[Joel_Stewart]

Kimberly Kim of Hawaii is in the final of todays Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge.

Tadd Fujikawa qualified for this years US Open at age 15.

Michelle Wie is an up and coming player

These are the best known but they also have a number of other good young players.

Hawaii has a very strong juniors program to say the least.  What are they doing (right) to promote the game???

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Joel, i would be very interested in this subject as well. Please chime in whoever has some insight.

[Joel_Stewart]

I know that the main person is Mary Bea Porter-King.

Porter-King retired from her 15-year career on the LPGA in 1988 and moved to Hawaii in 1989. Wanting to give back to the golf community, she got involved with Kauai’s junior golf program and eventually co-founded HSJGA.  Porter-King organizes golf and rules clinics, college workshops and mental training classes for the 700-plus juniors belonging to the statewide program. She wanted to give juniors here in the Islands the same opportunities available to juniors on the mainland and has since opened the door to many more national tournament opportunities for Hawaii’s juniors.

But serving as president of HSJGA isn’t the only leadership role Porter-King holds. She currently serves on the USGA Executive Committee—a 16-member committee that oversees the entire United States Golf Association.

[Tim Gavrich]

I'd imagine that perfect golfing weather almost every day of the year helps out a lot.  States like Florida, Arizona and California can't touch the weather that Hawaii gets year round.

[Chris Perry]

I'd imagine that perfect golfing weather almost every day of the year helps out a lot.  States like Florida, Arizona and California can't touch the weather that Hawaii gets year round.

Not to mention affluent families that can afford to give their kids the best equipment, access to the best courses on the island, and the time to devote to practicing.

[Dale_McCallon]

I'd imagine that perfect golfing weather almost every day of the year helps out a lot.  States like Florida, Arizona and California can't touch the weather that Hawaii gets year round.

Not to mention affluent families that can afford to give their kids the best equipment, access to the best courses on the island, and the time to devote to practicing.

On the coverage tonight they said that Kim's father is an orchid farmer--not sure how affluent that is.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Kimberly Kim of Hawaii is in the final of todays Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge.

Tadd Fujikawa qualified for this years US Open at age 15.

Michelle Wie is an up and coming player

These are the best known but they also have a number of other good young players.

Hawaii has a very strong juniors program to say the least.  What are they doing (right) to promote the game???

And the winner of this week's PGA tournament, Dean Wilson, is from Hawaii.

[Jim Sweeney]

Guys, remember the geography of the state relative to the place where the action is, the mainland. Also remember the difficulty just to get from one place to another within the state. Anywhere that can get fifteen or twenty players together can get one spot for a USGA championship. I salute Mary Bea and the other supporters of Junior Golf in Hawaii for their aggressive efforts in developing young golf talent.

It has been true in the past that the junior golf leadership has done extraordinary things (all within the rules) to raise money for junior golfers to come to the mainland to play in important events. The resources for this are not unlimited, and must be directed toward the most promising talent. After age 18 it is entirely up to the individual of his/her family, unless he/she can raise a little money under the new amstat rules and funnel it through the HGA.

PLease don;t jump to conclusions until you have considerd the circumstances they face that no other junior golfers face-
just getting to the important events.

[rjsimper]

What about the high winds - Hawaii is a windy place, and much like the Texas crop of golfers, perhaps learning to play in those winds speeds the learning curves.  

Pure speculation on my part, though.  

Also important to note that as you've said in your post, it's the juniors - maybe it's a quick learning curve, but nobody Hawaiian has ever really gotten beyond the ranks of "prodigious youngster"

Kind of like Little League baseball...

[Wayne_Kozun]

Also important to note that as you've said in your post, it's the juniors - maybe it's a quick learning curve, but nobody Hawaiian has ever really gotten beyond the ranks of "prodigious youngster"

Does winning the Women's Am get you beyond prodigious youngster?

[Wayne_Kozun]

That said, the Women's USGA Amateur was one fo the most exciting tournamnets on TV in a while.

I agree!  What is it about women of Korean descent that makes them such good golfers - whether they grew up in Hawaii or Korea?  Michelle Wie, Kim^2, Se Ri Pak, plus the dozens of Koreans on the LPGA tour.

[peter_p]

Joel,
   Mary Bea was "unceremoniously dumped" from the USGA Executive Committee in a decision a little over one year ago.
She served until February.
Link to newspaper article: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jul/10/sp/507100345.html

 I hope she made it to the tournament, just desserts.

[rjsimper]

Also important to note that as you've said in your post, it's the juniors - maybe it's a quick learning curve, but nobody Hawaiian has ever really gotten beyond the ranks of "prodigious youngster"

Does winning the Women's Am get you beyond prodigious youngster?

Yes, but winning one major tournament does not a state make  You could probably find a winner of a major pro or amateur title from every state in the union, but not every state has junior programs that consistently turn out precocious youths.

[Chris Perry]

I'd imagine that perfect golfing weather almost every day of the year helps out a lot.  States like Florida, Arizona and California can't touch the weather that Hawaii gets year round.

Not to mention affluent families that can afford to give their kids the best equipment, access to the best courses on the island, and the time to devote to practicing.

On the coverage tonight they said that Kim's father is an orchid farmer--not sure how affluent that is.

Dammit. I knew I was going to get nailed for generalizing.  

[Glenn Spencer]

Her performance this summer has been absolutely outstanding. One of the best summers ever by a woman, I would imagine!!! She is long!!! It is my opinion that people make great golfers, not associations.

[Russell Lo]

Hawaii golfers have had a very good summer. Along with Kimberly Kim's US Am win, runner up finish at the WAPL and making the cut at the US Open, Casey Watabu, 22, from Kauai won the MAPL. Tadd Fujikawa, Stephanie Kono and Mari Chun (who beat Amanda Blumenhurst in the 1st round of match play at the Amateur), and Lorens Chan (winner of a prestigious junior tournament at Pinehurst this summer) are all coached by Kevn Rabolvsky of KMR Golf. he is a Mac O' Grady student and has done a wonderful job.

Casey and Kimberly are from Kauai and Hawaii, respectively. Kimberly just moved to Mesa with her mom in order to be able to make travel easier (cheaper) to bigger tournaments. Just flying to a tournament in Honolulu is going to cost almost $200 in airfare, not including accomodations. Getting to a mainland tournament sets you back atl least $500 in a single airfare. Living in Hawaii is not cheap and to generalize that all the kids get the best equipment because of affluent parents is off the mark. Most work two jobs to support their families and by adding golf to the mix you see what kind of commitment it takes for both the parents and kids to excel.


Although Michelle Wie isn't really a product of Junior golf she has had a tremendous influence. Michelle is the most prominent example of successful Hawaii golfers, but she didn't get that way simply because of high winds, beautiful scenery and tons of resort courses. All of the golfers have put in their time on the range, like every other junior golfer and have succeded in part because of the year round golf weather, the inspirational influence of Michelle's success and great coaching. Many kids feel that if Michelle, Tadd, Stephanie and now Kimberly and Casey can compete on a national level why can't they.

Redanman, perhaps it's because they are from a p*ssant state that they try harder.

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