A new source sure to add to the debate about the best courses in America — and Hawai'i — recently launched its Top 100 Courses list. www.GolfLink.com, an online golf resource, includes just two Hawai'i courses on the list, with Ko'olau at No. 7 and Kapalua Plantation No. 34.

According to the site, the list is based on "insights from millions of www.GolfLink.com visitors and more than 200,000 community members." Rankings take into account course reviews, user activity, golfer feedback and "expert input."

Bethpage State Park Black Course in New York, site of the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, is ranked No. 1, followed by Augusta National and Pine Valley, in New Jersey. Pebble Beach Golf Links, at or near the top on many lists, is No. 81 on this one.

The two Hawai'i courses attract visitors for very different reasons: Ko'olau marketed itself as the most difficult course in the country while the Plantation is home to the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship.

The site's list of Best Courses by state has Ko'olau and Plantation followed by Nanea, a private course on the Big Island, Waialae Country Club, a private O'ahu course home to the PGA tour's Sony Open in Hawai'i, and Kapolei. Princeville Prince, Luana Hills, Kaua'i Lagoon's Kiele, Navy-Marine and Mauna Lani North round out the Top 10.

JUNIORS

KONO'S PLAY BENEFITS ISHII FOUNDATION

Punahou senior Stephanie Kono designated Hawai'i's David S. Ishii Foundation as her charity of choice at the recent Thunderbird International junior tournament and the committee will donate $1,000 to the foundation in her name. Kono placed ninth at the American Junior Golf Association event, which has donated money to charities the last five years.

"With this initiative, we hope to cultivate junior golfers' awareness of their community and social obligations, an awareness that we anticipate will carry forward through their professional careers," said Michael Kennedy, tournament chair for the Thunderbird International Junior and a member of The Thunderbirds, a Phoenix-area civic organization that donated $50,000 total after this year's tournament.

Donations to the players' charities were made possible thanks to tournament sponsors The Thunderbirds, the Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Fund, Callaway Golf, Grayhawk Golf Club and the PGA Tour's FBR Open.

Kono played the state high school championship — sponsored by the Ishii foundation — her first two years. She set a tournament record when she won it as a sophomore.

TALK SHOW

BIG ISLAND GOLF AND TENNIS PROS FEATURED

Guests for Saturday's "Emily Gail Talks Golf and Other Sports" radio show will be Mauna Kea head pro Brad Baptist, Hapuna's Billy Rodriques, Mauna Kea Tennis Director Craig Pautler and Scott Head of Waikoloa. The show airs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Big Island stations ESPN AM850 (Hilo) and AM750 (Kona).

Head will have information on the Waikoloa Junior Golf Program Kick-Off coming up June 7. A free junior clinic will be offered at 11 a.m., with food and a putting tournament at noon. Juniors will be able to register for the Waikoloa Beach and Golf Summer program, which will be Saturdays from June 14 to Aug. 9. Summer clinics for beginners will be 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by intermediate/advanced clinics from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Baptist will provide an update of the Mauna Kea renovation being done by Rees Jones, son of original course architect Robert Trent Jones.

Rodriques will discuss the Hapuna Summer Program that allows golfers to play all they want through Dec. 1 for a set fee.

Pautler will discuss his Seasider Tennis Club at Mauna Kea.