Aloha Dear Owners, Friends and Readers:
This year, the cry of Happy New Year brings with it a certain relief that tumultuous 2008 is finally behind us.
The upcoming year has yet to come into focus. When I asked about what kind of year 2009 would be, the Magic 8 Ball told me, "Reply hazy, try again." (You might have better luck: http://www.mattelgamefinder.com/demos.asp?demo=mb) Will 2009 be a dream or a nightmare? We'll just have to spin the wheel and see where it lands.
In this interim period of calm between the certainties of the last year and the vagaries of the next, please allow me to wax philosophic for a moment.
Since taking over the General Manager position here, it has been my pleasure to renew old acquaintances and to form new ones. It was a big step to sit in the GM chair, one for which I had been preparing for years. When I arrived back here 10 months ago, we were at the height of the good times with record revenues and ADRs. Today, I'm sure I don't have to tell you, we've been through many months of lean times.
I understand you are hurting financially. I too am feeling the strain of the current economic woes. I have cut our budget to adjust to the times. Housekeepers work only when there is sufficient occupancy to support the number of employees on the schedule. Most days, bellmen schedules have been reduced from 16 hours to 10 hours a day. Angie's position in Housekeeping has been eliminated. And, last week, Kanani retired.
I am working on a revision of our 2009 rates to the Outrigger Maui Eldorado more attractive to Maui visitors. I am taking advantage of every opportunity to get the Outrigger Maui Eldorado name in print (we just booked a travel writer with the Australian Associated Press who will be staying with us for 3 days in January). I am in the midst of an email campaign to remind past guests that we're still here and that we would love to see them again. My goal for 2009 is to get more money in your pockets. Will my plans work to make 2009 a better year than 2008? Can we spur additional occupancy? Are these attempts at gaining additional occupancy even worth it? Frankly, I don't know. But I have to try.
And, last but by no means least, I want to say Thank You. Thank you to all of you who have honored me with your respect. Thank you for your kind words, your understanding, your patience, your friendship. Thank you for understanding that we are partners linked together here at the Maui Eldorado and that our fortunes rise or fall together.
So raise your glass and toast 2009. What comes, comes. Regardless of the circumstances, may we together have the wisdom, intelligence, humor and optimism to make this next year a success.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Globe Trotter Guide Book Entry
Aloha Kakou:
In June, the writer, editor and photographer for Globe Trotter Guidebooks stopped by to take a look at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado. Globe Trotter is a hugely successful Japanese guidebook company that writes strictly for a Japanese audience. I had asked the Globe Trotter crew to send me a book when it was finally published and that book arrived on my desk last week. The book takes in the entire island of Maui and, aside from some of the obvious "Japaneseisms", includes a section called Condominium Life which is dedicated to explaining things like how to work the stove and how to fold out the sofa bed.
Here's the Outrigger Maui Eldorado's page. A translation follows.
This 001
Outrigger Maui Eldorado
A condo located on the fairway and facing the ocean
A cottage-style condominium located within the Kaanapali resort. Twelve 2-story buildings are situated within the Kaanapali Golf Course. Guests can enjoy the greens of the golf course, coconut trees and blooming plumerias from the window, giving them a serene feeling of a resort atmosphere. The property was built in 1969, but the interior and kitchen are neatly maintained from multiple renovations. The spacious kitchen, coordinated in white, is fully equipped with large refrigerator, microwave, dish washer, coffee maker, and other electrical equipment making it easy to use.
A major hotel group, Outrigger, has taken over the management from 1997. Information is now available in Japanese, and guests can also make reservations in Japanese.
The Whaler's Village is 3 minutes away from the property by free shuttle bus within the resort. Guests can also enjoy barbeque at the recreation deck facing the ocean.
The notes by the photos are explanation of the units - mostly saying the same thing as above.
Photo #1: cottage-style unit surrounded by golf course; guests can fully enjoy the resort atmosphere
Photo #2: room interior varies by units but all bedrooms and living rooms provide relaxing space
In June, the writer, editor and photographer for Globe Trotter Guidebooks stopped by to take a look at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado. Globe Trotter is a hugely successful Japanese guidebook company that writes strictly for a Japanese audience. I had asked the Globe Trotter crew to send me a book when it was finally published and that book arrived on my desk last week. The book takes in the entire island of Maui and, aside from some of the obvious "Japaneseisms", includes a section called Condominium Life which is dedicated to explaining things like how to work the stove and how to fold out the sofa bed.
Here's the Outrigger Maui Eldorado's page. A translation follows.
This 001
Outrigger Maui Eldorado
A condo located on the fairway and facing the ocean
A cottage-style condominium located within the Kaanapali resort. Twelve 2-story buildings are situated within the Kaanapali Golf Course. Guests can enjoy the greens of the golf course, coconut trees and blooming plumerias from the window, giving them a serene feeling of a resort atmosphere. The property was built in 1969, but the interior and kitchen are neatly maintained from multiple renovations. The spacious kitchen, coordinated in white, is fully equipped with large refrigerator, microwave, dish washer, coffee maker, and other electrical equipment making it easy to use.
A major hotel group, Outrigger, has taken over the management from 1997. Information is now available in Japanese, and guests can also make reservations in Japanese.
The Whaler's Village is 3 minutes away from the property by free shuttle bus within the resort. Guests can also enjoy barbeque at the recreation deck facing the ocean.
The notes by the photos are explanation of the units - mostly saying the same thing as above.
Photo #1: cottage-style unit surrounded by golf course; guests can fully enjoy the resort atmosphere
Photo #2: room interior varies by units but all bedrooms and living rooms provide relaxing space
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Mele Kalikimaka!
Aloha Kakou:How else would you expect Santa to arrive on Maui?
May you have the merriest of Christmases!
And now, here's a little tune to remind you of Christmas in that place that's near and dear to your heart - Hit it! http://www.dltk-holidays.com/Xmas/hawaiian.html
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Edmonton, Alberta Ad
Aloha Kakou:
This ad mentioning the Outrigger Maui Eldorado is appearing in the Edmonton Journal from 12/22-28. Westjet is a Canadian airline with service from Vancouver to Maui. Westjet Vacations is their wholesale division.
The rate of CN$1572 per person is equivalent to US$1177 and is for 5 nights in a garden view studio, including round trip airfare.
A Hard-Edged Holiday Tale
Aloha Kakou:
Arnie Weissmann is the editor in chief of Travel Weekly magazine. He wrote this editorial about the current economy. I like his quote that "These times call for a blend of hopefulness and hard-edged business judgement." You may also like the lesson and quote he mentions from restaurateur Danny Meyer.
The article is on page 12.
http://travelweekly.texterity.com/travelweekly/20081222/
Arnie Weissmann is the editor in chief of Travel Weekly magazine. He wrote this editorial about the current economy. I like his quote that "These times call for a blend of hopefulness and hard-edged business judgement." You may also like the lesson and quote he mentions from restaurateur Danny Meyer.
The article is on page 12.
http://travelweekly.texterity.com/travelweekly/20081222/
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
AOL/Orbitz Listing
Aloha Kakou:
AOL travel has a section on best deals in travel:
http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=AOLCOMMtravdynlprim0337
As you can see by the link, Hawaii is listed as their top pick.
And, when you follow the "Travel by Land" link, you are taken to Orbitz's Featured Hotel Offers, where the Outrigger Maui Eldorado is listed right there, on the first page:
http://www.orbitz.com/App/PerformMDLPDealsContent?deal_id=HI&cnt=PRO
Monday, December 22, 2008
Hawaii's November Occupancy Down 16%
Aloha Kakou:
Occupancy statewide was down about 16% for the month of November.
When accounting for Hawaii’s top four visitor markets, air arrivals from the western U.S. last month dropped 18 percent, with eastern U.S. arrivals down 14.4 percent, compared with November 2007.
Japanese arrivals fell as well, down 20.3 percent, and the decline in the Canadian dollar impacted arrivals from that country with a decline of 7.1 percent.
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/12/15/daily69.html
Occupancy statewide was down about 16% for the month of November.
When accounting for Hawaii’s top four visitor markets, air arrivals from the western U.S. last month dropped 18 percent, with eastern U.S. arrivals down 14.4 percent, compared with November 2007.
Japanese arrivals fell as well, down 20.3 percent, and the decline in the Canadian dollar impacted arrivals from that country with a decline of 7.1 percent.
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/12/15/daily69.html
Friday, December 19, 2008
2009 RevPAR Prediction
Aloha Kakou:We are at the initial point of one of the longest and deepest recessions in the domestic hotel industry, according to a study by PKF Hospitality Research.
The 2009 decrease in RevPAR for forecast is for the entire US. Some markets fair better and some are worse.
This study believes that a return to a year-over-year RevPAR increase will not happen until second quarter of 2010, again for the US as a whole.
http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2008_4th/Dec08_PKFRevPar.html
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Guest Opinion Survey
Aloha Kakou:
As you know, we have contracted with a company called LeisureTrends to provide guest feedback surveys to our guests. These surveys are mailed to the guests' homes about a week or so after they check out. The LeisureTrends survey is designed to measure similar metrics across all of our Outrigger Condominium Collection properties. While this information has been invaluable to us in a general sense, we had talked about doing a survey for departing guests to comment on their specific experience here at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado.
I have developed such a survey and we have begun to present it to guests upon check-out. I had attempted to make the document simple but comprehensive; there were a lot of things I wanted to cover but wanted to cover them in an easy way, hence my A B C designations for each line item. Additionally, the A B C choices dovetail with our current method of grading the apartments here. Take a moment to look at this document and let me know what you think; it can always be amended.
Microsoft Word - Qair
As you know, we have contracted with a company called LeisureTrends to provide guest feedback surveys to our guests. These surveys are mailed to the guests' homes about a week or so after they check out. The LeisureTrends survey is designed to measure similar metrics across all of our Outrigger Condominium Collection properties. While this information has been invaluable to us in a general sense, we had talked about doing a survey for departing guests to comment on their specific experience here at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado.
I have developed such a survey and we have begun to present it to guests upon check-out. I had attempted to make the document simple but comprehensive; there were a lot of things I wanted to cover but wanted to cover them in an easy way, hence my A B C designations for each line item. Additionally, the A B C choices dovetail with our current method of grading the apartments here. Take a moment to look at this document and let me know what you think; it can always be amended.
Microsoft Word - Qair
Publish at Scribd or explore others:
Travel Age West Ad
Aloha Kakou:
This ad for the Maui Outrigger Condominium Collectionwill appear in the January 9, 2009, edition of Travel Age West.
M71415 TAW 1-19-09 OCC Maui $169
This ad for the Maui Outrigger Condominium Collectionwill appear in the January 9, 2009, edition of Travel Age West.
M71415 TAW 1-19-09 OCC Maui $169
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Those Efforts Do Pay Off
Aloha Kakou:
A few weeks ago, I noted that i had included the Outrigger Maui Eldorado in a press release regarding hotel specials at the time of the Wendy's Skins Game. John Fischer, Hawaii travel blogger for About.com, has included the press release in his blog from yesterday. Will this mention directly result in more room reservations for January? I wish I could say for certain but I do know that any opportunity to get the Outrigger Maui Eldorado name in front of the Maui-bound travelling public, whether they come for the Skins game or are thinking about coming later, is a very good thing.
http://gohawaii.about.com/b/2008/12/16/wendys-champions-skins-game-coming-to-the-royal-kaanapali-golf-course-in-january-2009.htm
A few weeks ago, I noted that i had included the Outrigger Maui Eldorado in a press release regarding hotel specials at the time of the Wendy's Skins Game. John Fischer, Hawaii travel blogger for About.com, has included the press release in his blog from yesterday. Will this mention directly result in more room reservations for January? I wish I could say for certain but I do know that any opportunity to get the Outrigger Maui Eldorado name in front of the Maui-bound travelling public, whether they come for the Skins game or are thinking about coming later, is a very good thing.
http://gohawaii.about.com/b/2008/12/16/wendys-champions-skins-game-coming-to-the-royal-kaanapali-golf-course-in-january-2009.htm
Friday, December 12, 2008
Aloha Kakou:
This co-op ad will appear in the Redding, California Record Searchlight Sunday Travel section on 12/14, 12/21, 12/28, 1/4. The ad is in conjunction with Avanti Travel and Happy Vacations, one of our wholesale partners.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8924718/Avanti-Trvl-Out-1210
Publish at Scribd or explore others:
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Mainland Hotel Renovation - Fresh and Relevant
Aloha Kakou:The above article is from Travel Weekly's 2009 Ultimate Hotel Guide. Click on each image to expand to a larger size.
The salient points of the article are:
1. Many mainland hotel chains have spent billions of dollars to modernize their product.
2. Thus, the US lodging industry is in the best condition that it has ever been in.
3. New and better bedding, flat screen TVs and modern bathrooms are some of the key areas that have been improved.
4. Updated lobbies are also par for the course.
The most important quote from the article is "Consumers expect that hotel public areas and rooms are going to be modern, fresh and indicative of the client's lifestyle."
What does this have to do with the Outrigger Maui Eldorado? Plenty. When our guests stay at mainland hotels that have been completely refreshed, they are going to expect the same of us. Our competitive set has spent millions on their rooms and public areas. How do we compare? Are our rooms modern? Do they meet the lifestyle (both in terms of function and decor) of our guests? Does our driveway and lobby present an impression of an up-to-date, first class property?
Due to the island's low occupancies, there are many more opportunities now than in the past for guests to vote with their feet regarding their accommodations. Let's not give them those opportunities.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Maui's Condo Market - November
Aloha Kakou:
In November, Maui had only 29 condo sales. That's 29 sold on the entire island. The median sales price was $399,000, down dramatically from $640,156 for November of 2007.
Part of the reason for the low average price may be that about half of the sales were in Kihei, where the average price is always lower than that of the West Side.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812090316
In November, Maui had only 29 condo sales. That's 29 sold on the entire island. The median sales price was $399,000, down dramatically from $640,156 for November of 2007.
Part of the reason for the low average price may be that about half of the sales were in Kihei, where the average price is always lower than that of the West Side.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812090316
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Outrigger Qingshui Bay
Aloha Kakou:
Outrigger continues our expansion in Asia with a new 500 room, 5 star property on Hainan Island, a tropical island known as "China's Hawaii".
http://www.hotelsmag.com/article/CA6609997.html?q=outrigger
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/15/content_7982131.htm
Outrigger continues our expansion in Asia with a new 500 room, 5 star property on Hainan Island, a tropical island known as "China's Hawaii".
http://www.hotelsmag.com/article/CA6609997.html?q=outrigger
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/15/content_7982131.htm
Blue Sky Tours Deals
Aloha Kakou:
Blue Sky Tours, one of our wholesale partners, does a weekly list of "hot deals". This week's list features a deal on an Outrigger Maui Eldorado partial ocean view studio with the grocery promotion and a free night.
See their actual website here:
Monday, December 8, 2008
Year of the Naycation
Aloha Kakou:
Christopher Elliot outlines here his crystal ball view of travel in 2009. His belief is that, due to the economy and the airlines, people may opt to stay home next year. He also mentions that travelers may be waiting to see if "good travel deals" materialize after the holidays.
Additionally, many people are thinking and planning already for 2010.
Elliot says, "So how does this affect your next vacation? If you’re brave enough to take one, expect lots of too-good-to-be true deals. Even the smallest vacation budget might be rewarded with a wonderful experience."
Further, he says, "Put differently, 2009 may be the year of the “naycation” for everyone else — but for you, it could be the year you take your best vacation ever."
Maybe it's not all doom and gloom after all.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28074671/
Christopher Elliot outlines here his crystal ball view of travel in 2009. His belief is that, due to the economy and the airlines, people may opt to stay home next year. He also mentions that travelers may be waiting to see if "good travel deals" materialize after the holidays.
Additionally, many people are thinking and planning already for 2010.
Elliot says, "So how does this affect your next vacation? If you’re brave enough to take one, expect lots of too-good-to-be true deals. Even the smallest vacation budget might be rewarded with a wonderful experience."
Further, he says, "Put differently, 2009 may be the year of the “naycation” for everyone else — but for you, it could be the year you take your best vacation ever."
Maybe it's not all doom and gloom after all.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28074671/
Friday, December 5, 2008
Wendy's Skins Game Promotion
Aloha Kakou:
It's all about promotion these days. I believe in taking advantage of every opportunity to get the name Outrigger Maui Eldorado in front of anyone even remotely contemplating a trip to Hawaii. The Wendy's Skins game in January is a great vehicle for that promotion. Kaanapali Beach Resort Association (KBRA) recently did a press release advising media on special accommodations during the Skins game. So, in addition to promoting our Foodland certificates, free night program and eco-totes, I came up with a free upgrade promotion available to anyone coming during the game. I don't know how effective it will be in getting some additional business but, if I didn't try, I wouldn't be doing my job.
Below is the text as it appeared in the press release:
OUTRIGGER MAUI ELDORADO
Enjoy Free Groceries and Free nights when staying at Outrigger Maui Eldorado
Travelers staying at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado in the beautiful Kā‘anapali Beach Resort can save big with a free night and complimentary Foodland grocery store gift cards up to $150 for each five-night stay. The Outrigger Maui Eldorado is offering a fifth night free to guests that stay a minimum of five consecutive nights. Additionally, guests are presented with a $50 grocery certificate for a studio, a $100 grocery certificate for a one-bedroom and a $150
grocery certificate for a two-bedroom suite. Guests that stay for longer periods in increments of five nights will receive additional free nights as well as additional certificates. For example guests staying ten nights will receive two of those nights for free plus two grocery certificates.
This valuable offer is available through December 21, 2009, and also includes a
complimentary eco-friendly “green” tote bag -- perfect for carrying free groceries back to the condominium.
Free Upgrade - The Outrigger Maui Eldorado is also offering a special free upgrade promotion for Wendy’s Skins tournament fans. When guests mention they are coming for the Skins tournament, Outrigger Maui Eldorado will offer a free upgrade from garden view to partial ocean view. This offer is available in any garden view category (garden view studio, garden view one bedroom and garden view two bedroom) and is based on availability at time of booking. All spacious Outrigger Maui Eldorado condo units have A/C, a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. This offer is only available to guests who call and book their stay directly with
the Outrigger Maui Eldorado at 1-888-339-8585.
For reservations, visit www.OutriggerCondos.com or call 800-OUTRIGGER (688-444).
It's all about promotion these days. I believe in taking advantage of every opportunity to get the name Outrigger Maui Eldorado in front of anyone even remotely contemplating a trip to Hawaii. The Wendy's Skins game in January is a great vehicle for that promotion. Kaanapali Beach Resort Association (KBRA) recently did a press release advising media on special accommodations during the Skins game. So, in addition to promoting our Foodland certificates, free night program and eco-totes, I came up with a free upgrade promotion available to anyone coming during the game. I don't know how effective it will be in getting some additional business but, if I didn't try, I wouldn't be doing my job.
Below is the text as it appeared in the press release:
OUTRIGGER MAUI ELDORADO
Enjoy Free Groceries and Free nights when staying at Outrigger Maui Eldorado
Travelers staying at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado in the beautiful Kā‘anapali Beach Resort can save big with a free night and complimentary Foodland grocery store gift cards up to $150 for each five-night stay. The Outrigger Maui Eldorado is offering a fifth night free to guests that stay a minimum of five consecutive nights. Additionally, guests are presented with a $50 grocery certificate for a studio, a $100 grocery certificate for a one-bedroom and a $150
grocery certificate for a two-bedroom suite. Guests that stay for longer periods in increments of five nights will receive additional free nights as well as additional certificates. For example guests staying ten nights will receive two of those nights for free plus two grocery certificates.
This valuable offer is available through December 21, 2009, and also includes a
complimentary eco-friendly “green” tote bag -- perfect for carrying free groceries back to the condominium.
Free Upgrade - The Outrigger Maui Eldorado is also offering a special free upgrade promotion for Wendy’s Skins tournament fans. When guests mention they are coming for the Skins tournament, Outrigger Maui Eldorado will offer a free upgrade from garden view to partial ocean view. This offer is available in any garden view category (garden view studio, garden view one bedroom and garden view two bedroom) and is based on availability at time of booking. All spacious Outrigger Maui Eldorado condo units have A/C, a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. This offer is only available to guests who call and book their stay directly with
the Outrigger Maui Eldorado at 1-888-339-8585.
For reservations, visit www.OutriggerCondos.com or call 800-OUTRIGGER (688-444).
Thursday, December 4, 2008
How Much is the Hotel Tax in Your Town?
Aloha Kakou:
I just had to comment on this Tripso article regarding hotel room taxes.
Most people have no idea of the hotel tax rate in their home town. Consequently, when they travel, they compare the sales tax rate of their home to the hotel tax rate of the place they're visiting. Of course there's no comparison!
Please see the author's comments regarding Hawaii's hotel tax toward the end of the article. He compares the actual dollars of the taxes between Oahu and Maui. Maui will always cost more when you compare this way because Maui hotels have a higher ADR than do hotels on Oahu, even though Oahu has a slightly higher tax rate. Of course, I couldn't resist pointing this out to the author (see my comments at the bottom of the article).
http://www.tripso.com/columns/americas-highest-hotel-room-taxes-who-keeps-the-dough/
I just had to comment on this Tripso article regarding hotel room taxes.
Most people have no idea of the hotel tax rate in their home town. Consequently, when they travel, they compare the sales tax rate of their home to the hotel tax rate of the place they're visiting. Of course there's no comparison!
Please see the author's comments regarding Hawaii's hotel tax toward the end of the article. He compares the actual dollars of the taxes between Oahu and Maui. Maui will always cost more when you compare this way because Maui hotels have a higher ADR than do hotels on Oahu, even though Oahu has a slightly higher tax rate. Of course, I couldn't resist pointing this out to the author (see my comments at the bottom of the article).
http://www.tripso.com/columns/americas-highest-hotel-room-taxes-who-keeps-the-dough/
Outrigger Travel Agent Specialist Program Updated
Aloha Kakou:
December 1 marked the opening of Outrigger's new Outrigger Specialist Program's website.
While Outrigger has long fostered relationships with travel agents, the Outrigger Specialist Program, which has been in existence for 10 years, provides learning opportunities to agents to more effectively sell our products and also offer incentives to travel agents who sell our properties.
You should be able to click on this article to enlarge it enough to read. This article appeared in the December 1 edition of Travel Weekly, a publication geared toward the travel business.
R042 is Here
Aloha Kakou:
Yesterday, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) advised West Maui beachgoers that monkseal R042 has arrived in Kaanapali. R042 was born in 2006 on the Big Island and she has also been spotted on Lanai.
This seal, which is on the endangered species list as only about 1100 of the species remain, has become almost unafraid of people. When she was a pup, she was handfed by fisherman and now she may beg for food from humans.
To protect public safety and help this and other seals maintain their wild tendencies, DLNR and NOAA are asking the public to observe the following guidelines:
1. Do not play with, pet, swim with, feed, make eye contact with or otherwise engage with Hawaiian monk seals.
2. Maintain a distance of at least 150 feet from Hawaiian monk seals.
3. If you are in the ocean, and you encounter the seal, get out of the water as quickly and safely as possible.
4. If the seal approaches on land, ignore the seal and quickly move back to distance of at least 150 feet.
5. Report all seal sightings to the NOAA Marine Mammal Hotline at 888-256-9840 (toll free 24 hours, 7 days a week).
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wendy's Skins Game Press Release
Aloha Kakou:
Following is the (rather lengthy!) text of the 2009 Wendy's Skins Game press release. The Outrigger Maui Eldorado will again be participating by offering a room from the comp fund for the game's use. The game is coordinated by the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2008
Contact: Toby Zwikel/Brian Robin
Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc., (818) 462-5599/5610
GREG NORMAN, BERNHARD LANGER JOIN FAMILIAR FIELD OF LEGENDS FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
Peter Jacobsen, Fuzzy Zoeller Return to Defend Their Title
In ESPN-Televised, $770,000 Alternate-Shot Team Event
KA’ANAPALI, Maui – It’s the event that provides golf fans that rare Golden Bear sighting, along with the not-so-rare sounds coming from the charismatic mouths of Fuzzy Zoeller and Peter Jacobsen. And now, the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME features another rare species in the golf world – a Shark sighting.
The 22nd edition of the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME returns to Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course on Jan. 17-18, 2009 with three of the game’s legendary figures: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player, along with Champions Tour mainstays Zoeller, Jacobsen and Jay Haas. Joining those six and making their Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME debuts are Greg Norman and Bernhard Langer.
For the fourth consecutive year, the players will compete in the alternate-shot, team format that invariably creates tension, drama and memorable shotmaking. The players will play nine holes each day, with ESPN televising the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME on a tape-delayed basis Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 1 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET, 1 p.m.—3 p.m. PT and 11 a.m.—1 p.m. HT. (Times vary in different areas; check your local listings).
Zoeller and Jacobsen return to the Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course at the Ka’anapali Beach Resort to defend their title against 2007 event champions Nicklaus and Watson, the only team to compete in all four alternate-shot events. Norman will join Haas, who returns for his third consecutive Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, while Langer teams with Player to form a dangerous international tandem.
“This is one of the best fields we have ever had in this event, and when you consider the legends who have played the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME over the years, that tells you something,” said Barry Frank, vice chairman of Trans World International (TWI). “The kind of years Bernhard and Jay enjoyed on the Champions Tour, the way Greg nearly won the British Open and the manner in which Fuzzy and Peter won last year’s event shows the depth of talent we are fortunate to have. And I haven’t mentioned Jack and Tom yet, both of whom prove every year in this event they can still play at a high level.”
Royal Ka’anapali is the fifth course to host the event, following the Wailea Resort’s Gold Course (seven years), Mauna Lani on the Big Island (11 years), the Mountain Course at the La Quinta Hotel Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif. and Turtle Bay Golf Club on Oahu (one year each).
(more)
2-2-2
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
“We’re so excited to have the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game back at Kā‘anapali Beach Resort for the second year,” said Shelley Kekuna, Executive Director of the Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association. “The 2008 event was awesome and many of the 11 properties within our resort have created packages and specials that make it very attractive for visitors to book their Maui trip during tournament time.”
Chip Bahouth, the president of the KBRA Board and the General Manager of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, said “It’s an honor to be the host site for the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game and the excellent field of Champions that will be here in January. I can’t think of a better place in the world for this tournament than Kā‘anapali Beach Resort – people can easily walk from their hotel onto the golf course to watch the legends of golf compete.”
Those who enjoyed that luxury in 2008 watched Nicklaus and Watson pick up right where they left off in 2007, spotting Player and Loren Roberts the first skin, then winning the next eight skins and $270,000. That would be the high-water mark for the defending champions, who would get shut out on Day 2.
Zoeller and Jacobsen, meanwhile, wasted little time racking up the skins. They won the second hole and $80,000 with a par, the first time since 2004 that a par won a skin in the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME. They would go on to birdie Nos. 12-14, banking $140,000 and three skins for the final birdie in that string.
Player and Roberts got into the mix, picking up three skins and $150,000 with Roberts’ 20-foot birdie putt. After Nicklaus/Watson and Zoeller/Jacobsen halved the difficult 18th hole with pars, the players headed to extra holes for the 17th time in 21 years.
And for the first time in the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, a second par won a skin in the same event. This came courtesy of Zoeller’s tap-in on the first playoff hole, which netted the duo the $100,000 Wendy’s Super Skin and their first victories in the event.
“That last hole was a bear. It’s a bear,” Zoeller said.
Zoeller and Jacobsen’s $320,000 haul came on only six skins, the first time since 2003 the winner pulled in fewer skins than their closest pursuer, which in this case, was Nicklaus/Watson and their eight skins and $270,000. The $320,000 winner’s take was the lowest winning total since Lee Trevino won that amount in 2003.
“Let’s face it. These guys in this thing are Hall-of-Famers,” Jacobsen said. “These are legends. Once we got past the resumes’ on the first nine holes, we kind of settled in.”
That’s the nature of the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME: legends with platinum resumes’ who find little difficulty summoning the elements that made them great. Pair them with fellow legends or current standouts and the golf is often a marvel to behold.
“You look at this field, what it’s accomplished over the years and what kind of impact it has had on all elements of the game of golf: from course design to playing ability to the magnetism and charisma they have on display for golf fans and it’s easy to realize what kind of a special group we have this year,” said Tony Renaud, vice president of new business for ESPN and the executive overseeing the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME.
The special nature of the group begins with Nicklaus, who owns many of the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME records.
(more)
3-3-3
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
You can find Nicklaus’ name in the record book for most career skins (104), most career money ($2,430,000), most career front-nine skins (73), most money won on the front nine in an event ($270,000), most front-nine career money ($1,350,000) and most front-nine skins in a single event (eight). He has three event titles (1991, 2005 and 2007).
The winner of an unprecedented 20 major championships, including six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, three British Opens and two U.S. Amateurs, Nicklaus has won 113 tournaments worldwide and is largely retired from competitive golf after a career in which he was named Golfer of the Century by GOLF Magazine in 1988 and by Golf Monthly U.K. in 1996. A five-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year, the PGA TOUR and Champions TOUR Player of the Year honors now bear his name.
In the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, Watson is nearly as prolific. Once again partnering with Nicklaus, Watson will make his seventh appearance in the event. He captured titles in 2004 and with Nicklaus in 2007 and has to be considered a factor in 2008 based on his Champions Tour performance. Even at 59, Watson enjoyed another solid year, winning two events and banking nearly $1 million.
The Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME proved the highlight of Jacobsen’s season. He played in only seven events in 2008 as he recovered from knee replacement surgery. The personable Jacobsen owns two Champions Tour titles, including the 2004 U.S. Senior Open.
The perfect partner for Jacobsen, the chatty Zoeller mirrored his teammate in that both were shut out in their Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME debuts – Zoeller in 2003, Jacobsen in 2006 -- before breaking through in 2008. This season, Zoeller teamed with Sydney Burlison of Salinas, Calif., to win the pro-junior portion of the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach by eight strokes. Zoeller’s T2 in the event was one of three top-10 finishes he enjoyed in 2008.
Regarding top-10 finishes, one of the most remarkable top-10 finishes in 2008 on any tour came from Norman, who makes his Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME debut with Haas. The 53-year-old Norman took a two-shot lead into the final round of the British Open before a final-round 77 left him in a tie for third. That was Norman’s best showing in a major championship since he finished third at the 1999 Masters.
The following week, Norman finished T5 in the Senior British Open, joining the Senior PGA Championship (T6) and U.S. Senior Open (fourth) as one of Norman’s three top-six outings in a Champions Tour major.
For Haas, it was just another marvelous year in a Champions Tour career that is shaping up to be one of the best in the circuit’s history. Haas won multiple titles (two, including his second Senior PGA Championship in three years) for the fourth consecutive year, claimed his second Charles Schwab Cup in the last three years, finished second on the money list ($1,991,726) and had 14 top-10 finishes in 20 events. His 12-point Charles Schwab Cup edge over Langer was the closest finish in history.
Playing with Arnold Palmer in last year’s Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, Haas was blanked. He won six skins and $145,000 playing with Player in his 2007 event debut.
Player, meanwhile, continued to confound the aging process in 2008. The 72-year-old Player bettered his age twice and shot his age twice during a season in which he played in his 51st Masters, breaking Palmer’s record for most career appearances at Augusta National.
(more)
4-4-4
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
One of five men who own the Career Grand Slam, Player also owns 108 victories worldwide and the status of winning the inaugural SKINS GAME in 1983. In last year’s Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, he and Roberts captured three skins and $180,000. In 2009, Player is making his 10th appearance in the event.
Joining Player is Langer, who earned his place at Royal Ka’anapali in 2009 with a remarkable 2008 season in which Langer won three times, won the Arnold Palmer Award as the Champions Tour's leading money winner with $2,035,073 and claimed the Byron Nelson Award as the scoring leader by one one-hundredth of a shot (69.65 to 69.66) over Haas. Langer was the only player to crack the $2 million mark in season earnings and tied Haas with 14 top-10 finishes, one behind tour leader John Cook.
In the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, each hole is a tournament within itself, with the prize money carried over if no player wins a hole outright. The $770,000 total purse is broken down to $30,000 for each of the first six holes, $40,000 for each of the middle six holes, $50,000 each for holes 13 through 17, and $100,000 for the 18th hole.
The players will donate 10 percent of their winnings to charity – 5 percent to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and 5 percent to the charity of their choice.
About Wendy’s Restaurants
Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas and is the third largest quick-service hamburger restaurant chain in the world, with more than 6,250 restaurants in the United States, Canada and international markets.
About ESPN Regional Television
ESPN Regional Television (ERT) is the nation’s largest producer and distributor of collegiate sports programming, producing more than 1,000 sporting events per year. In addition to event sponsorship, ERT produces 800 events for national, regional and local networks, serves as the exclusive syndication rights-holder for college conferences (Big 12, Big Ten and BIG EAST) and exclusive marketing rights-holder for select schools (Kansas, Oregon, South Florida and Iowa State). In recent years, ESPN, Inc. has created or acquired events it owns, markets and televises to increase its value to advertisers and affiliates.
About Ka’anapali
Located on Maui, along one of the most stunning coastlines in the world, Ka’anapali is rich in history and tradition. From the shores of Ka'anapali, the neighbor Islands of Lana'i and Moloka'i are in clear view. The slopes of Mauna Kahalawai, the West Maui Mountains, serve as the dramatic backdrop for this luxury, 1,200-acre resort destination which was once a warrior training ground and the playground for Hawai'i's royalty. As the state’s first planned resort, Ka’anapali established a pinnacle for other destinations on the islands to strive to attain over the years. Ka'anapali Resort is set beside three miles of white sand beach and is home to Maui's only oceanfront shopping Center, 11 hotels and condominiums, three world-class spas, two golf courses and over 40 restaurants.
Recognized as the playground of the Pacific, over a half a million visitors choose to visit Ka'anapali annually.
The Royal Ka’anapali Course, a Robert Trent Jones Senior design, opened in 1962 and has tested the skills of golf professionals and amateurs alike. A Par 71 stretching 6700 yards, the Royal Course combines wide fairways and undulating greens, making it both distinctive and demanding.
(more)
5-5-5
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
Home of the Champions Tour Ka’anapali Classic for 14 years, the Royal Ka’anapali Course also hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup and LPGA Kemper Open, donning such golfing greats as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Jan Stephenson and Betsey King. Over the last three years, Ka’anapali Golf Resort has invested over $13 million in renovations and infrastructure. Golf course architect, Robin Nelson, was brought in to oversee the rework of the Ka’anapali Kai Course and “nip/tuck” enhancements to the championship Royal Ka’anapali Course.
For more information about Ka’anapali Beach Resort visit www.Ka’anapaliresort.com and Ka’anapali Golf Resort visit www.Ka’anapaligolfresort.com or call (808) 661-3271.
###
Following is the (rather lengthy!) text of the 2009 Wendy's Skins Game press release. The Outrigger Maui Eldorado will again be participating by offering a room from the comp fund for the game's use. The game is coordinated by the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2008
Contact: Toby Zwikel/Brian Robin
Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc., (818) 462-5599/5610
GREG NORMAN, BERNHARD LANGER JOIN FAMILIAR FIELD OF LEGENDS FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
Peter Jacobsen, Fuzzy Zoeller Return to Defend Their Title
In ESPN-Televised, $770,000 Alternate-Shot Team Event
KA’ANAPALI, Maui – It’s the event that provides golf fans that rare Golden Bear sighting, along with the not-so-rare sounds coming from the charismatic mouths of Fuzzy Zoeller and Peter Jacobsen. And now, the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME features another rare species in the golf world – a Shark sighting.
The 22nd edition of the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME returns to Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course on Jan. 17-18, 2009 with three of the game’s legendary figures: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player, along with Champions Tour mainstays Zoeller, Jacobsen and Jay Haas. Joining those six and making their Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME debuts are Greg Norman and Bernhard Langer.
For the fourth consecutive year, the players will compete in the alternate-shot, team format that invariably creates tension, drama and memorable shotmaking. The players will play nine holes each day, with ESPN televising the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME on a tape-delayed basis Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 1 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET, 1 p.m.—3 p.m. PT and 11 a.m.—1 p.m. HT. (Times vary in different areas; check your local listings).
Zoeller and Jacobsen return to the Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course at the Ka’anapali Beach Resort to defend their title against 2007 event champions Nicklaus and Watson, the only team to compete in all four alternate-shot events. Norman will join Haas, who returns for his third consecutive Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, while Langer teams with Player to form a dangerous international tandem.
“This is one of the best fields we have ever had in this event, and when you consider the legends who have played the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME over the years, that tells you something,” said Barry Frank, vice chairman of Trans World International (TWI). “The kind of years Bernhard and Jay enjoyed on the Champions Tour, the way Greg nearly won the British Open and the manner in which Fuzzy and Peter won last year’s event shows the depth of talent we are fortunate to have. And I haven’t mentioned Jack and Tom yet, both of whom prove every year in this event they can still play at a high level.”
Royal Ka’anapali is the fifth course to host the event, following the Wailea Resort’s Gold Course (seven years), Mauna Lani on the Big Island (11 years), the Mountain Course at the La Quinta Hotel Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif. and Turtle Bay Golf Club on Oahu (one year each).
(more)
2-2-2
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
“We’re so excited to have the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game back at Kā‘anapali Beach Resort for the second year,” said Shelley Kekuna, Executive Director of the Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association. “The 2008 event was awesome and many of the 11 properties within our resort have created packages and specials that make it very attractive for visitors to book their Maui trip during tournament time.”
Chip Bahouth, the president of the KBRA Board and the General Manager of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, said “It’s an honor to be the host site for the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game and the excellent field of Champions that will be here in January. I can’t think of a better place in the world for this tournament than Kā‘anapali Beach Resort – people can easily walk from their hotel onto the golf course to watch the legends of golf compete.”
Those who enjoyed that luxury in 2008 watched Nicklaus and Watson pick up right where they left off in 2007, spotting Player and Loren Roberts the first skin, then winning the next eight skins and $270,000. That would be the high-water mark for the defending champions, who would get shut out on Day 2.
Zoeller and Jacobsen, meanwhile, wasted little time racking up the skins. They won the second hole and $80,000 with a par, the first time since 2004 that a par won a skin in the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME. They would go on to birdie Nos. 12-14, banking $140,000 and three skins for the final birdie in that string.
Player and Roberts got into the mix, picking up three skins and $150,000 with Roberts’ 20-foot birdie putt. After Nicklaus/Watson and Zoeller/Jacobsen halved the difficult 18th hole with pars, the players headed to extra holes for the 17th time in 21 years.
And for the first time in the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, a second par won a skin in the same event. This came courtesy of Zoeller’s tap-in on the first playoff hole, which netted the duo the $100,000 Wendy’s Super Skin and their first victories in the event.
“That last hole was a bear. It’s a bear,” Zoeller said.
Zoeller and Jacobsen’s $320,000 haul came on only six skins, the first time since 2003 the winner pulled in fewer skins than their closest pursuer, which in this case, was Nicklaus/Watson and their eight skins and $270,000. The $320,000 winner’s take was the lowest winning total since Lee Trevino won that amount in 2003.
“Let’s face it. These guys in this thing are Hall-of-Famers,” Jacobsen said. “These are legends. Once we got past the resumes’ on the first nine holes, we kind of settled in.”
That’s the nature of the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME: legends with platinum resumes’ who find little difficulty summoning the elements that made them great. Pair them with fellow legends or current standouts and the golf is often a marvel to behold.
“You look at this field, what it’s accomplished over the years and what kind of impact it has had on all elements of the game of golf: from course design to playing ability to the magnetism and charisma they have on display for golf fans and it’s easy to realize what kind of a special group we have this year,” said Tony Renaud, vice president of new business for ESPN and the executive overseeing the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME.
The special nature of the group begins with Nicklaus, who owns many of the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME records.
(more)
3-3-3
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
You can find Nicklaus’ name in the record book for most career skins (104), most career money ($2,430,000), most career front-nine skins (73), most money won on the front nine in an event ($270,000), most front-nine career money ($1,350,000) and most front-nine skins in a single event (eight). He has three event titles (1991, 2005 and 2007).
The winner of an unprecedented 20 major championships, including six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, three British Opens and two U.S. Amateurs, Nicklaus has won 113 tournaments worldwide and is largely retired from competitive golf after a career in which he was named Golfer of the Century by GOLF Magazine in 1988 and by Golf Monthly U.K. in 1996. A five-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year, the PGA TOUR and Champions TOUR Player of the Year honors now bear his name.
In the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, Watson is nearly as prolific. Once again partnering with Nicklaus, Watson will make his seventh appearance in the event. He captured titles in 2004 and with Nicklaus in 2007 and has to be considered a factor in 2008 based on his Champions Tour performance. Even at 59, Watson enjoyed another solid year, winning two events and banking nearly $1 million.
The Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME proved the highlight of Jacobsen’s season. He played in only seven events in 2008 as he recovered from knee replacement surgery. The personable Jacobsen owns two Champions Tour titles, including the 2004 U.S. Senior Open.
The perfect partner for Jacobsen, the chatty Zoeller mirrored his teammate in that both were shut out in their Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME debuts – Zoeller in 2003, Jacobsen in 2006 -- before breaking through in 2008. This season, Zoeller teamed with Sydney Burlison of Salinas, Calif., to win the pro-junior portion of the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach by eight strokes. Zoeller’s T2 in the event was one of three top-10 finishes he enjoyed in 2008.
Regarding top-10 finishes, one of the most remarkable top-10 finishes in 2008 on any tour came from Norman, who makes his Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME debut with Haas. The 53-year-old Norman took a two-shot lead into the final round of the British Open before a final-round 77 left him in a tie for third. That was Norman’s best showing in a major championship since he finished third at the 1999 Masters.
The following week, Norman finished T5 in the Senior British Open, joining the Senior PGA Championship (T6) and U.S. Senior Open (fourth) as one of Norman’s three top-six outings in a Champions Tour major.
For Haas, it was just another marvelous year in a Champions Tour career that is shaping up to be one of the best in the circuit’s history. Haas won multiple titles (two, including his second Senior PGA Championship in three years) for the fourth consecutive year, claimed his second Charles Schwab Cup in the last three years, finished second on the money list ($1,991,726) and had 14 top-10 finishes in 20 events. His 12-point Charles Schwab Cup edge over Langer was the closest finish in history.
Playing with Arnold Palmer in last year’s Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, Haas was blanked. He won six skins and $145,000 playing with Player in his 2007 event debut.
Player, meanwhile, continued to confound the aging process in 2008. The 72-year-old Player bettered his age twice and shot his age twice during a season in which he played in his 51st Masters, breaking Palmer’s record for most career appearances at Augusta National.
(more)
4-4-4
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
One of five men who own the Career Grand Slam, Player also owns 108 victories worldwide and the status of winning the inaugural SKINS GAME in 1983. In last year’s Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, he and Roberts captured three skins and $180,000. In 2009, Player is making his 10th appearance in the event.
Joining Player is Langer, who earned his place at Royal Ka’anapali in 2009 with a remarkable 2008 season in which Langer won three times, won the Arnold Palmer Award as the Champions Tour's leading money winner with $2,035,073 and claimed the Byron Nelson Award as the scoring leader by one one-hundredth of a shot (69.65 to 69.66) over Haas. Langer was the only player to crack the $2 million mark in season earnings and tied Haas with 14 top-10 finishes, one behind tour leader John Cook.
In the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME, each hole is a tournament within itself, with the prize money carried over if no player wins a hole outright. The $770,000 total purse is broken down to $30,000 for each of the first six holes, $40,000 for each of the middle six holes, $50,000 each for holes 13 through 17, and $100,000 for the 18th hole.
The players will donate 10 percent of their winnings to charity – 5 percent to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and 5 percent to the charity of their choice.
About Wendy’s Restaurants
Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas and is the third largest quick-service hamburger restaurant chain in the world, with more than 6,250 restaurants in the United States, Canada and international markets.
About ESPN Regional Television
ESPN Regional Television (ERT) is the nation’s largest producer and distributor of collegiate sports programming, producing more than 1,000 sporting events per year. In addition to event sponsorship, ERT produces 800 events for national, regional and local networks, serves as the exclusive syndication rights-holder for college conferences (Big 12, Big Ten and BIG EAST) and exclusive marketing rights-holder for select schools (Kansas, Oregon, South Florida and Iowa State). In recent years, ESPN, Inc. has created or acquired events it owns, markets and televises to increase its value to advertisers and affiliates.
About Ka’anapali
Located on Maui, along one of the most stunning coastlines in the world, Ka’anapali is rich in history and tradition. From the shores of Ka'anapali, the neighbor Islands of Lana'i and Moloka'i are in clear view. The slopes of Mauna Kahalawai, the West Maui Mountains, serve as the dramatic backdrop for this luxury, 1,200-acre resort destination which was once a warrior training ground and the playground for Hawai'i's royalty. As the state’s first planned resort, Ka’anapali established a pinnacle for other destinations on the islands to strive to attain over the years. Ka'anapali Resort is set beside three miles of white sand beach and is home to Maui's only oceanfront shopping Center, 11 hotels and condominiums, three world-class spas, two golf courses and over 40 restaurants.
Recognized as the playground of the Pacific, over a half a million visitors choose to visit Ka'anapali annually.
The Royal Ka’anapali Course, a Robert Trent Jones Senior design, opened in 1962 and has tested the skills of golf professionals and amateurs alike. A Par 71 stretching 6700 yards, the Royal Course combines wide fairways and undulating greens, making it both distinctive and demanding.
(more)
5-5-5
FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WENDY’S CHAMPIONS SKINS GAME
Home of the Champions Tour Ka’anapali Classic for 14 years, the Royal Ka’anapali Course also hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup and LPGA Kemper Open, donning such golfing greats as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Jan Stephenson and Betsey King. Over the last three years, Ka’anapali Golf Resort has invested over $13 million in renovations and infrastructure. Golf course architect, Robin Nelson, was brought in to oversee the rework of the Ka’anapali Kai Course and “nip/tuck” enhancements to the championship Royal Ka’anapali Course.
For more information about Ka’anapali Beach Resort visit www.Ka’anapaliresort.com and Ka’anapali Golf Resort visit www.Ka’anapaligolfresort.com or call (808) 661-3271.
###
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