Kapalua Golf Academy's Jerry King is ranked as the top golf instructor in Hawai'i in Golf Digest's biennial ranking of America's 50 Greatest Teachers and Best Teachers in Your State.

The ranking is done through a direct ballot survey of golf instructors nationwide. Butch Harmon was voted the top teacher in the game nationally for the fourth consecutive time, followed by David Leadbetter and Hank Haney.

Wailea's Eddie Lee is ranked second in Hawai'i, followed by Kapalua Golf Academy's Ben Hongo; Casey Nakama, whose junior academy is based at Olomana, and Kapalua Golf Academy's Ian Hume.

The lists are in the magazine's August issue. Golf Digest sorted through 20,000 teaching professionals and another 1,000 LPGA and unaffiliated teachers to determine the country's best.

As part of the nominating procedure, more than 1,000 teachers representing all 50 states completed ballots. The teachers were asked to rate all instructors in their geographic area and also to nominate the best teachers in the nation.

FRIENDS OF HAWAI'I DISTRIBUTES $110,000

More than $110,000 was distributed to 19 North Shore charities Friday by the Friends of Hawai'i Charities. The money was raised by the tour events held at Turtle Bay Resort earlier this year — the Champions Tour's Turtle Bay Championship and the LPGA's SBS Open.

Since the resort began hosting the tour events it has raised $440,000 for local charities.

Fred Funk won this year's Turtle Bay Championship by a tour-record 11 shots. He will defend his championship when the Champions Tour plays its first full-field event of 2008 at the Palmer Course, Jan. 25 to 27.

Paula Creamer captured the 2007 SBS Open. Next year's SBS will open the LPGA season Feb. 14 to 16.

NOTES

Po'ipu Bay Golf Course is offering a "Four Play for the Price of Three" kama'aina special through the end of the year. Po'ipu Bay's regular fee for Hawai'i residents is $68. The special offers a green fee of $50 per person for groups of four kama'aina, valid for play at any time. A Hawai'i driver's license is required for each player.

Rees Jones, son of original architect Robert Trent Jones, is overseeing the renovation of the Mauna Kea Golf Course. The course is putting in new grass, a new irrigation system, and rebuilding the clubhouse and cart barn. It is expected to reopen in late 2008.

Hapuna Golf Course donated $20,000 to junior golf programs, earmarking the money for Hawai'i State Junior Golf, Big Island Junior Golf, Kohala and Honoka'a High Schools, and the six-hole course in North Kohala's Kamehameha Park.

The 60th Birthday Ball Golf Tournament is July 20 at Hickam's Mamala Bay Golf Course. It has a noon shotgun start and modified scramble format. Entry fees start at $65 and are based on rank and military service, with civilians $100. Information: Joshua Smith, 428-4796 or joshua.smith@hickam.af.mil.