’i Lagoons is a Jack Nicklaus design that is receiving extensive upgrades. Currently 18 of the 36 holes at Kaua’i Lagoons are in play, consisting of nine holes from Kiele and nine holes from the Mokihana Golf Course. Upon completion of the renovation in May, the course will feature the longest stretch of ocean holes in Hawaii.
The Kaua’i Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach was reintroduced in July following a $50-million renovation that included the refurbishing of a casual open-air restaurant, a newly built children’s pool to complement its signature 26,000 square-foot swimming pool, nearly 20,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 60,000 square feet of outdoor event space in ocean, garden and pool settings.
For more information visit the Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club at www.kauaimarriott.com or call 1.800.634.6400.
Puakea Golf Course Names Dave Werner as New General Manager
Dave Werner was named the new general manager at Puakea Golf Course this fall, continuing his impressive career path and rise after starting as a pro shop attendant at the course less than three years ago.
“I’m very fortunate and very pleased to have this opportunity,” said the 43-year-old Pennsylvania native of his new position. “Sometimes things just have a way of working out and that’s what happened for me here at Puakea. It’s a special place and I’m excited to be a part of this great teams of professionals.”
Werner was formerly the head golf professional at Hawk Valley Golf Club in Denver, Pa. before moving to Kaua’i in 2006. After working as an environmental engineer, he got his start at Puakea working part-time in the pro shop in June of 2998. He was quickly moved to the merchandising side of the business and then was promoted to assistant golf professional.
When former Director of Golf Paul Ito decided to make a career change this past summer, Werner was eager for the challenge of managing the operations and has proven he was ready for the GM position.
Puakea continues to be a favorite of island residents and visitors thanks to its award-winning design by Robin Nelson. The course made GOLF Magazine’s list of the “2010 Best Courses You Can Play” by state list in September and is considered a “hidden gem” of Kaua’i, offering up-close mountain views adjacent to where many Hollywood films were shot, including “Jurassic Park.”
Huge Savings at Makai Golf Club for Golf Pass Holders
Guests of The St. Regis Princeville Resort who plan to play multiple rounds of golf can receive dramatic savings by purchasing the Makai Golf Pass. For just $399, the pass allows golfers to play the newly renovated Makai Golf Club three times. Additional rounds can be purchased on the card for just $133 per round.
In addition, junior golfers (ages 6 to 15) can play free with no restrictions when playing with a paid adult per golfer. Juniors unaccompanied by an adult can still receive 50% savings. Golfers ages 16 and 17 received 50% off the adult rate.
The Makai Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design, which opened in 1971 and was redesigned in 2009. The recent renovation features the introduction of Seashore Paspalum turf grass on to all fairways and greens, providing spectacular playing surfaces for golfers of all skill levels. Additional improvements include the reconfiguring greens complexes and green surrounds, as well as bold reshaping of all bunkers.
For tee times or more information visit www.makaigolf.com or call 1.808.826.1912.
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 36 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 16, 2010
4. Puakea Golf Course (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
