Mauna Kea s 3rd hole A LEGACY OF SMILES The aloha spirit was alive and well at Mauna Kea Resort s 44th annual Pro-Am. KOHALA COAST, HAWAII: As time approached for the 9 AM shotgun start of the first round of the Mauna Kea Pro- Am, players paused and hushed for the opening ceremonial Oli Blessing on the first tee. Welcome to our Island. Our culture will allow you to better understand Hawaii s people, said Grayden Hai-Kelly, Mauna Kea Resort s activity director. Hawaii is so much more than a place of sun. We are a caring people who don t just say aloha, we live it. Enjoy your stay at our grand resort and play well. Following the announcement, Grayden recited an oli written by him and his son about Mauna Kea. Grayden Hai-Kelly Mauna Kea Resort s activity director The Mauna Kea Resort Pro-Am, a Big Island tradition since 1973, provides an opportunity for private club members and their golf professionals to enjoy each other s company, play oceanfront golf, luxuriate in a spacious guest room, and relax on its world famous, powdery, white sand beach. Let s not forget indulging in The Fredrico, a signature drink at Hau Tree, smiled Mike Jones, director of golf operations at Nemacolin Woodlands in Pennsylvania. THE HORSE RACE SHOOTOUT is an informal four-hole competition immediately following completion of the first round of the Pro-Am. Players enjoyed soft rock music and Jack Daniels cocktails in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. (Top left) Team Braemar Country Club from California wins the Horse Race Shootout on Mauna Kea s iconic 3rd hole and pockets a cool $1,000. (Left) The Ladies of Mauna Kea supporting their spouses and family members during the Horse Race Shootout.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel at her best Ladies Scramble Last December, 26 teams from around the country competed for bragging rights and a cash purse. The five night, four-day event is a four-person, 54-hole tournament consisting of three amateurs and one professional. Scoring is two best balls one gross, one net. Our course will test you, remarked Josh Silliman, director of golf at Mauna Kea. This year we allowed players whose combined age and handicap that exceeded 80 to move up one set of tees. Team North Ranch Country Club in California, with pro Scott Miller, took team honors with a combined tournament score of 391 (41 under par). Greg Van Natta from La Quinta, California, outlasted Kyle Mendoza (club professional representing South Hills Country Club in California) and Ryan Kartchner (club professional representing Hidden A practice round driving golf boards Valley Country Club in Utah) in a four-hole sudden death playoff to be crowned the 44th Annual Pro-Am Champion. THE GRAND DAME OF HAWAII When the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened in 1965, it was the most expensive resort ever built. Laurance Rockefeller, owner of the resort and prominent third-generation member of the Rockefeller family, produced a promotional made-for-television event with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Arnold Palmer to quickly establish the resort on the world s stage. In 2016, the hotel was inducted as a member of Historic Hotels of America and a past accolade includes being named one of the three greatest hotels in the world by Esquire. This is my fourth Mauna Kea Pro-Am in a row, stated Michael Jack, director of golf at South Hills Country Club in California. It s the best week of the year and I look forward to the following tournament the day I get home. WELCOME COCKTAIL AND DINNER RECEPTION: A packed ballroom of players dined on lobster soup, macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, and grilled kalbi short ribs. The ice cream bar was a hit with all ages.
Welcome Cocktail and Dinner Reception LADIES MAUNA KEA SCRAMBLE: Low Gross - Team Probst/Broders 68.8 Low Net - Team Pedicini/Henig 70.2 Golf Professionals in the Mauna Kea Pro-Am
The traditions make it a can t miss event. It s an opportunity to reconnect with good friends. Mike Jones Team Hoffee Team Nemacolin Woodlands Team South Hills Country Club I Team Hapuna Team Mauna Kea III Team Mauna Kea I I lived at Mauna Kea for a decade. Its beach is one of the finest in the world and its famous Fredrico drink can t be beat. John Hoffee Team Hidden Valley Country Club II Team Valley Club of Montecito I Team Oahu Team Red Hill Country Club Its all about friendship. Golf is secondary. Scott Puailoa Team Surrey Hills Team Mesa Verde Country Club Team Valley Club of Montecito II Team Pasatiempo Showing unity, the team wore color coordinated outfits with embroidered Pro-Am script. I chose ocean blue shirts for the first day to create a calming effect before our big win. Ken Woods
Team Braemar Country Club Team Big Canyon Country Club Team Hidden Valley Country Club I After our long night at the Copper Bar, I think I want to rename our team the Dehydrated Jelly Fish. Mike Hoffee Team Lovejoy Team Red Hill Country Club The hospitality cart at Mauna Kea Golf Course is full service all the way down to a blender crafting mai tais and pina coladas. Team Lovejoy pauses from competition for a frosty beverage. Team South Hills Country Club II The Newlyweds Team Kohala Coast Team Friendly Hills Country Club Team Mauna Kea II Team Corral de Tierra Country Club Team La Quinta Team Santa Ana Country Club I guess its appropriate the photographer took our photo in the rough next to a tree. We ve been all over the place today. Mike Reehl
45th ANNUAL MAUNA KEA PRO-AM Dates Check in: Tuesday, December 4 Check out: Sunday, December 9 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. 20 handicap is maximum permitted. For the golf professional: a cash purse, with no buy-in required. Itinerary TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4: 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 5: Full breakfast Hospitality room Practice round at Mauna Kea Golf Course Lunch on course Evening at your leisure THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6: 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 7: Full breakfast Hospitality room Tournament Round #2, Mauna Kea Golf Course Lunch on course Evening at your leisure SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8: Full breakfast Hospitality room Final round, Mauna Kea Golf Course Lunch on course Awards Cocktail Reception and Dinner SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9: Departure Day Full breakfast Complimentary late checkout until 2 pm TO REGISTER FOR THE 45th ANNUAL MAUNA KEA RESORT PRO-AM contact Mark Pazdur at Mark@ExecutiveGolferMagazine.com or (949) 933-6478