We re not for everybody. We re for the fortunate few. LAURANCE ROCKEFELLER Mauna Kea s 3rd hole MAUNA KEA RESORT MOMENTS The aloha spirit was alive and well at Mauna Kea Resort s 45th annual Pro-Am. KOHALA COAST, HAWAII: Before the arrival of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, ranching was the Big Island s major industry. The resort sits on a beach where cowboys and ranch hands would camp and fish after a day on the range. On a flight home from Asia in the early 1960s, tycoon Laurance Rockefeller took a detour to Hawaii. During his scouting trip, he spotted the white crescent-shaped beach, fell in love, and soon afterward signed a land lease. More than 1.5 million man-hours of labor were required to excavate 60 acres of lava, landscape the land with 200,000 Team T.J. Esaki-Kia and Mark Campana, winners of the Horse Race Shootout on Mauna Kea s iconic 3rd hole and $1,000 richer with Mauna Kea Sand Dollars. plants, and incorporate 5,000 square feet of marble, a mile of wood, and 20,000 cubic yards of concrete into the construction of the iconic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. As Hawaii s economy transformed from agriculture to tourism, one constant remained: for more than a half century, Mauna Kea Resort has been the benchmark by which all other Hawaiian resorts are measured. BRAGGING RIGHTS Last December 29, teams from around the country competed for bragging rights and a $10,000 professional cash purse. The five night, four-day event was a four-person, 54- hole tournament consisting of three amateurs and one professional. Scoring was two best balls one gross, one net. My husband and I have been vacationing at Mauna Kea for 50 consecutive years, said Louise Shullman. The tournament is a can t miss event for us. Last year s Pro-Am kicked-off on a high note with an oceanfront Welcome Dinner and Reception under the stars. THE 45TH ANNUAL MAUNA KEA PRO-AM was a four-person, 54-hole tournament consisting of three amateurs and one professional. THE HORSE RACE SHOOTOUT, an informal four-hole competition immediately following completion of the first round of the Pro-Am had 32 teams. Players enjoyed soft rock music and Moscow Mule or Mint Julep cocktails in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel at her best In 2016, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was inducted as a member of Historic Hotels of America. THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII is the youngest island in the Hawaiian chain. At 300,000 years old, it s a freshman compared to the upperclassmen of Oahu (three million years old) and Kauai (four million years old). It s not every day that I get to indulge on kiawe grilled kalbi with mango mint kimchee and macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi with Asian roulade, smiled Kyle Mendoza, club professional at South Hills Country Club in California. Team Arroyo Trabuco from California, with pro Bobby Nickell, took team honors by five shots with a 30-under par score of 402. Alex Ching took top honors in the professional division by three shots with a score of one-over par 217, winning a $3,000 prize. I had butterflies in my stomach just like Nicklaus, Player, and Palmer did during their made for television competition to promote the resort, recalled Jon Duppler, PGA professional at Elgin Country Club in Illinois. When you approach Mauna Kea s famous third hole that requires a deft tee shot over the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, you can t help but be a little weak in the knees. (Left) Golf professionals Bobby Nickell, Kyle Mendoza, and Michael Jack debating who will win the lion share of the $10,000 purse. (Above) Team Greg Van Natta from California.
A celebration of friends under a moonlit sky. Grayden Hai- Kelly provided the ceremonial blessing before the start of competition. WELCOME COCKTAIL AND DINNER RECEPTION Wendy Wisbon, golf professional at Annandale Golf Club in California. Mr. & Mrs. Dembski with Mr. & Mrs. Eisenberg Team Pasatiempo in California. Burt Bonk and son Ali taking full advantage of the dessert bar. Mrs. & Mr. Eades Team Valley Club in California. Smiles all around. Darci & Scott Puailoa Team La Quinta enjoying the evening. The women had an opportunity to compete in a three-person best ball scramble. MAUNA KEA CHIPPERS TOM'S TRIPLE THREAT LADIES MAUNA KEA SCRAMBLE: Low Gross - Team Birdie Bumpers 85 Low Net - Team Sargent s Sweeties 71 BIRDIE BUMPERS PASATIEMPO PURISTS
Team Mauna Kea-Taise, Hawaii Team South Hills One, California Team Annandale CC, California Team Hayashi, Hawaii Team Big Canyon, California Team Bonk, Hawaii Team Friendly Hills, California Making birdie to continue on in the Horse Race Shootout. Team Pasatiempo, California Team Mauna Kea Resort-Duane Otte, Hawaii Team North Ranch, California Team BMF, Hawaii Golf Professionals in the Mauna Kea Pro-Am
45th Annual Pro-Am Team Mauna Kea Resort-Josh Silliman, Hawaii First Hole of Horse Race Shootout. Team Red Hill CC, California Team Mauna Kea Resort-Mahiole, Hawaii Team Mauna Kea Resort-T.J. Esaki-Kia, Hawaii Each participant received a pair of Oakleys, including Bongo, Marc Heitz's trusted sidekick. Team South Hills - Mendoza, California Team South Hills CC Michael Jack, California Team Nanea, Hawaii Jay & Louise Shullman have vacationed 50 consecutive years at Mauna Kea Resort. Team Hidden Valley from Utah showing they are big fans of the University of Utah. Team Promontory Club from Utah responding to Team Hidden Valley's allegiance to U of U.
45th Annual Pro-Am Team Tom Sergeant, California Team Mauna Kea Resort, Hawaii Team Wilshire CC, California Team GC at Surrey Hills, Oklahoma Team Mauna Kea Two, Hawaii Team Annandale Country Club from California checking out the PXG demo day. Team Mauna Kea Swanks, Hawaii Team South Hills CC, California Team Elgin CC, Illinois Team Valley Club, California Team Reehl Deal, California Enjoying the Horse Race Shootout. Team South Hills Two, California
46th ANNUAL MAUNA KEA PRO-AM Dates Check in: Tuesday, December 3 Check out: Sunday, December 8 Format A five-night, four-day golf tournament at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. For the amateur: Four-man, 54-hole Pro-Am consisting of three amateurs and one professional. Two best balls: one gross, one net. Amateurs play to full handicap. For the golf professional: a cash purse, with no buy-in required. Itinerary TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3: Arrival Day For early arrivals, optional practice round at Mauna Kea Golf Course Optional $300 team buy-in Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4: Full breakfast Hospitality room Practice round at Mauna Kea Golf Course Lunch on course Evening at your leisure THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5: Full breakfast Hospitality room Traditional Hawaiian Blessing Tournament Round #1, Mauna Kea Golf Course Lunch on course Horse Race Shootout with $1,000 prize Evening at your leisure FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6: Full breakfast Hospitality room Tournament Round #2, Mauna Kea Golf Course Lunch on course Evening at your leisure SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7: Full breakfast Hospitality room Final round, Mauna Kea Golf Course Lunch on course Awards Cocktail Reception and Dinner SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8: Departure Day Full breakfast Complimentary late checkout until 2 pm TO REGISTER FOR THE 46th ANNUAL MAUNA KEA RESORT PRO-AM contact Mark Pazdur at Mark@ExecutiveGolferMagazine.com or (949) 933-6478