Registration is open for this year’s U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. Waialae Country Club will hold a 36-hole Women’s Open sectional qualifier May 20. Kukio and King Kamehameha have local qualifiers for the Open, May 6 and 11.
The U.S. Golf Association conducts 113 local qualifiers annually for the U.S. Open, including two at foreign sites. Top finishers advance to one of 11 sectionals. From there, at least one golfer advances to this year’s U.S. Open, June 13-16 at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
Top qualifiers from Hawaii’s U.S. Women’s Open sectional go to this year’s national championship at Sebonack Golf Club in New York, June 27-30. The number of qualifiers is based on the number of entrants.
Hawaii will also hold two women’s and four men’s U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifiers, beginning May 25 at Poipu Bay. Junior amateur qualifiers are June 29 at Waikoloa Kings’ and six other USGA qualifiers are scheduled between June 18 and Aug. 27.
For more information and to register, visit USGA.org.
Golfweek picks Kapalua No. 70
Golfweek listed 15 layouts as this year’s "Best Courses You Can Play" in Hawaii, in its annual best courses issue. Eight are also among the "100 Best Resort Courses in the Country." Kapalua Plantation is No. 70 in "Best Modern Courses."
Pacific Dunes in Oregon tops the resort list, followed by Pebble Beach and Pinehurst No. 2. Sand Hills, in Nebraska, is No. 1 among modern courses and Pine Valley, in New Jersey, No. 1 among classic layouts.
The list of best courses in Hawaii "You Can Play," in order: Kapalua Plantation, Princeville Prince, Makai (Princeville), Challenge at Manele Bay, Mauna Kea, Wailea Gold, Hualalai, Kauai Lagoons, Poipu Bay, Ko‘olau, Turtle Bay Palmer, Experience at Koele, Makena North, Mauna Lani North and Mauna Lani South.
The list of Best Resort Courses here, with their overall rating: 17, Kapalua Plantation; 22, Princeville Prince; 29, Challenge at Manele Bay; 31, Mauna Kea; 64, Kauai Lagoons; 69, Hualalai; 75, Wailea Gold, and; 85, Poipu Bay.
Along with Kapalua Plantation, four courses were included in "Next 100 Best Modern Courses:" 101, Nanea; 123, Princeville Prince; 150, Challenge at Manele, and; 168, Mauna Kea.
Nearly 750 course raters identify layouts each year to produce Golfweek’s lists. The system recognizes that prior to 1960 (the year that separates classic from modern) "most golf course architects relied on native contours for course features. After 1960, as the game became more popular, architects began to utilize high-tech engineering and advanced mechanical means to transform the landscape to suit their design." Courses are rated on 10 standards of evaluation.
Notes
» The annual Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Spring Tent Sale will be April 13, from 8 a.m. to noon at King Auto Center in Lihue. Golf shirts, hats, shorts, sweatshirts, clubs, slippers, accessories and umbrellas, along with memorabilia from the U.S. Open and Ryder Cup, will be for sale. Proceeds benefit the HSJGA.
» The 63rd annual Jennie K. Invitational is May 16-18 at Mid Pacific Country Club. Details and applications are at mpcchi.org. Registration forms are also available at the pro shop. For information, call 262-2428 or email kathyordway@me.com.
» Entry forms are out for the 13th annual David S. Ishii Foundation Golf Tournament, which funds the state high school golf championship. The tournament is June 13 at Pearl Country Club. Forms can be downloaded at davidsishiifoundation.org. For information, call 754-5963 or email Dlishiious@aol.com. Registration deadline is May 20.
