Meeting draws big names
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By Bill Kwon
PGA of America, USGA heads to talk about golf in Hawai'i
Advertiser library photo • Jan. 9, 2002
Those interested in golf's impact in Hawai'i should make it a point to attend the Aloha PGA Golf Conference on Nov. 23 at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel. Sure, the University of Hawai'i's football team is playing Cincinnati that night at Aloha Stadium. But there's still time for a "two-fer" for anyone with an equal passion for UH football and golf.
Spain's Sergio Garcia took some time to oblige autograph seekers during the Sony Open in Hawai'i.
The golf conference starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 4 in the afternoon.
Making it a can't-miss event is the rare opportunity to listen to two marquee keynote speakers — David Fay, the executive director of the United States Golf Association, and M.G. Orender, the incoming president of the PGA of America.
Even UH athletic director Herman Frazier is on the program, and you know he will be high-tailing it to the football game as soon as the golf session is over.
"It's a great lineup. It'll be very interesting for everybody who attends," said Mark Rolfing, NBC-TV golf analyst who will moderate.
• Date: Nov. 23 • Location: Sheraton-Waikiki • Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. • Fees: (includes registration and luncheon): $50 Hawai'i Golf Association members; $75 non-members • Moderator: Mark Rolfing, NBC-TV Golf Analyst • Guest speakers: David Fay, executive director of USGA; M.G. Orender, incoming president of PGA of America
"It's not often we can get two national golf figures like David Fay of the USGA and the PGA of America president here at the same time," added Greg Nichols, the long-time Waialae Country Club head golf professional who will assume a new position at Ko Olina next month.
Aloha Golf Conference
Having both Fay and Orender in town is a happy coincidence because the PGA Grand Slam of Golf — sponsored by the PGA of America — will be held the following week at the Po'ipu Bay Resort on Kaua'i. The PGA Grand Slam is more informally known as "Tiger's Tournament" because Tiger Woods is favored to win it for the fifth straight year.
Fay and Orender aren't merely "talking heads" when it comes to the game. Both are hands-on individuals who grew up playing golf.
A member of the USGA staff for the past 24 years, and its executive director since 1989, Fay had been instrumental in Bethpage Black Course in his native New York state becoming the first municipal course to host the U.S. Open in its 102-year history. It truly made the 2002 U.S. Open a "People's Open."
He grew up as a public links golfer, knowing first-hand that Bethpage Black wasn't just a public course, but one that was challenging enough for the world's best players. The site is also one that could meet all the criteria needed to host the U.S. Open.
"The important thing is that we never want to compromise course quality," Fay said.
The USGA's decision to play the U.S. Open there has proved to be a powerful statement of its commitment to public golf, especially considering that 65 percent of USGA members play most of their rounds on public courses.
Elected as PGA of America's 33rd president earlier this month, Orender is a Jacksonville, Fla., businessman who also has been a golfer first.
A founding partner of Hampton Golf, Inc., which operates a number of golf courses in Florida, Orender had been active on the national level in promoting junior golf for the PGA of America. He began at the grass-roots level as an assistant golf pro and later head professional and course superintendent at a small Florida country club.
Like the USGA, the PGA of America is also dedicated to the growing game of golf.
To have two leading representatives from those golf organizations on hand for the conference is quite a coup and special treat.
For conference information and registration, telephone the Aloha Section PGA office at 593-2230 or visit www.alohaPGAgolf.com.
What 'silly' season?
Now that the 2002 PGA Tour season is over, it's time to play for some "funny" money in what's called golf's "silly season."
However, don't tell that to Rolfing. Among the upcoming events are the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the Hyundai Team Matches this weekend, the Skins Game, Greg Norman's Franklin Templeton Shootout, once more colorfully called the Shark Shootout, and Tiger's tournament, the Williams World Challenge.
"Tiger Woods' tournament is 72 holes and involves the world's best players," Rolfing said. "I don't think anybody in that field thinks it's silly."
Rolfing is the most instrumental in all the big-money postseason golf tournaments we're now seeing on television.
Long before there was a Shark Shootout, there was the Kapalua International. The first year was in 1982 and even the Skins Games didn't happen until a year later.
And the players looked forward to Kapalua, according to Rolfing.
"Davis Love (III) told me that the one tournament he wanted to win, other than four majors and the Players Championship, was the Kapalua International. And it was important for Fred Couples to win it twice," Rolfing said.
"To call it the 'Silly Season' is degrading to the participants."
A good trivia question: Who won the inaugural Kapalua International?
The answer: David Ishii. But Kapalua International's most significant role in Hawai'i's golf history is that its success led to the PGA Tour being convinced that Kapalua Resort had the golf course and the amenities to host the Mercedes Championships that annually starts off the tour's "serious" season.
Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.
