August 3rd 2015 – Ka’anapali  Kai  Course

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I am very fortunate to live near Ka’anapali Resort and play the courses there regularly. http://www.kaanapaligolfcourses.com/

However, today I replaced the irons in my bag with a camera and notepad and volunteered some time to document the Maui contribution to the “Worlds Largest Golf Outing” .

It was a great day to meet old friends and make some new ones as the players gathered in preparation for the event.

So what is the Worlds Largest Golf Outing?  How did it begin?

To learn more on this,  please click the  ‘About ‘ box in the top right hand corner of this page.

There you can hear from Peter Hill, Chairman & CEO of Billy Casper Golf and Dan Nevins of Wounded Warrior Project  to tell you more.

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PGA Head Golf Professional Sutee Nitakorn, and his assistants, gave all the participants an overview and review of the rules and starting positions of the teams in the shotgun start, and it was time for the groups to head off to their designated tee boxes around the course.

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To get a better appreciation for how well supported this event is…just watch this video I made of the teams starting off !

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As fortune would have it, I only had to drive to the first tee to before finding a good friend, and often playing partner, Kevin Carter of Lahaina.

Yes Kevin, I did in fact “see that drive?” and yes Kevin it’s safe to say that you “crushed it down the middle” . 😉

As I trundled toward the road bridge, my next stop was the 16th tee where I saw Eline Mervis and the gang who had decked out the cart, and themselves, in the good old Red White & Blue to show support for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Next stop was the 15th Green, where I saw Bob Dade, Art Ford, Larry Kudlaty & Dan Seales getting ready to putt.

A little further back down on the fairway, I found  Ed Evangelista, Frank Jimenez, John Kalish & Geoff Coolige  giving a masterclass on keeping your head still, as you swing through the ball.

At the Par 3 eleventh I stopped by the green where I picked up some refreshment from the ever jovial LINDA !

I then paused to enjoy refreshment and the view from the 11th tee, whilst watching Richard DeCoite, Steve Fulton with Jack & Lyn Muegge.

My journey continued to the 10th, where I found Team 8A ready to putt.

At this point I decided to backtrack a little, so I stopped by Number 7 to watch this group tee off

Then paused atop the Old Sugar CaneTrain tracks, and looked clear across the Ka’anapali Resort to the Island of Lana’i, whilst watching teams on the 6th Green & 14th Tee.

I made it back to the 6th Tee, just in time to watch Robert Fushikoshi, Bobby Abut, Robert Oshiro & Chris Gentilini tee off.

And no prizes for guessing which team was putting here at Number 5 🙂

Had a great view as this group targeted the green on the Par 3  Number 3

Meanwhile, over my left shoulder, Michelle Wooleat was preparing to make her putt on the lower tier of the 2nd Green…

along with Tony Wooleat, Channing Bridges & Brandon Arnds.

As I crossed the bridge over the Honoapiilani Highway……

I stopped to grab a photo of Mary Aurio, Kathy Chambers, Phuong Pierson & Soung Eom ready to putt at Number 1

I had not had a chance to shoot any photo’s from the tee box at Number 2, so I joined the ladies as they continued to what, for them, would be their eleventh.

Then back across the bridge, to the green at Number 1, where I had a chance to re-visit with Team 8A. They were getting ready to putt, with the majestic West Maui Mountains as a backdrop, which were producing a perfect cloud shade from the mid-day sun.

With many groups now approaching their last few holes, I decided to stop by the 18th Green.

I had hoped to film the wildfowl in the water hazard flying away as Kevin Carter’s little red Gutta-Percha landed next to them…

Alas he disappointed me. 😉

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Now unfortunately, there was a little technical difficulty, or call it ‘operator error’ if you will, with the filming of the prize presentations. 😦

However, there were no losers on this day.

Sutee Nitakorn thanked all players for their participation, including retired Army Colonel Phuong Susan Pierson (pictured with Sutee below)

And for all the additional fundraising for the Wounded Warrior Project. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

MARK YOU DIARY – SAME TIME NEXT YEAR – ALOHA

I hope you enjoyed reading my  ‘Blog from the Course’

Many thanks to Ka’anapali Golf Courses 

Roger