PRINCEVILLE — Glenn Tamagawa said playing the same nine holes at the Princeville Makai Golf Course 11 times — all in the same day — was memorable.
Tamagawa, the head golf professional at the Puakea Golf Course, was among the six two-man teams playing 100 golf holes starting at 5 a.m., May 12 to support and contribute to the Kauai Junior Golf Association
Participants included former KJGA alumni, board members, and community leaders.
“Starting our first hole at 6 a.m., and ending our 100th hole around 6:30 p.m. was a day filled with fun, lost balls, bananas, musubi, snacks, and many birdies,” Tamagawa said. “It was a great day with little mist of rain to start, but once we got started, the rain stopped. Playing it on the Woods Course that the Troon Golf set up at Makai was awesome. Playing the same nine holes, 11 times was memorable, to say the least.”
Stephanie Shinno, the KJGA director of programs and services, said due to the participants and the community’s generosity, KJGA raised $10,000.
“What a fun way to give back to a program that has been serving Kauai’s keiki since the 1960s,” Shinno said. “It is truly the gift of aloha. We would like to send a big mahalo to our participants, volunteers Jennifer Hreljac, Jessica Hreljac, Lori Kikuchi, Haley Kikuchi, and the host venue, Princeville Makai Golf Club, Woods Course.”
Tamagawa added his mahalo to the volunteers.
“Many thanks to Troon Golf and their host, Andrew Schmidt, for assisting the Kauai Junior Golf Association with our annual fundraiser for our juniors,” Tamagawa said. “Many thanks to everyone who helped raise funds for the KJGA, and very special thanks for our willing volunteers who made the day go by so much faster. If anyone wants to join us next year, by all means. Call the KJGA office and let us know. We do have room for more to join in on the fun-filled day.”
The next KJGA Free Play day is June 9 at the Puakea Golf Course starting at 3 p.m.
Registration forms are at the KJGA website at www.kjga.org.
Shinno said registration is still being accepted for the Kauai Junior Golf Association for youth between the ages of 5 through 18 years old. KJGA is also still open for high school golfers.
“With the Kauai Interscholastic Federation golf ending, we want to make sure high school golfers know they can still sign up,” Shinno said. “If they are a graduating senior, they can apply for our Prestigious Scholarship Program.”