January 2025 marks the 29th year the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, one of two courses at Hualalai Resort and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, hosts the opening tournament of the annual PGA Tour Champions – a series of 28 tournaments held throughout the year in the United States, Canada, the UK and Morocco.
“The relationship we’ve developed with the resort and Four Seasons over the years is amazing – it’s more than a partnership. At this point, it feels more like family. There is no better place to launch our tour every year. It’s truly a not-to-be-missed event,” Miller Brady, president of the PGA Tour Champions, says.
All the top pros aged 50 and over want to play here, he shares. “The unbelievable beauty of Hualalai and the Big Island, the incredible hospitality and camaraderie all make this a really special event on our tour,” Miller says. “In return, we are more than pleased to donate up to $200,000 to many local charities with this event. Since its inception, the tournament has contributed more than $2 million to community charities.”
Recipients include the Rotary Club of Kona, Daniel R. Sayre Foundation, Big Island Junior Golf Association, Hualalai ‘Ohana Foundation and the Pua Ka‘ilima ‘O Kawaiahae Cultural Surf Park, according to officials.
Keeping things fresh, Miller says, each tournament offers something new. “We always are pleased to introduce a few new rookies to the event annually – which is funny to say about players 50+ years old who’ve been playing on the pro tour for decades!”
Along with the new, legends who have played here over the years, include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriquez, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson and many more.
In 2025, the three-day, stroke-play Mitsubishi Electric Championship tournament – the only PGA tournament contested on Hawai’i Island – is set to tee-off Thursday, January 16. With 42 players competing, they include defending champion Steven Alker, as well as every past event winner since 2014, according to Hualalai Resort director of golf, Brendan Moynahan.
The field is selected from among past years’ champions, winners of majors over the preceding five years and professionals with five or more career victories, including at least one major win, he says.
“We look forward to this tournament every year – it’s definitely one of the highlights for all of us here. We expect to welcome up to 2,000 spectators again, and thousands more fans will be watching all the action from afar as it’s broadcast on the Golf Channel,” Brendan says.
In addition to spectators, the tournament attracts some 350 community volunteers recruited by the Rotary Club of Kona, he says.
“Without their support and aloha – together with that of our resort and Four Seasons team of employees – it would be impossible for us to put this event on each year,” Brendan says.
This year is especially exciting, Brendan says, since the resort just completed the process of converting the entire course, including adjacent grassy areas, to Paspalum Seashore Grass, which plays exceptionally well and is incredibly attractive whether viewed in person or broadcasted.
The par 72, 7,107-yard course was carved from lava with emerald green fairways and greens flowing through the luxury residential resort, with the last two holes set on the dramatic Pacific Ocean shoreline.
Course architect Jack Nicklaus says his inspiration for designing the course in 1984 was the property’s unique lavascape, acknowledging, however, that the ocean was and still is the greatest influence. The 17th hole, where the green nearly touches the ocean, is a testament to that, Brendan says.
A two-day Pro Am is hosted just before the event, with 42 tour pros teaming with three amateurs, including Mitsubishi VIP guests and 50 pay-to-play Hualalai Resort Club members (all resort homeowners).
Rob Kildow, director of residential sales and Hualalai Realty’s chief broker, has been a homeowner at the resort since 2001 – two years before joining the employee ‘ohana.
“I first started playing golf when we moved here in March 2021, and in January 2022, I played my very first Champions Tour Pro Am. As luck would have it, I drew Jack Nicklaus as the pro I’d be teamed with,” Rob says.
Was he nervous? Well, let’s just say when he showed up to play, he realized he had left his driver in his garage! Fortunately, the garage was just a short golf cart ride away.
“Of course, I played like the novice I was, but Mr. Nicklaus was an absolute prince. He was patient and relaxed and even offered a few tips. And when he recommends something, trust me, you listen,” Rob says.
Without a doubt, the tournament is Hualalai Resort’s largest single outreach each year, he says, as the property does not do any traditional marketing.
“The fans it attracts here, in addition to the Golf Channel coverage, provides a unique opportunity to showcase the beauty of this special place as well as the aloha spirit found here,” Rob says.
Among his special moments over the years, he says, was standing with golf legend Ernie Els who had turned to gaze at the ocean on the 17th green. “He looked back at me and said, ‘This is the most beautiful place in the world, and I’ve traveled all over.’”
“We are all proud and honored to host the Mitsubishi Electric Championship, which illustrates the resort’s commitment to giving back to our island community and presenting exceptional events for golf fans and our Hualalai Club members,” Rob says.
A big shout-out, he says, goes to PGA tournament managers Kelly Fliear, who handles all tournament logistics, and Norma Long, who works closely with the Four Seasons food & beverage team to put on the special player events and activities throughout the tournament.
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We look forward to this tournament every year – it’s definitely one of the highlights for all of us here. We expect to welcome up to 2,000 spectators again...
Without a doubt, the tournament is Hualalai Resort’s largest single outreach each year – Rob Kildow.