PO‘IPU — The sight of golf carts lined up for a tournament was absent for nine months at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course. That was during the period the course was closed for renovation, but on Saturday, the familiar convoys
PO‘IPU — The sight of golf carts lined up for a tournament was absent for nine months at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
That was during the period the course was closed for renovation, but on Saturday, the familiar convoys of carts reappeared as the renovation work came to a close.
A short ceremony officiated by Stella Burgess and Sandi Quinsaat and Pa Hula Na Kane o Keoneloa marked the end of the reconstruction on the course, Saturday morning as golfers donned special Po‘ipu Bay shirts in red or blue in the scramble tournament.
The Hawaiian culture that envelops the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course was evident as Kumu Hula Charles Kaupu of Pa Hula Na Kane o Keoneloa performed two hula offerings while golfers prepared to leave for the shotgun start in the background.
Burgess said the two presentations were original compositions penned by the halau just for the area. She added the group performs more than 75 percent of its presentations to numbers they compose.
“The course opens on Dec. 16,” said Dennis Chan of the golf course. “The first tee times start as early as 7 a.m.”
Diann Hartman, the community relations officer for the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, said in addition to the opening of the golf course for play, Dec. 16 also marks the return of the Yum Cha restaurant, the 21,000-square foot Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course Clubhouse, and the Po‘ipu Bay Grille.
The Po‘ipu Bay Golf Shop, which is currently operating under a limited schedule, will resume its 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule, daily.
Tee times for the Dec. 16 reopening are currently being accepted, said Candy Aluli in a release.
The course has been closed since April 1 to undergo a comprehensive greens refurbishment project where the original Tifdwarf Bermuda grass with a Sea Shore Paspalum hybrid which has proven to be an optimum putting surface in Hawai‘i.
“The new greens will provide a more consistent speed year-round,” said Craig Sasada, Po‘ipu Bay’s Director of Golf, in an October update on the refurbishment project. “This will create a better overall golf experience for our guests.”
Refurbishment work on the Clubhouse includes locker room renovation, new carpeting, and repainting.
Tee times for visitors are available up to 30 days in advance of play and rates for the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course is a standard fee of $240 for prime tee times. Afternoon tee times between noon and 2:20 p.m. is $145, and the Twilight rate for play starting after 2:30 p.m. and ending by 6 p.m. is $85.
Rates nclude shared golf cart with Global Positioning System and warm-up range balls prior to play.
For kama‘aina, or resident, golfers, tee times are available seven days in advance of play. The Kaua‘i resident rate is $68, and for Hawai‘i state residents, the rate is $75.
A special Kama‘aina Foursome Special allows four players to play for the price of three, reducing the price for each player to $55.
A valid Hawai‘i drivers license is required to verify residency for kama‘aina rates.
The Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course, home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994-2006, is situated on 210 oceanfront acres adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, and has been consistently ranked among the top 100 resort courses in the United States.
Visit www.poipubaygolf.com, or call the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Shop at 742-8711 for tee times, or more information.
