FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             December 20, 2005

Release No. M-112

CITY UNVEILS GOLF GIFT CARD FOR MUNICIPAL COURSES   

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced the City has begun selling golf gift cards at the Ala Wai Golf Course entitling bearers to use them to pay for a round of golf at any of the City’s six municipal golf courses.

            “Anyone who might be looking for a Christmas stocking-stuffer for a golfer should consider these cards,” said Hannemann. “Gift card sales for everything from department stores and shopping malls to restaurants and hardware stores have been gaining in popularity among shoppers nationwide, so why not gift cards for greens fees at City courses?”

            Sid Quintal, director of the City Department of Enterprise Services, said,     “We’re starting by selling the cards initially only at the Ala Wai course, and only in $25 denominations. If the public responds the way we think they will, we’ll sell the cards at other courses and in larger denominations.”

            The cards may only be used to pay fees at the starter’s window and cannot be used at pro shops, driving ranges or food establishments. Like most other gift cards, these can be used until their full value is depleted, and the balance cannot be redeemed for cash. The cards expire two years from the date of issue.

            The City maintains and operates six golf courses: Ala Wai, Pali, Ted Makalena, West Loch, Ewa Villages and Kahuku. For the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2004, a total of 560,921 rounds were played on them.

-30-

Contact:

            Gail Haraguchi, deputy director of Enterprise Services,

527-5437

            Wayne Lee, deputy chief, Golf Course Division, 733-7382