Qualifying for this year's 13 national golf championships starts next month in Hawai'i. The first deadline, for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, is less than two weeks away.

Hawai'i will have local U.S. Open qualifiers on all four major islands — at Hoakalei (May 9) on O'ahu, Wailua (May 15) on Kaua'i, King Kamehameha (May 16) on Maui and Waikoloa Kings' (May 17) on the Big Island. The deadline is April 28. The Open is June 17 to 20.

Hoakalei will also be the site of the U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifier on May 30. This year's Women's Open is July 8 to 11 at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Entry deadline is May 5.

Deadline for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links is a week later. Local qualifiers are May 23 at Wailua, and May 29 at 'Ewa Beach. The championship is June 21 to 26 at The Warren Golf Club at Notre Dame, in Indiana.

The U.S. Amateur Public Links is July 12 to 17 at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C. Qualifiers are at Ala Wai and Hilo Muni (June 12), Waiehu (June 19) and Wailua (June 26). The entry deadline is May 26.

The U.S. Junior Amateur and Girls Junior Amateur will be July 19 to 24, with the boys in Michigan and girls in North Carolina. Both local qualifiers will be at Mākaha Resort, with the boys playing June 21 and 22 and the girls June 22. Entry deadline is June 2.

June 30 is the deadline to enter the U.S. Women's Amateur, Aug. 9 to 15 at Charlotte Country Club in North Carolina. Local qualifier is at Waikoloa Kings' on July 8.

All registration must be done online at USGA.org. A complete list of USGA qualifiers in Hawai'i can be found at the same Web site.

CLINICS

KO OLINA SET TO 'SHARE THE JOY'

Ko Olina Golf Club will host a "Share the Joy of Golf" Demo Day April 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prizes will be given and Ko Olina pros will conduct free beginner clinics hourly.

Vendors from Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, Nike, TaylorMade and Titleist will be there with new equipment to try and personalized club fitting. Cleveland Golf will host a free scoring clinic and chipping contest and kids can participate in the Junior Putting Challenge.

Register at the Golf Shop or call 676-5300 to reserve a time.

NOTES

This week's guests on Emily T Gail Talks golf & Other Sports will be Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows general manager Brian Butterworth and golf writer Dick Mudry. The show is on ESPN Radio AM850 Hilo/AM790 Kona Sunday at 6 p.m.

Pacific Buddhist Academy's sixth annual benefit golf tournament, in memory of Dr. Albert H. Miyasato, will be April 28 at Hawai'i Prince. Format is three-person scramble and funds raised will be used for the high school's cultural, athletic and science programs. Contact Michelle Ching (532-2649) for information.