Prince Resorts hires Rolfing as consultant

By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser

After years of association with Kapalua, Mark Rolfing joined Prince Resorts Hawai'i as a consultant and spokesman for its four championship golf courses — Mauna Kea, Hapuna, Makena and Hawai'i Prince.

"We consider Mark to be Hawai'i's foremost golf expert," said Donn Takahashi, vice president/regional director for the resort, in announcing a multi-year agreement yesterday.

"I think it's going to be a great partnership. He's going to be our 'poster child.' "

"I think is the right thing for me to do at this stage of my career," said Rolfing, a Maui resident who is a golf analyst with NBC-TV.

"I wanted a new challenge and this is definitely a challenge."

Rolfing said that Prince already has a distinct competitive advantage with top-caliber courses on Oahu, Maui and Hawai'i.

"Prince is the biggest operator of golf in Hawai'i and I'm looking forward to making (its) 99 holes a 'must do' experience for any golfer coming to Hawai'i," Rolfing said.

According to Takahashi and Rolfing, Prince will be discussing opportunities to host a major annual tournament involving PGA players.

"You can't emphasize enough what an event does for a resort," Rolfing said.

As to the resort's immediate commitment to local golf, the company announced that it will be the title sponsor for the Hawai'i State Open for the next three years.

The 2003 Hawai'i State Open will be held at Hapuna, 2004 at Hawai'i Prince and 2005 at Makena, site of this year's championship last week.