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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, July 21, 2005

Friends of Hawai'i awards $110K in grants

Advertiser Staff

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Friends of Hawai'i Charities Inc. gave grants worth $110,000 to more than 20 North Shore organizations last week at its annual luncheon. The money was primarily raised through the Turtle Bay Championship and SBS Open at Turtle Bay golf tournaments, held at the resort's Palmer Course earlier this year.

Friends of Hawaii Charities was formed in 1998 to provide funding for projects directed toward children, women and the needy. Friends and its partners and sponsors have raised and distributed more than $5,000,000 to Hawai'i charities.

Among the North Shore groups receiving grants are Hau'ula Ice Breakers, Hawai'i Fi-Do Service Dogs, Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association, Ka'a'awa Elementary School, and YMCA Camp Erdman.

The Champions Tour will return to the North Shore for the 2006 Turtle Bay Championship, Jan. 27 to 29. The LPGA's second SBS Open at Turtle Bay is scheduled for Feb. 16 to 18.


PO'IPU'S ANNIVERSARY

Kaua'i's Po'ipu Bay Resort Course, home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with specials available through Sept. 30.

The anniversary offers include weekly drawings for PGA Grand Slam tickets, free rental clubs, and special values for women, couples and kama'aina.

Groups of eight or more women will get a special $35 green fee (per player) and a 15 percent discount on breakfast or lunch at Po'ipu Bay's Grill and Bar the day of play.

The "Couples Special" offers half off a second green fee when one green fee is paid at the regular rate of $185 (or $125 for guests of the Hyatt Regency Kaua'i Resort & Spa). This offer is not applicable to kama'aina rates or other discounted fees.

During the summer, a paid 18-hole green fee (excluding twilight or group play) allows golfers free use of Po'ipu Bay's standard rental clubs, subject to availability.

All golfers and visitors to the golf shop can enter a weekly drawing to win a three-day season pass for this year's Grand Slam, scheduled Nov. 21 to 23. Drawings will take place every Friday through Sept. 30.

There is a discounted green fee of $60 for Hawai'i residents. A kama'aina foursome can play for the price of three, or $45 each. A Hawai'i drivers license for each player is required in order to qualify.

For more information, or to book tee times, call the Po'ipu Bay Golf Shop at (808) 858-6300 or 742-8711 on Kaua'i.


2 LOCAL COURSES CITED

The latest Golf for Women magazine names its new Top 50 Courses for Women, or what it considers the 50 best public and resort courses designed with women in mind. The Challenge at Manele on Lana'i is ranked 21st, with Wailea Resort's Emerald Course — a perennial choice — 29th.

Manele was chosen in part for its "breathtaking water holes," while the Emerald was noted for the high probability that you could "play an entire round with one ball."

The magazine's "methodology" started with a group of nominees that included past Top 50 courses, eligible courses from Golf Digest's Top 100 Public Courses and courses nominated by the magazine's 100 female course raters.

A Top 50 course must have at least one set of tees measuring less than 5,500 yards and at least two under 6,000, and at least two tees rated for women. It also has to be "fair from all tees," with few forced carries from the forward tees, and must be in "top condition and visually pleasing." Raters assigned point values for playability, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning, ambience and woman-friendliness.


AMATOUR'S FIRST MAJOR

Casey Nakama's Olomana Development Center is hosting Amatour Hawai'i's first major this weekend. Sam Rodriguez made the Olomana Shootout his first Amatour victory last year, making up a four-shot deficit with a final-round 68. Travis Toyama won the last Amatour stop with Chris Souza, who is first in Player of the Year points, coming in second.


PUA MELIA STARTS TODAY

Olomana Women's Golf Association's 29th annual Pua Melia Invitational will be today and tomorrow, with a 7:30 a.m. start. Ku'ulei Ka'ai won last year in a playoff. Sanae Vierra, who won the Waialae Women's Invitational on Tuesday, also is in the championship flight.