LIHUE — Steve Murphy, a golf professional at the Princeville golf program, came to the Puakea Golf Course Saturday morning. “He said there were more kids registered at the Puakea Golf Course and thought they could use his help at
LIHUE — Steve Murphy, a golf professional at the Princeville golf program, came to the Puakea Golf Course Saturday morning.
“He said there were more kids registered at the Puakea Golf Course and thought they could use his help at Puakea,” said Lauren Yama of the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. “We have nearly 75 registered at Puakea. This is really great.”
The HSJGA hosted a free Hawaii Junior Golf Day at 12 sites around the state, two of them being on Kauai, the Puakea Golf Course and the Princeville Makai Golf Club.
Free to juniors ages 5 through 18, the event was led by Aloha Section Professional Golf Association, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and HSJGA leaders to introduce young golfers to the game of golf through a series of fun activities.
“This is such a good event,” said the mother of Rianna Chang, 5, who was being observed by Paul Ito, golf professional at the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club. “I’ve always wanted to have her take lessons, but it’s not inexpensive. This is free, so how could I not have her here?”
Ito was joined by other Kauai golf professionals, including Murphy, Matt Torry of the Kiahuna Golf Club, Kellie Hines, lead professional at the Puakea Golf Course, Pat Hunt of the Kukuiolono Golf Course, Kenneth Kimura of the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, and HSJGA leaders Mary Bea Porter King, president, Ron Peeren and Jaime Walker.
The professionals were joined by Kauai Interscholastic Federation golfers, several of whom are Kauai Junior Golf Association members, and enjoying the spring break.
“It’s such a good feeling to see all those kids having fun,” Yama said.
Info: www.kjga.org, or www.hsjga.org.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
