Saturday's "soft opening" of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel also marked the re-opening of the "new" Mauna Kea Golf Course, which underwent an extensive makeover while the hotel was closed.

The course now has a new clubhouse and has been renovated tee to green. The work was overseen by Rees Jones, son of the original designer, Robert Trent Jones.

The course has been upgraded and redesigned to USGA standards, with new grass, rebuilt bunkers and a new irrigation system. The newly constructed clubhouse and pro shop includes locker rooms and a restaurant that offers the area a new dinner option.

Brandon Wallraff is the new Director of Golf Operations and will oversee Mauna Kea and Hapuna. He previously worked in the same capacity at The Pines Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz., and Twin Rivers in Orlando, Fla.

Brad Baptist is Hapuna's new director of golf. He has been with the resort since 1994 and played a key role in planning and executing the Mauna Kea renovation.

SHOWING OFF INDUSTRY

Monday's second Golf Hawai'i show of the season will feature an update on the PGA golf industry and its U.S. Ryder Cup team, along with a Hawai'i Focus on Prince Resorts.

The show, which premieres on The Golf Channel at 9:30 p.m., will also have a segment on global golf/green golf and host Mark Rolfing's My View on the European Tour's Race to Dubai.

The show will re-air Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday at 10 a.m. and Jan. 4 at 12:30 p.m.

PREUS TIES FOR THIRD

Punahou eighth-grader Kalena Preus eagled the final hole to tie for third in the Boys 12-13 division of the Doral Publinx Junior Golf Classic this month at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Florida.

Denmark's Emile Sogaard won the two-day event with rounds of 71-70. Preus shot 76-71.

The field was made up of 641 junior players in all the age groups, representing 42 foreign nations and 27 U.S. states.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

The inaugural Hawai'i Golf Ho'olaule'a Awards, "Celebrating Golf Excellence in the Islands," will be the Friday (Jan. 16) of Sony Open in Hawai'i week.

This will be the first time all of golf's allied associations will celebrate together, with more than 30 golfers and leaders recognized for their accomplishments in 2008. Hawai'i's top male and female golfers from its junior and adult golf associations will be honored, along with those from the Hawai'i Golf Course Superintendent's Association, Hawai'i Golf Representatives, Division I and II collegiate programs, high school golf, First Tee Hawai'i and the Aloha Section PGA.

Also, Richard Ho will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawai'i State Golf Association for his years of service to the golf industry

It will be at Hilton Hawaiian Village's Tapa Ballroom, from 6 p.m. Cost is $60 for adults and $45 for those 18-under. Registration deadline is Jan. 7. A sponsor table is $1,200, for 10 seats.

Proceeds will benefit the Aloha Section PGA Foundation. For more information, call the Aloha Section PGA at 593-2230.

MOYNAHAN HONORED

Mike Moynahan, owner of Kama'aina Clubmakers in Kamuela, was named one of the 2008-2009 Top Ten Worldwide Clubmakers of the Year by the Golf Clubmakers Association. This is Moynahan's third consecutive Top Ten honor and his fifth consecutive honor as Hawai'i State Clubmaker of the Year.