LIHUE — The Aloha Section PGA and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association is hosting the 2015 Hawaii Junior Golf Day on March 21 starting at 8:30 a.m. at 12 golf courses throughout the state.
Kauai will be hosting the event at the Princeville Makai Club on the North Shore and at the Puakea Golf Course in Lihue.
The event is open to keiki ages 5 through 18 and is described as free, fun and educational.
“This is nice,” said Philip Villatora on Saturday while watching Alia Oshita, 10, hit practice drives at the Puakea Golf Course. “She started last year. Golf is good because it helps keep her focused.”
Glenn Tamagawa, the acting professional at the Puakea Golf Course, said there are several young golfers who regularly come to the course for practice.
During the Hawaii Junior Golf Day, Aloha Section PGA members gather to work with keiki in introducing young golfers to the lifetime sport by using age- and skill- appropriate exercises and drills.
Additionally, representatives from the HSJGA and the Kauai Junior Golf Association will have information on getting golfers enrolled in the program, in which young golfers have an opportunity to further learn, play and compete.
Registration for the Hawaii Junior Golf Day opens at 8:30 a.m. with the clinics running from 9 to 11 a.m.
The upcoming keiki event is just one of the recent activities hosted by the Puakea Golf Course which drew golfers of all ages.
On Saturday, the golf course hosted its Demo Day where manufacturers had representatives on hand to show off the latest hardware as well as meet with golfers to hone their skills on the course.
“I came from Honolulu, just for this,” said Brian Luke who gingerly fished his driver from his rental car. “They had an event on Oahu Wednesday, but I couldn’t wait. I need to get this, now. After this, I figure I can holo-holo before I go home.”
Younger golfers, including Rianna and Ryan Chang, took the opportunity to practice at the practice facilities while dad Koko Chang, a well-known tennis player, checked out the latest equipment and got in some practice, too.
“It’s good to introduce the young ones to golf,” Koko said. “That way, they have a choice — tennis, or golf.”
