Puakea Starts ‘Kids Play Free’ Campaign; Makai Passes Offer Substantial Discounts
(KAUA’I, Hawaii) – The Kaua’i Visitors Bureau today announces that two Kaua’i golf resorts – Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa and Kaua’i Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach – garnered best-of distinction from Condé Nast Traveler magazine in its 15th “Top Golf Resorts Readers’ Poll.”
Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa also enjoys the distinction of having been named to Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Golf Resorts list each of the 15 times it has been published. Close behind, The St. Regis Princeville Resort on Kaua’i has been named to the list 14 out of 15 times. Princeville Prince Golf Course and Makai Golf Club pack a potent, convenient one-two punch for guests who enjoy golf at The St. Regis.
Grand Hyatt Kaua’i just completed its major guestroom revamp this month and its golf course, Poipu Bay, recently debuted new greens in December, to rave review.
Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club will unveil its newly renovated Kiele Course Ocean Nine, authored by Jack Nicklaus and with a new ocean hole, set to open in May. The course and golf club are adjacent to the Kauai Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach, which completed a $50-million resort renovation in last year.
“Having Kaua’i’s golf resorts voted among the best in the world is a great honor because of the source – Condé Nast Traveler readers – the people who are experiencing first-hand what each property has to offer,” says Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau. “We hope this great honor influences visitors to experience these luxurious resorts, and also Puakea, which many consider an under sung gem in the golf world.”
Thousands of Condé Nast Traveler subscribers evaluate hundreds of properties that they visited. Properties are rated on many levels – Course Design, Speed of Play, Rooms, Service, Food/Dining, and Other Facilities. Condé Nast Traveler reports it has millions of readers per issue.
Prince Course, Kaua’i Lagoons and Poipu Bay Honored by Golfweek
The Princeville Prince Course, Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club and Poipu Bay Golf Course have been named to Golfweek’s 2011 list of “Best Courses You Can Play” in Hawaii.
Only 15 of the nearly 100 courses in golf-rich Hawaii were cited for “best-of” distinction. The Prince Course remained No. 2 in the state, Kauai Lagoons jumped to No. 6 and Poipu Bay landed at No. 7. Golfweek’s complete listing is available online and in the current edition of the magazine.
“Having three courses honored by Golfweek is testament to the high-quality golf destination that is Kaua’i,” said Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau.
Kaua’i Lagoons will unveil Phase I of its massive renovation this spring, with the opening of the new Kiele Moana 9 holes. Upon its debut, the course will feature the longest stretch of ocean holes in Hawaii. Currently 18 of the 36 holes are in play, consisting of nine holes from the Kiele Course and nine holes from the Mokihana Course.
Poipu Bay, the former home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, reopened in December following a nine-month greens refurbishment that included the installation of Seashore Paspalum. Together with the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design has been ranked as one of the best golf resorts in the world by national publications.
The Prince Course, located at Princeville Resort on Kaua’i’s north shore, is currently closed for upgrades, and the firm of Robert Trent Jones II is overseeing the project, which is expected to be completed this fall. In addition to a complete bunker renovation, the course, originally designed by Jones II, will also install eco-friendly Seashore Paspalum turf on its greens, level the tees, improve drainage and install a state-of-the-art irrigation system.
Puakea Golf Course Begins ‘Kids Play Free’ Campaign in June
Puakea Golf Club’s Annual Kids Play Free campaign begins June 1 and will run through Sept. 30, 2011. The campaign allows junior golfers ages 7 to 17 to play the course for free when accompanied by a paying adult (one free junior for each adult). The offer is valid seven days a week and rental clubs are available for junior golfers.
“This is a way for Puakea to support the growth of the game,” said Puakea General Manager Dave Werner. “We offer this program every summer to encourage families to introduce their children to the game and get out and enjoy a healthy activity together.”
Puakea ranked No. 16 on GOLF Magazine’s prestigious “2010 Best Courses You Can Play” by state list. The course resonates with golfers of all ages since its tropical landscape and backdrop served as the set for the hit movie Jurassic Park.
Makai Golf Club Offers Savings to Multi-Round Players and Free Golf to Juniors
Players who want to enjoy multiple rounds at Princeville’s Makai Golf Club can now earn substantial savings by purchasing a choice of two special offers.
The “Makai Golf Pass” provides three 18-hole rounds for $420 to be used within seven days of purchase, with additional rounds added for $140 each. The “Makai Golf Week” provides six rounds at $696, to be used within 30 days of purchase. The passes are non-transferable, but are good for rounds on both the 18-hole Makai and the 9-hole Woods course, as well as for merchandise at the award-winning Makai Golf Shop.
Makai Golf Club is also continuing its popular “juniors play free” program through 2011. Players ages 6 to 15 can play free when accompanied by a paying adult (one free junior per one paying adult; additional juniors or unaccompanied juniors pay 50% off adult rate). Juniors ages 16 and 17 receive 50% off green fees when accompanied by a paying adult. Juniors can also use complimentary Callaway rental clubs, a $55 value.
The Makai Course, located in the Princeville at Hanalei resort, recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation that featured the introduction of Seashore Paspalum turf grass on all tees, fairways and greens, providing spectacular playing surfaces for golfers of all skill levels.
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.” It is currently undergoing a refurbishment project and will be closed until the fall.
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 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 Moana (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 re-opened in December following a renovation project, highlighted by the installation of the eco-friendly Seashore Paspalum turf on all greens
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
