Nakaoka, age 10, is Augusta-bound

In the golf world where Kate Nakaoka resides, dreams of playing Augusta National and earning a Hawaii Player of the Year distinction are now reality.

She is 10.

“I’ve heard that Augusta National is golf heaven,” the Mililani Ike Elementary School fifth-grader says, “and the course is perfect.”

The reigning Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Girls 7-10 player of the year is about to see if there truly is a golf heaven on earth.

Kate is off to the Masters to warm the place up for guys like Jordan and Rory, and maybe sample a $1.50 pimento sandwich.

On Easter Sunday (April 1), Spieth, McElroy and others — such as defending champion Sergio Garcia and resurgent four-time champ Tiger Woods — will be arriving in Augusta, Ga. Nakaoka and 79 more juniors from 30 U.S. states and a Canadian province will be teeing off in the fifth annual Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals.

Live, on The Golf Channel, from Augusta National.

Again, Nakaoka is 10.

The kids started their sojourn last year at one of more than 260 sites across the country. Nakaoka is Hawaii’s inaugural finalist after running away with the Torrey Pines regional last fall in California.

In golf’s version of Punt, Pass & Kick, each golf shot is worth up to 25 points, with three shots in each discipline. Scoring is based on a combination of distance and accuracy in driving, and proximity for chipping and putting. Degree of difficulty increases with age (between 7-15).

The free “golf development initiative” was developed by the Masters, PGA of America and USGA. Junior girls and boys compete in four age groups, in what organizers characterize as golf’s three fundamental skills. The goal is to “tap the creative and competitive spirit of young golfers.”

“This initiative has been a great partnership between the PGA and Augusta on the national and local level,” Aloha Section PGA executive director Wes Wailehua says. “It’s amazing to see our local members encourage the juniors on the journey to Augusta. The kids are treated like champions during the DCP event. As professionals and tournament operators, we all aspire to the standards of competition and hospitality set by Augusta National.”

The initiative started in a few major markets, with Hawaii added in 2014-15. Initially, we had just one qualifier scheduled, forcing those who advance to fly twice to the mainland, for sub-regionals and the national qualifier if they got that far.

The Aloha Section board talked Augusta and the PGA of America into allowing Hawaii to host a qualifier on all four main islands and a sub-regional. For each site, 1,500 pounds of equipment is shipped in by air cargo.

It is a long way from Nakaoka’s start in the game, when she received “toy clubs” at the age of 1. By age 5, graphite had replaced the “toys” and she was taking lessons.

“The thing I like best about golf is the competition, she says, “and trying to shoot lower scores each time I play.”

Her current emphasis on the “three fundamentals” for DCP has caused barely a ripple in her training.

“It wasn’t that much different than my normal practice routine,” Nakaoka insists. “Just a little more focus on driving, chipping and putting.”

Soon, she will be playing against a golf backdrop like no other. Augusta National, closed from mid-May to mid-October, doesn’t allow electronic devices. Tickets to the Masters are willed down through generations or won in a lottery — or scalped for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.

Sitting on the grass is prohibited. Basically, so are weeds, trash and loud voices. The entrance is via elegant Magnolia Lane, a stark contrast from the route in, past strip malls and fast food joints on Washington Road.

Drive, Chip & Putt, with all those diverse kids, is a stark contrast for Augusta National. It didn’t allow its first female members until 2012. It didn’t accept its first African-American member until 1990 — 56 years after it opened

Now, after Sunday’s competition, the kids are allowed to attend Monday’s practice round. “I’m excited to see the pros get ready for the Masters and see the course,” Nakaoka says.

And one other thing, beyond the golf thing.

“I want to meet new people,” she adds, “and hopefully make some new friends.”

Nakaoka IS 10.

There are 288 qualifying sites for the 2019 Drive, Chip & Putt competition. Hawaii’s are May 26 at The Dunes at Maui Lani, followed by Puakea (June 2), Hualalai (June 16) and Koolau (June 30). The sub-regional is at Kapolei (June 21) and regional finals return to Torrey Pines.

For more information, visit drivechipandputt.com.