LIHUE (Kauai), Hawaii – March 8, 2005 – Puakea Golf Course, Hawaii's best kept secret and newest 18-hole facility owned by AOL founder Steve Case, has announced that its award-winning, Robin Nelson designed layout has received a "Beginner Friendly Certification" from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA).
Puakea was selected from over 6000 NGCOA member courses throughout the U.S. and Canada. Courses were evaluated on a number of criteria including availability of clinics, loaner clubs, special playing times for beginners and other initiatives. All courses receiving beginner friendly certification are listed on a national web site, www.getlinkedplaygolf.com
"Beginner Friendly Certification is national recognition of the programs and services that Puakea provides to encourage people to come and enjoy the game of golf," says Paul Ito, director of golf at Puakea. "The game has so much to offer and we encourage people to come enjoy our beautiful course and have a good time golfing with their friends and family."
The NGCOA specifically cited Puakea's monthly beginner, junior and women's clinics as major determinants for the certification. Clinics run for four weeks and last approximately one hour. Class sizes are limited to six people so that the instructor is able to provide individual attention to each student. Beginner and women clinics are $45 per person, per month and junior clinics are $25. To register, contact the Puakea proshop at (808) 245-8756, or toll free at (866) 773.5554.
About Puakea Golf Course
Over the past year, Puakea has been heralded as one of Hawaii's finest layouts by local, regional and national publications. The course was recently named the fourth best layout in Hawaii by Hawaii Magazine. In addition, Celebrated Living, the premium-class in-flight magazine of American Airlines ranked Puakea as one of the top ten new courses in the country.
Located on the former Grove Farm sugar plantation, Puakea is 10 minutes from the airport and five minutes from downtown Lihue. The course is situated at a beautiful location nestled at the base of the dramatic Ha'upu Ridge adjacent to the lot where Steven Spielberg filmed "Jurassic Park."
Puakea was designed by famed architect Robin Nelson. Dubbed "Mr. Hawaii" for being the state's most prolific golf-course architect, Nelson has designed or re-designed roughly one-third of Hawaii's nearly 80 courses, including The Dunes at Maui Lani, Royal Kunia and Mauna Lani.
To book a tee time or for more information call 866-773-5554 or visit online at www.puakeagolf.com
About Billy Casper Golf
Billy Casper Golf, headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, was co-founded in 1989 by professional golf legend Billy Casper, the Masters and two-time U.S. Open winner who ranks sixth all-time with 51 PGA Tour wins. BCG serves its clients through three divisions: Billy Casper Golf Management, the full-service manager to golf-property developers, owners and government agencies; Buffalo Communications, the publicity and media-relations agency representing people, places, products, services, organizations and companies in golf; and Buffalo Golf Trail, the customer-reward program providing consistent, high-quality golf experiences to golfers at BCG-managed golf clubs nationwide.
For more about BCG, visit www.billycaspergolf.com, call 703.761.1444, or send email to info@billycaspergolf.com.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Billy Casper Golf/Buffalo Communications
803.547.2118
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
