Emily T Gail Talk Story

Marsha Music  recites her poem Just Say Hi and has plenty to share about her words ...

 Kelly Fliear Tournament Manager Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai talks story about the 28th year of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai at the Four Seasons Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. January 18, 19, 20 forty two PGA TOUR Champions Player  who earned a spot in the the 54 hole stroke play tournament will play for a  $2,000,000 purse. Steve Stricker defends. The Big Island community has received million dollars plus for charities from this event.

I met Chris Ruzzin 5 years ago at the first PGA TOUR Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club. when he was trying to cross some TV cables in his wheelchair. After giving him a hand we had a conversation about how couple places had been very difficult for him to get around and spectate at the tournament, I said I bet they would find it helpful if you reached out and gave them some suggestions.  There is no doubt in my mind he was already thinking that.  And he did follow up ... and over the last few years they have added ADA throughout the golf course. The picture of Chris is at the ADA platform at the 18th green at Detroit Golf Club.  I think it is cool how it has evolved. The more I get to know Chris I see he is a get it done advocate.    

I called Susy Ruddle this morning spur of moment and taped an informal conversation which I am turning into a Emily T Gail Talk Story episode. I wanted to get an update on the HIHS  and also have chance to mention how helpful Dr. Beth was to me when my cat Pono Boy was diagnosed as diabetic and I had no clue what to do. What I interesting and encouraging conversation we had about what the new HIHS facility in Kona. I've been there. It's fantastic and Susy does shares what they have been able to do for pet owners and those who want to spend a day with a pet or foster. It's a good conversation. Hope you listen. Hop you join them for the  Hawaii Island Humane Society Golf Tournament Mauna Lani Golf North Course on Saturday July 1.  Help raise funds for the HIHS and enjoy the award banquet at the beautiful Fairmont Orchid, complete with a gourmet lunch. and even meet some adoptable dogs on the golf course.     Susy Ruddle and friends and CEO of HIHS Lauren Nickerson want you to  know it is a 4-person scramble format so that means that everyone can have fun .... regardless of your skill level.. And it is the purrfect opportunity to combine your love of the game and your love of animals.  To contribute a prize for the players or be a sponsor email Lauren@hihs.org. hihs.org to register or donate for the tournament at Mauna Lani.

Jim DeMello, Coach of the  University of Hawaii - Hilo Vulcans Women's Golf Team  talks with Emily T Gail from Hapuna Golf Course at Mauna Kea Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii where the Division II Dennis Rose invitational with 16 teams was taking place. Jim talked about his history with University of Hawaii-Hilo Men's Golf Team for many years. He had the opportunity to coach the women's team when they received some title IX monies. He has been successful  recruiting players  from the Hilo area which is given local players an opportunity to get college scholarships and pursue their golf experiences. Teams from all over the country enjoy playing in the Dennis Rose invitational because the Vulcans are the hosts and their hospitality is well known. The men's team played their 2 day 36 hole Stroke Play event at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Cal State San Marcos won the Women' Division with Point Luma coming in second.

I met Caroline Wales when she played in the Dennis Rose Invitational for Division II players at Hapuna Golf Course, Mauna Kea Resort. She runs along side her push/pull remote golf bag cart when she plays....  interesting how it all evolved for her to add running to her on course routine.

Emily T Gail with Kelly Fliear, Tournament Manager Mitsubishi  Electric Championship at Hualalai  Thursday, January 19-Sunday January 21 . Kelly gives an update of the season opening event for the PGA TOUR Champions Mitsubishi Electric championship at Hualalai. 42 players are eligible for the 3 day tournament with a 2 million dollar purse. Miquel Angel Jimenez defends. Can buy tickets at the gate $25 daily, $45 week. 16 years and under complimentary when accompanied with adult as retired military and active are as well. 

Emily talks with the Westminster College  Women's Golf Team Salt Lake City at the Dennis Rose Invitational at Hapuna Golf Course.  It was the Dennis Rose Invitational for Division II colleges hosted by University of Hawaii-Hilo Men's Golf Team and Waikoloa Beach Resort. The men played at Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf and the Women at Hapuna Golf Course at Mauna Kea Beach Resort.  I've covered the Dennis Rose Invitational over the years.  When I  met Nat Sponenburgh at Mauna Lani Golf where he had just finished playing and I was headed to the putting green  he told me about his daughter playing on the Westminster Team in Salt Lake City and  I decided I should get up to Hapuna and watch the women play. It was very impressive and lot of fun to spend time with Nate and the Westminster College Denise Larson and some of the players. 

It was the Dennis Rose Invitational for Division I colleges hosted by University of Hawaii-Hilo Men's Golf Team and Waikoloa Beach Resort. The men played at Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf and the Women at Hapuna Golf Course at Mauna Kea Beach Resort.  I've covered the Dennis Rose Invitational over the years.  When I  met Nat Sponenburgh at Mauna Lani Golf where he had just finished playing and I was headed the putting green and he told me about his daughter playing on the Westminster Team I decided I should get up to Hapuna and watch the women play. Was great fun and great golf.

Sean Maekawa, Professional Golfer and  Assistant Men’s Golf Coach University of Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans is a guest on Emily T Gail Talk Story. Professional golfer Sean Maekawa, who grew up in Paauilo, Big Island of Hawaii started to play golf in 1999 at the 9 hole Honokaa Golf Course where he received some encouragement from Alan Texeira. Alan, RIP  who lived in Honokaa and was a PGA Professional with Waikoloa Beach Golf  and that lead Sean to join the Waikoloa Junior Golf Program. He shares how being involved with the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association and Waikoloa Junior Golf where he met PGA Professional Ross Birch. Ross continued to coach Sean  helped him win the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Individual golf titles from 2004-2007 while playing for the Honokaa High School team and the Hawaii High School State Championship in his senior year.. I met Sean through Ross  when they were guests on my Emily T Gail Talks Golf Show on espnhawaii.com. It was Sean's first time on the radio. I have enjoyed remaining friends with Sean and his parents and being a long time supporter in spirit of his golf journey.   With such stellar high school golf play in Hawaii, Sean earned a golf scholarship to the University of Oregon and played for the Division I Oregon Ducks under PGA Professional Casey Martin. He was a member of the Oregon Ducks Men’s Golf Team in the Annual Amer-Ari Division I Invitational Tournaments at Waikoloa Beach Resort that has a reputation as one of the best Division I tournaments in the country for the quality of players and the hospitality shared by Coach Earl and his coaches and the Vulcan golf booster club and Waikoloa Beach Resort. The Oregon Ducks team  had some very strong finishes including winning the NCAA in Sean’s  junior year.    After college Sean turned professional and played on the Gateway Tour and other mini tours. He wanted to explore coaching which led to an opportunity to be a volunteer coach with his former college coach Casey Martin for the Oregon Ducks. Sean says he “discovered he enjoyed coaching at college level having been a college player. He wanted to share with others what he has learned being on both sides of the ball”. That led him back to the Big Island where he could be Asst. Professional at Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf under PGA Professional Kevin Ginoza. Kevin had played for the Division II Pac West University of Hawaii-Hilo Vulcan Golf team and has been an Assistant Coach with his former coach Earl Tamiya  along with Troy Tamiya and Sean joined them as well as Assistant Coach. He is grateful to be back home with the opportunity to be a Asst. Golf Coach while raising a family with his wife Ashley. They have two young children Kamden and Aliah. Sean credits the encouragement he has received from mentors, his parents Schoen and Monica and his sister Elisye as he pursued golf as what kept him motivated to follow his dream of a golf career.     Waikoloa Beach Resort recently were hosts for their Annual Division II Dennis Rose Invitational Tournament with top NCAA Division II men’s and women’s golf teams.   Dennis Rose, also a mentor for Sean was long time Director  of Golf at Waikoloa and president at Waikoloa who passed away at the age of 59 in 2007 after a two year battle with cancer. The men played at Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf and the women played at Hapuna Golf Course. at Mauna Kea Resort. Sean talks about the Dennis Rose Invitational and Vulcan team experiences this year who are ranked in the top 50 Division II teams in the country. That is their best ranking ever and they will be the only Division II team in the The Amer-Ari coming up in February  Past winners and participants of the Amer-Ari have included Tiger Woods, Notah Begay, Matt Kucher, Jordan Spieth, Matthew Wolf and many others who have gone on to careers on the PGA TOUR. The Division II Vulcan’s Men’s team and Coach Earl and Asst Coaches Kevin, Troy and Sean and the team are focused on holding their own.  Scott Head, VP Operations Waikoloa Beach Resort is sure they will also be great hosts and add to their reputation as one of the most prestigious and fun Division I Invitational Tournaments in the country.  Mahalo for listening. Emily T Gail 808 896-6780 emilytgail@emilys.org

I well into one of my long phone conversations with my brother Max. Always thoughtful talk story. We were talking about our personal archives of what we have documented or created  and asked if there was one of his poems/songs he would like more people to hear what one would it be. I was pretty I knew which one.  I asked him to recite it and said I was going to record. here it is ...

Welcome to Emily T Gail Talk Story ...August 2022. Sharing some thought about my enthusiasm for the PGA TOUR Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit at Detroit Golf Club last week with one of my favoirtie players Tony Finau winning. Tony used to be at Turtle Bay here in Hawaii.   In this first show that I have recorded in a while I share some of my own stories.  Correction due regarding my Sam Saunders story. Sam is Arnold Palmer's grandson. I said son. One of the stories I told was about seeing Sam when he played in the Rocket Mortgage Classic year one (2019).  I first met Sam when he was about 6 years old and Arnold used to fly his own Cesna Citation if I remember correctly  here for the Mauna Lani Senior Skins on ABC that ran before the Super Bowl. Used to meet Arnold and his guests and family when they would arrive at the airport.- Arnold in the pilots seat. Arnold's son in law Roy would caddy for Arnold. Sam is son of Roy and Arnold's daughter Amy. . About the time I met Arnold I met Mark Rolfing, who at the time was with ABC. Now with NBC/Golf Channel. That was well over 25 years ago and Mark and his wife Debi have been friends ever since and over the years been very good to me. Mark always has time to talk story with me.   Mark was at the Rocket Mortgage Classic with Golf Channel last two years and has been great about letting me lead some of my fellow Detroit media friends to him. We both enjoy weaving Detroit love and Hawaii aloha.   At the end of this show is a talk story Mark and I did in January at the Senior PGA TOUR Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai here on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Mark and I talk about his long time efforts to grow junior golf here in Hawaii with the recent merging of the First Tee Hawaii and HSJGA.  I was a junior golfer in the 1960's and that is why I have been able to shape a way to stay around the game in my own way. I love how Mark acknowledges my doing it my way. I learned it from him. He has been a pioneer in many ways.  Thanks for listening. Aloha.

Kelly Fliear, Tournament Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai gives an overview of the monies raised for Big Island Charities from the PGA TOUR Champions event that has been hosted by Hualalai Resort for 26 years. It will take place Jan. 20-22 with a field of players that include 7 current World Golf Hall of Fame members like Fred Couples,  Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, and Vijay Singh. Well over a million dollars has been raised for non profits and charities.  The wonderful 400+ volunteer effort is under the Rotary Club of Kona with Volunteer Co-Chairs Kris Hazard and Larry Webb and in turn the Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation receives monies each year that go into our community. The Daniel Sayre Foundation is also a beneficiary of the MEC. Created by Dr. Frank and Laura Sayre   the Daniel Sayre Foundation has been purchasing rescue equipment for the Hawaii County Fire Department for the past 20 years in memory of their son Daniel who lost his life in a hiking accident in Polulu Valley.  Big Island Junior Golf receives funds from the MEC as well and the organization has been able to bring many juniors into the game of golf.  And the Hualalai Resort Hualalai Ohana also receives funds that are used to help those who are part of the Hualalai team from scholarships to support with health issues.   photo by Emily T Gail Pat Fitzgerald CEO Hualalai Resort with Vounteer Co-chairs Kris Hazard Larry Webb and some of their team captains. Every year the Rotary Club of Kona has done a wonderful job organizing the very dedicated volunteer effort.  This years Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai is next week Thursday, Friday, Saturday, January 20-22. Tickets available at the gate only. Credit cards only.

 Called Jack Berry the other day as the PGA Tour Aloha Swing begins in Hawaii. We talked golf and little bit of everything. Always love talking with Jack Berry  who was a long time  Detroit News golf writer who covered over 100 major golf tournaments and 43 Masters. In face he had a hand in creating access in locker room for female reporters at the Master. In recent years even at 91 years of age Jack is still telling and writing stories with my along long time friends and publishers of Michigan Golfer Art and Jeannie McCafferty.  the one responsible for getting the band of female reporters at the Masters lifted. A member of the Michigan golf Hall of Fame Jack was a leader and pioneer in promoting Women's golf and amateur golf.  I met Jack in the 1960's when I was playing competitive junior golf. We became friends over the years and in many ways Jack was a mentor.  I love that he attributes his becoming a marathon runner to his running in our Emily Detroit Runs through the streets of Detroit in the 1970's-80's.    Jack shares stories from the 1945 Detroit Tigers World Series win over the Chicago Cubs when his father was the Detroit Tigers Traveling Secretary . A member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Jack was a leader and pioneer in promoting Women's Golf and Amateur Golf.  Jack shares a lot of fun stories from his days of covering the Red Wings when they were playing at Olympia and only 6 teams in the league. I like documenting stories from others that weave into my own stories ... and keep the thread of history tied into the present. As the Detroit Historical Museum would say where Past is Present .    Also these conversations with Jack remind how just how special our fun long time friendship has been.  

The PGA TOUR Champions Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai here on the Big Island of Hawaii. will have spectators this year. The event is Thursday-Saturday Jan. 20-22. Tickets available at the gate. The event will be broadcast on the Golf Channel. Kelly Fliear, Tournament Manager of the MEC talks about this being the 26th year at Hualalai and the longest running event on the tour at the same venue. It follows the Sony Open on Oahu and which follows the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.  Kelly gives us an overview of this event which will feature 42 PGA TOUR Champions who all earned their way into the event.  World Golf Hall of Fame members include Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Mark O'Meara, Vijay Singh. Darren Clarke defends. And our Big Island of Hawaii is also a winner with all the monies that have been raised over the 26 years.

 Called Jack Berry the other day as the PGA Tour Aloha Swing begins in Hawaii. We talked golf and little bit of everything. Always love talking with Jack Berry  who was a long time  Detroit News golf writer who covered over 100 major golf tournaments and 43 Masters. In face he had a hand in creating access in locker room for female reporters at the Master. In recent years even at 91 years of age Jack is still telling and writing stories with my along long time friends and publishers of Michigan Golfer Art and Jeannie McCafferty.  the one responsible for getting the band of female reporters at the Masters lifted. A member of the Michigan golf Hall of Fame Jack was a leader and pioneer in promoting Women's golf and amateur golf.  I met Jack in the 1960's when I was playing competitive junior golf. We became friends over the years and in many ways Jack was a mentor.  I love that he attributes his becoming a marathon runner to his running in our Emily Detroit Runs through the streets of Detroit in the 1970's-80's.    Jack shares stories from the 1945 Detroit Tigers World Series win over the Chicago Cubs when his father was the Detroit Tigers Traveling Secretary . A member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Jack was a leader and pioneer in promoting Women's Golf and Amateur Golf.  Jack shares a lot of fun stories from his days of covering the Red Wings when they were playing at Olympia and only 6 teams in the league. I like documenting stories from others that weave into my own stories ... and keep the thread of history tied into the present. As the Detroit Historical Museum would say where Past is Present .    Also these conversations with Jack remind how just how special our fun long time friendship has been.  

I was so pleased to have a conversation with Mark Rolfing, NBC/Golf Channel Analyst few days before he heads to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin site of this 43rd Ryder Cup. While the  43rd Ryder Cup in matches take place Sept. 24-26, beginning Monday Sept. 20 4pm EST Mark will begin his Mark Rolfing Live from the Ryder Cup.  which is his favorite tournament to cover. this Monday at 4pm EST.  He covered his first Ryder Cup in 1991 for ABC. It is his favorite tournament to cover and he has some interesting takes on this years event.     Mark  has seen a lot, has accomplished a lot outside of his broadcasting life which began as a result of playing in a professional golf tournament he had created at Kapalua on Maui. After Don Ohlmeyer who was producer with ABC/ESPN saw him in the interview booth encouraged him to get into the business and offered him a job.     That tournament site at Kapalua where he had created the professional tournament has evolved. We now know it as Tournament of Champions played on the renowned Plantation Course that Mark was involved developing. USA Today labeled Mark “TV sport’s best on course golf reporter”.  Long time sports reporter Ann Miller calls Mark’s rise to the top of network golf television a unique and intriguing story and that is what I asked Mark to talk about in this interview.  Mark and his wife have made a difference in others lives  with their Mark and Debi Rolfing Production Company and the Mark and Debi Charitable Foundation  and their dear to their heart “Angel Babies” foster program.  Mark is the reason there is a Maui Basketball Classic and it is televised every year. I could go on and on and we sort of do that in this fun conversation as they always are. I’ve been interviewing Mark for over 20 years …. Grateful that he always makes time for me. Been one of my biggest supporters in my years of covering golf.

I met Jon when I came to Kona with Pooh to do the Ironman in 1981. Learned he was living in Detroit. Was a jockey at the time and we encouraged Jon to run in our Emily Detroit Runs. Jom would hang out at Emily's  Across the Street. Jon returning to Kona to start farming  and sharing his knowledge of  planting, growing and producing Kona Coffee and most of all create his own brand,  Jon's Kona Marathon and the spirit behind was inspired by what he learned from what we did in Detroit including the difficult lessons. Joon and his ohana added their aloha to all the he knew he wanted to create and as a result It become one of the most popular events on the Big Island.

I met Vance Patrick at the farewell retirement party at the Detorit Historical Museum for Bob and Mary Ann Bury celebrating Bob's 16 years as CEO and Executive Director and their efforts as a team. I had read about the reopening of the The Belle Isle Aquarium and when Vance Patrick who was at the helm along with others of getting the Aquarium reopened said come let me show you around I did so a few days later. As we were talking I decided to turn on my recorder and I am glad I did. As always I record and no editing. It is what it is and I feel this was one very worthwhile conversation with Vance. I appreciate he took the time to educate me. They get up to 5,000-6,000 people over the weekend who come enjoy the free admission and easy to walk through Belle Isle Aquarium. It was a steady stream of all ages coming through as we walked around. Some history of the Belle Isle public aquarium located in Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. Designed by noted architects George D. Mason and Albert Kahn,[5] it opened on August 18, 1904, and was the oldest continually operating public aquarium in North America when it closed on April 3, 2005.[2] The aquarium reopened to the public on August 18, 2012, and is now run entirely by volunteers.[6] The 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) historic building features a single large gallery with an arched ceiling covered in green glass tile to evoke an underwater feeling.[1][7] The aquarium was operated by the Detroit Zoological Society prior to the 2005 closure. It is currently operated by the Belle Isle Conservancy. August 3, 2005, Detroit citizens voted to reopen the aquarium by an overwhelming margin (88% in favor, 12% opposed).[11] However, the vote was non-binding and the aquarium remained closed. In 2010, supporters of the aquarium were still trying to find donors to help defray the building's operating costs.[11] Although the building was closed between 2005 and 2012, goldfish and koi from an outside pond were housed in the aquarium during the winter.[11] Each year in February, the aquarium opened for a day for the annual "Shiver on the River,"[11] a fund raising event to promote public support of Belle Isle non-profit groups including the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium.[2] On 14 August 2012, The Belle Isle Conservancy, a non-profit volunteer group established in 2011 from the merger of the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium and other Belle Isle non-profit groups, announced the re-opening of the aquarium on a limited basis. The aquarium was reopened on 18 August 2012, the 108th anniversary of its opening.[citation needed] The aquarium is normally open Friday-Sunday However hours due to covid check their site. https://www.belleisleconservancy.org/belle-isle-aquarium

It was a year ago June 21, 2019. The Aloha Friday Ohana Gathering at Detroit Foundation Hotel and live worldwide Broadcast with Michael Patrick Shiels Michigan’s Big Show. Started at 6am in the Detroit Foundation Apparatus Room. Michael is a long time friend. He has won many awards with his Michigan's Big Show and his extensive travel and golf writing as author and journalist. Some back story on why I wanted to do this live broadcast with Michael at Detroit Foundation Hotel. Michael's mentor was the legendary JP McCarthy, WJR Radio. In the 1970's-80's JP and WJR were was very supportive as they still are of my efforts in Detroit. Michael was JP's Producer after I left Detroit. Michael and I actually met here in Hawaii in the 1990's as he is a wonderful ambassador for Hawaii and has written extensively and broadcast from Hawaii. I mention that because I have been weaving my Detroit community and Hawaii community for years with a lot of friends and ohana. There are a lot of threads that weaved nicely over last couple years as Bob Lambert, GM Detroit Foundation Hotel had been so open to sharing ideas and ways to showcase the community space and spirit I had learned to appreciate at Detroit Foundation Hotel. So Michael and Bob and his team at DFH and a whole bunch of us I like to call Ohana shared a wonderful morning last June 21. Michael let me line up all the guests that included who we had partnered with at DFH like Empty Bowls Detroit, Rainbow Connection and the Detroit Historical Society. We also showcased the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the monies being raised for the Detroit community as Michael talked with Steve Wilke (RIP) Hour Magazine and GAM and RJ King dBusiness who had just released his new book, Detroit: Engine of America. Larry Alexander ...DMCVB aka VisitDetroit was a guest and talked about all the efforts in Detroit. Tony Michaels, Parade Company joined us and talked about the Ford Fireworks that were coming up the following week. . Watching many of the summer events being cancelled and the Detroit Foundation Hotel being temporarily closed is difficult .... however the good efforts of so many of our ohana going on in many places in the community and hopefully DFH will be open again soon. I loved listening to this broadcast the other day. I heard Michael Patrick say the crowd and energy and spirit of the day reminded him of JP McCarthy's Focus Radio Show parties. What a compliment. While it was a year ago I remember so well how happy we all were about the day and how much gratitude I had for all that helped make it such a memorable day. Bob Lambert and Jennifer Lee and the DFH team at the time, Darraugh Collins, Michael Patrick and like always Colleen Robar helping us out in so many ways. So that is why I am replaying our Broadcast.