Ernie Els figures it's the least he could do, making a quick trip here after Sunday's final round in the Nissan Open in Los Angeles and returning less than 18 hours later to San Diego for his opening match tomorrow in the Accenture World Match Play Championship in San Diego.

After all, three representatives from the Hawai'i-based Haseko Co. traveled all the way to South Africa last year to ask Els at his corporate golf outing if he could design a signature golf course for them.

"I know how far that trip is. For them to make that trip, make that commitment, was very impressive," said Els, who agreed to design the Hoakalei Country Club, which will be the crown jewel of Haseko's Ocean Pointe development in 'Ewa Beach.

"I made it back to Hawai'i, maybe not playing golf. I'm glad to be back and very excited about this project. I'm honored that they asked me to do it," Els said.

Details were officially announced yesterday in a press conference at the Plaza Club with Els outlining plans for a championship golf course, which he hopes some day will host a professional tournament. Plans call for the project to be completed by late next year.

Els walked the site yesterday morning and was impressed by the 248-acre terrain with the new marina being developed there.

"It's a nice piece of land," he said.

It will be only the second golf course designed by Els in the United States. The other is in Maryland. Two other completed Els' courses are in Shenzen, China, and in his hometown of George, the Republic of South Africa.

The terrain dictates the courses, says Els, but his basic design philosophy is the same.

"It has to be playable for every type of player with all kinds of tees out there. There's a lot of land to work with," said Els, who added that the course could be stretched to 7,500 yards.

That drew oohs from members of the Campbell High School boys' and girls' golf teams, who were invited to meet Els.

Knowing that all golfers want to see their tee shots in play, Els feels it's important to have generous landing areas.

"Then gradually the hole should get harder. It should require strategy, it should start making you think about your approach shots," he said.

Always a fan of high-faced bunkers, not a common sight locally, Els says it will be one of the distinguishing characteristics at Hoakalei.

He would also like to see a lot of water features and a couple of drivable but heavily bunkered par-4s with small greens.

Els had a lot of down time to think about golf course design after injuring his left knee in a boating mishap in the Mediterranean Sea last July. It led to arthroscopic surgery and a four-month layoff.

"Mentally and physically, I feel good. The knee will take a couple of months to heal, but it's good enough to play," said Els, 36, who added that he is looking forward to the coming season more than any other year since he turned pro.

He was encouraged by his closing 67 in his first PGA Tour event last week and his showing in the Dubai Desert Classic two weeks ago when he lost in a playoff to Tiger Woods.

He also won the Dunhill Championship and finished second to Retief Goosen in the South Africa Open since his comeback in December.

"I have a nice schedule going into the Masters," said Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion and winner of the 2002 British Open.

After this week's Accenture Match Play Championship — he didn't know yesterday he was facing Bernard Langer tomorrow — Els will play at Doral, Bay Hill and the Players Championship and take a week off before the Masters.

He plans on returning here during the summer to see how the project is developing.