Princeville’s Prince Course closed last weekend for renovations. The work is scheduled to take five months, according to a Princeville release. The course began a renovation of the bunkers in September and the closure is to allow completion of that project and other upgrades.

Roy Yamaguchi’s Tavern Restaurant and the Prince Golf Shop, both located in the Prince Clubhouse, are still open. The Prince is the No. 1 course in Hawaii in Golf Digest’s biennial rankings.

Kauai Lagoons is also under renovation, but remains open. The Kiele Moana 9, also known as Ocean 9, is scheduled to open in May. It will have new greens, irrigation, drainage, sand and layout changes.

That is the first of three phases. Work on the Kiele Front 9, to be called Kiele Mauka 9, is scheduled to start in January.

UH-Hilo Invitational one of the toughest

This week’s Amer Ari Invitational host by Hawaii-Hilo is ranked the second-toughest tournament of the spring by Golf World. The ranking is based on the magazine’s final college coaches ranking of the fall.

The toughest event is UNLV’s Southern Highland Collegiate Masters in March. It has 14 teams that received votes in that fall ranking and 10 schools that were in the Top 25.

Hilo is next, with 13 teams receiving votes — eight in the Top 25, three in the top 10 and Oklahoma State, UCLA and Georgia Tech in the top five.

Notes

» The 17th annual Guinea Kop Memorial Golf

Tournament, which benefits the Oahu Junior Golf Association, will be March 17 at Pearl Country Club. The format is a three-person scramble, with maximum handicaps of 36 for women and 30 for men. The cost is $450 per team, with $260 tax deductible. The entry deadline is March 7. For more information, contact the OJGA at oahujuniorgolf@gmail.com. The OJGA is starting its 45th year.

» Entry deadline for the 11th annual Rough Rider Shoot Out is Feb. 25. The tournament, which raises funds for Roosevelt High School, will be March 18 at Mamala Bay. The format is a three-person scramble with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $120 for civilians and $100 for military personnel with ID. For more information, call 265-6643 or 330-1467.