KUKUI GROVE — An Anara Spa experience was just one of the benefits for mom and helped Kaua‘i Junior Golfers at the Play Golf America event, Saturday at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
“This is the first time we’ve had this at the shopping center, and based on how it’s going, I’m pretty sure we’re going to do it again,” said Jonel Kaohelauli‘i, the mall’s marketing director.
PGA professionals from the different golf properties around the island converged at the shopping center to offer free golf lessons and tips to golfers of all ages and skill levels, combining their skill and expertise with two Full Swing PGA cages and some putting practice greens.
“This equipment was shipped over from O‘ahu,” said Ron Castillo of the Puakea Golf Course. “When the University of Hawai‘i starts its fall football season, these cages will be set up at the stadium so fans arriving early can work toward improving their game, or taking some practice swings while waiting.”
Kaohelaulii said the Play Golf America program was set up in conjunction with the Puakea Golf Course located just a block makai of the shopping center and coincides with the PGA celebrating May as PGA Free Lesson Month.
Golfers could try their hand at winning mom, or a significant other, with an Anara Spa experience from the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
For a $2 donation to the Kaua‘i Junior Golf program, golfers got three tries to sink a putt, a successful putt entering the golfer into a random drawing for the Anara prize.
The Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association operates under the auspices of the Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association that was founded in 1998 by Norman Asao, Merv Kotake, Greg Nichols, the PGA and Mary Bea Porter-King, LPGA/USGA.
The association was formed from a need to have one organization represent junior golf in Hawai‘i and open to any child at a minimal cost. The goal of HSJGA was to provide an environment where any male or female junior, ages 7-18 years could enjoy golf and progress at their own rate while preserving and teaching the traditions and integrity of the game of golf.
Kelli Oride, finishing second in the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state girls golf championship earlier in the week, and fellow Kaua‘i golfer Rae-Lyn Morikawa are products of the Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association.
