PO‘IPU — Is putting easier during sunny weather or during driving rain? If you asked that question of the Langner family of Moorpark, Calif., they’ll tell you it’s better during the rain. “We did this last year in the pouring
PO‘IPU — Is putting easier during sunny weather or during driving rain?
If you asked that question of the Langner family of Moorpark, Calif., they’ll tell you it’s better during the rain.
“We did this last year in the pouring rain,” the mother of the quartet said while watching her sons Danny, 13, and Jimmy, 11, compete at the Plantation Days Putting Contest Thursday at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
The Langner boys got help from their dad, Michael, who lined up each putt before the boys stroked the ball under sunny skies and a brisk tradewind blowing off the PGA Grand Slam of Golf’s host course.
“They’re very competitive,” the mother said as the pair silently worked through the 9-hole course set up on the putting green of the Po‘ipu range.
“Last year, it was raining so hard the rain sheeted sideways,” she said. “But it looks like they putted better last year.”
The Langner family was thrilled when their visit coincided with the hosting of the event that is part of a week-long Koloa Plantation Days celebration and couldn’t resist the challenge.
Dena Peoples, a teacher from California, coordinating the registration table, said she’s been involved in a lot of the Koloa Plantation Days celebration. She said this is her fourth year helping at the putting contest and could recognize several of the participants from their participation in previous events.
A steady stream of participants from as far away as Cary, N. C. made their way through the free event, hoping to win the first-prize round of golf at the PBGC, a Koloa Plantation Days cap, a golf towel from PBGC, a McDonald’s gift card and a special PBGC ball marker.
The runner-up prize package included a special T-shirt, the limited edition Koloa Plantation Days cap, a golf towel, a McDonald’s gift card and the ball marker.
As the minutes counted down towards the contest’s finish, Darren Valencia of Po‘ipu held the best score at 17, helped along by one ace on the course.
The Langner family finished their round and received a PBGC golf ball for their participation with Peoples inviting the young golfers to try out the new ball on the range.
The Koloa Plantation Days sports calendar wraps up this weekend as the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association hosts the 20th Na Holo Kai sailing canoe race from O‘ahu to Po‘ipu Beach Park Saturday. The Koloa Plantation Days Rodeo at the CJM Country Stables wraps up the calendar Sunday starting at noon.
