Casey Nakama celebrated the opening of his renovated Golf Development Center at Olomana Golf Links on Saturday. The undertaking "re-positioned everything" and "made it more academy-like," according to Nakama, who visited Butch Harmon's teaching facility in Las Vegas and Kapalua's Golf Academy for ideas.

Nakama's teaching center remains on the ground floor of Olomana's two-tier driving range. It now includes a private teaching bay that can be closed off and a large classroom and office.

"The classroom was key for us because we go over a lot of etiquette and rules," said Nakama, who also coaches the Punahou boys with Del-Marc Fujita. "In golf the kids have got to know the rules because when they play they gotta make their own decisions out there."

The renovation also allows Nakama to secure his facility. He is still in the midst of improving the practice putting green and creating a pitching area. And, after Saturday's opening on a warm kona-wind evening, a friend offered to put air conditioning in the classroom.

The changes will allow Nakama to bring in more juniors and start adding adult classes. Nakama, who was Michelle Wie's first teacher, is basically maxed out at about 200 students now. His most prominent are Punahou sophomore Bradley Shigezawa, low amateur at last month's Hawai'i Pearl Open and last year's Hawai'i State Open, and Buffanblu freshman Cyd Okino, who has won the last two women's titles at the State Open. Shigezawa has been with Nakama for about seven years and Okino started with him at age 6.

"With Michelle and everything," Nakama said, "we know we're doing the right things and going in the right direction."

KO OLINA SPECIALS

In celebration of Play Golf America Month, Ko Olina Golf Club is offering a two-for-one deal on nine-hole rounds. The offer is valid for non-residents and resort guests for play after 3 p.m. and kama'aina after 3:30 p.m.

Also, Ko Olina's Academy is offering a special that allows anyone who has booked a one-hour lesson to bring up to three friends or family members to join for free. The savings is $20 per person. The club also offers free one-hour clinics the first Saturday of every month.

Ko Olina will close March 24 for aerification. Special aerification rates will be charged March 25 through 31.

For more information, call the Golf Shop (676-5300) or visit www.koolinagolf.com.

QUALIFYING ON KAUA'I

Princeville's Makai and Prince Golf Courses, on Kaua'i's north shore, will serve as qualifying sites for golfers who want to participate in the 2008 PGA McGladrey Team Championship.

The Makai Course will host a qualifying event March 15, beginning at 8 a.m., and the Prince Course qualifier will be April 12 at 11 a.m.

The PGA McGladrey Team Championship is a PGA of America-sanctioned event first introduced in 2007. The net best-ball tournament is open to male and female golfers of all levels.

Local qualifying events will take place across the state, with winners advancing to the sectional qualifying tournament at Turtle Bay Aug. 10. The National Championship is scheduled Oct. 20 to 22 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

For more information or to register for the Makai event, contact Tom Freestone at tfreestone@princeville.com or 808-826-3580. For the Prince qualifier, contact Steve Murphy at smurphy@princeville.com or 808-826-5065.

MID-PACIFIC RULES

Mid-Pacific Country Club's team of professional Joe Phengsavath and amateurs Keiko Sueda, Wade Nakamura, Neal Takara and Kent Youel won the first Aloha Section PGA Foundation/Castle Resorts & Hotels Pro-Am Series event of 2008.

The series benefits the University of Hawai'i men's golf team. MPCC's winning score was 121, with the Castle Resorts team a shot back. Phengsavath won low pro with a 4-under-par 68 at Pearl Country Club.

The final two events are July 11 at Makaha Resort and Oct.10 at Hawai'i Prince.

NOTES

Chan Kim, the 2006 Hawai'i State High School champion, tied for seventh at the Houston Boys Invitational at Redstone last month in Texas. Kim, who grew up here but moved to Arizona last year after winning the Hawai'i State Amateur Stroke Play, shot rounds of 72-77-75 to finish 10 shots behind winner Morgan Hoffman.

Makalei will hold a Demo Day March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with equipment from Titleist, Adams Golf and Nickent. Specials will be available and dermatologist Dr. Monica Scheel will offer free skin cancer checks.