Sports Watch

By Bill Kwon

Friday, November 5, 1999

GOLF WATCH

Yashima ‘clone’ makes
for smooth transition

DON'T blame golfers playing at the Pearl Country Club for doing a double-take whenever they see new general manager Akira Kawaguchi, who replaced Masayoshi Yashima.

They could pass for identical twins, but they're not related.

"We're just trying to make the transition easier for everyone," kidded one of the starters in the pro shop.

"I hope everyone supports Mr. Kawaguchi as they supported me," Yashima said before he left after 14 years at Pearl Country Club to assume new duties at the Honda Kaihatsu Kogyo head office in Tokyo.

He need not have worried. Why, it's almost as if Yashima-san had never left, seeing Kawaguchi-san around.

LOVE IS GRAND

DAVIS Love III isn't just the first alternate, he's really the only choice to replace the late Payne Stewart in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Nov. 23-24, at the Poipu Bay Resort on Kauai.

"The PGA of America is proud that Davis Love III ... will be able to compete for his close friend, Payne Stewart," said PGA of America president Will Mann.

The PGA of America will also make a $150,000 contribution to the estate of Stewart, who had qualified for the Grand Slam by winning his second U.S. Open.

Love qualified on points, having fared the best of previous winners of golf's majors this year.

But he's also a terrific sentimental choice.

He, too, can empathize with Stewart's family, having lost his father in a plane crash in 1988.

"We can shed a lot of light on Payne Stewart by playing," Love had said at the Tour Championship last week.

"Isn't it great?" said Michael Castillo, Poipu Bay's director of golf. "I'm glad he felt good about playing for Payne. It'll be good for the event."

Love will meet Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, while Tiger Woods, the PGA champion, will face British Open winner Paul Lawrie in the other first-round match.

MANSHO REIGNS

GOLFERS, be resigned to paying two bucks more for a round of golf at the city courses.

It'll be a given after the City Council approves it next Wednesday.

"I anticipate the majority will approve it," said Rene Mansho, chairwoman of the council's budget and economic development committee.

Residents who now pay $14 to play 18 holes on the weekend would see that fee rise to $16. Golf cart rentals also would go from $14 to $16.

The $2 hike will affect everyone, seniors and juniors included.

Fortunately, Mansho back ed off on one of her ideas -- to charge anyone who doesn't carry a city golf ID card the same rate as a nonresident ($40, soon to be $42).

Residents can still show a proper picture ID, such as a driver's license, and pay a surcharge of $4 (up from $2 after the increase is approved).

Mansho originally proposed the idea because starters were getting hassled by golfers, some of whom were showing up with expired driver's licenses or no photo IDs at all.

"The starters were having to make discretionary decisions and we wanted to avoid that," Mansho said.

The nonresident fee will still apply, she said, but it will be lowered to $20 at the Kahuku course only.

The city will also put out bids for tee sponsors at its golf courses, much like the advertising you see on buses.